MLB: 1958 and Beyond...

kenyan_cheena · 01-03-2008, 12:38 AM

The New York Age

MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER, 1957

DODGERS STAYING IN BROOKLYN!

O'Malley confirms Ebbets Field to be upgraded, refurbished

Story by Louis Greenberg

In an unexpected and astonishing aboutface Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley announced yesterday that the ballclub will be staying in New York, his plans to relocate the team to Los Angeles scrapped. Set to go ahead with those plans a mere week ago, it appears that an outside source has swayed the real estate mogul to keep the Dodgers at Ebbets. O'Malley revealed that, thanks to a considerable injection of funds, the stadium will undergo extensive renovations during the coming twelve months, with improvements to amenitites and seating the main priority. He did not disclose the source of these funds, saying that the matter was of a confidential nature.

The plan will see the Dodgers playing their home games at the Polo Grounds for the 1958 season, a situation which, although less than ideal, was the only course of action available to keep the team in Gotham long-term. The Dodgers will become the third MLB team to call the Polo Grounds home, following the Yankees and departing Giants. It is not known at this time if O'Malley's decision will have any repercussions for the Giants' move to San Francisco, but it's certainly a decision that followers of the sport will applaud. The 1950s have been a time of great change for baseball with the Giants set to become the fourth ballclub to relocate since 1953. The Dodgers staying in Brooklyn flies in the face of that alarming trend and it is something that should be celebrated.

"I can't tell you how happy I am," said veteran Dodgers outfielder Carl Furillo when told of the news. "The Dodgers are a part of Brooklyn. They belong here and even though I'd accepted that we were going to end up in L.A., I never agreed with that decision. You know, our chances of winning the pennant are over now and folks have lost some interest in Dodgers baseball because of the L.A. thing, but what this does is give all our fans renewed hope. They now have a "next year" to look forward to once more. For Mr. O'Malley to have had this change of heart is really fantastic."

Of course, anyone who reads between the lines will see that O'Malley's position has not changed a great deal as they'll remember his rejection of a substantial offer from a Queens-based group to buy the Dodgers back at the end of May. Obviously the conditions in relation to this latest development are much more favourable to him, and even moreso than what a move to Los Angeles would have garnered. It will be interesting to see if the exact details of O'Malley's agreement are revealed in the days and weeks to come...

darkcloud4579 · 01-03-2008, 01:34 AM

Nice premise for a starter.

kenyan_cheena · 01-03-2008, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkcloud4579

Nice premise for a starter.

Thanks, dc. I'll just outline how this dynasty will work before going any further...

* Apart from the Dodgers staying in Brooklyn, assume that everything that happened in MLB in real-life up to the end of the 1957 season happened in the world of this dynasty. The only other difference is that the Cleveland Indians have always been known as the Cleveland Blues. The history of it will be that, formed after the Cincinnati Reds, they took on the Blues nickname as a direct showing of their rivalry and animosity towards their Ohio neighbours.

* The path of history will diverge from the 1958 season and onwards. I'll be introducing the real-life rookies each season, but they won't be signed by their original teams. They'll be drafted. I'll also add some fictional players to each season's draft class just to make things interesting.

* Expansion, relocation and realignment will take place according to a schedule I've planned out. In some instances it will be similar to what happened in real-life but in others it won't.

* Eventually I'll be inviting OOTP community members to create players to be included in the dynasty, but not right away.

* In a fictional dynasty that I created back in '06 I went into a lot of detail about the news from each week of the season. I won't be doing that in this one because I don't want to spend months chronicling a single season. What I'll be doing is simming each season and finding interesting incidents to write articles about along the way. I'll probably end up with maybe a half-dozen of these stories for each season, in addition to posting the standings and league leaders in various categories.

Save for any mishaps beyond my control, my ambition is for this to be the final OOTP dynasty I ever start because I want to just keep it going, like my HBF boxing dynasty (which I started in October 2004).

