The PCL - A Re-Imagining

RobertoClemente · 12-09-2011, 03:44 PM

The premise (or backstory for this league ) is written below - And as most of these dynasty reports it needs a little imagination on the readers part.

The events if thought about "could have happened" as this will not be a far fetched stretch to reach where we are... Please feel free to read along and comment as we go

The "history of the PCL start" is below. This league will be running the PCL and Major League Baseball side by side, The draft will be off but real players will be imported as free agents - Free Agency will also be on for all players with 6 years of service....

What does this all mean ? Well what it means is that the MLB will start with it's real 1903 teams and rosters in tact - while the PCL will start 1903 with "fictional" players.

The PCL and MLB will be able to trade between the leagues as well as both leagues will compete for the signing of free agents....

What this in effect does is create what could have been a possible scenerio way back when. As players became free agents, the appeal of longer seasons (meaning more money) and better climates longer into the year started to make players think about the PCL as a viable option..

Now there had allready been several other attemps at a third league which were considered "outlaw" leagues, The Players League, The Union Association etc.. All of them had gotten squashed under the might of the National League,

But in 1901 the American League challenged the National League and proved it could make a competitive "second league". The Pacific Coast League being one of the few leagues on the West Coast decided to try their luck and see if they could make this new league (which was very favorably received on the coast) as popular and financially rewarding as MLB

RobertoClemente · 12-09-2011, 03:49 PM

Professional baseball was inaugurated in Los Angeles in 1892 when the city replaced Sacramento in the four-team California League. At the time, the population of Los Angeles was only 51,000, one-sixth that of San Francisco. The move was risky, not only because of the size of the city, but it meant added transportation costs. Previously, the longest trip in the California League was 110 miles, from San Jose to Sacramento. Los Angeles was 400 miles south of the other teams. However, baseball was well received in the Southern California community. The league expanded the schedule, playing Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday from the end of March till the end of November.

In 1892, Los Angeles was managed by Bob Glenalvin, who had piloted Portland in the Pacific Northwest League the previous year. The team finished one point behind San Jose in the first half and won the second half by a 3-½ game margin over Oakland. Things rarely went smoothly in the California League, so it was no surprise that a dispute arose over a championship playoff. As related in his book, “Always on Sunday,” John Spalding relates that San Jose owner “Mike Finn objected to playing any games in Los Angeles although LA owner G.A. Vanderbeck offered to pay the team’s expenses and talks broke off. San Jose players had no objection to going to Los Angeles, where they expected the games to draw well, so they arranged for a playoff series on their own. Vanderbeck agreed to split the gate with them.” Los Angeles won the playoff, five games to two with one tie. However, at the annual league meeting, “the magnates ignored the playoff and called the teams co-champion. Los Angeles was dropped from the league and Vanderbeck’s license was revoked.” Although Los Angeles “was the only team that made money, none of the northern owners wanted the city back in 1893.”
At a league meeting in February, however, Al Lindley of Los Angeles persuaded the directors it was in their best interest to retain the city where the game had been so well received. The season began March 26 with Stockton replacing San Jose. Los Angeles won the first half, which ended July 5, by one game. Just before that, on Sunday, July 2, at Athletic Park in Los Angeles, the first night baseball game on the Pacific Coast was played. In the afternoon, the Angels and Stockton had played a regular California League game, with Los Angeles winning, 7-3. The night game was considered an exhibition, not counting in the league standings. Twenty arc lights had been strung around the field between four tall posts. There was a moveable searchlight mounted on top of the grandstand. The stands were packed. The game was loosely played, to put it mildly. At one point, a bulldog dashed out on the field, caught a fly ball and ran off with the game ball. The game was delayed while some players chased the dog and retrieved the ball. There was no box score of the game, but the Los Angeles Times reported that the game was awarded to the Angels, 5-2. Unfortunately, there were many problems in the league. The Stockton club moved to Sacramento at the start of the second half and the league disbanded on August 14. A national depression resulting from the Panic of 1893 reached the Pacific Coast and it was 4-½ years before a California League resumed play.

