|
||||
|
|
OOTP 14 - Historical Simulations Discuss historical simulations and their results in this forum. |
|
Thread Tools |
08-18-2013, 02:06 AM | #1 |
Minors (Rookie Ball)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Daegu, South Korea
Posts: 32
|
The Majors -- A Slightly Altered History
This is going to be quite an ambitious project, but I intend to replay as many Major League seasons as I can, (hopefully all of them), beginning in 1901, two years before the AL and NL formally united as one major league. I'm letting the league evolve as it should according to real-life with one slight adjustment that may prove to seriously alter the game's history; free agency. Though players will still begin their careers with their respective teams, I've disabled the Reserve Clause as well as the "historical transactions" options. I expect these two seemingly minor adjustments will prove to have monumental effects on baseball history. Obviously, this means there is no gaurentee that Babe Ruth will ever build a home for himself in the Bronx. I imagine star players like Cobb, Wagner, Mathewson, etc will test the market and in all likely-hood, make positive contributions to several different clubs before their careers draw to an end. I'm also interested to see how this will effect the early progression of two teams in particular; the New York Giants and the New York Highlanders/Yankees.
1903 should be the year that McGraw and company leave Baltimore for New York, and they will in this league, however instead of taking their stars to the National League's NY team, the Orioles will simply become the Highlanders with real-time NY Giant stars Mike Donlin, Roger Bresnahan, and John J. McGraw testing the American League instead. I'm planning on reviewing each season at it's conclusion and posting short write-ups here complete with award winners, World Series recaps, and any other highlights. Hopefully this task doesn't become too daunting. |
08-18-2013, 02:19 AM | #2 |
Minors (Rookie Ball)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Daegu, South Korea
Posts: 32
|
Year in Review – 1901
The National League The first season of the newly formed Major League began on April 18th when Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants fired a called strike to Boston Beaneaters second-baseman, Gene DeMontreville. The Giants, behind a stellar performance from Mathewson, would go on to log a 2-1 victory after an 11-inning contest. Though Mathewson would continue to dominate the league for the remainder of the season, his efforts would not be enough to propel the Giants to the top of the National League standings. That honor would belong to the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team led by a 24 year-old ace named Rube Waddell. Waddell dominated hitters by mixing an overpowering fastball with an excellent sweeping curve. The combination was enough to earn Rube the National League Pitching Triple Crown as he finished with an impressive line of 29 wins against only 5 losses; a 1.57 ERA; and 251 strikeouts. Rube also logged 32 complete games and 4 shutouts while setting records in numerous pitching categories: .853 Winning %; 6.77 Hits Allowed per 9 IP; 7.02 Strikeouts per 9 IP; 0.94 WHIP; and .248 OPP OBP. Offensively, the Pirates were sparked by a duo of young outfielders. Rightfielder Lefty Davis, (.323 3 62), and centerfielder Ginger Beaumont (.308 6 93), packed the punch in the wake of superstar Fred Clarke’s early season-ending injury. Though pitchers like Rube, Mathewson (18-14 2.19), Philadelphia’s Doc White (22-12 2.36), and Pittsburgh’s Jesse Tannehill (20-13 1.81) would hold most of the National League hitters at bay, none of their efforts were good enough to stifle Elmer Flick, a 25 year-old outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies. Flick would log numbers good enough to win the Triple Crown, finishing with a .369 AVG, 12 HRs, and 119 RBI while also leading the league in OBP (.454), SLG (.565), OPS (1.019), Hits (202), Total Bases (309), and the highest WAR ever recorded by a position player (8.6). Other Notes: Cincinnati Reds first-baseman Jake Beckley records hit number 2000. New York Giants shortstop George Davis becomes the 4th player to tally 1000 RBIs. Standings Pittsburgh Pirates............88-52 .629 Cincinnati Reds...............79-61 .564 St. Louis Cardinals...........78-62 .557 Philadelphia Phillies...........77-63 .550 Brooklyn Superbas...........69-71 .493 New York Giants..............64-76 .457 Chicago Orphans.............61-79 .436 Boston Beaneaters...........44-96 .314 Awards MVP – Elmer Flick PHI .369 AVG 12 HR 119 RBI Top Pitcher – Rube Waddell PIT 29-5 1.97 ERA 251 K Rookie of the Year – Doc White P PHI 22-12 2.36 ERA 205 K Manager of the Year – Fred Clark, Pittsburgh Pirates Top 5 Hitters 1. Elmer Flick RF Phi 2. Bobby Wallace SS Stl 3. Billy Hamilton CF Bos 4. Claude Ritchey 2B Pit 5. George Davis SS NY Top 5 Pitchers 1. Rube Waddell Pit 2. Doc White Phi 3. Christy Mathewson NY 4. Jesse Tannehill Pit 5. Noodles Hahn Cin |