I hope everyone who frequents this forum enjoys and follows along with this dynasty.

k_c

kenyan_cheena · 01-04-2008, 11:06 PM

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Wednesday 31 March 1958

WORLD CHAMPION BRAVES
TO OPEN SEASON IN NEW YORK

Story by Lomas Robertson

Following a long, cold winter and the prelude of spring training, the 1958 Major League Baseball season gets underway tomorrow, our World Champion Braves to start their title defense with a pair of games against the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo Grounds. It's hard to believe that almost six months have passed since that magical afternoon in the Bronx when Pudge Haney's men secured the first ever World Series Championship for our fine city with a 5-0 game seven triumph over the Yankees. It was a victory that the team and the city celebrated long and hard but, speaking to me last week, Haney confirmed that the ballclub is now firmly focused on the task at hand.

"Winning the World Series was a fantastic achievement," said the manager, now about to start his third season with the club. "There's no better feeling in baseball. But that was last year and we can't let ourselves rest and keep on basking in the glory of it. Getting back there this year is going to be a tough task but I think the boys are up to it."

Once again Haney will rely heavily on the play of National League MVP Hank Aaron and World Series MVP Lew Burdette, both of whom were vital to the ballclub's success in '57. Veteran 1st baseman Joe Adcock is also set for a big season, according to Haney.

We may be a young city in regards to the sport but the anticipation leading into this 1958 season is unlike anything that fans of Milwaukee baseball have experienced. It promises to be an exciting year...

kenyan_cheena · 01-05-2008, 12:31 AM

The San Francisco Chronicle

SUNDAY, 4 APRIL, 1958

PHILLIES DOWN GIANTS IN
CANDLESTICK PARK OPENER

Story by Michael Brown

History was made yesterday in San Francisco as the first Major League Baseball game to be played in California took place at Candlestick Park. 43,736 fans packed the stadium to capacity to witness the debut home game of the San Francisco Giants and despite the fact that their team lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, every one of them had a great time. The Giants organisation provided some wonderful pre-game entertainment including a marching band, jugglers and other circus performers.

Once the game got started it was a tight affair until the 6th inning when the Phillies broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the frame. Puerto Rican Giants 1st baseman Orlando Cepeda pulled one back with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning but the Phillies took a 4-1 lead in the 7th, Wally Post's one-out double scoring both Curt Simmons and Willie Jones. Giants fans found renewed hope in the bottom of the 7th when Willie Kirkland blasted another solo shot, the ball clearing the fence in left field. But the Giants got no closer and Philadelphia were victorious, 4-2.

Phillies starting pitcher Curt Simmons was named Player of the Game, allowing eight hits and two runs while striking out five in eight innings of work, his pitch count reaching 128 before he was relieved to start the 9th.

Having lost a pair of games in St. Louis to start the season, the Giants fell to 0-3 but 3rd year manager Bill Rigney was upbeat about the team's prospects.

"Our pitching has been pretty good so far," he said. "We've only given up four runs in each game and I'm confident that we'll be fine once our offense starts to click."

Rigney praised the behaviour and spirit of the crowd, saying that the turnout confirmed that owner Horace Stoneham had made the right choice when deciding to move the ballclub to California.

"It's a great sign for the future of this team," he said. "During the game I found myself thinking of what we've left behind in New York, and you know what? I don't miss it, and neither do our players. This is a fantastic stadium and a fantastic city."

Stoneham was angered when Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley decided to keep his ballclub in New York, as it almost led to MLB pulling the plug on the Giants' planned relocation. However, there's no doubt that the Dodgers would have been the furtherest thing from Stoneham's mind upon seeing yesterday's sold out stadium. The Giants may be 0-3 but it's clear that they've been embraced by the people of San Francisco and at the moment, that's more important than wins and losses...

captaincarl · 01-05-2008, 03:43 AM

Is everything else going to happen when it did as well?

I'll be following as well.

kenyan_cheena · 01-05-2008, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captaincarl

Is everything else going to happen when it did as well?

As I said in post #3, some things will and some won't. With the players going to different teams it could really change the fortunes of certain ballclubs.

kenyan_cheena · 01-05-2008, 10:24 PM

THE OHIO EXPRESS

Sunday, 2 May, 1958

CLEVELAND OUTFIELDER
ON TARGET TO
SMASH HOME RUN RECORD

Story by Grady McCallum

After completing one of the greatest months of power hitting in the history of the Major Leagues, Cleveland Blues rightfielder Rocky Colavito was yesterday named the American League's Batter of the Month for April. Colavito set a new MLB record for home runs in a month, smashing an incredible 21. He also recorded 42 RBI, which is an MLB record for the month of April. A humble young man, the 24 year-old Colavito was beside himself when presented with the award.

