No Pepper - An OOTP Alternate Baseball History

[Cooleyvol]

Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was in the news again today as he presided over an impromptu news conference in Los Angeles. Invites were sent to news outlets on August 10. I received notice from a colleague at the San Francisco Chronicle and talked my editor into sending me out West to see what the Judge had up his sleeve. As you know, Landis was banned from professional baseball by Congress back in March and an appeal on his bahalf was denied on August 1. What follows is the news conference details held on August 15.


Landis began the meeting by proclaiming his innocence of all charges proclaimed in the past. The rest of the conference was straight to the point and no-nonsence, as is the Judge's way.


"Thank you all for attending. Please save all questions until we are finished with the announcements", the Judge said.


"I am here to announce the formation of the Pacific Coast League, a semi-professional baseball circuit on the West coast of this great country. The PCL will consist of 8 clubs and will compete in a 147 game schedule running from April to September, culminating in the Pacific Series in October. This series will pit the North division champion against the South champion."


At this point, I overheard a female reporter from the Sacramento Gazette say, "I thought he was banned from baseball". To which someone nearby whispered, "He is, but the old Judge seems to know what he's doing". Amused, I kept my attention on Landis as I was sure this wasn't all he had to say.


He continued, "The PCL will consist of teams in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Sacramento, Portland, Salt Lake City, Oakland, and Vernon, California. All clubs have established ballparks to call home and ownership for 5 of the clubs has been established. I am confident that all clubs will have ownership prior to tryouts which begin in October."


"As stated earlier, there will be two divisions of four teams and all teams have been named for previous semi-pro teams of the past. Let me reiterate that I am not violating any Congressional order in establishing this league. All players will have contracts with their clubs, but will be required to have other jobs. This is a semi-professional league and we seek, nor will we allow, any competition for players between the PCL and any professional league in America or any other country."


"The North division will consist of the Seattle Indians, Portland Beavers, Sacramento Solons, and Salt Lake Bees. In the South you will see the Los Angeles Angels, Vernon Tigers, San Francisco Seals, and Oakland Oaks."


After getting a drink of water, the Judge went on, "Again, let me reiterate that I am violating no order handed down to me. This is a semi-professional league and no order has denied me the right to administer such a league. This league is to be run by the 8 owners and myself in a nine man Board of Directors. We will begin in April 1922 with local talent. If local talent does not fill our association, we will look elsewhere, but again, let me say that no competition for players will be tolerated by those in charge of the PCL. We seek no conflict with any other baseball league, both professional or semi-professional. That being said, we fear no other group of clubs and will run our association as we see fit."


"I look forward to seeing all of you at the PCL's tryouts this October and at Opening Day in early April all along this great coast of ours."


With that, Landis stepped down and off the podium. It remains to be seen what, if anything, Bancroft Johnson or Congress will have to say about this, but this reporter is sure of one thing. The cost of that train ticket was well worth it and you can bet, I'll be back on the West Coast in October!

[Cooleyvol]

The PCL will be where our waiting list gets involved in the Hardball Heroes world by managing a club in the Coast until an opening occurs in Hardball Heroes.


We presently have six on the waiting list, so if someone would like to become involved in our world, PM me here. You can run a PCL club and watch HH at the same time!

[Cooleyvol]

Bancroft 'Ban' Johnson released exclusively to this reporter the following press release just today.

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Due to increased questions regarding the recent public statement by Kenesaw Landis, I wish to speak officially on behalf of Hardball Heroes. This Hardball Heroes statement will address both the Judge's intentions and the future actions of Hardball Heroes.

Firstly, with regard to Landis' statement, it is the position of Hardball Heroes to allow Congress to ascertain the legality of Landis' intention. Hardball Heroes will neither speak to nor take action against the Judge's intentions on the west coast. Furthermore, Hardball Heroes will engage in any form of competition with the Pacific Coast League for its players, but we will allow no intervention by the PCL in the players presently playing in Hardball Heroes. In addition, we will not allow intervention by the PCL in our amateur drafts. Hardball Heroes holds that the players who petition to be included in our amateur draft are property of Hardball Heroes and any claim to said players by the Pacific Coast League will be met with swift legal action to stop such action. In summary, we don't want the PCL's players, nor will we allow the PCL to sign, or attempt to drive up contract prices by bidding on players that we deem to be our property. No player with PCL experience will be allowed into Hardball Heroes and conversely, no player with Heroes experience will be allowed to sign with the PCL for at least the duration of the Judge's banishment from professional baseball. Is the PCL and professional league? That is to be determined by Congress and we will not spend our time on trivial associations such as the Pacific Coast League.

