Comfort Home League: History

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This dynasty will describe the history or backstory for The Comfort Home League (CHL). The CHL won't be founded until modern day, and this will start in 1871 so will take a while to get there. I hope to make the CHL come to life once it comes to be. For the history, as of now, I intend to make one post per simulated year. Keep it factual, and to the point.

It will be hands off, and I will make some attempts to keep things accurate, but I will accept the inevitable mistakes. Recalc is off, and as of now, so is free agency.

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Major League Baseball comes to be.

Inaugural draft
In the first draft the Baltimore Canaries take Al Spalding #1.

First Game
Baltimore Canaries beat Cleveland Forest Citys 11-3. Lip Pike got the first hit for MLB in the bottom of the first playing for Cleveland.

April
Cleveland Forest Citys end the moth o-5, still searching for their first win in professional baseball.

May
Cleveland wins 2 games this month.
A third of the way through the season and Clipper Flynn (STL) is hitting .523.

June
Flynn is now hitting .438, but still leading the league in hitting.
Half way through the season (15 games) everyone but the Reds still has a good shot at postseason play.

July
All American League teams are within 1 game of each other.
Dick McBride (Boston Red Stockings) has had a QS in 90% of his starts.

August
3 out of McBride's 4 starts were quality starts.
STL holds the best record at 15-9.

September
STL now trailing the Canaries by 1 game with 1 game to go.
Chicago White Stockings have clinched.

End of Season
STL wins their final game putting the pressure on Baltimore to win their final game.
Baltimore wins their final game to clinch.

World Series
Game 1: Baltimore 10, Chicago 5
Game 2: Chicago 14, Baltimore 8
Game 3: Chicago 20, Baltimore 17
Game 4: Baltimore 18, Chicago 7
Game 5: Chicago 15, Baltimore 14 (Chicago scores 7 in the bottom of the 9th for a walkoff win the game!)
Game 6: Chicago 12, Baltimore 5 Chicago White Stockings are the champions!

Offseason
Nate Birkenstock (CIN) retires after 1 year in the league.
Levi Meyerle leads the league in hitting and is the only player to hit over .400 with an AVG of .444.
Jim Britt selected first in the amateur draft.

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Season Recap
St. Louis Brown Stockings and the Boston Red Stockings win their division and meet in the World Series.

No one hit .400.

The best triple slash goes to Dickie Flowers (CIN): .377/.392/.553

World Series
Game 1: St. Louis 12, Boston 8
Game 2: Boston 12, St. Louis 9
Game 3: St Louis 12, Boston 11 (Boston scores 4 in the top of the 9th, but couldn't plate the tying run).
Game 4: Boston 14, St. Louis 3
Game 5: Boston 18, St. Louis 3
Game 6: Boston 10, St. Louis 9 (STL scores 4 in the top of the 9th, but couldn't plate the tying run). Boston wins their first championship!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Candy Cummings, SP, CIN; AL- Fraley Rogers, RF, BAL
MVP (Most Valuable Pitcher): NL- Dick McBride, SP, BOS (1871, 1872); AL- Al Spalding, SP, BAL (1871, 1872)
MVH (Most Valuable Hitter): NL- Dickie Flowers, SS, CIN (1872); AL- George Hall, CF, STL (1872)

Chicago White Stockings take Hugh Campbell with the #1 overall pick.

8/18/1872: Harry Wright announces retirement. Opening day 1872, Wright is still playing.

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Season Recap
Cincinnati Reds to meet the Cleveland Blues in the World Series.

George Hall (STL) had a dominant offensive season leading the league in AVG, OBP, SLG, and VORP, though, even hitting in the heart of the order it didn't translate into much run production.

Bobby Matthews led the league in wins (30) and K's (41).