08-18-2013, 02:24 AM | #3 |
Minors (Rookie Ball)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Daegu, South Korea
Posts: 32
|
Year in Review -- 1901
The American League The Boston Americans notched victories in 50 of their final 65 games to steal the pennant away from a strong Baltimore team. After dropping the first 2 games of the World Series, the Americans surged forward again, and shocked the Pirates by winning the next 4 games and the series. Sluggers Jimmy Collins (.304 10 111), and leading RBI man Buck Freeman, (.323 9 134), powered the offense while twin aces Cy Young, (23-8 2.01), and Ted Lewis (27-6 2.65) anchored the pitching staff. Both pitchers also enjoyed personal milestones during the season with Young recording career win number 300 and Lewis pitching the first no hitter in the league’s young history. Nap Lajoie won the batting crown by posting a .383 batting average. The 27 year-old second-basemen also led the league in Hits (231), Doubles (47), SLG (.544), OPS (.957) and Total Bases (328). In Baltimore, “Turkey” Mike Donlin’s 18 Home Runs and John McGraw’s 59 Stolen Bases were each league bests. Other Notes Milwaukee Brewer’s LF Hugh Duffy crossed the plate for the 1500th time making him only the third player to do so. Standings Boston Americans................98-42 .700 Baltimore Orioles.................91-49 .650 Washington Senators...........68-72 .486 Chicago White Sox..............68-72 .486 Detroit Tigers.....................64-76 .457 Milwaukee Brewers..............63-77 .450 Philadelphia Athletics...........55-85 .393 Cleveland Blues..................53-87 .379 Awards MVP – Nap Lajoie PHI .383 10 HR 118 RBI Top Pitcher – Cy Young BOS 23-8 2.01 ERA 128 K Rookie of the Year – Socks Seybold RF PHI .316 7 HR 79 RBI Manager of the Year – Jimmy Collins, Boston Americans Top 5 Hitters 1. Nap Lajoie 2B Phi 2. Jimmy Collins 3B Bos 3. Buck Freeman 1B Bos 4. Chick Stahl CF Bos 5. John McGraw 3B Bal Top 5 Pitchers 1. Cy Young Bos 2. Jack Katoll Chi 3. Casey Patten Was 4. Eddie Plank Phi 5. Harry Howell Bal |
08-18-2013, 08:59 AM | #4 |
Minors (Rookie Ball)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Daegu, South Korea
Posts: 32
|
Year in Review – 1902
The National League For the second consecutive year, the National League saw three teams jockey for the top position. The Philadelphia Phillies, led by sluggers Ed Delahanty, (.332 8 93) and top RBI man Elmer Flick (.327 3 101), as well as pitching sensation Doc White (23-9 2.31), topped the division for most of the first half of the season but then faded in the final months. Cincinnati’s offense was the best in the league thanks in large part to 22 year-old rightfielder Sam Crawford. Crawford was the league’s hitting champion, batting .366, while also setting the mark for Homeruns (9); SLG (.536); OPS (.952); Hits (208); Runs (105); Triples (23); and Total Bases (305). Crawford’s 96 RBIs were the second highest total in the NL. Newly acquired Fred Clarke, signed as a free agent during the offseason, finished second in hitting (.348 5 78), and topped the league in OBP (.437). Veteran first-baseman, Jake Beckley was having another fine season, (.300 6 66), until an injury ended his year in early August. As good as the Red’s offense was, their pitching struggled in the early months and only ERA champion Noodles Hahn, (23-12 2.00), provided consistency from the top of the hill. Once again pitching was the key to the season in Pittsburgh. Coming off of a breakout season, ace lefthander Rube Waddell led the way again, topping the league in Wins (25); Innings (315.2); OPP AVG (.220) and Strikeouts (245). Fellow southpaw, Jesse Tannehill (23-11) tied Noodles Hahn for a league best 2.00 ERA and led the way with a 1.05 WHIP. Rounding out the rotation was 30 year-old Sam Leever, who enjoyed his career best season, finishing 22-12 with a 2.47 ERA. Shortstop, Honus Wagner, (.320 2 68 41SB) and outfielder, Ginger Beaumont, (.341 5 61), led the Pirate attack all the way to the National League Pennant. Just like the previous