A Belgian Dynasty (est. 1884)

[Fullarmor]

Oh no I didn't know, you juste made me discover this I before E except after C rule. Good to know.

[Fullarmor]

Last October, the heavyweights of the different leagues met each other in the capital to discuss a possible way to organize and set baseball in a decent way in Belgium to avoid future conflicts. The argumentation went not as expected and teams of Eeklo and Ghent, carried by their chaimen, decided to secede from the league of Antwerp to form a new one, based in their own region of East Flanders to gain a much more significant impact on the local market. The idea preached would be to encourage each region to form its own baseball league in view to send their best formations to dispute a national challenge in the very end of the season. An extended Beker van de Kampionen, in sum. The finals would take up on Brussels in a knockout tournament during the first week of May, on neutral fields.
This is the solution which was passed by a majority, even if Jean Ducoupeau (C.S. Liège), Godschalk Mertens (Brugge Sterren) and Pierre-André de Nîmes (Verviers Sport) have expressed their desire of a single national league where the top teams would compete during an all season long without any regional barrages judged counterproductive in the idea of raising the level of their players.
As for the name of this new competition that will take place in the capital, it is French: the Coupe des Clubs Champions, which keep the meaning of its Flemish older brother. It is for this cup that the best clubs of Antwerp, East Flanders, Liège and West Flanders will battle this season. With the hope that the provinces of Brabant, Hainaut, Limburg, Luxemburg and Namur will join them in the future years. Another meeting is already set at the end of the season, to seek possible evolutions in that way.
The league created by Eeklo and Ghent is the New Flemish League, in which clubs from Lochristi and Evergem will tussle to obtain their ticket for the finals. The Evergem's team is named Boudewijn Club, after Boudewijn (or Baldwin in English) I, also known as the Iron Arm, who was the first margravate of Flanders in 860. A strong Flemish identity at a time where flamingantism is not quite well perceived. Especially with the last year's problem.
But let's see the results.

The Zeilers accomplished a sensational run, which can easily remind the 1893 season where they only lost five games.
Zeebrugge and Evergem qualified by escaping to their opponents in the very last games. The Blacks of Ghent thought that this year would the good year, but he newcomers of the Boudewijn Club stole their precious ticket.
For the Francophone serie, it was another closed year who saw the victory of Liège for the second time.

The Zeilers for the attack, the Boudewijners for the defense. A duel that could be interesting but the draw decided it in another way.

ANTWERPEN ZEILERS vs ZEEBRUGGE ZON - 5th May 1895
CLUB SPORTIF LIÉGEOIS vs EVERGEM BOUDEWIJN CLUB - 6th May 1895

Here are the posters plastered for these five and six of May.
The first game already looked like a final itself and attracted a lot of curious caught by the rumors of a beautiful joust, while the second game received far less attention and was even considered as a game of outsiders. But how to prove them wrong?

One says that an Antwerpen fan try to eat his cap and choke on it to stop the massacre he was attending to.
Five to two. Did this really happened? Darn yes. How? Only God knows how.
Even the West Flemish were not expecting that. But they did it. Put an end like this on a season like this... It's a waste. A big fat waste that is going to be hard to swallow. The Zeilers have not witnessed the final, they left the same day towards Antwerp.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm, this game was frankly stunning. In the press, some even spoke of a scolding duel between wallingant and flamingant. Duel which would have continued in the stands between fans.

We have two winners. So here comes the great final of the first edition of the Cup of the Champions Clubs.

Truly, some agitation was formed following the spectacular match won by Evergem, but the East Flemish were here in their first season and didn't achieved to compete against a well trained West Flemish selection.
They were smashed, but with some honors. The honors to have, before that, eliminated their Liégeois enemies.

