Introducing the Vholes 19th century adjusted database

Vholes · 01-23-2005, 10:28 PM

After too many weeks of debugging and testing, my adjusted historical database is ready to launch and will be available for download at www.ootpdownloadcenter.com by sometime tomorrow.

A quick highlight of what's involved:

- Fully compatible for leagues beginning in 1871-- all players, all leagues are included

- Stats adjusted to 1980s levels, so 1870s players strike out, hit home runs, etc. at modern (pre-steroid era) rates

- All players import into the game at age 18 with poor initial pitching and hitting ratings (which typically shoot up rapidly over the next few years according to the player's talent)

- Talent calculated based on peak performance (defined as the player's performance from his second-best season). I found that this gives a fairer measure of how good a player was than career average (which punishes players with long careers at the expense of players whose careers ended suddenly).

- Players import at their primary historical fielding position (e.g., Babe Ruth imports as an OF not a P).

- Real-life ptichers from the 1850s and 1860s are added to the database in 1871 in order to give 1871 leagues enough pitchers to go around in the early years.

* * *

There are two important limitations on this database for now. First, because of the way in which the individual players' import years have been altered, this database will create some problems in an existing league or one which starts in a year other than 1871. In other words, for best results, you should use this on a new custom league set to start in the year 1871.

To make things a little easier, I have also created an 1871 league file that is compatible with the database. To use it, simply download it and play. (Be sure to remember to alter the league structure before proceeding to your fantasy draft, however, since it is currently set for zero teams).

A second limitation is that this database forces you to draft players rather than assign them to their historical teams (which is probably necessary in any case in a 19th century league, since most 19th century teams only lasted for a year anyway).

Finally, this database does not allow you to perfectly simulate 19th century baseball (something which is really not possible using the OOTP engine). What this does instead is give you a reasonable approximation of what baseball 130 years ago might have been like if modern rules and equipment had been used. And most importantly, you can do this using the real-life personalities of baseball's earliest decades.

I have run a number of test seasons on this database and have been very pleased with the results. Without any adjustment to the league totals at all, the stats are very reasonable from year to year. In addition, star players seem to develop much as they do in real life (drafted at 18, ready for the majors by about 21, and reaching their peak in their mid to late 20s).

As a longtime frustrated 19th century simmer myself, I hope that this database will be useful to anybody out there with the same interests. Feedback, bug reports, and complaints are very welcome: I can be reached by private message through this board or by email at azazello18 [at] yahoo dot com.

rem · 01-23-2005, 10:43 PM

Wow! Two databases in one night.

JoeRockEHF · 01-24-2005, 07:00 AM

Vholes' Database and 1871 Starter League are both up and ready at the Download Center in the Rosters section.

jtb · 01-24-2005, 06:52 PM

Vholes, Thankyou for this league and database! I think I'll give a replay a go until ootpFE is ready!

01-23-2005, 10:28 PM	#1
Vholes Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 28	Introducing the Vholes 19th century adjusted database After too many weeks of debugging and testing, my adjusted historical database is ready to launch and will be available for download at www.ootpdownloadcenter.com by sometime tomorrow. A quick highlight of what's involved: - Fully compatible for leagues beginning in 1871-- all players, all leagues are included - Stats adjusted to 1980s levels, so 1870s players strike out, hit home runs, etc. at modern (pre-steroid era) rates - All players import into the game at age 18 with poor initial pitching and hitting ratings (which typically shoot up rapidly over the next few years according to the player's talent) - Talent calculated based on peak performance (defined as the player's performance from his second-best season). I found that this gives a fairer measure of how good a player was than career average (which punishes players with long careers at the expense of players whose careers ended suddenly). - Players import at their primary historical fielding position (e.g., Babe Ruth imports as an OF not a P). - Real-life ptichers from the 1850s and 1860s are added to the database in 1871 in order to give 1871 leagues enough pitchers to go around in the early years. * * * There are two important limitations on this database for now. First, because of the way in which the individual players' import years have been altered, this database will create some problems in an existing league or one which starts in a year other than 1871. In other words, for best results, you should use this on a new custom league set to start in the year 1871. To make things a little easier, I have also created an 1871 league file that is compatible with the database. To use it, simply download it and play. (Be sure to remember to alter the league structure before proceeding to your fantasy draft, however, since it is currently set for zero teams). A second limitation is that this database forces you to draft players rather than assign them to their historical teams (which is probably necessary in any case in a 19th century league, since most 19th century teams only lasted for a year anyway). Finally, this database does not allow you to perfectly simulate 19th century baseball (something which is really not possible using the OOTP engine). What this does instead is give you a reasonable approximation of what baseball 130 years ago might have been like if modern rules and equipment had been used. And most importantly, you can do this using the real-life personalities of baseball's earliest decades. I have run a number of test seasons on this database and have been very pleased with the results. Without any adjustment to the league totals at all, the stats are very reasonable from year to year. In addition, star players seem to develop much as they do in real life (drafted at 18, ready for the majors by about 21, and reaching their peak in their mid to late 20s). As a longtime frustrated 19th century simmer myself, I hope that this database will be useful to anybody out there with the same interests. Feedback, bug reports, and complaints are very welcome: I can be reached by private message through this board or by email at azazello18 [at] yahoo dot com.

01-23-2005, 10:43 PM	#2
rem Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: College Park, Md. Posts: 5,024	Wow! Two databases in one night. __________________ OTBA: Washington Filibusters CLBR: Minnesota Twins 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0

01-24-2005, 07:00 AM	#3
JoeRockEHF All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Niles, MI Posts: 933	Vholes' Database and 1871 Starter League are both up and ready at the Download Center in the Rosters section. __________________ PSN: JoeRockEHF

01-24-2005, 06:52 PM	#4
jtb All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 595	Vholes, Thankyou for this league and database! I think I'll give a replay a go until ootpFE is ready!