History of Foot(Base)ball

[jasg224]

So, I'm a big soccer(football) fan and as such, I decided to make a fictional simulation to "recreate" the historic leagues and teams of football using the OOTP simulator until I reach the current year. I also made some changes to have custom country baseball qualities based on soccer quality. I also started in 2019 because I forgot to change the starting date before starting the game. However, I have changed the financial settings to 1888 to have better accuracy.

The first football league in history was The Football League which started in England in 1888. It had 12 teams which were as follow(using the names I put into OOTP):
Accrington Club
Aston Villa (Nicknamed Villans)
Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers
Burnley Clarets
Derby Rams
Everton Toffees
Notts County Magpies
Preston North End
Stoke Potters
West Bromwich Baggies
Wolverhampton Wolves

The next post will contain the results from the first season of the simulation.

[jasg224]

The first champions in football history were Preston North End after an invincible 1888-1889 season. However, Blackburn Rovers were the first ever league champions in our simulation.

A note on the stats: Each team plays 66 games(2 series against each other)

Standings:

(I would have disabled playoffs, however I ran some tests and for some reason the league would stay in a perpetual state of "waiting for the next round" unless there were playoffs.)

Awards:
Reliever of the Season:

RHP Charlie Burke (Everton) - 44.2 IP/64 K/9 BB/1.01 ERA

Young Player of the Season:

1B Zach Rimbaud, 22 (Blackburn) - .344 AVG/.422 OBP/28 HR/87 RBI/3.3 WAR

Pitcher of the Season:

RHP Martin Foley (Derby) - 5-3 87.1 IP/98 K/16 BB/2.16 ERA, led the league with a 1.03 WHIP

Player of the Season:

2B Jude Tollis (Wolverhampton) - .382 AVG/.526 OBP/22 HR/70 RBI/4.9 WAR

The next post will cover the 1889-90 season which featured the same teams as the 1888-89 season.

[jasg224]

Preston North End became the first back-to-back champions in the history of football after finishing on 33 points(2 points were awarded for a win in 1889). Meanwhile, in OOTP, Wolverhampton Wanderers won their first ever championship.

Standings:


Awards:
Reliever of the Season:
LHP Farid Hussain (Blackburn) - 41.1 IP/65 K/13 BB/1.31 ERA

Young Player of the Season:
CF Hans Furseth, 29 (Everton) - .304 AVG/.416 OBP/23 HR/55 RBI/4.0 WAR

Pitcher of the Season:
RHP Murilo Paneira (Wolverhampton) - 8-1 88.0 IP/91 K/11 BB/1.43 ERA, led the league in ERA

Player of the Season:
LF Giannis Nazlidis (Wolverhampton) - .395 AVG/.503 OBP/31 HR/66 RBI/3.8 WAR, led the league in HR, OBP, WAR, SLG(.845) and OPS(1.348)

The next season will cover the 1890-91 season. Following the 1889-90 season, 12th placed Stoke was not re-elected and Sunderland was elected to take its place. In our simulation, I will remove bottom-placed Notts County.

[jasg224]

Everton won the league for the first time, finishing two points ahead of Preston North End. Meanwhile, Blackburn won their second championship in three years.

Standings:


Awards:
Reliever of the Season:
LHP Nana Kwame Larbi (Blackburn) - 29.1 IP/44 K/4 BB/0.31 ERA

Young Player of the Season:
CF Kwame Appiah, 26 (Blackburn) - .322 AVG/.366 OBP/0 HR/34 RBI/2.1 WAR, led the league with 24 doubles

Pitcher of the Season:
RHP Martin Foley (2x, Derby) - 8-1, 83.0 IP/157 K/2 BB/1.08 ERA, led the league in strikeouts, WHIP(0.53), BB/9(0.2), K.9(17.0) and WAR(5.6)

Player of the Season:
LF Giannis Nazlidis (2x, Blackburn) - .342 AVG/.437 OBP/18 HR/55 RBI/4.2 WAR, led the league with .705 SLG

Accomplishments:
11/03
RHP Maikel Nunez(Accrington) no-hit Aston Villa with 12K and 0BB, Nunez hit Luka Tomasovic with a pitch.
On the same day, RHP Jayden Angrove(West Bromwich) no-hit Sunderland with 6K and 1BB

The next entry will cover the 1891 season. On this year, the league expanded by two teams after re-electing Stoke and electing Darwen into the league.