"It's been a dream start to the season for me," he said, shaking his head. "If you asked me how to explain it I don't really think I could. I've just been seeing the ball really well, probably better than at any time during my career."

Colavito was asked what chance he felt he had of breaking Babe Ruth's 31 year-old single-season home run record of 60.

"Well, I don't know about that," he said, smiling. "That would be an incredible achievement, but at the moment I'm just worried about helping the Blues stay in the pennant race."

Colavito's efforts have certainly done that, as the standings listed below show. The Blues are sitting just two games behind the three-time defending American League Champion Yankees and are on track to eclipse last season's win total of 76 with ease.

American League standings as at end of play, 1 May 1958

New York Yankees 22-7
Cleveland Blues 20-9
Boston Red Sox 19-10
Baltimore Orioles 15-14
Detroit Tigers 11-18
Chicago White Sox 10-19
Kansas City Athletics 10-19
Washington Senators 9-20

The brilliance of the Blues outfielder has completely overshadowed the efforts of Yankees centrefielder Mickey Mantle, who recorded 10 home runs and 18 RBI during April. Colavito has, in only a single month, tied his own home run total from the '56 season and is just four shy of his mark from last year's campaign. Without a doubt, he's a young star on the rise in the world of Major League Baseball...

***

Colavito's numbers for April:

27 games, 95 AB, 39 H,
21 HR, 42 RBI, 35 R, 15 BB,
.411 AVG, .474 OBP, 1.105 SLG, 1.579 OPS

kenyan_cheena · 01-06-2008, 10:50 PM

The New York Age

TUESDAY, 11 MAY, 1958

FRICK UNVEILS PLANS
FOR MLB EXPANSION

Four teams to be added from '62 season

Story by Louis Greenberg

Speaking in New York yesterday Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick announced that the league will be expanding by four teams effective from the 1962 season, bringing the total ballclubs to twenty. It's a move that the organisation has been considering for some time and Frick's revelation was perhaps the most significant made by his office since he assumed the position in 1951.

"It would be true to say that Major League Baseball is in the middle of a golden age of prosperity and popularity," Frick said. "However, it's also been a time of change, with a number of ballclubs relocating in recent years. We've taken this as a sign that the sport is ready to enter new markets, to set itself new challenges. This year's move of the Giants ballclub to California is proof positive that baseball can make an impact in the greater western regions of our nation and it's this example that has convinced us that the league is ready to accommodate twenty ballclubs."

Despite Frick's words regarding California, it's very likely that one of the four expansion franchises will be handed to New York, with MLB showing a deal of enthusiasm in regards to a Queens-based National League ballclub. Readers will remember that just on twelve months ago a group headed by attorney William Shea had shown interest in purchasing the Dodgers from Walter O'Malley and moving the club to Queens. It appears that this same group will be awarded a franchise as part of the '62 expansion. Following O'Malley's decision to keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn, Frick also spoke of the league's interest in establishing a ballclub in Los Angeles, aswell as one in Texas. Surprisingly, the MLB Commissioner did not mention the fate of the Washington Senators, whose owner Calvin Griffith has not been shy about expressing a desire to move the charter franchise west, possibly to Minnesota.

With each league set to feature ten teams the regular season will be expanded from 154 to 162 games, the ballclubs scheduled to play each of the other nine teams in their league eighteen times. It goes without saying that these are exciting times for baseball and it will be interesting to see what eventuates during the coming years...

kenyan_cheena · 01-08-2008, 09:13 PM

The New York Age

SATURDAY, 26 JUNE, 1958

MANTLE'S 7 RBI POWERS
AMERICAN LEAGUE TO VICTORY
IN MIDSUMMER CLASSIC

Story by Louis Greenberg

Major League Baseball's 25th annual All-Star game took place last night at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field, with the American League scoring an exciting 8-7 victory. Yankees centrefielder Mickey Mantle was named Player of the Game following a 3-for-5, 7 RBI performance. Six of those RBIs came in the first two innings as, after hitting a three-run homer in the 1st Mantle cleared the bases in the 2nd with a two-out double.