BELGIAN CHAMPIONS:

ANTWERPEN ZEILERS - 7 (last time in 1894)
ZEEBRUGGE ZON - 2 (last time in 1895)
BRUGGE STERREN - 1 (last time in 1888)
HOBOKEN CLUB - 1 (last time in 1887)

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Fullarmor

The Evergem's team is named Boudewijn Club, after Boudewijn (or Baldwin in English) I, also known as the Iron Arm, who was the first margravate of Flanders in 860.

I'd expect the Iron Arm's club to have a very strong pitching staff.

I'm enjoying your dynasty. Keep up the good work!

[Fullarmor]

Originally Posted by Big Six

I'd expect the Iron Arm's club to have a very strong pitching staff.

I'm enjoying your dynasty. Keep up the good work!

Ha ha, never thought of that.
Thanks mate.

[Fullarmor]

In green, places where baseball is played. In red, places where it is not.

No new team was founded. Nor in a new province (Brabant, Hainaut, Limburg, Luxemburg or Namur) nor in a old one (Antwerpen, East Flanders, Liège or West Flanders). Which is in itself quite problematic since the purpose of this new tournament was to bring baseball in each region. Several omnisports circles have expressed interest in the Brabant, but not with a league of that status. Not without a real governement body. For the moment, baseball goes along with an amateur connotation preventing meaningful institutions to join. Not to mention that its remains fairly unpopular outside the few places it is actually practice.
Thus, the importance of rapidly spreading has repeatedly been discussed at the annual meeting. With no changes in that way, a new league format could be tried.

Two suprises: the sad serie of the Blacks who just can not make it real, even in a league composed by half of fresh clubs. And Verviers who dug a gap of eight games against Liège.

The draw gave the following semi finals:

LOCHRISTI HONKBAL CLUB vs VERVIERS SPORT - 5th May 1896
ANTWERPEN ZEILERS vs ZEEBRUGGE ZON - 6th May 1895

Another Zeilers versus Zon. It begins to be a derby between these two. Will the Zeilers have their revenge?
As for the other game, it opposes two newcomers: Lochristi and Verviers. Too bad not to see a Liège versus Evergem at this stage, but who knows? Maybe this opening match will be worth its weight in gold.

A much more tight result was expected. The Francophones overlooked their opponent and tada.
A forced score. No more. It was too late when they realize their mistake.

A severe result compared to the conduct of the match.
It's funny, but for the second consecutive year, it appears that the Zon have found a solution (no, a trick) to annihilate any action of the Zeilers.
On ten games, Antwerpen would probably have the advantage. But here, an entire year is played on one.

And that leaves us the final. The dice seem rigged, but Lochristi have already showed that they are capable of feat.

No, not this time.
The Zeebrugge players stayed serious and caught immediately in the throat thoses of Lochristi.
In the end, the neutral audience have assisted to a pleasant game. A nice exhibition match (far away from the fury of the Liège-Evergem of 1895) that could give envy to others to try the game.

BELGIAN CHAMPIONS:

ANTWERPEN ZEILERS - 7 (last time in 1894)
ZEEBRUGGE ZON - 3 (last time in 1896)
BRUGGE STERREN - 1 (last time in 1888)
HOBOKEN CLUB - 1 (last time in 1887)

[Fullarmor]

The Coupe des Clubs Champions was given three years to extend the baseball activity in Belgium but folded, in a special meeting held last December, after only a two years lifetime. The chairmen did not see the utility to continue this third season, who would have not reach in any manner a quarter of the set objectives.
Instead, they went to a new form - pushed by the proposals made by the the athletics clubs in the Brabant and the success of the recent football league - of national league. A national league that would contain all the best clubs without any regional tournament.
It marked the birth of the Division d'Honneur Belge (Belgian Division of Honnor).
It was decided that twelve teams would take part to this inaugural edition. Except that... Fourteen teams were already participating at the highest regional level last year, and that the newcomers association of the Brabant had insisted to reserve a certain number of places in that new competition.
So what?

