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OOTP 19 - Historical Simulations Discuss historical simulations and their results in this forum. |
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05-22-2018, 09:03 PM | #1 |
Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 129
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Finger Lakes Baseball Association - a Fictional League, with Real Players
At the end of the 1879 season, the National League wanting to expand into larger cities attempted to force out its smaller franchises. Unfortunately for the NL players the attempts to oust the two smallest clubs causes a rift among the owners. The infighting causes the league to disband.
A group of 8 baseball loving friends negotiate with the out of work baseball players and 127 of the players decide to join so a new league is born. Starting in 1880, the Finger Lakes Baseball Association was born. Even though it would outgrow the region over the years, the name remained as a reminder to the origins of the game. 1880-1889 (the first decade) With only about 15 players per team in the initial season, the 8 teams (Auburn Doubledays, Binghamton Patriots, Elmira Pioneers, Poughkeepsie Peach Kings, Oswego Otters, Syracuse Saints, Troy Trojans and Utica Blue Sox) only played 105 games and there were no playoffs. By 1883, there are enough players for each team that the schedule is lengthened to 140 games. The Brooklyn Robins and the first team to be located outside of New York, the Boston Americans join the league for the 1884 season. The league divides into East and West Divisions and holds a championship series for the first time. After the 1884 season, the FLBA continues to expand into the largest cities in the country, by placing teams in Philadelphia and St Louis. The Philadelphia Liberty join the East Division and the St Louis Lagers join the West. The league continues to expand over the rest of the decade to 12 teams and moves out of state to Baltimore, Boston, Chicago and St Louis. The schedule expands once again in 1886 to 155 games. The first season was a three team race. The Troy Trojans, Oswego Otters and the Auburn Doubledays battled it out with Troy pulling away over the last few weeks to win the league's first championship by 5 games. The Auburn Doubledays (63-42) won their first title on the last day of the 1881 season. The Doubledays and the defending champion, Troy Trojans entered the last day of the regular season tied. Troy (62-43) played first and dropped a 6-5 decision on the road at the Utica Blue Sox (59-46). Fred Corey (17-11) threw a complete game on the road against the Syracuse Saints (56-49). And Lee Richmond hit a two out double in the top of the ninth to give Auburn its first title with the 3-2 win. The Auburn Doubledays are the dominant team of the first half of the decade. Winning the title in 1881, 1882, 1883 and having become the first team to win 100 games in 1884, going 106-34, the Doubledays looked poised to win their 4th straight title. The East Division Champion Troy Trojans (87-53) had other plans and upset the Doubledays 4 games to 3 to capture their second championship. The Trojans also won the original title in 1880. Over the middle part of the decade, the Albany Aces rose up to challenge the Doubledays supremacy. Albany appeared in four straight championship series (1885-1888) winning the title twice, 1886 and 1888. Albany remained a real threat to Auburn into the 1890s. Led by the dominant pitching of James Burke, Toad Ramsey and Charlie Sweeney the Doubledays continue to dominate the West Division over the rest of the decade, winning 113 games in 1886, 119 in 1887 and 116 in 1888. Auburn wins their 5th and 6th titles over Albany in 1885 and 1887 and finish the decade with a 4 games to 3 win over surprise opponent the Boston Americans (85-70) in 1889, for their 7th title in 10 seasons. Notable Players: James Burke (Auburn): James has been the single most dominant pitcher in the decade. Burke finished the decade with 254 wins over 7 seasons. He won over 40 games twice, over 30 four more times and won 28 in his only other full season. He won the Pitcher of the Year Award 6 straight times from 1884-1889. He led the league in wins 4 times, ERA 5 times, Games once, Innings Pitched 4 times, Strikeouts 5 times, WHIP 7 times, BB/9 6 times, K/9 5 times, and WAR 5 times. Attachment 557561 Roger Conner (Auburn): Rookie of the Year, 3 time MVP, 5 time Silver Slugger, 4 time Gold Glove, 6 time Champion. Dan Brouthers (Utica/Albany): 3 time MVP, 6 time Silver Slugger, 2 time Gold Glove, 2 time Champion |
05-22-2018, 09:07 PM | #2 |
Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 129
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Buck Ewing (Utica/Albany): 2 Silver Slugger, 1 Gold Glove, 2 Championships
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05-22-2018, 09:09 PM | #3 |
Minors (Double A)
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 129
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Pete Browning (Poughkeepsie/New York): Rookie of the Year, 6 time Silver Slugger.
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05-24-2018, 05:55 AM | #4 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 977
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Nice to see this. I went to school in Binghamton, and also in the Hudson Valley near Poughkeepsie. Lived in the Finger Lakes region. Both the HV and FL are among the most beautiful areas in the world.
No Ithaca team? Seneca Falls? Anyway, great idea for a league. |
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