Although both on the same team much of the interest focused on the rivalry between the American League's two leading home run hitters, Mantle and Cleveland's Rocky Colavito. After his fantastic April the Blues slugger remained on track to break Babe Ruth's home run record going into the break, having hit 35 during the first half of the season with Mantle nine back on 26. Batting in the three spot, Mantle left Colavito (batting clean-up) with empty bases the first two times he stepped up to the plate. Colavito finished the game batting 1-for-4, although that single hit was a one-out solo home run to deep centrefield in the 7th inning that broke a 6-6 tie.

Red Sox 1st baseman Dick Gernert also had a good evening for the AL All-Stars, batting 3-for-3 with a run scored. For the National League Cincinnati Reds 2nd baseman Johnny Temple was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, all coming on a pair of two-run home runs in the 1st and 3rd innings. As is often the case in the Midsummer Classic, the pitchers did not fair particularly well. One exception was Milwaukee Braves hurler Lew Burdette who was perfect in pitching through the 4th and 5th innings, striking out two batters.

ctorg · 01-09-2008, 09:17 AM

I used a similar premise for the first dynasty thread I did, with the Dodgers staying in Brooklyn (a what-if scenario I've always wondered about), but mine was very, very different and ended abruptly when files were corrupted. So I'll be interested in seeing how this goes.

kenyan_cheena · 01-09-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctorg

I used a similar premise for the first dynasty thread I did, with the Dodgers staying in Brooklyn (a what-if scenario I've always wondered about), but mine was very, very different and ended abruptly when files were corrupted. So I'll be interested in seeing how this goes.

Thanks, ctorg. It's good to know you'll be following along.

Even though I'm from Australia and don't know as much about the history of the sport as you guys over in the US, I have been following it since 1990 and have done quite a bit of research (mainly on wikipedia) to help me with writing the various dynasties I've started. As I said in an earlier post I'm determined to make this one last for a very long time.

As for the Dodgers in Brooklyn, part of my reasoning to keep them there is so that this dynasty can be set in the same "universe" as my boxing one, which is set in 2002 and where the Dodgers are still in Brooklyn. Another reason is that, IMO, of all the MLB teams that have relocated over the years this particular one seems to have been the most unpopular. The Dodgers were very important to Brooklyn and IMO, MLB would be even better than it is if the Dodgers had remained in New York in general and Brooklyn in particular.

I am really hoping that as this dynasty progresses the Dodgers are able to add to that single World Series win. Hopefully the '59 season will be as great for the team in this dynasty as it was in real life.

kenyan_cheena · 01-11-2008, 06:08 AM

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Thursday 8 July 1958

BURDETTE INJURES ELBOW,
OUT FOR SEASON

Story by Harrison Browne

In what could very well be a devastating blow to the team's chances of repeating, Milwaukee Braves starter Lew Burdette suffered a season-ending (and possibly career-ending) torn elbow ligament while pitching against the San Francisco Giants yesterday afternoon at County Stadium.

Burdette went down with the injury in the top of the 6th inning while pitching to Giants 2nd baseman Danny O'Connell, the Braves trailing 6-3. The New Jersey native was relieved by closer Don McMahon, Burdette receiving supportive cheers from a concerned crowd as he disappeared into the dugout. He ended up taking the loss, the Braves falling 7-5.

The defeat allowed the Chicago Cubs to draw level with the Braves at the top of the National League after they scored a 6-4 win over the 3rd-placed Pittsburgh Pirates. The three ballclubs have been locked in a fantastic fight during these past couple of months and it will be interesting to see if the pennant race comes right down to the final days of the season.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the loss of Burdette will really make it difficult for the Braves to defend their World Series Championship. The right-hander might not have been enjoying his best season but he's been a vital cog in the rotation, one that will be hard to replace. Including yesterday's matchup, Burdette started 22 games this season, going 11-6 with an ERA of 4.09 and striking out 67 batters.

"We'll just have to deal with it," said Braves manager Pudge Haney. "Nothing else we can do. It's disappointing to lose a guy of Lew's talent but we have to move on, we have to keep competing and stay in this race."

National League standings as at 7 July 1958...