The California League of 1898-1900 was once more a Northern California operation. It increased its schedule each year and became financially stronger. Spalding states, “By 1900 many things had changed, including the goals of the California League’s management. The City of Angels was expanding, had doubled its size in ten years and at 102,500 was California’s second largest in 1900. Discovery of oil in the 1890s had fueled the boom that would see Los Angeles triple in population” in the next decade. In 1901, James F. Morley, who owned a poolroom in Los Angeles, was granted a franchise in the California League, replacing Stockton. The four-club circuit also included San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. The league increased the schedule again and the teams played between 144 and 161 games. Los Angeles played its games at Washington Gardens, popularly known as Chutes Park, about ten blocks south of downtown. The ballpark was completed in the fall of 1900. Just beyond center field was a large amusement park, featuring a chute-the-chutes advertised as the highest and steepest in the world. The Angels, or, as the Los Angeles Times called them, the LooLoos, finished second in both 1901 and 1902. In 1902, the teams played between 168 and 182 games.

Historian Carlos Bauer, in “The Creation of the Pacific Coast League,” writes “First mention of the possible formation of a Pacific Coast League for the 1903 season came on December 9, 1902, shortly after the close of the California League season. A short note in the San Francisco papers stated that Henry Harris, owner of the San Francisco franchise, was in Portland en route to Seattle to see if he could induce the owners of the (Pacific Northwest League) ball clubs in those cities to join the California League for the 1903 season. Much later, Harris would tell The Sporting News that he began acting on the expansion idea in July, but kept it under his hat until the end of the season, so the proposed expansion could not be sidetracked before they even began to put the plan into action.”
The PNL president and the owner of the Seattle club were opposed to the plan, but the Portland club was agreeable. Harris had a prospective wealthy owner ready to step in at Seattle. On December 29, 1902, at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, the Pacific Coast Baseball League was organized. In retaliation, the Pacific Northwest League, which claimed the backing of the National Association, announced it was moving into San Francisco and Los Angeles and renaming itself the Pacific National League. During the first three months of 1903, a bitter war broke out between the two leagues over players, with several from the PNL jumping to the PCL.

THIS IS WHERE WE BEGIN

RobertoClemente · 12-09-2011, 04:27 PM

1903 - What a start

The 1903 season finished as close as one could be as 4 of the 6 teams won over 100 games - Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle and eventual Champion Sacramento.

The Senators finished 131-81 to win the PCL pennant - Powered by SP Jorge "Bugs" Delgado (30-14) 2.29 the Senators were the cream of the crop. With 3 20+ game winners they were hard to catch.

Honus "The Flying Dutchman" Wagner was unable to work out a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates after a thumb injury put him on the DL for 6 weeks, So he went on to sign a 1 year deal with the San Francisco Seals, He injured his knee and only appeared in 4 games for SF where he went 3-14. San Francisco let his contract lapse so he finds himself in free agency again.

Former Brooklyn Dodger OF Tom McCreery tore his shoulder in May and was to be out for 7 months, With Brooklyns uncertainty of McCreery's ability to recover they did not re-sign him and he went into free agency. Oakland signed him to a 1 year deal where he has yet to take the field. Oakland was also able to land New York Giants P Boileryard Clark to a 2 year deal

Seattle Siwashes were able to make a splash as they sent CF Andrew Bauer to New York Giants for P Jack Cronin

Portland signed former Chicago Cub Jock Menefee to a 1 year deal after he was released at the end of the season by the Cubs

RobertoClemente · 12-09-2011, 05:16 PM

Better Red than Dead....

January 1904 - Red Donahue the 31 year old Pitcher with a 116-129 record signs with the Oakland Oaks

Donahue who at 31 years of age is looking at the end of his career, Has decided to try to extend it for a few more paychecks and has decided to make the jump to the PCL. Donahue only appeared in 17 games last season for the St. Louis Cardinals as he suffered a ruptured tricep tendon and missed the rest of the season. Happy to find play in the warmth of the West Coast he will continue to ply his trade for the Oaks for the next two seasons.

Oakland was also able to sign 7 year veteran OF Sam "Sandow" Mertes. Mertes who signed on with Portland for a one year deal after leaving the New York Giants. The deal for the 31 year outfielder is said to be for 3 years and worth about $7,290.00.

RobertoClemente · 12-09-2011, 05:57 PM

1904 - Around the Horn

With Opening Day around the corner let's look at how the teams are set for the 1904 Season :

Los Angeles Angels:

Los Angeles who finshed 4th of 6 teams 26 GB of the leader is hoping to have a better campaign this season.