As for the future of Hardball Heroes, the league will continue as in the past. We have received petitions for free agency from several players who now are outside our league and, for the most part, participating in local associations West of the Mississippi. Those will be decided upon on a 'per petition' process. Decisions will be made individually on the players who have petitioned our league and those deemed as accepted will be considered free agents if their age falls above that of 24 years. To summarize, any player who petitions and is successful, will be a free agent if he is aged 25 or above. Those below the age of 25 will be deemed amateurs by Hardball Heroes and treated as such. I do not have the number of petitions that have been received, but among those that I can confirm as received are Oscar Charleston, Raleigh 'Biz' Mackey, James 'Cool Papa' Bell, Martin Dihigo, Jud Wilson, John Henry Lloyd, Dick Redding, Norman Stearnes, George Suttles, and Louis Santop. This is by no means a complete list of the petitions we have received and Hardball Heroes is well aware of the ethnicity of all the players named. As stated, each petition will be reviewed independent of the others and a final decision will be made on each. It is our position that all are American citizen and thusly, Hardball Heroes has no reason to exclude these players from its ranks based solely on ethnicity. A full list will be published closer to the end of our regular season or during the Hardball Heroes title series.
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So, it seems to this reporter that the second salvo has been fired, this one by Bancroft Johnson himself. It appears that in a pre-emptive strike, Johnson and Hardball Heroes might be opening its ranks to players of color in an attempt to include that group of players before Landis could do so in the Pacific Coast League.

Definitely interesting times in the world of baseball. Rest assured that this reporter has his finger firmly on the pulse and will report the most recent news as it happens.

[Cooleyvol]

The following is a list of those individuals who have petitioned Hardball Heroes for free agent status for the upcoming offseason:

Oscar Charleston
Bullet Joe Rogan
Cristobal Torriente
Dizzy Dismukes
Big Bill Gatewood
Bingo DeMoss
Sam Crawford
Raleigh 'Biz' Mackey
Bernardo Baro
Ben Taylor
Dick Redding
John Henry 'Pop' Lloyd
Oliver Marcelle
Louis Santop
Dick Lundy
James 'Cool Papa' Bell
Martin Dihigo
Jud 'Boojum' Wilson
Norman 'Turkey' Stearnes
Mule Suttles
Smokey Joe Williams
Judy Johnson
Ted Radcliffe
Jose Mendez
Adolfo 'Dolf' Luque

[Cooleyvol]

The first human controlled season has come to an end and the Fall Classic is upon us! Best of luck to John Comey and Bill McKenzie as they battle for the Hardball Heroes title!





Excitement builds out west as our ten waiting list owners are set to kick off the 1922 Pacific Coast League season very soon!

[PhillieFever]

Congratulations on finishing the first season of Hardball Heroes,and good luck to Brooklyn and Cleveland in the World Series.

[Cooleyvol]

Hardball Heroes Reporter Graham McNamee has broken a story that explains Rogers Hornsby's exit from Game 1 and non-inclusion in the Game 2 lineup for Brooklyn.



Midway through the 8th inning of Game 1 of the 1921 World Series game between the Cleveland Indians and Brooklyn Dodgers, Brooklyn star Rogers Hornsby collapsed in the team dugout. Hornsby was found to be running a very high fever and the Brooklyn manager talked him into seeing a doctor.



After that consultation, Hornsby is in a Cleveland hospital with possibly Menengitis and is still in guarded condition. Brooklyn brass has been told that Hornsby will be bedridden for six weeks and should not be expected to accompany the team back to New York for Game 3 of the Series.



This is a huge blow to the Bums' hopes of repeating as league champions. Hornsby is the heart and soul of a team that made a mockery of the National League this season. "This hurts", said the Brooklyn manager. "Rajah drives this club and we'll be hard pressed to replace him. This is much more than a baseball game, though. We're all praying for him and hoping for a speedy recovery."