A strict sheet was distributed among the teams, with an emphasis on the minimum payroll, the attendances and their possible developments.
A special green card was given to the Antwerpen Zeilers and the Zeebrugge Zon in view of their excellent results. For the Zon, the two last years have brought to them so much visibility that their chairman decided to expand the club's activities by offering new sports to their affiliates (like football, badminton and cricket), which explains their name change by Zeebrugge Sport & Recreatie.
Despite their results, the Brugge Sterren and the Oostende Kustmen were chosen to represent the West Flanders in the Division d'Honneur, thanks to their a good account.
The Club Sportif Liégeois made it to the top (because a Francophone representative was necesssary) but was not followed by Verviers considered too unstable for the highest division. However, the unretained clubs will continue to play at a lower regional level (placed under the direction of the DH) with the possibility to regain the very top of the Belgian baseball.
As for the Brabant teams, the arrival of the baseball in the omnisports associations of the Atheltic & Running Club, the Léopold Club, the Racing Club, the Sporting Club and the Ixelles Union is the proof of a big evolution and the sign that the sport is gradually recognized by renowned circles.
Back in Antwerp with the unsuccess of Hoboken to obtain a ticket for this division despite its champion title in 1887 and the merged of the Ekeren Ontduikers and the Berendrecht Dokwerkers in the new team of Ekeren-Berendrecht Alliantie. To quote their manager: "It was the only solution for our both teams to stay competitive at this level. Our past was not always the brightest, but with baseball we had our moments our fame and happiness. Everything is still to write, and with this alliance, we hope the best for the future.".

It was a long season and the specialits thought the Antwerpen-Zeebrugge duel thighter. But there is knockout no more, and the winner is the one who proves that he is the best in the long run. And at this game, well, who can surpass the Zeilers? Aniway, this allows them to win their eighth title after two years of abstinence.
Surprisingly, the Brabant teams have done well out, but that was forgetting she had in their ranks many hardened athletes and possess quality instructures in the capital.

Where is Paxton?
He was injured a good part of the season, and thus, has been replaced in the highlights by his compatriot who can then shine a little more than usual.
Paxton is expected to recover for next season.

CHAMPIONS:

*ANTWERPEN ZEILERS - 8 (last time in 1897)
ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE - 3 (last time in 1896)
BRUGGE STERREN - 1 (last time in 1888)
HOBOKEN CLUB - 1 (last time in 1887)

LAST CHAMPIONS:

1896 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1895 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1894 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS
1893 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS
1892 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE

[baseballonly]

Finally back on track, thank god. I like the new format much better than having one game decide the whole season.

[Fullarmor]

Indeed, school took me a lot of time lately... but it comes to its end. In a few exams, I'll get more free time to run the dynasty.
And the new formula pleases me too, even more with the relegation system that is going to be implemented for the next season.

Thanks for following.

[Fullarmor]

The second season of the Honor Division started in the tumult with the leaving of Paxton. Unexepected.
The announcement fall in the pre season when the thirty-six years old legend requested a private meeting with the general manager of the Zeilers. In the day, all the sport press was aware. Hard to put a reason on this departure, since the staff did not want to comment about it. Even his teammates did not seem aware of the recents events. Paxton just left, for an odd reason, by tacking the little door with no great goodbye to his fans.

However, he leaves behind him a trail that will probably still be seen for years. Some say that he returned to America.
Impossible to know what he had in mind, or on the heart.

But life goes on and so the season. With a hole in their workforce a no time to fill it, the Zeilers completed a pitiful ratio of .577, thereby allowing to Zeebrugge to finish first without fierce rivalry all along. Maaik Melis, the Zeebrugge's manager won that way his third award, following the finals of '95 and '96.
In the bottom ranking, we find the Léopold Club that will leave its place next year to the winner of the all region cup.

The Paxton era finished, Victor Williams is voted most valuable player of the year. Unfortunately, this was not enough for his team.

