The East-West League (Alternate History)

[f_zzyslippers]

Hello all. I've been running a bunch of games during this quarantine. After testing a bunch of scenarios and doing a bunch of historical sims, I finally got one that I want to do some reporting on. The idea is an alternate history of the Negro Leagues, that will eventually become its own major league, taking the name "East-West League".

I will start at the conclusion of the first Negro National League season. This story will have focus on a fictional former player and coach named "Fuzzy Slippers." I created an independent "barnstorming" league for the players from 1885-1919, so there will be some interesting backstory as things develop. I also plan to start up a Caribbean winter league in the late 1930’s.

I’ll manage teams throughout the 1920-1948 NeL in OOTP21. Most of the time I’ll only act as GM and use retired players as coaches for my team and others. I will touch on the MLB a bit, especially as the game moves closer to integration, and the EWL forms as a separate entity.

Credits: I use jerseys from TXRanger/nopepper and the facegen pack from the steam workshop (fancyskunk). Also, the idea for the barnstorming leagues came from an old dynasty I found written by TigerFan. Google/this forum has been a wonderful resource with getting into this game. Thank you all!

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1920 NNL WORLD SERIES


THE TEAMS



The Indianapolis ABC's

Manager:


Sol White – 52 – Bellaire, TX – 5.0WAR
The ABC’s manager had a storied 17-year career in the Barnstorming League. At the age of 18 he debuted for the Washington Ghosts. He would go on to win five Summer Championships, Rookie of the Year (1887), Best Player (1887, 1888), 6 Platinum Sticks, and 7 Great Gloves at 3B. He retired from the game in 1902. He has been a prolific baseball writer in his post-playing career. He published History of Colored Base Ball in 1907 and contributes articles to the Cleveland Advocate.

Key Players:

Bill Holland - 18 - Indianapolis, IN – SP - 8.4WAR - Switch/Right
The Indianapolis native had a stellar rookie season for the ABC's. Recording 14 wins and 5 losses, he tied for first in ERA (2.11) and lead the league in Strikeouts with 110. Striking out an average of 4.5 batters per 9 innings. The young pitcher is sure to have a remarkable future.

Jim Jeffries - 29 - Louisville, KY – SP - 3.9WAR - Left/Left
The veteran left hander was instrumental in Indianapolis' success this season. Delivering 19 wins and 2 losses, he tied with his rookie teammate to lead the league in ERA (2.11). Jeffries boasts an arsenal of six pitches, including the knuckle curve.

Oscar Charleston - 23 - Indianapolis, IN – CF - 7.2WAR - Left/Left
Fresh off an MVP season with the Waltham Big Train, Charleston signed with his hometown Indianapolis ABC's for the NNL's inaugural season. With a .403 batting average and 15 home runs, he is perhaps the most important player on the ABC's roster. He put up a 21-game hit streak, brought in 2 Player of the Week trophies, and was named July's Batter of the Month.

Biz Mackey - 23 - Eagle Pass, TX – C - 5.6WAR - Switch/Right
Following Charleston at 4th in the lineup, Mackey kept pace on Batting AVG(.402) as well as being efficient behind the plate with a CERA of 2.60. He has been clutch for the ABC's this year, recording several walk-off hits to close out games.

Robert Hudspeth "High Pockets" - 22 - Luling, LA – 1B - 3.3WAR - Left/Left
After signing with the ABC's Hudspeth played in the 1919 Winter Games, with the semi-finalist Gulf Cost Conquistadors. In his first professional season, Hudspeth brought home one Player of the Week award, contributed 12 Home Runs, a .331 batting average, and 63 RBI's. He is also one of the top fielding first basemen in the NNL.

The Kansas City Monarchs

Manager:


John Henry Lloyd “Pop” – 36 – Palatka, FL – 3.0WAR
Lloyd played for 10 seasons in the Barnstorming League. During some of it’s most competitive years, he held down a career batting average of .304. He won three championships from 1906-1908. First with the Bowie Isotopes, and the next two with the Washington Ghosts. He carried a 32-game hit streak while playing with the Bethlehem Legends in his final season. He left the Mid-Atlantic based Barnstorming League and found work as a railroad porter, continuing to wow crowds in pick-up games around the US.

Key Players:

John Donaldson – 27 – Glasgow, KY – SP/1B/OF – 4.9/2.0WAR - Left/Left
One of KC’s dual-threat players. Donaldson has been consistent at the mound and the plate for Kansas City this season. He has 13 wins, 9 losses, a batting average of .356, and leading the team with 90 Ks. His two-way player partnership with RHP Bullet Rogan has been a highlight for the Monarch’s this season.