[jasg224]

This season marked the debut of the Irish and Scottish leagues, which really started in 1890-91 but I overlooked because I was half asleep when I simmed that season. Anyway, I will be splitting the report by league now. (If someone can tell me how to put spoilers to avoid the clutter, I'd appreciate it very much)

England - The Football League
Standings:


Awards:
Reliever of the Season:
RHP Finn Cairney (Accrington) - 35.1 IP/31 K/7 BB/1.02 ERA

Young Player of the Year:
RF Julius Shaw, 23 (Accrington) - .322 AVG/.348 OBP/7 HR/43 RBI/2.6 WAR

Pitcher of the Season:
RHP Ezra Bork (Notts County) - 108.0 IP/147 K/10 BB/1.75 ERA, led the league in IP, K and WAR(6.0)

Player of the Season:
3B Brent Kilmister (Accrington) - .338 AVG/.373 OBP/11 HR/39 RBI/2.1 WAR

Scotland - Scottish Fotball League:
Standings:


Awards:
Reliever of the Season:
RHP Rory Duncan (Abercorn) - 40.1 IP/31 K/8 BB/1.12 ERA

Young Player of the Year:
RHP Andrew Murray (Cambuslang) - 76.0 IP/64 K/18 BB/1.89 ERA, led the league in ERA

Pitcher of the Season:
RHP Alvaro Orcagna (Dumbarton) - 81.2 IP/81 K/16 BB/2.20 ERA, led the league in WHIP(0.88), BABIP(.245) and WAR(3.3)

Player of the Season:
RF Lee Dark (Dumbarton) - .388 AVG/.460 OBP/15 HR/69 RBI/3.1 WAR, led the league in AVG and OPS(1.099)

North Ireland - Irish Football League
Standings:


Awards:
Reliever of the Season:
LHP Rogan Feeney (Linfield) - 38.2 IP/13 K/8 BB/0.47 ERA

Newcomer of the Season:
RF Asmund Hjerstrand (Ligoniel) - .500 AVG/.568 OBP/4 HR/31 RBI/7.2 WAR, led the league in AVG, OBP, SLG(.723), OPS(1.309), Hits(83) and Triples(2)

Pitcher of the Season:
RHP Henry Clarke (Lisburn) - 68.0 IP/75 K/3 BB/0.40 ERA, led the league in ERA

Player of the Season:
RF Asmund Hjerstrand (Ligoniel)

The next post will cover the 1892-93 season of the English, Scottish and Irish leagues. In England, three new teams come into the league: Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest and Newton Heath(who would later become known as Manchester United). Darwen was not re-elected. In Ireland, the league would be reduced to 6 teams.

[jasg224]

The 1892-93 season was the first season of The Football League's second division(from which I will only report the teams that get promoted).

England
Champions: Notts County (58-20)

Awards:
Reliever of the Season:
RHP Maxim Rougier (Derby) - 38.0 IP/69 K/8 BB/0.71 ERA, led the league with 21 saves

Young Player of the Year:
RHP Josh Robertson, 29 (Notts County) - 113.0 IP/156 K/9 BB/2.31 ERA, led the league in K, WHIP(0.69) and WAR(5.7)

Pitcher of the Season:
RHP Josh Robertson (Notts County)

Player of the Season:
LF Jeremy Dunne (Notts County) - .368 AVG/.479 OBP/25 HR/55 RBI/5.5 WAR, led the league in AVG, OBP and OPS(1.156)

Promoted: Grimsby, Port Vale
Relegated: Aston Villa, Bolton

Scotland
Champions: St. Mirren (40-26)

Awards:
Reliever of the Season:
RHP Dylan Short (Leith) - 35.1 IP/44 K/9 BB/2.29 ERA, led the league with 18 saves

Young Player of the Year:
RF Carter Mackay, 25 (Renton) - .318 AVG/.416 OBP/14 HR/50 RBI/2.5 WAR

Pitcher of the Season:
RHP JJ Ennes (Rangers) - 79.1 IP/60 K/34 BB/2.50 ERA, led the league in ERA

Player of the Season:
3B Macay Fowler (Renton) - .374 AVG/.462 OBP/24 HR/83 RBI/4.5 WAR, led the league in AVG, HR, WAR, Runs(67), SLG(.735) and OPS(1.197)

Ireland
Champion: Lisburn

Awards:
Reliever of the Season:
RHP Felan Welling (Cliftonville) - 29.0 IP/28 K/15 BB/2.48 ERA

Young Player of the Season:
RF Callum Petersen, 23 (Lisburn) - .403 AVG/.506 OBP/5 HR/73 RBI/3.6 WAR, led the league in RBI, doubles(29) and triples(3)

Pitcher of the Season:
RHP Milenko Mitrovic (Derry) - 56.2 IP/72 K/15 BB/1.43 ERA, led the league in ERA, Wins(7) and 11.4 K/9

Player of the Season:
1B Dan van de Paar (Lisburn) - .435 AVG/.538 OBP/11 HR/69 RBI/3.9 WAR, led the league in AVG, OBP, HR, WAR, Runs(68), Hits(83), SLG(.712) and OPS(1.251)

The next post will cover the 1893-94 season. Liverpool, Newcastle and Arsenal will join the Second Division. It will also be the first season of the Scottish Second Division and the Argentinian League.

