my new 2026 historical league

[BaseballMan]

Decided to restart a solo league.
I will let ootp and ai write the news for the league as much as possible.
I plan on taking this league a little slower and not rushing anything.
So here i go.
Looks like there are a few misspellings in the newspaper text.
I am going to just leave it and just say its a misprint. I don't have the time to be that nit picky.

[BaseballMan]

I didn't get the newspaper to show all the text the ai wrote.
I think i might try using more newspaper pages.
I would like to use different newspaper styles.
Maybe changing with each decade?
Maybe also from the perspective of different citys.
I'd like to include the style of different announcers and sportswriters.
I did like the ai automatically made the box score look like the 1870s
with just the basics.
Well anyway here is the news after the first game

[BaseballMan]

This the whole text as written by ai in the style of Henry Chadwick.


FORT WAYNE vs. CLEVELAND — OPENING MATCH OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON.
Played at the Grand Duchess Grounds, May 4th, 1871.

The first contest of the present championship season was brought to a conclusion on Thursday last at Fort Wayne, where the local nine, the Kekiongas, encountered the Forest City club of Cleveland, and after a contest marked at once by patient pitching and uneven fielding, achieved a decisive victory by the score of eleven runs to two.

For three innings the play was of an orderly and promising character, neither side gaining material advantage, and the pitching on both parts being of a quality which restrained free batting. Cleveland first succeeded in opening the scoring in the third inning, when Battin reached his base upon an error, was advanced by a sacrifice, and eventually brought home, together with Carleton, upon a well-directed two-base hit by Deacon White. This was the only occasion upon which the Forest Citys made effective use of their opportunities, for though chances thereafter presented themselves, they were uniformly thrown away by ill-timed batting or injudicious base running

The turning point of the match was reached in the fourth inning, when the Cleveland pitcher, Pratt, lost that control of the ball so essential to success, while his fielders rendered him uncertain support. A base on balls and a clean hit placed runners, and though a sacrifice momentarily promised relief, Goldsmith’s fly secured the first tally for Fort Wayne. Immediately following, Kohler struck the ball squarely and with great force, sending it beyond the limits of the field for a home run, amid much enthusiasm, and bringing in two additional runs. The inning continued with little interruption; hits followed errors, judgment deserted the visitors, and before the side was retired six runs had been recorded, giving the Kekiongas a lead from which there was thereafter no recovery

From this point the superiority of the Fort Wayne nine was manifest. Mathews, who had pitched throughout with steadiness and intelligence, now redoubled his effectiveness, allowing the opposing batsmen but scant liberty, and permitting no further scoring. His delivery was well varied, his command excellent, and the support accorded him by his fielders generally secure. Cleveland, on the other hand, continued to labor under misfortune of their own making, leaving men upon bases and failing to profit by the few errors committed against them

In the eighth inning the Kekiongas again pressed their advantage, and by a succession of safe hits, aided by a wild pitch and alert base running, added five runs to their already commanding total, thereby placing the contest entirely beyond doubt. Kohler once more distinguished himself at the bat, while Carey and Mathews rendered valuable service in completing the rout

The game thus closed with a well-earned triumph for Fort Wayne, whose victory was due less to any extraordinary exhibition than to superior combination, steadier pitching, and a more judicious use of opportunities. Cleveland displayed moments of promise, particularly in the early innings, but must greatly amend their fielding and cultivate greater coolness at critical junctures if they would hope to contend successfully in future engagements of the championship series

[BaseballMan]

Looks like the ai messed up on getting the stats correct from the game.
Mathews didn't have a no hitter but like i said i do like its format for presentation. Might look into a solo league web site.

[BaseballMan]

Teams that fold during the season will not be eligible for the championship series. The team with the next best winning pctg would take its place.
I would like to use teams with most wins but im not sure how to get ootp to
show standings by wins or if its possible.
I know it could be a so why play scenario but i needed the teams for historical accuracy and i just look at as they didn't know they would fold.
I thought about just having the top team win the championship but thats kinda boring and i wanted some 19th century post season heroes.
I also decided to have an all star game start in 1871 this time.
To do that i chose to split the National Association and National Leagues into a East/West format as best as possible. The National League all-stars will play the American Association all stars. I may run the Union Association and Players League but they will have their own championship and maybe all star games.
Not sure if i will start Hall of fame in 1886 or wait till 1936.
I will use ai for hall of fame selection as i find the ootp hall of fame selection limited. I may use the ai for awards but im not sure about that yet.
i plan on using ai in this league as many ways as i can think of.
So if you've haven guessed by now thats the main goal of this league.
To see how much ai can be incorporated into a historical simulation.

[BaseballMan]

league news

[BaseballMan]

more news

[BaseballMan]

Decided against starting the All star game earlier. Just wouldn't seem right to me.
Anyone know how to copy standings from a earlier date than the current date to post them. That way i can run the season and then spend more time
going over the season.
Anyway here is the some news from the league

[BaseballMan]

more news

[BaseballMan]

I'll see if i can make the images smaller but im not sure if it would be readable.

I have to say it sure is a hell of lot easier to sim a league from the 19th century. Whether you use the games expansion road or a more historical correct league progress of teams.

The transaction file has almost got to the point where i dont even have to schedule the actual starting pitchers anymore. Also players now go to teams without leaving a team with not enough players. I think some of the real transaction dates may have not been available so you would end up with teams with not enough players on roster.

The ballparks...Wow what can i say except fantastic job by the modders.
They took the challenge when it was assumed that you couldn't do much for 19th century ballparks since you don't have the data you do today.

The historical photos are a great cosmetic touch to a historical league.
Even though i prefer the ai images now because i can have a player at a different age or in a different uniform, you still need real photos to base them on. AI images do not minimize the need for real photos.
So those photo sleuths do a great job as well.

Sure there are still some obstacles but 19th century play is so much better now.
My only peeve is that unless i use ootp's historical progress all the teams except Boston will fold and begin again in 1872.

[BaseballMan]

Just messing around and trying to figure out a routine. Heres the next 4 game recaps. I tried to get ai to include the stats but it doesn't always get it right.
I figure less for now till i can get it to do a better job.
I included a USA Today type newspaper just to see how it would look when i get to the 1990s.

[BaseballMan]

may standings

[BaseballMan]

June news

[BaseballMan]

July news

[BaseballMan]

August news

[BaseballMan]

sep news

[BaseballMan]

sep standings

[BaseballMan]

Oct news

[BaseballMan]

World Championship Series game 1

[BaseballMan]

gm 2