Chicago Cubs: 52-35
Milwaukee Braves: 52-35
Pittsburgh Pirates: 51-36
San Francisco Giants: 45-42
Philadelphia Phillies: 43-44
Brooklyn Dodgers: 35-52
Cincinnati Reds: 35-52
St. Louis Cardinals: 35-52

storm427 · 01-11-2008, 10:18 AM

Great premise, and excellent presentation. I hope to continue to enjoy this one for a while.

mh2365 · 01-11-2008, 11:25 AM

Good stuff Kenya ... good to see it won't take you 3.5 years to sim out a month like your boxing dynasty LOL.

kenyan_cheena · 01-11-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storm427

Great premise, and excellent presentation. I hope to continue to enjoy this one for a while.

Thanks, storm. I'm hoping it lasts for a long time also.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

Good stuff Kenya ... good to see it won't take you 3.5 years to sim out a month like your boxing dynasty LOL.

LOL, at the rate I'm going it'll probably overtake the HBF/IBL by the end of the year. Thanks for reading, Mike.

mh2365 · 01-12-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Thanks, storm. I'm hoping it lasts for a long time also.

LOL, at the rate I'm going it'll probably overtake the HBF/IBL by the end of the year. Thanks for reading, Mike.

No problem ... like I've said you are one of the best writers on this board (if not the best), always enjoyable reads.

kenyan_cheena · 01-12-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

No problem ... like I've said you are one of the best writers on this board (if not the best), always enjoyable reads.

Thanks for the kind words.

Mattingly120 · 01-12-2008, 09:53 PM

This looks interesting, I'll be reading, I love what-if scenarios like this.

kenyan_cheena · 01-13-2008, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattingly120

This looks interesting, I'll be reading, I love what-if scenarios like this.

Welcome aboard!

The next post should be up by this time tomorrow.

01-03-2008, 12:38 AM	#1
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	MLB: 1958 and Beyond... *The New York Age* MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER, 1957 DODGERS STAYING IN BROOKLYN! O'Malley confirms Ebbets Field to be upgraded, refurbished Story by Louis Greenberg In an unexpected and astonishing aboutface Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley announced yesterday that the ballclub will be staying in New York, his plans to relocate the team to Los Angeles scrapped. Set to go ahead with those plans a mere week ago, it appears that an outside source has swayed the real estate mogul to keep the Dodgers at Ebbets. O'Malley revealed that, thanks to a considerable injection of funds, the stadium will undergo extensive renovations during the coming twelve months, with improvements to amenitites and seating the main priority. He did not disclose the source of these funds, saying that the matter was of a confidential nature. The plan will see the Dodgers playing their home games at the Polo Grounds for the 1958 season, a situation which, although less than ideal, was the only course of action available to keep the team in Gotham long-term. The Dodgers will become the third MLB team to call the Polo Grounds home, following the Yankees and departing Giants. It is not known at this time if O'Malley's decision will have any repercussions for the Giants' move to San Francisco, but it's certainly a decision that followers of the sport will applaud. The 1950s have been a time of great change for baseball with the Giants set to become the fourth ballclub to relocate since 1953. The Dodgers staying in Brooklyn flies in the face of that alarming trend and it is something that should be celebrated. "I can't tell you how happy I am," said veteran Dodgers outfielder Carl Furillo when told of the news. "The Dodgers are a part of Brooklyn. They belong here and even though I'd accepted that we were going to end up in L.A., I never agreed with that decision. You know, our chances of winning the pennant are over now and folks have lost some interest in Dodgers baseball because of the L.A. thing, but what this does is give all our fans renewed hope. They now have a "next year" to look forward to once more. For Mr. O'Malley to have had this change of heart is really fantastic." Of course, anyone who reads between the lines will see that O'Malley's position has not changed a great deal as they'll remember his rejection of a substantial offer from a Queens-based group to buy the Dodgers back at the end of May. Obviously the conditions in relation to this latest development are much more favourable to him, and even moreso than what a move to Los Angeles would have garnered. It will be interesting to see if the exact details of O'Malley's agreement are revealed in the days and weeks to come... Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 03-06-2008 at 12:53 AM.