Pitching

The Angels have made little progress in the way of pitching help, Anchored again this season by Philip "Stretch" Wright (25-20) 2.29 the balance of the starting rotation is only mediocre from there

Infield

Jonathan Johnston looks to have 1st base covered, the 31 year old played 182 games there last year with a .994 fielding percentage. Johnston also batted .291

Cory Robison will start at second for Los Angeles. Playing 49 games at second last year he had a .929 fielding percentage. His biggest downside is his lack of offense as he was only able to bat .241 in 101 games.

Scot Shaw who led the team in Hrs (5) and triples (5) will cover third base this year, Shaw played 161 games at 3b last season at a .955 fielding clip. The 31 year old looks to anchor the offense

Greg Hicks played all 212 games at Shotstop last season and put together an amazing .985 fielding percentage. Hicks won a Gold Glove at SS last season and solidifies the middle part of the infield. Hicks hit .292 with 1 homerun.

Outfield

Trey Becker who managed to get in just 11 games last season after the injury to Joe Hinshaw. Becker hit .389 in 11 games and had a fielding percentage of 1.000 - He will be fighting Hinshaw who played in 147 games for playing time in LF

Emmett Powell will again take CF for Los Angeles. The leagues batting leader at .313 played 157 games in CF last season with a .992 percentage. Powell also finished 2nd on the team with 3 homeruns

Rich Bowen who suffered an injury shortened 104 game season will again man RF. Bowen played 60 games in RF last season and had a .971 percentage in the field. Bowen hit .26o and had 2 home runs.

Catcher

Anthony Foster will look to the catching duties, Playing 167 games as the backstop last year he threw out 35% of all advancing runners. Foster hit .256 and also had 2 homeruns.

BENCH

The bench looks workable. The Angels were able to sign some kid named Ty Cobb (17), Dode Paskert (22), Mickey Doolan (23), to rookie deals in hopes of making the team

kev24fan · 01-01-2012, 10:11 PM

Interesting league you started. Did you leave the idea or are you still playing it out?

12-09-2011, 03:44 PM	#1
RobertoClemente Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Right Field Posts: 28	The PCL - A Re-Imagining The premise (or backstory for this league ) is written below - And as most of these dynasty reports it needs a little imagination on the readers part. The events if thought about "could have happened" as this will not be a far fetched stretch to reach where we are... Please feel free to read along and comment as we go The "history of the PCL start" is below. This league will be running the PCL and Major League Baseball side by side, The draft will be off but real players will be imported as free agents - Free Agency will also be on for all players with 6 years of service.... What does this all mean ? Well what it means is that the MLB will start with it's real 1903 teams and rosters in tact - while the PCL will start 1903 with "fictional" players. The PCL and MLB will be able to trade between the leagues as well as both leagues will compete for the signing of free agents.... What this in effect does is create what could have been a possible scenerio way back when. As players became free agents, the appeal of longer seasons (meaning more money) and better climates longer into the year started to make players think about the PCL as a viable option.. Now there had allready been several other attemps at a third league which were considered "outlaw" leagues, The Players League, The Union Association etc.. All of them had gotten squashed under the might of the National League, But in 1901 the American League challenged the National League and proved it could make a competitive "second league". The Pacific Coast League being one of the few leagues on the West Coast decided to try their luck and see if they could make this new league (which was very favorably received on the coast) as popular and financially rewarding as MLB Last edited by RobertoClemente; 12-09-2011 at 04:02 PM.