[Hageneezz]

Reading along, great start!

[jasg224]

I've gotten caught up with school and family, will update when possible.

[jasg224]

1893 will be the first time I include the British Home Championship, to be played between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

British Home Championship
Champions: England defeats Wales, 5-4

England
Champions: Notts County (75-15), 2nd

Awards:
Reliever of the Season: RHP Houston Wilkie (Accrington) - 6-1/4 SV/51.0 IP/65 K/7 BB/1.06 ERA
Young Player of the Year: CF Mack Hill, 29 (West Brom) - .262 AVG/.332 OBP/19 HR/49 RBI/3.5 WAR, led all rookies in HR, SLG(.521), OPS(.854) and WAR
Pitcher of the Season: RHP Ezra Bork (Notts County), his second (1891/92) - 13-2/118.1 IP/169 K/11 BB/1.52 ERA, led the league in wins and ERA
Player of the Season: CF Neto Martínez (Notts County) - .331 AVG/.446 OBP/34 HR/96 RBI/7.7 WAR, led the league in WAR and runs scored with 92.

Promoted: Rotherham Town, Crewe Alexandra
Relegated: Grimsby Mariners, Burnley Clarets

Scotland
Champions: St. Bernard's (58-8), 1st

Awards:
Reliever of the Season: RHP Dorian McMillan (St. Bernard's) - 4-1/10 SV/32.3 IP/30 K/11 BB/1.93 ERA, led the league in saves
Young Player of the Year: RF Dan Stevens, 25 (St. Mirren) - .359 AVG/.512 OBP/10 HR/45 RBI/3.4 WAR, led the league in OBP, runs scored(89), triples(6), walks(78) and stolen bases(24). Led all rookies in every category except for HR and RBI.
Pitcher of the Year: RHP Pietro Fazzi (St. Bernard's) - 11-0/86.1 IP/105 K/14 BB/1.25 ERA, led the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts, WHIP(0.75), K/9(10.9) and WAR(4.2). Fazzi achieved the pitching Triple Crown this season.
Player of the Year: RHP Pietro Fazzi

Promoted: Port Glasgow Athletic
Relegated: Celtic

Ireland
Champions: Lisburn (39-9), 3rd

Awards:
Reliever of the Year: LHP Donnie Brooks (Lisburn) - 1-0/5 SV/19.2 IP/11 K/11 BB/2.29 ERA, led the league in saves
Young Player of the Year: C Darby Bernerd, 28 (Cliftonville) - .360 AVG/.448 OBP/4 HR/39 RBI/1.7 WAR, led all rookies in SLG, OPS and stolen bases(6)
Pitcher of the Year: RHP Jake Stinson (Lisburn) - 9-0/69.2 IP/62 K/19 BB/1.55 ERA, led the league in wins, ERA, IP, strikeouts and opponent's BABIP(.162). Stinson achieved the pitching Triple Crown this season.
Player of the Year: RHP Jake Stinson (Lisburn)

Accomplishments:
Alvaro Vieyra throws a no-hitter against Ulster while playing for Ligoniel (8K,0BB)

[jasg224]

British Home Championship
Champions: England defeats Wales 5-2 to get their second consecutive championship.

Argentina:
Note: The season is 30 games long as there are only 10 teams in the league.

Champions: Retiro (23-7), 1st

Awards:
Reliever of the Season: LHP Divino Alicea (Flores) - 3 SV/13.1 IP/9 K/2 BB/0.67 ERA
Revelation of the Season: SS Jake Conrad (Retiro) - .376 AVG/.461 OBP/2 HR/14 RBI/2.9 WAR
Pitcher of the Season: RHP Adam Watson (Retiro) - 6-1/57.1 IP/60 K/5 BB/1.41 ERA, led the league in wins, starts(7), IP, strikeouts and WAR, he also didn't give up any home runs.
Player of the Season: LF Dewey Campbell* (Lobos) - .452 AVG/.532 OBP/3 HR/17 RBI/1.7 WAR
*Campbell played in 18 games(out of 30) before being traded to Lisburn in Ireland.