01-03-2008, 01:34 AM	#2
darkcloud4579 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 8,693	Nice premise for a starter. __________________ ------ My Mods OOTP Advanced Stats & DFS Suite Managerial Strategy Pack Competitive Balance Tax Calculator Major League Women's Baseball (OOTP24) quickstart Indian Premier League \| 300+ years of baseball quickstart \| Expatriate League quickstart \| Off-Field Injuries Update \| Women's Name File for OOTP \| ---- Dynasty classics: Centurion comes to OOTP5 \| DC Moneyball Dynasty (2004)

01-04-2008, 11:06 PM	#4
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	*MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN JOURNAL SENTINEL** Wednesday 31 March 1958 WORLD CHAMPION BRAVES TO OPEN SEASON IN NEW YORK Story by Lomas Robertson Following a long, cold winter and the prelude of spring training, the 1958 Major League Baseball season gets underway tomorrow, our World Champion Braves to start their title defense with a pair of games against the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo Grounds. It's hard to believe that almost six months have passed since that magical afternoon in the Bronx when Pudge Haney's men secured the first ever World Series Championship for our fine city with a 5-0 game seven triumph over the Yankees. It was a victory that the team and the city celebrated long and hard but, speaking to me last week, Haney confirmed that the ballclub is now firmly focused on the task at hand. "Winning the World Series was a fantastic achievement," said the manager, now about to start his third season with the club. "There's no better feeling in baseball. But that was last year and we can't let ourselves rest and keep on basking in the glory of it. Getting back there this year is going to be a tough task but I think the boys are up to it." Once again Haney will rely heavily on the play of National League MVP Hank Aaron and World Series MVP Lew Burdette, both of whom were vital to the ballclub's success in '57. Veteran 1st baseman Joe Adcock is also set for a big season, according to Haney. We may be a young city in regards to the sport but the anticipation leading into this 1958 season is unlike anything that fans of Milwaukee baseball have experienced. It promises to be an exciting year... Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 03-18-2008 at 01:55 AM.

01-05-2008, 10:24 PM	#8
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	*THE OHIO EXPRESS* Sunday, 2 May, 1958 CLEVELAND OUTFIELDER ON TARGET TO SMASH HOME RUN RECORD Story by Grady McCallum After completing one of the greatest months of power hitting in the history of the Major Leagues, Cleveland Blues rightfielder Rocky Colavito was yesterday named the American League's Batter of the Month for April. Colavito set a new MLB record for home runs in a month, smashing an incredible 21. He also recorded 42 RBI, which is an MLB record for the month of April. A humble young man, the 24 year-old Colavito was beside himself when presented with the award. "It's been a dream start to the season for me," he said, shaking his head. "If you asked me how to explain it I don't really think I could. I've just been seeing the ball really well, probably better than at any time during my career." Colavito was asked what chance he felt he had of breaking Babe Ruth's 31 year-old single-season home run record of 60. "Well, I don't know about that," he said, smiling. "That would be an incredible achievement, but at the moment I'm just worried about helping the Blues stay in the pennant race." Colavito's efforts have certainly done that, as the standings listed below show. The Blues are sitting just two games behind the three-time defending American League Champion Yankees and are on track to eclipse last season's win total of 76 with ease. *American League standings as at end of play, 1 May 1958* New York Yankees 22-7 Cleveland Blues 20-9 Boston Red Sox 19-10 Baltimore Orioles 15-14 Detroit Tigers 11-18 Chicago White Sox 10-19 Kansas City Athletics 10-19 Washington Senators 9-20 The brilliance of the Blues outfielder has completely overshadowed the efforts of Yankees centrefielder Mickey Mantle, who recorded 10 home runs and 18 RBI during April. Colavito has, in only a single month, tied his own home run total from the '56 season and is just four shy of his mark from last year's campaign. Without a doubt, he's a young star on the rise in the world of Major League Baseball... * Colavito's numbers for April:** 27 games, 95 AB, 39 H, 21 HR, 42 RBI, 35 R, 15 BB, .411 AVG, .474 OBP, 1.105 SLG, 1.579 OPS Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 01-05-2008 at 10:25 PM.