Sam Crawford – 32 – Dallas, TX – SP – 3.1WAR - Right/Right
The most dominant pitcher among the Monarch’s incredible staff. During the regular season he produced 15 Wins, an ERA of 2.24, a league high opponent average of .204, 14 complete games, and two shutouts. The veteran was hired by Monarch’s owner J.L. Wilkinson after playing for Chicago’s American Giants in the mid 1910’s.

George Carr Jr. “Tank” – 21 – Atlanta, GA – C/1B – 49.WAR - Switch/Right
The rookie, switch-hitting sensation has been a highlight at Meuhlback Field this year. He became a hero to the fans with his 10th inning walk-off solo Home Run to win a 7-6 game against Detroit. A threat on the bases, he leads the NNL with 44 stolen bases. He was a leader in the team home-run race, finishing at 15 for the season.

Dobie Moore – 22 – Atlanta, GA – SS – 5.8WAR - Right/Right
Army veteran and Carr Jr’s fellow Atlanta based rookie, won the league home run race this year with 19 total dingers. His 26 game hit-streak won him the Batter of the Month award for June. At short stop, he leads the league in assists, with 353, however he is also a leader with his 32 fielding errors. Moore, Carr Jr., and Bullet Rogan round out the exciting rookie trio that has lit up the box office for the Monarchs this season.

Hurley McNair – 31 – Marshall, TX – RF – 3.6WAR - Left/Left
Though his season was cut short half-way through, Hurley McNair is back in Right Field for the Monarchs. The eleven-year veteran started his career in the Barnstorming Leagues. He was signed as a reserve in 1909 by the Brentwood Vikings. He eventually found a starting spot in Center Field, winning Platinum Stick as well as the Rookie of the Year trophy in 1911. He continued to play in the Barnstorming League until 1919, having memorable stints with the Rome Texans, Bethlehem Legends, and the Clifton Park Red Dragons.

Bullet Rogan – 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – SP/CF/C – 4.3/4.3WAR - Right/Right
“Bullet” Joe was signed by J.L. Wilkinson after seeing his extraordinary play in the 2019 Winter Games. While playing for the Central Diamonds, Rogan led the league in CG (17), IP (177.2), K’s (80), and WAR (4.5) – while batting just below .300. A huge part of the success in box office and merchandise sales, this year he has Pitched, Catched, and played Outfield for Kansas City. A former Army veteran, Rogan developed his skills playing for the 25th Infantry Wreckers, alongside many stars of the NNL, including teammate Dobie Moore.

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The Series
Game 1: WED, AUG 11 1920– Washington Park, Indianapolis
"ABC’s stellar pitching shut’s out Monarchs, 4-0"
The Kansas City Monarchs couldn’t beat RHP Bill Holland today. While letting in 6 hits from the fierce Monarch bats, Holland and his team let in zero runs through the nine innings. With Holland pitching the complete game. Bullet Rogan also pitched the full 8 innings for Kansas City, but the ABC’s chipped in runs one-by-one. Scoring one in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th.

Game 2: THU, AUG 12 1920 – Washington Park, Indianapolis
"ABC’s overcome Monarchs in 10th, 5-4"
In a heated contest, The Monarchs drew first with an RBI double by Rogan in the 1st. In the top of the 2nd, KC followed up with a 2-run home run, from pitcher Sam Crawford. The ABC’s evened the score in the 3rd and 4th. The game was in Indy’s hands when George Shively singled in the bottom of the 5th, scoring Geechie Meredith from third base. However, Kansas City kept the game alive when Clint Thomas scored from 2nd on Bullet Rogan’s single. The game down to Oscar Charleston scoring on a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning.

Game 3: SAT, AUG 14 1920 - Meuhlback Field
"Indianapolis wins 12-9 in a high scoring affair"
The bats were on fire in todays contest. In total 14 hits per team. The game was ultimately decided in the top of the 8th inning. The ABC’s were down by one-run. Barnstorming League veteran and Bench Coach, Fuzzy Slippers pinch hit to start the inning. The team recorded three singles to start off the inning even with the Monarchs. KC followed up with a series of walks and fielding errors to put Indianapolis ahead 12-9 for the rest of the game

Game 4: SUN, AUG 15 1920 - Meuhlback Field
"ABC’s finish off Monarchs 6-4"
Despite putting up 12 hits, Kansas City was outscored by Indianapolis. The Monarch fans at Meuhlback Field left disappointed as Indianapolis was crowned league champions on the back of a spectacular display from CF Oscar Charleston. Charleston went 3 for 4 with a 2-run home run to start with. The spectacular pitching from Bill Holland didn’t let much cross the plate. Despite a 2-run rally in the 9th inning, Kansas City failed to capitalize. Conspicuous from his absence was star pitcher and outfielder, Bullet Rogan. It is believed he was being rested for a hypothetical Game 5.