year, the Pirates found themselves squaring off with a heavily favored Boston team. This year would be different though, as Pittsburgh found redemption, securing the World Series title in 5 games. Other Notes Cincinnati SS Herman Long smacks hit number 2000 and collects his 1000th RBI. Phillies LF Big Ed Delahanty topped 2500 hits and 1500 RBIs. New York SS George Davis reached 2000 hits. Chicago SP Fred Glade tosses a no hitter against St Louis. Standings Pittsburgh Pirates...............90-50 .643 Cincinnati Reds..................89-51 .636 Philadelphia Phillies..............84-56 .600 Chicago Orphans................76-64 .543 St Louis Cardinals...............63-77 .450 New York Giants.................62-78 .443 Brooklyn Superbas...............49-91 .350 Boston Beaneaters..............47-93 .336 Awards MVP – Sam Crawford CIN .366 AVG 9 HR 96 RBI Top Pitcher – Rube Waddell PIT 25-9 2.11 ERA 245 K Rookie of the Year – Carl Lundgren P CHI 17-16 2.44 ERA 106 K Manager of the Year – Bill Shettsline, Philadelphia Phillies Top 5 Hitters 1. Sam Crawford RF Cin 2. Ed Delahanty LF Phi 3. Elmer Flick RF Phi 4. Fred Clarke LF Cin 5. Jimmy Sheckard LF Brk Top 5 Pitchers 1. Rube Waddell Pit 2. Jesse Tannehill Pit 3. Noodles Hahn Cin 4. Christy Mathewson NY 5. Doc White Phi |
08-18-2013, 09:05 AM | #5 |
Minors (Rookie Ball)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Daegu, South Korea
Posts: 32
|
Year in Review -- 1902
The American League Once again, the Boston Americans steamrolled through the rest of the league en route to their second consecutive American League Pennant. The league’s second best offense was headed by centerfielder Chick Stahl, (.322 3 67), homerun and RBI champion Buck Freeman, (.355 10 106), who also led the league in SLG (.533), and OPS (.924), and second-sacker Jimmy Collins, (.327 7 66). The American’s pitching staff was again the best in the league. Cy Young was superb, (26-8 2.07), leading the league in wins and WHIP (0.99). New additions Jack Powell, (23-9 2.17), and ERA champ Red Donahue, (25-8 1.82), adjusted to the American League nicely. Baltimore started strong but were soon derailed by a string of injuries and terrible pitching. Cy Seymour (.367 5 95 39SB), claimed the batting title and led the American League with 221 hits and 300 total bases. John McGraw (.315 1 81 52SB), scored a league best 127 runs while again setting the pace with a .431 OBP. Jimmy Williams (.329 3 106), tied Freeman in the RBI department and led the league with 19 triples. A year ago, Cleveland finished at the bottom of the standings but thanks in large part to a breakout season from young third-baseman Bill Bradley, (.346 4 77 44 Doubles 202 Hits), the newly named Bronchos finished in the top half of the standings. Other Notes Cleveland 2B Erve Beck sets the Major League mark by hitting in 34 straight games. Chicago CF Dummy Hoy collects hit number 2000. Philadelphia 3B Lave Cross knocks in run number 1000 and whacks hit number 2000. St Louis SP Ned Garvin tosses a no hitter against Philadelphia. Detroit SP George Mullin no hits St Louis. Boston SP Cy Young sets the record for BBs/9 (0.62) Standings Boston Americans..................99-41 .707 Detroit Tigers........................86-54 .614 St Louis Browns....................71-69 .507 Cleveland Bronchos................70-70 .500 Baltimore Orioles....................68-72 .486 Philadelphia Athletics..............56-84 .400 Washington Senators..............55-85 .393 Chicago White Sox.................55-85 .393 Awards MVP – Buck Freeman BOS .355 10 HR 106 RBI Top Pitcher – Cy Young BOS 26-8 2.07 ERA 135 K Rookie of the Year – George Mullin SP DET 22-12 2.47 ERA 126 K Manager of the Year – Jimmy Collins, Boston Americans Top 5 Hitters 1. Buck Freeman RF Bos 2. Nap Lajoie 2B Phi 3. Cy Seymour CF Bal 4. Jimmy Barrett CF Det 5. Bill Bradley 3B Cle Top 5 Pitchers 1. Cy Young Bos 2. Jack Powell Bos 3. Red Donahue Bos 4. George Mullin Det 5. Ned Garvin Stl |
08-18-2013, 02:19 PM | #6 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 678
|
Duck, welcome to the forums and this looks like a good project. But, there is a section for dynasty reports and that's really where this thread belongs.
|
08-18-2013, 10:13 PM | #7 |
Minors (Rookie Ball)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Daegu, South Korea
Posts: 32
|
|
08-18-2013, 10:25 PM | #8 |
Minors (Rookie Ball)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Daegu, South Korea
Posts: 32
|
Okay. This thread will continue over in the Dynasty Reports forum.
|
Bookmarks |
|
|