World Series
Game 1: Cincinnati 7, Cleveland 5
Game 2: Cleveland 10, Cincinnati 9 (Pony Sager, who came in to play SS for the ninth inning committed an error to allow the winning run to score in the bottom of the 9th. Cleveland scored 3 runs in the walk off win).
Game 3: Cleveland 10, Cincinnati 1
Game 4: Cleveland 6, Cincinnati 2
Game 5: Cincinnati 6, Cleveland 1
Game 6: Cleveland 15, Cincinnati 9 Cleveland Blues win their first World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Joe McDoolan, RP, BRK; AL- Ed Stratton, RP, BAL
MVP : NL- Cy Bentley, SP, CWS (1873); AL- Bobby Matthews, SP, STL (1873)
MVH : NL- Ross Barnes, 2B, CIN (1873); AL- George Hall, CF, STL (1872, 1873)

Philadelphia Athletics take Tommy Bond with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Chicago White Stockings beat the Cincinnati Reds in a one game playoff to face the Cleveland Blues in the World Series.

World Series
Game 1: Chicago 9, Cleveland 8
Game 2: Cleveland 14, Chicago 5
Game 3: Chicago 5, Cleveland 4 (Chicago scores 3 in the bottom of the ninth for the win).
Game 4: Cleveland 9, Chicago 8 (Cleveland scores 2 in the top of the 9th to take the one run lead, and hold Chicago scoreless for the win).
Game 5: Chicago 14, Cleveland 13 (in 10)
Game 6: Chicago 11, Cleveland 5 Chicago White Stockings win their second World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Orator Shaffer, LF, BRK; AL- Tommy Bond, RP, ATH
MVP : NL- John McMullin, SP, CIN (1874); AL- Asa Brainard, SP, ATH (1874)
MVH : NL- Cal McVey, C, CWS (1874); AL- George Hall, CF, STL (1872, 1873, 1874)

Boston Red Stockings take Lou Knight with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Cleveland Blues meet the Brooklyn Atlantics in the World Series.

3 SP'ers had an ERA under 1.00.

Bill Stearns (SP, CLE) had a dominant season, leading the league in wins (24), K's (63), and FIP (3.03)

World Series
Game 1: Brooklyn 5, Cleveland 0
Game 2: Brooklyn 14, Cleveland 7
Game 3: Brooklyn 7, Cleveland 4
Game 4: Brooklyn 17, Cleveland 10 Brooklyn Atlantics win their first World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Tricky Nichols, SP, BRK; AL- Mike Golden, SP, STL
MVP : NL- John McMullin, SP, CIN (1874, 1875); AL- Bill Stearns, SP, CLE (1875)
MVH : NL- Deacon White, C, BOS (1875); AL- Jimmy Wood, 3B, BAL (1871, 1875)

Chicago White Stockings take Terry Larkin with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
04/27/1876 Lip Pike the first player to hit for the cycle since 1871

Cleveland Blues make their 4th consecutive World Series, playing against the Cincinnati Reds. This is a rematch of the 1873 World Series where Cleveland won in 6.

Tom York was an offensive force leading the league in most offensive categories and winning the triple crowns. Lip Pike also won the triple crown. This is the first time this feat has been accomplished.

World Series
Game 1: Cincinnati 1, Cleveland 0
Game 2: Cincinnati 7, Cleveland 2
Game 3: Cincinnati 6, Cleveland 2
Game 4: Cincinnati 10, Cleveland 6 Cincinnati Reds win their first World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- J. O'Neill, SP, CIN; AL- Foghorn Bradley, SP, PHI
MVP : NL- Hugh Campbell, SP, CWS (1876); AL- Bill Stearns, SP, CLE (1875, 1876)
MVH : NL- Tom York, CF, BOS (1876); AL- Lip Pike, 3B, CLE (1876)

St. Louis Brown Stockings take Bobby Mitchell with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Cleveland Blues make their 5th consecutive World Series, playing against the Brooklyn Atlantics. This is a rematch of the 1875 World Series where Brooklyn swept the series.

Jim Britt strikes out 218 hitters. This destroys his old single season record of 97 from the previous year. The next most K's was Bobby Mitchell with 150.