01-06-2008, 10:50 PM	#9
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	*The New York Age* TUESDAY, 11 MAY, 1958 FRICK UNVEILS PLANS FOR MLB EXPANSION Four teams to be added from '62 season Story by Louis Greenberg Speaking in New York yesterday Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick announced that the league will be expanding by four teams effective from the 1962 season, bringing the total ballclubs to twenty. It's a move that the organisation has been considering for some time and Frick's revelation was perhaps the most significant made by his office since he assumed the position in 1951. "It would be true to say that Major League Baseball is in the middle of a golden age of prosperity and popularity," Frick said. "However, it's also been a time of change, with a number of ballclubs relocating in recent years. We've taken this as a sign that the sport is ready to enter new markets, to set itself new challenges. This year's move of the Giants ballclub to California is proof positive that baseball can make an impact in the greater western regions of our nation and it's this example that has convinced us that the league is ready to accommodate twenty ballclubs." Despite Frick's words regarding California, it's very likely that one of the four expansion franchises will be handed to New York, with MLB showing a deal of enthusiasm in regards to a Queens-based National League ballclub. Readers will remember that just on twelve months ago a group headed by attorney William Shea had shown interest in purchasing the Dodgers from Walter O'Malley and moving the club to Queens. It appears that this same group will be awarded a franchise as part of the '62 expansion. Following O'Malley's decision to keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn, Frick also spoke of the league's interest in establishing a ballclub in Los Angeles, aswell as one in Texas. Surprisingly, the MLB Commissioner did not mention the fate of the Washington Senators, whose owner Calvin Griffith has not been shy about expressing a desire to move the charter franchise west, possibly to Minnesota. With each league set to feature ten teams the regular season will be expanded from 154 to 162 games, the ballclubs scheduled to play each of the other nine teams in their league eighteen times. It goes without saying that these are exciting times for baseball and it will be interesting to see what eventuates during the coming years... Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 01-08-2008 at 01:51 AM.

01-05-2008, 12:31 AM	#5
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	The San Francisco Chronicle SUNDAY, 4 APRIL, 1958 PHILLIES DOWN GIANTS IN CANDLESTICK PARK OPENER Story by Michael Brown History was made yesterday in San Francisco as the first Major League Baseball game to be played in California took place at Candlestick Park. 43,736 fans packed the stadium to capacity to witness the debut home game of the San Francisco Giants and despite the fact that their team lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, every one of them had a great time. The Giants organisation provided some wonderful pre-game entertainment including a marching band, jugglers and other circus performers. Once the game got started it was a tight affair until the 6th inning when the Phillies broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the frame. Puerto Rican Giants 1st baseman Orlando Cepeda pulled one back with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning but the Phillies took a 4-1 lead in the 7th, Wally Post's one-out double scoring both Curt Simmons and Willie Jones. Giants fans found renewed hope in the bottom of the 7th when Willie Kirkland blasted another solo shot, the ball clearing the fence in left field. But the Giants got no closer and Philadelphia were victorious, 4-2. Phillies starting pitcher Curt Simmons was named Player of the Game, allowing eight hits and two runs while striking out five in eight innings of work, his pitch count reaching 128 before he was relieved to start the 9th. Having lost a pair of games in St. Louis to start the season, the Giants fell to 0-3 but 3rd year manager Bill Rigney was upbeat about the team's prospects. "Our pitching has been pretty good so far," he said. "We've only given up four runs in each game and I'm confident that we'll be fine once our offense starts to click." Rigney praised the behaviour and spirit of the crowd, saying that the turnout confirmed that owner Horace Stoneham had made the right choice when deciding to move the ballclub to California. "It's a great sign for the future of this team," he said. "During the game I found myself thinking of what we've left behind in New York, and you know what? I don't miss it, and neither do our players. This is a fantastic stadium and a fantastic city." Stoneham was angered when Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley decided to keep his ballclub in New York, as it almost led to MLB pulling the plug on the Giants' planned relocation. However, there's no doubt that the Dodgers would have been the furtherest thing from Stoneham's mind upon seeing yesterday's sold out stadium. The Giants may be 0-3 but it's clear that they've been embraced by the people of San Francisco and at the moment, that's more important than wins and losses...

01-05-2008, 03:43 AM	#6
captaincarl Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Barrington, RI Posts: 4,362	Is everything else going to happen when it did as well? I'll be following as well.