12-09-2011, 03:49 PM	#2
RobertoClemente Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Right Field Posts: 28	Professional baseball was inaugurated in Los Angeles in 1892 when the city replaced Sacramento in the four-team California League. At the time, the population of Los Angeles was only 51,000, one-sixth that of San Francisco. The move was risky, not only because of the size of the city, but it meant added transportation costs. Previously, the longest trip in the California League was 110 miles, from San Jose to Sacramento. Los Angeles was 400 miles south of the other teams. However, baseball was well received in the Southern California community. The league expanded the schedule, playing Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday from the end of March till the end of November. In 1892, Los Angeles was managed by Bob Glenalvin, who had piloted Portland in the Pacific Northwest League the previous year. The team finished one point behind San Jose in the first half and won the second half by a 3-½ game margin over Oakland. Things rarely went smoothly in the California League, so it was no surprise that a dispute arose over a championship playoff. As related in his book, “Always on Sunday,” John Spalding relates that San Jose owner “Mike Finn objected to playing any games in Los Angeles although LA owner G.A. Vanderbeck offered to pay the team’s expenses and talks broke off. San Jose players had no objection to going to Los Angeles, where they expected the games to draw well, so they arranged for a playoff series on their own. Vanderbeck agreed to split the gate with them.” Los Angeles won the playoff, five games to two with one tie. However, at the annual league meeting, “the magnates ignored the playoff and called the teams co-champion. Los Angeles was dropped from the league and Vanderbeck’s license was revoked.” Although Los Angeles “was the only team that made money, none of the northern owners wanted the city back in 1893.” At a league meeting in February, however, Al Lindley of Los Angeles persuaded the directors it was in their best interest to retain the city where the game had been so well received. The season began March 26 with Stockton replacing San Jose. Los Angeles won the first half, which ended July 5, by one game. Just before that, on Sunday, July 2, at Athletic Park in Los Angeles, the first night baseball game on the Pacific Coast was played. In the afternoon, the Angels and Stockton had played a regular California League game, with Los Angeles winning, 7-3. The night game was considered an exhibition, not counting in the league standings. Twenty arc lights had been strung around the field between four tall posts. There was a moveable searchlight mounted on top of the grandstand. The stands were packed. The game was loosely played, to put it mildly. At one point, a bulldog dashed out on the field, caught a fly ball and ran off with the game ball. The game was delayed while some players chased the dog and retrieved the ball. There was no box score of the game, but the Los Angeles Times reported that the game was awarded to the Angels, 5-2. Unfortunately, there were many problems in the league. The Stockton club moved to Sacramento at the start of the second half and the league disbanded on August 14. A national depression resulting from the Panic of 1893 reached the Pacific Coast and it was 4-½ years before a California League resumed play. The California League of 1898-1900 was once more a Northern California operation. It increased its schedule each year and became financially stronger. Spalding states, “By 1900 many things had changed, including the goals of the California League’s management. The City of Angels was expanding, had doubled its size in ten years and at 102,500 was California’s second largest in 1900. Discovery of oil in the 1890s had fueled the boom that would see Los Angeles triple in population” in the next decade. In 1901, James F. Morley, who owned a poolroom in Los Angeles, was granted a franchise in the California League, replacing Stockton. The four-club circuit also included San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. The league increased the schedule again and the teams played between 144 and 161 games. Los Angeles played its games at Washington Gardens, popularly known as Chutes Park, about ten blocks south of downtown. The ballpark was completed in the fall of 1900. Just beyond center field was a large amusement park, featuring a chute-the-chutes advertised as the highest and steepest in the world. The Angels, or, as the Los Angeles Times called them, the LooLoos, finished second in both 1901 and 1902. In 1902, the teams played between 168 and 182 games. Historian Carlos Bauer, in “The Creation of the Pacific Coast League,” writes “First mention of the possible formation of a Pacific Coast League for the 1903 season came on December 9, 1902, shortly after the close of the California League season. A short note in the San Francisco papers stated that Henry Harris, owner of the San Francisco franchise, was in Portland en route to Seattle to see if he could induce the owners of the (Pacific Northwest League) ball clubs in those cities to join the California League for the 1903 season. Much later, Harris would tell The Sporting News that he began acting on the expansion idea in July, but kept it under his hat until the end of the season, so the proposed expansion could not be sidetracked before they even began to put the plan into action.” The PNL president and the owner of the Seattle club were opposed to the plan, but the Portland club was agreeable. Harris had a prospective wealthy owner ready to step in at Seattle. On December 29, 1902, at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, the Pacific Coast Baseball League was organized. In retaliation, the Pacific Northwest League, which claimed the backing of the National Association, announced it was moving into San Francisco and Los Angeles and renaming itself the Pacific National League. During the first three months of 1903, a bitter war broke out between the two leagues over players, with several from the PNL jumping to the PCL. THIS IS WHERE WE BEGIN

