[Erik W.]

While watching hockey today (go Habs!) I decided to do something I've been pondering since OOTPB 2006, and that is to build a fictional version of MLB from ground up using the Lahman DB for settings, expansion, and that stuff, but no real players.

While this can't even be counted as a historical league, even of the fictional variety, because I'm just simming to build history with the intent of taking over a team in 2008, an oddity has made me slow down the sim and pay attention to things more.

That thing is: The Baltimore Orioles have won 9 straight titles (1957-1965), giving them 17 in franchise history. They are easily the Yankees of my MLB, while the Yankees are some other futile team, because they've won 0 titles in 65 years. Zilch. Nada. 0 for 2 appearances in the Series.

The Dodgers haven't been bad either, winning five straight titles at one point, for eight overall.

For long-suffering Cubs fans, your team is faring slightly better in fake-ality, having won 4 titles, with the last coming in 1932.

My Cardinals have won a respectable 6 championships.

Other facts:

The best player in league history is named Holden "Sleepy" Harper. He played for five different teams over his career, amassing 17 All Star appearances and an amazing 10 MVP awards to sit next to his Rookie of the Year trophy.

The numbers: .333/.437/.560, 3400 hits even, 1914 RBI, and only 687 career K's to counter his 1945 BB. He holds the career marks for OPS (.997), VORP (1532.4), runs (2249), total bases (5729), and RBI. He tossed in 514 steals for good measure.

Other notables:

The single season HR record sits at 65, set in 1964 by the Cardinals 1B... in his second full season.

The career HR mark is at 643 and rising, although at 39 Mr. Gomez is losing steam.

There has never been a .400 hitter. Ethan Wright of the Cardinals missed the mark by .001 in 1922.