CHAMPIONS:

8 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS (last time in 1897)
4* - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE (last time in 1898)
1 - BRUGGE STERREN (last time in 1888)
1 - HOBOKEN CLUB (last time in 1887)

LAST CHAMPIONS:

1897 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS
1896 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1895 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1894 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS
1893 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS

[Fullarmor]

[IMPORTANT NOTE: I'm really sorry but I've deleted the screens that I took for this season by mistake... However, I still have the various notes writtend during the 1899 year.
Silly me.]

Verviers Sport took the place of the Léopold Club who finished last in the 1898 season. Their chairman saw it big by allowing to his team a payroll of 26,000 dollars, almost the double of their rival of Liège (15,000 dollars for that season) which nevertheless has the second largest wallet.With such amount, The manager hopes to build a competitive squad in the two coming years.
Eeklo and Zeebrugge gave everything this season to win the league title, while the Zeilers were vegetating in a sad seventh position all season long, but the surprise is named Brugge Sterren. They acquired their second champion title (the last one was dating from 1888, eleven years!).

Logically, Sean Karsberg (who trained the Zeilers from 1890 to 1894, winning with them four titles) was voted best manager of the year with is new team of Brugge.
By that time, Victor Williams was for the second time voted most valuable, despite of his team final position. It is said that he is looking for a new club, but few are the ones that could put his salary expectation on the table. At forty, the New York native does not want to stop and wish to fulfill his ambitions of greatness whereas he had his road crossed during so long by the talent of Terrence Paxton, who is no more.

CHAMPIONS:

8 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS (last time in 1897)
4 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE (last time in 1898)
2* - BRUGGE STERREN (last time in 1899)
1 - HOBOKEN CLUB (last time in 1887)

LAST CHAMPIONS:

1898 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1897 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS
1896 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1895 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1894 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS

[Fullarmor]

At forty-one and looking for play time, it is effective: Victor Williams lef the Zeilers for the Club Sportif Liégeois, one of the most fortunate team in the Honor Division.

A good choice for him since Liège showed beautiful things in a tight duel with the Alliantie and the Sporting all the way long. Last year already, Ekeren-Berendrecht well placed themselves without being able to get anything, and even if (given to their past) this position is more than proper, their frustration is palpable.
Another frustrate manager is the one from Verviers (or more precisely, the former one from Verviers) who could not keep his team in the top despite the allocated budget.
At the opposite, the big man of the Kustmen was cheered and carried as a hero by the fans to whom he offered a first title.

Surprisingly, the most notable players this season were those of... Eeklo. At twengty-nine, the former Zeebrugge player Loeck Missel was voted most valuable player while at thirty-two (!), Luther Velthorst was the best rookie this season. Well, for his defense, he was playing with the Beerschot Athletic Club (a team from Antwerp) until the Racing saw his potential.
Keep dreaming kids, it is never too late to become a pro player.

CHAMPIONS:

8 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS (last time in 1897)
4 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE (last time in 1898)
2 - BRUGGE STERREN (last time in 1899)
1* - OOSTENDE KUSTMEN (last time in 1900)
1 - HOBOKEN CLUB (last time in 1887)

LAST CHAMPIONS:

1899 - BRUGGE STERREN
1898 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1897 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS
1896 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1895 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE

[Fullarmor]

With the unexpected relegation of Verviers, followed Ixelles which was moving from bad results to worse results since the creation of the division. The headers thus believed that it would be better to avoid unnecessary expenses, and to play at their true level, before thinking of a rebuild.
Two relegations and... no promotion. Nor now, nor before three more years. The league president and his advisors thought wiser to block the entrance to facilitate the construction of dynasties for the teams already at the highest level while it could allow teams at lower levels to prepare their admission application. And by that way, come back to twelve of fourteen strong teams by 1905.

The Sporting mastered during most of the season, before collapsing. And who pick up the pieces? The Liège of Williams, which is that way the first non-Flemish champion. Gerd de Haan of Liège, is thus appointed as the best manager of the league for the second year consecutive.
Astonishingly, the last year champion finished last, while the Zeilers have found a cozy third position where we would rather have thought a team like Zeebrugge or the Sterren.