This reporter sees no way the Bums can hold off Cleveland to win this series which is tied at 1 game apiece heading back to Brooklyn. My prayers are with Hornsby and his family at this trying time.

[Cooleyvol]

This reporter has received an early press release from the office of Bancroft Johnson, commissioner of Hardball Heroes centering on the subject of recent 'non caucasian' applicants for admittance into Hardball Heroes. What follows is the text of that release:

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From the office of Bancroft Johnson, Hardball Heroes
SUBJECT: Free Agent Applications Received

Our office has went over all applicants for free agency in Hardball Heroes. 20 of 23 applications were accepted. 11 will enter as free agents while 9 will enter via the amateur draft due to their ages. 3 were denied based on the player's age as it is deemed their ability to compete with those already in Hardball Heroes is not as desired by the league.

Those accepted are as follows:

Free Agent Applications Accepted:

Oscar Charleston, 26 (CF/1B) - For a player of his size with his tremendous power, Charleston is a skilled base runner and a threat to steal bases. Writers dub Charleston as “The Black Ty Cobb.” Those who play with him insist that Charleston is far superior defensively than Cobb and possesses far more power than the Georgia Peach.

Andy Cooper, 26 (LHSP) - Called "Lefty", Cooper is a solid left-handed hurler with a good fastball and great command of the changeup. Great endurance and control are other attributes possessed.

Bingo DeMoss, 33 (2B) - One of the best 2B around. Quick in the field and on the basepaths, DeMoss is also a consistent, line drive hitter. Solid eye at the plate with a
consistent average.

Dizzy Dismukes, 32 (RHSP) - Submariner with excellent smarts with regard to batters' tendancies. Possesses a variety of breaking balls and is known as a trick artist.

John Henry 'Pop' Lloyd , 38 (SS) - In his prime, known to be on par with Honus Wagner.
Recognized as the best black shortstop in the country, Lloyd still possesses good skills and decent speed. His fielding is not as it used to be, but Lloyd applies with the hopes of
finally realizing his place among American baseball players, black and white.

Dave Malarcher, 28 (3B/2B) - Known as 'Gentleman Dave', Malarcher is a smooth fielding, clutch hitting third sacker with average defensive skills. Known as a slap hitter who puts the ball into play, Malarcher is a genius in working his way on base via the walk.

Dick Redding, 31 (RHSP) - Known as "Cannonball", Redding has overpowering speed and above average stamina. Reported to normally pitch both games of a DH for his club, Redding is one of the best black hurlers around.

Bullet Joe Rogan, 33 (RHSP/LF) - Rogan can do everything, everywhere. One of the only pitchers to bat cleanup for the most part. Rogan possesses an outstanding fastball and curveball with excellent control. A good power hitter with a fine eye at the plate.

Louis Santop, 32 (C) - Santop has decent defensive skills behind the plate, but is known for his power. Once reported to have hit a 500 ft HR. Santop hits left handed, but throws right handed. Strong armed and a wiz at blocking the plate, "Big Bertha' is known as a superstar in negro league circles.

Ben Taylor, 34 (1B) - Taylor is known as one of the finest black 1B around. A slick contact hitter at the plate, Taylor excels in the field where he is top notch defensively.

Smokey Joe Williams, 37 (RHSP) - Searing fastball earned him the nickname "Cyclone". In his prime, known as a dominant hurler who would consistently strike out upwards of 16 batters per game. Although his speed has waned in the twilight of his playing days, Joe still possesses the smarts to be a dependable starter.


Players Consider Amateurs (Enter league via draft):

James 'Cool Papa' Bell, 19 (CF) - Reported to be the fastest man to play baseball, Bell was once clocked running the bases in 12 seconds. His speed on the bases offsets his lack of power at the plate as he is capable of 'legging out' extra-base hits. He utilizes his speed to increase his range in center, playing a shallow defensive position, but still being able to get the deep balls. Cool Papa is a switch-hitter with good bat control and hits for a high average.