Accomplishments:
Adam Watson threw a perfect game against Lomas, striking out 8.

England
Champions: Notts County (69-21), 3rd

Awards:
Reliever of the Season: RHP Esteban Morales (Rotherham) - 4-0/11 SV/74.2 IP/86 K/9 BB/0.96 ERA
Young Player of the Year: RF Cade Gilbranch, 29 (Nottingham) - .338 AVG/.394 OBP/14 HR/54 RBI/4.3 WAR
Pitcher of the Season: RHP Josh Robertson (Notts County), his 2nd(2023) - 12-2/127.2 IP/204 K/10 BB/1.48 ERA, led the league in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP(0.6) and K/9(14.4)
Player of the Season: RF Giannis Nazlidis (Blackburn), his 3rd(2020,21) - .316 AVG/.424 OBP/32 HR/75 RBI/7.0 WAR, led the league in WAR, OBP, runs scored(76), SLG(.690) and OPS(1.113)

Accomplishments:
Duane Crowder(Port Vale) and Shaun Watson(Blackburn) hit for the cycle.

Ireland
Champions: Lisburn (37-11), 4th

Awards:
Reliever of the Year: RHP Jon Parsson (Lisburn) - 6 SV/19.1 IP/19.1 IP/26 K/10 BB/1.86 ERA
Young Player of the Year: SS Harry Milne, 25 (Linfield) - .287 AVG/.407 OBP/4 HR/31 RBI/1.9 WAR, led the league with 3 triples and 6 stolen bases
Pitcher of the Year: LHP Brodie Blair (Lisburn) - 5-0/36.0 IP/29 K/5 BB/0.75 ERA, led the league in ERA, WHIP(0.67), BB/9(1.2), WAR(1.6), he also didn't give up any home runs.
Player of the Year: LF Dewey Campbell* (Lisburn) - .439 AVG/.603 OBP/9 HR/43 RBI/3.6 WAR, led the league in AVG, OBP, WAR, BB(55), SLG(.712) and OPS(1.315)
*Campbell played in 36 games(out of 48) after being traded from Lobos in Argentina, he becomes the first player to win MVP in two leagues in the same season.

Scotland
Champions: St. Mirren (37-24), 2nd

Awards:
Reliever of the Year: RHP Ron Falter (Port Glasgow) - 3-2/14 SV/28.1 IP/37 K/9 BB/2.54 ERA
Young Player of the Year: 3B Dom Campbell, 28 (Dundee) - .309 AVG/.404 OBP/15 HR/54 RBI/2.0 WAR
Pitcher of the Year: RHP Daniel Poyner (St. Mirren) - 10-1/78.2 IP/65 K/20 BB/2.52 ERA, led the league in wins, and HR/9(0.3)
Player of the Year: RF Lee Sweeney (Port Glasgow) - .355 AVG/.495 OBP/19 HR/62 RBI/4.1 WAR, led the league in WAR, runs scored(70), BB(62), SLG(.709) and OPS(1.204)

Accomplishments:
Renton's Jonathan Lehmann threw a no-hitter against Rangers, striking out 3 and walking 1.

[jasg224]

This season was the debut of the French and Belgian leagues.

British Home Championship
Champions: Wales defeat Scotland 3-2 to clinch their first championship.

Argentina
Champions: Retiro (25-5), 2nd

Awards:
Reliever of the Year: Itamar Tomar (Lomas) - 1-0/10 SV/16.1 IP/27 K/3 BB/2.20 ERA, led the league in saves
Young Player of the Year: 1B Scott Kwiatowski, 37 (Quilmes) - .336 AVG/.381 OBP/5 HR/13 RBI/1.1 WAR
Pitcher of the Year: RHP Adam Watson (Retiro) - 7-0/58.0 IP/89 K/5 BB/1.86 ERA, led the league in wins, starts, IP, strikeouts, WHIP(0.55) and WAR(2.7)
Player of the Year: 1B Mancelo Zatarain (Retiro) - .458 AVG/.525 OBP/14 HR/42 RBI/3.5 WAR, led the league in hits(54), HR, RBI, AVG, OBP, SLG(.941), OPS(1.466) and WAR

Accomplishments:
English High School's Michael Armidage pitches a no-hitter against Quilmes, striking out 15 and walking 1
Mancelo Zatarain achieves the triple crown