12-09-2011, 04:27 PM	#3
RobertoClemente Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Right Field Posts: 28	1903 - What a start The 1903 season finished as close as one could be as 4 of the 6 teams won over 100 games - Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle and eventual Champion Sacramento. The Senators finished 131-81 to win the PCL pennant - Powered by SP Jorge "Bugs" Delgado (30-14) 2.29 the Senators were the cream of the crop. With 3 20+ game winners they were hard to catch. Honus "The Flying Dutchman" Wagner was unable to work out a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates after a thumb injury put him on the DL for 6 weeks, So he went on to sign a 1 year deal with the San Francisco Seals, He injured his knee and only appeared in 4 games for SF where he went 3-14. San Francisco let his contract lapse so he finds himself in free agency again. Former Brooklyn Dodger OF Tom McCreery tore his shoulder in May and was to be out for 7 months, With Brooklyns uncertainty of McCreery's ability to recover they did not re-sign him and he went into free agency. Oakland signed him to a 1 year deal where he has yet to take the field. Oakland was also able to land New York Giants P Boileryard Clark to a 2 year deal Seattle Siwashes were able to make a splash as they sent CF Andrew Bauer to New York Giants for P Jack Cronin Portland signed former Chicago Cub Jock Menefee to a 1 year deal after he was released at the end of the season by the Cubs

12-09-2011, 05:16 PM	#4
RobertoClemente Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Right Field Posts: 28	Better Red than Dead.... January 1904 - Red Donahue the 31 year old Pitcher with a 116-129 record signs with the Oakland Oaks Donahue who at 31 years of age is looking at the end of his career, Has decided to try to extend it for a few more paychecks and has decided to make the jump to the PCL. Donahue only appeared in 17 games last season for the St. Louis Cardinals as he suffered a ruptured tricep tendon and missed the rest of the season. Happy to find play in the warmth of the West Coast he will continue to ply his trade for the Oaks for the next two seasons. Oakland was also able to sign 7 year veteran OF Sam "Sandow" Mertes. Mertes who signed on with Portland for a one year deal after leaving the New York Giants. The deal for the 31 year outfielder is said to be for 3 years and worth about $7,290.00.

12-09-2011, 05:57 PM	#5
RobertoClemente Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Right Field Posts: 28	1904 - Around the Horn With Opening Day around the corner let's look at how the teams are set for the 1904 Season : Los Angeles Angels: Los Angeles who finshed 4th of 6 teams 26 GB of the leader is hoping to have a better campaign this season. Pitching The Angels have made little progress in the way of pitching help, Anchored again this season by Philip "Stretch" Wright (25-20) 2.29 the balance of the starting rotation is only mediocre from there Infield Jonathan Johnston looks to have 1st base covered, the 31 year old played 182 games there last year with a .994 fielding percentage. Johnston also batted .291 Cory Robison will start at second for Los Angeles. Playing 49 games at second last year he had a .929 fielding percentage. His biggest downside is his lack of offense as he was only able to bat .241 in 101 games. Scot Shaw who led the team in Hrs (5) and triples (5) will cover third base this year, Shaw played 161 games at 3b last season at a .955 fielding clip. The 31 year old looks to anchor the offense Greg Hicks played all 212 games at Shotstop last season and put together an amazing .985 fielding percentage. Hicks won a Gold Glove at SS last season and solidifies the middle part of the infield. Hicks hit .292 with 1 homerun. Outfield Trey Becker who managed to get in just 11 games last season after the injury to Joe Hinshaw. Becker hit .389 in 11 games and had a fielding percentage of 1.000 - He will be fighting Hinshaw who played in 147 games for playing time in LF Emmett Powell will again take CF for Los Angeles. The leagues batting leader at .313 played 157 games in CF last season with a .992 percentage. Powell also finished 2nd on the team with 3 homeruns Rich Bowen who suffered an injury shortened 104 game season will again man RF. Bowen played 60 games in RF last season and had a .971 percentage in the field. Bowen hit .26o and had 2 home runs. Catcher Anthony Foster will look to the catching duties, Playing 167 games as the backstop last year he threw out 35% of all advancing runners. Foster hit .256 and also had 2 homeruns. BENCH The bench looks workable. The Angels were able to sign some kid named Ty Cobb (17), Dode Paskert (22), Mickey Doolan (23), to rookie deals in hopes of making the team

01-01-2012, 10:11 PM	#6
kev24fan Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 494	Interesting league you started. Did you leave the idea or are you still playing it out?