Player of the Series: Oscar Charleston (ABC’s) – 17AB, 9H, 4RBI, 4SB, .529AVG

[f_zzyslippers]

A Brief History of The Barnstorming Summer League

The “Barnstorming Summer League” was a loosely organized confederation of barnstorming teams from the Mid-Atlantic. Each summer, the teams would travel the country, and play games against one another for local crowds. At the end of each summer a “Summer Championship” best of 5 series would be held to determine the league’s champion. Often times, the star players on these teams would be African American or Hispanic players, due to the racist major league agreement. From 1887-1919 these teams entertained fans around the United States, while featuring some of the most talented players who would be otherwise lost to history.

The league began in May of 1887 when four barnstorming teams from the mid-atlantic region decided on a competitive agreement. They would travel to towns without team, sometimes without parks to play in, and set up competitive baseball games. Admission for these games ranged from food donations up to a dollar a piece, depending on the location and decade. For the first eight years, the team stuck close to the mid-atlantic region, by the turn of the century the teams were traveling throughout the northeast and mid-west.

The “Founding Four” (L-R): Dan Lally, Fred Mayfield, Welday Walker, and “Ballplayer” Grant

The first of the four founding teams were the Legends from Bethlehem, PA. Led by outfielder Dan Lally. Bethlehem was a well-rounded club, spreading their training focus wide. A tough team to beat. Second, was the scrappy Bowie Isotopes from Maryland. A rag-tag group, often the underdog, led by first-baseman Fred Mayfield. Third, a team from Massachusets, the Waltham Big Train. The Big Train, led by third baseman Ballplayer Grant. True to their name, the Big Train was an intimidating team. They billed themselves as “The World Champions…” when they travelled. Finally, Welday Walker’s Washington Ghosts. Walker was known for playing with the Toledo Blue Stockings before the famous incident involving his brother Moses and Cap Anson. Welday’s Washington Ghosts boasted a tremendous roster – including Sol White at 3B, Pitcher George Knowlton, and utility infielder Napoleon Ricks.

In the first season, the Ghosts dominated most games. The scrappy Isotopes and the well-rounded Bethlehem Legends stole wins from the Waltham Big Train, who finished second overall. Washington took the inaugural “Summer Championship” in a 4-0 series. Over the next several years, the players who lasted would switch to different teams in order to keep rosters active, for example – in his 10 year career – Ballplayer Forbes started in Washington in 1887, played for Bethlehem the next season, Bowie the next, back to Washington, Bowie, Washington, Waltham Big Train in 1893, and then Washington again in 1897. Despite the rotating of the rosters, the teams normally stuck to their identity. The Ghosts and Waltham Big Train dominated most of the summer games, with the Bowie Isotopes fighting their way to the top in 1890 and 1894.

(L-R) Forbes in 1887, 1888, 1889, 1893, and 1897

Over the 22-year history, six more teams would join the league. In 1903, the league added two teams from New York. From upstate, The Clifton Park Red Dragons and from Long Island, The Brentwood Vikings. In 1913 the Georgian based “Rome Texans” and the Bethel Park Liberty would join. Finally -during the final two years of operation- the Irondequoit Monsters and Lacey Township Rockies joined the circuit. In the last five years of operation, some of the current stars of the NNL got their start. Including Cristobal Torriente, Hurley McNair, Charlie Blackwell, Bill Gatewood – among others.

(L-R) Hurley McNair – Red Dragons, Robert Jackson – Vikings, Pearl Webster – Texans, Bingo DeMoss – Liberty,
George Shively – Monsters, Noisy Wallace – Rockies

The Summer League eventually folded after the 1919 season. They faced competition from the teams in the Midwest that went on to form the Negro National League in 1920, as well as new teams back home in the east. Most of the best talent decided to play ball elsewhere. Following a meeting in October of 1919, most of the league leadership decided to fold and divide their talents elsewhere. The New York teams – Clifton Park, Brentwood, and Irondequoit – continue to play in the local state leagues. The Washington Ghosts and Waltham Big Train continue operation as independent teams.

[fmbugman]

Nice job!

[Tiger Fan]

Nice start. Looking forward to following along.

[Dark Horse]

You have a good start to a good story.

And TigerFan is a great source for inspirtation.

[No Pepper]

It's good to see these guys run out on the field. Thanks for sharing their (and your) adventures!