While the MVP is again Loeck Missel, the Liégeois put the thirty-seven years old Alderliesten as... rookie of the year. Until then, he was playing for the baseball club of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw.

CHAMPIONS:

8 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS (last time in 1897)
4 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE (last time in 1898)
2 - BRUGGE STERREN (last time in 1899)
1* - CLUB SPORTIF LIÉGEOIS (last time in 1901)
1 - OOSTENDE KUSTMEN (last time in 1900)
1 - HOBOKEN CLUB (last time in 1887)

LAST CHAMPIONS:

1900 - OOSTENDE KUSTMEN
1899 - BRUGGE STERREN
1898 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1897 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS
1896 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE

[Fullarmor]

As it was said, nor promotion nor relagation for this season. The Kustmen, that away, have not suffered that much of their last year empty season and found a second place of choice after their 1900 title.
In the forefront is placed the team of Eeklo, thanks to their talented Loeck Missel, voted MVP for the third time. The good recruitment choices finally pays for them!
And so is elected the sixth Belgian champions in... sixth years. Since the leaving of Paxton and the Zeilers' fall, no team has been able to ensure its supremacy. Zeebrugge was expected to take this position but knows the same difficulties as the Zeilers.

The revelation of the year is Louis Maillet, a twengty-nine center field who was playing last year for the Lambermont Baseball Club, a small team from Liège.
Victor Williams, now forty-three, also played the season with the Athletic & Running Club. One would say that it could pick an another team for the 1903 season.

CHAMPIONS:

8 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS (last time in 1897)
4 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE (last time in 1898)
2 - BRUGGE STERREN (last time in 1899)
1* - EEKLO RACING (last time in 1902)
1 - CLUB SPORTIF LIÉGEOIS (last time in 1901)
1 - OOSTENDE KUSTMEN (last time in 1900)
1 - HOBOKEN CLUB (last time in 1887)

LAST CHAMPIONS:

1901 - CLUB SPORTIF LIÉGEOIS
1900 - OOSTENDE KUSTMEN
1899 - BRUGGE STERREN
1898 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE
1897 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS

[Fullarmor]

Time flies, it's already been five years.
Terrence Paxton is the first inducted to the Hall of Fame, with more than 99% of yes. But he is not alone, Vannier accompagnies him. They were teanmates between 1892 and 1895. Four seasons for four titles. It was another time. After that, Vannier left for Zeebrugge, where he ended his carreer in 1897(and where he already played in 1890 and 1891), at the age of thirty-nine.

The Kustmen are champions in 1900 but finished last in 1901.
Eeklo is champion in 1902 but finished last in 1903.
There's an odd thing going on. No team differs from the other and Liège is sacred champion for the second time with a poor 0.571.

No Missel this season, the MVP is a twengty-five Venezualan who was playing in Brugge since 1896. Congrats on Manuel Rodriguez who knew how to be patient and could finally prove his worth. Speaking of Brugge, Victor Williams has settled for what was arguably be one of its very last season. He was not especially good in recent years, but still and always clings to the hope of getting a new title.
And the rookie? Aarnoud Stoops is a twengty-four years old Dutch who never played before, even in minor leagues. Big entry for him.

CHAMPIONS:

8 - ANTWERPEN ZEILERS (last time in 1897)
*
4 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE (last time in 1898)
*
2 - BRUGGE STERREN (last time in 1899)
2 - CLUB SPORTIF LIÉGEOIS (last time in 1903)
*
1 - HOBOKEN CLUB (last time in 1887)
1 - OOSTENDE KUSTMEN (last time in 1900)
1 - EEKLO RACING (last time in 1902)

LAST CHAMPIONS:

1902 - EEKLO RACING
1901 - CLUB SPORTIF LIÉGEOIS
1900 - OOSTENDE KUSTMEN
1899 - BRUGGE STERREN
1898 - ZEEBRUGGE SPORT AND RECREATIE