01-08-2008, 09:13 PM	#10
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	The New York Age SATURDAY, 26 JUNE, 1958 MANTLE'S 7 RBI POWERS AMERICAN LEAGUE TO VICTORY IN MIDSUMMER CLASSIC Story by Louis Greenberg Major League Baseball's 25th annual All-Star game took place last night at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field, with the American League scoring an exciting 8-7 victory. Yankees centrefielder Mickey Mantle was named Player of the Game following a 3-for-5, 7 RBI performance. Six of those RBIs came in the first two innings as, after hitting a three-run homer in the 1st Mantle cleared the bases in the 2nd with a two-out double. Although both on the same team much of the interest focused on the rivalry between the American League's two leading home run hitters, Mantle and Cleveland's Rocky Colavito. After his fantastic April the Blues slugger remained on track to break Babe Ruth's home run record going into the break, having hit 35 during the first half of the season with Mantle nine back on 26. Batting in the three spot, Mantle left Colavito (batting clean-up) with empty bases the first two times he stepped up to the plate. Colavito finished the game batting 1-for-4, although that single hit was a one-out solo home run to deep centrefield in the 7th inning that broke a 6-6 tie. Red Sox 1st baseman Dick Gernert also had a good evening for the AL All-Stars, batting 3-for-3 with a run scored. For the National League Cincinnati Reds 2nd baseman Johnny Temple was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, all coming on a pair of two-run home runs in the 1st and 3rd innings. As is often the case in the Midsummer Classic, the pitchers did not fair particularly well. One exception was Milwaukee Braves hurler Lew Burdette who was perfect in pitching through the 4th and 5th innings, striking out two batters. Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 05-15-2008 at 06:50 AM.

01-09-2008, 09:17 AM	#11
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	I used a similar premise for the first dynasty thread I did, with the Dodgers staying in Brooklyn (a what-if scenario I've always wondered about), but mine was very, very different and ended abruptly when files were corrupted. So I'll be interested in seeing how this goes. __________________ My music "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils

01-11-2008, 06:08 AM	#13
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN JOURNAL SENTINEL Thursday 8 July 1958 BURDETTE INJURES ELBOW, OUT FOR SEASON Story by Harrison Browne In what could very well be a devastating blow to the team's chances of repeating, Milwaukee Braves starter Lew Burdette suffered a season-ending (and possibly career-ending) torn elbow ligament while pitching against the San Francisco Giants yesterday afternoon at County Stadium. Burdette went down with the injury in the top of the 6th inning while pitching to Giants 2nd baseman Danny O'Connell, the Braves trailing 6-3. The New Jersey native was relieved by closer Don McMahon, Burdette receiving supportive cheers from a concerned crowd as he disappeared into the dugout. He ended up taking the loss, the Braves falling 7-5. The defeat allowed the Chicago Cubs to draw level with the Braves at the top of the National League after they scored a 6-4 win over the 3rd-placed Pittsburgh Pirates. The three ballclubs have been locked in a fantastic fight during these past couple of months and it will be interesting to see if the pennant race comes right down to the final days of the season. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the loss of Burdette will really make it difficult for the Braves to defend their World Series Championship. The right-hander might not have been enjoying his best season but he's been a vital cog in the rotation, one that will be hard to replace. Including yesterday's matchup, Burdette started 22 games this season, going 11-6 with an ERA of 4.09 and striking out 67 batters. "We'll just have to deal with it," said Braves manager Pudge Haney. "Nothing else we can do. It's disappointing to lose a guy of Lew's talent but we have to move on, we have to keep competing and stay in this race." National League standings as at 7 July 1958... Chicago Cubs: 52-35 Milwaukee Braves: 52-35 Pittsburgh Pirates: 51-36 San Francisco Giants: 45-42 Philadelphia Phillies: 43-44 Brooklyn Dodgers: 35-52 Cincinnati Reds: 35-52 St. Louis Cardinals: 35-52 Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 01-11-2008 at 06:10 AM.

01-11-2008, 10:18 AM	#14
storm427 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 85 Infractions: 0/1 (2)	Great premise, and excellent presentation. I hope to continue to enjoy this one for a while.

01-11-2008, 11:25 AM	#15
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,941 Infractions: 0/2 (101)	Good stuff Kenya ... good to see it won't take you 3.5 years to sim out a month like your boxing dynasty LOL.

01-12-2008, 09:53 PM	#19
Mattingly120 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 26	This looks interesting, I'll be reading, I love what-if scenarios like this.