Judy Johnson, 22 (3B/SS) - Sure-handed infielder with good range and a shotgun arm. His instinctive baserunning makes up for his lack of speed. Right-handed line drive hitter with an excellent eye and little power.

Dick Lundy, 24 (SS) - Dubbed 'King Richard', Lundy is superb in the field with a wide range and a strong arm. The big, huskey switchhitter is adept at the plate and hits for both average and power. Known as the top SS in negro circles.

Raleigh 'Biz' Mackey, 25 (C) - Incredibly gifted backstop who is known to be cool under pressure. Known as a superb defensive catcher with a rifle arm striking fear in opposing baserunners. A switchhitter, Mackey has power from both sides of the plate and hits for high averages.

Oliver Marcelle, 25 (3B) - Nicknamed "Ghost", Oliver is a superior defensive 3B with a strong arm and range to spare. At the plate, Marcelle is a spray hitter who is known to have a short fuse. Smart baserunner.

Ted Radcliffe, 20 (C) - Called 'Double Duty' for his ability to catch the first game of a DH, then pitch the second, Ted is an average backstop with not spectacular hitting prowess, but a strong, durable catcher with the smarts to call a great game.

Norman 'Turkey' Stearnes, 21 (CF/LF) - Pure power hitting outfielder with speed on the basepaths. Excellent range in the outfield due to his speed and smarts. Perennial great triples and stolen base player who doesnt mind sliding in hard to break up a tag.

George 'Mule' Suttles, 21 (1B/LF) - Power hitting Suttles swings a 50 ounce bat, generating excessive power at the plate. Maintains a good average despite his free swinging ways. Low ball hitter who strikes out frequently. Once said to have hit a 600 ft shot at Havana's Tropical Park. A hulk of a man, Suttles' range is below average, but he handles anything within his reach.

Jud 'Boojum' Wilson, 23 (3B/1B) - Pure hitter with power and a mean dispostion on the diamond. Wilson has a disdain for all pitchers and excels at the plate. Average in the field with decent range at third. Crowds the plate and is often hit. Earned the nickname 'Boojum' for the sound his line drives make when striking the fence.


Five applications were received from 'Non American' applicants. All five are Cuban natives. After conferring with officials at the State Department and talks between the US and Cuban governments, the following decision is made on all five applications:

All five players will be admitted to Hardball Heroes after a one year waiting period. All will be eligible beginning with the 1923 season. Two players will enter as amateurs while the other three will be granted free agent status on January 1, 1923.


Bernardo Baro, 29 (OF) - Quick tempered Cuban who's said to be a true five point player with power and average to all fields. Good bunter with extra base power and a wide defensive range. Great arm and base running sense.

Martin Dihigo, 17 (2b/3B/OF) - Possibly the most versatile player in existence. The young Cuban has a cannon arm, speed to burn, range, and power at the plate. Words do not do justice to the skills possessed by this lanky 6'3" righty.

Pablo Mesa, 20 (OF) - Left-handed outfielder with good contact, power, and bunting ability. Mesa is a very fast baserunner with great range in the field, but does not possess the rifle arm.

Alejandro Oms, 27 (CF/LF/RF) - Cuban with exceptional OF range with an accurate, but not strong, arm. An adeptly fast basestealer, Oms was known for his hitting prowess. A left-handed batter with power to all fields and a good average, Oms is known to be a clutch offensive player.

Cristobal Torriente, 27 (RF) - Called the 'Cuban Strongman', Torriente is a muscular left-hander with great range and a strong arm. Possessing power to all fields, he is known as a pull hitter. An accomplished base stealer who is reportedly a 'bad ball hitter' making any pitch thrown his way a prime candidate for the outfield wall. The complete ballplayer is how he has been described.
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So, with the stroke of a pen, a new era has dawned in American professional baseball. Ban Johnson has integrated baseball and denied Kenesaw Landis that long wanted priviledge at the same time. Its a great day for professional baseball and Bancroft Johnson is to thank for that.

Only one player was able to be reached for comment, that being Bingo DeMoss. "I'm just happy to finally be able to put my skills to the full test against all baseball players", DeMoss stated.

This reporter, for one, can't wait to see black and white playing along side one another next season in the cathedrals we call ballparks in Hardball Heroes.