Belgium
Champions: Sporting Bruxelles (19-11), 1st

Awards:
Reliever of the Year: RHP Andreja Stankovic (Brugeois) - 2-0/5 SV/13.0 IP/4 K/7 BB/1.38 ERA, led the league with 7 appearances
Young Player of the Year: CF Capita Assete, 24 (Brugeois) - .393 AVG/.424 OBP/.585 SLG/1 HR/15 RBI/1.2 WAR, led the league with 32 runs scored, 53 hits, 11 triples, SLG, and 1.009 OPS
Pitcher of the Year: LHP Wesley Steux (Brugeois) - 5-1/50.0 IP/21 K/10 BB/1.80 ERA, led the league in wins, ERA, WHIP(0.94) and opponent BABIP(.216)
Player of the Year: CF Capita Assete (Brugeois)

England
Champions: Notts County (80-10), 4th

Awards:
Reliever of the Year: RHP Aaron Villeda (Notts County) - 5-0/26 SV/37.1 IP/72 K/8 BB/0.72 ERA
Young Player of the Year: LF Isaac Griff, 28 (Wolverhampton) - .353 AVG/.408 OBP/.579 SLG/11 HR/44 RBI, led the league in AVG and doubles(30)
Pitcher of the Year: RHP Josh Robertson (Notts County) - 11-1/134.1 IP/213 K/13 BB/1.47, led the league in strikeouts, WHIP(0.58), K/9(14.3), opponent BABIP(.223) and WAR(7.2)
Player of the Year: 3B Jesse Weasley (Sheffield Wednesday) - .315 AVG/.408 OBP/.748 SLG/43 HR/78 RBI/6.9 WAR, led the league in HR, SLG and WAR

Accomplishments:
Derby's Sol Harris hit for the cycle against Blackburn
Stoke's Garth Rose pitches a no-hitter against Newton Heath, strikes out 12 and walks 6
Crewe's Stewart Andrews pitches a no-hitter against Aston Villa, strikes out 15 and walks 3
Blackburn's Zach Rimbaud becomes the first player to hit 200 home runs, finishes the season at 215

Promoted: Everton, Port Vale
Relegated: Aston Villa, Grimsby

France
Champions: Cercle Pedestre Asnieres (15-9), 1st

Awards:
Reliever of the Year: RHP Mahamane Abdoulaye (Neuilly) - 1-0/17.0 IP/2 K/4 BB/5.29 ERA, led the league with 7 appearances
Young Player of the Year: LF Attilio Ka, 21 (Levallois) - .348 AVG/.396 OBP/.461 SLG/1 HR/12 RBI/0.6 WAR
Pitcher of the Year: RHP Raphael Marrou (Francois) - 3-1/40.2 IP/11 K/18 BB/1.55 ERA, led the league in ERA, WHIP(1.08) and opponent BABIP(.197), he didn't give up any home runs
Player of the Year: RHP Raphael Marrou (Francois)

Ireland
Champions: Lisburn (41-7), 5th

Awards:
Reliever of the Year: LHP Shane Watt (Lisburn) - 3-0/4 SV/29.2 IP/32 K/18 BB/0.61 ERA, led the league in ERA
Young Player of the Year: C Moe Aldridge, 24 (Cliftonville) - .323 AVG/.421 OBP/.500 SLG/2 HR/18 RBI/1.4 WAR
Pitcher of the Year: LHP Dylan Kay (Glentoran) - 4-3/52.1 IP/52 K/26 BB/2.24 ERA
Player of the Year: LF Dewey Campbell (Lisburn), his 2nd in Ireland and 3rd overall - .457 AVG/.602 OBP/.886 SLG/19 HR/65 RBI/5.2 WAR, led the league in runs scored(65), hits(80), HR, RBI, BB(67), AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS(1.488) and WAR

Accomplishments:
Dewey Campbell achieved the triple crown

Scotland
Champions: Port Glasgow (38-17), 1st

Awards:
Reliever of the Year: RHP Alex Jouan (Renton) - 3-1/2 SV/55.2 IP/55 K/16 BB/1.29 ERA, led the league in ERA, WHIP(0.90) and opponent BABIP(.232)
Young Player of the Year: LF Zlatko Viduka, 29 (Port Glasgow) - .371 AVG/.457 OBP/.659 SLG/11 HR/40 RBI/2.1 WAR, led the league in AVG
Pitcher of the Year: LHP Arshad Abdelrahim (Dumbarton) - 2-4/74.1 IP/87 K/24 BB/2.30 ERA, led the league in strikeouts, K/9(10.5) and WAR(2.9)
Player of the Year: 1B Collins Wilson (Dundee) - .328 AVG/.481 OBP/.662 SLG/18 HR/62 RBI/3.1 WAR, led the league in HR, BB(61), OBP, SLG and OPS(1.143)