World Series
Game 1: Cleveland 8, Brooklyn 5
Game 2: Cleveland 5, Brooklyn 3
Game 3: Cleveland 2, Brooklyn 0
Game 4: Cleveland 4, Brooklyn 3 Cleveland Blues win their second World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Joe Quinn, OF, BRK; AL- Bobby Mitchell, SP, STL
MVP : NL- Tricky Nichols, SP, BRK (1877); AL- Jim Britt, SP, PHI (1877)
MVH : NL- Jim O'Rourke, C, CWS (1877); AL- Andy Leonard, 2B, CLE (1877)

Baltimore Orioles take John Ward with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
The Philadelphia Athletics are going to play in their first World Series. They are set to meet the Cincinnati Reds.

Jim Britt breaks the single season record in wins (32) and K's (283).

World Series
Game 1: Philadelphia 6, Cincinnati 1
Game 2: Philadelphia 11, Cincinnati 8
Game 3: Cincinnati 5, Philadelphia 4
Game 4: Cincinnati 7, Philadelphia 3
Game 5: Philadelphia 9, Cincinnati 2
Game 6: Cincinnati 3, Philadelphia 1
Game 7: Cincinnati 7, Philadelphia 3 Cincinnati Reds win their second World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Jim McCormick, SP, CIN; AL- John Ward, SP, BAL
MVP : NL- Jim McCormick, SP, CIN (1878); AL- Jim Britt, SP, PHI (1877, 1878)
MVH : NL- Ross Barnes, 2B, CIN (1873, 1878); AL- Bill Boyd, RF, PHI (1878)

St. Louis Brown Stockings take Curry Foley with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Cleveland beats St. Louis in a 1 game playoff to face Cincinnati in the World Series. This marks the third time these teams have met in the World Series.

Ross Barnes finished with a VORP of 40.1. The next best amongst hitters was John O'Rourke with 28.9

Jim Britt again led the league in K's with 213.

5/2/1879 Gat Stires becomes the first player to collect 6 hits in a game.

World Series
Game 1: Cincinnati 3, Cleveland 2 (Cincinnati scores an unearned run in the bottom of the 9th for the walkoff win).
Game 2: Cleveland 9, Cincinnati 3
Game 3: Cincinnati 4, Cleveland 2
Game 4: Cincinnati 8, Cleveland 3
Game 5: Cleveland 4, Cincinnati 1
Game 6: Cincinnati 15, Cleveland 6 Cincinnati wins their third World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Lee Richmond, SP, BOS; AL- Curry Foley, SP, STL
MVP : NL- Jim McCormick, SP, CIN (1878, 1879); AL- Jim Britt, SP, PHI (1877-1879)
MVH : NL- Ross Barnes, 2B, CIN (1873, 1878, 1879); AL- Dan Brouthers, 1B, CLE (1879)

Brooklyn Atlantics take Tim Keefe with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Chicago White Stockings win a 1 game playoff to advance to the world series against the Baltimore Orioles.

World Series
Game 1: Baltimore 5, Chicago 2
Game 2: Chicago 2, Baltimore 1
Game 3: Baltimore 10, Chicago 5
Game 4: Chicago 11, Baltimore 10
Game 5: Chicago 5, Baltimore 0
Game 6: Baltimore 7, Chicago 6 (Chicago scores a run in the top of the 9th to send it to extra innings, but in the bottom of the 12th Baltimore gets the walkoff win).
Game 7: Chicago 3, Baltimore 2 Chicago White Stockings win their third World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Roger Conner, 1B, BRK; AL- Fred Dunlap, 2B, BAL
MVP : NL- Jim McCormick, SP, CIN (1878-1880); AL- John Ward, SP, BAL (1880)
MVH : NL- Ross Barnes, 2B, CIN (1873, 1878-1880); AL- Dan Brouthers, 1B, CLE (1879, 1880)

St. Louis Brown Stockings take Jim Whitney with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Cincinnati meets Baltimore in the World Series.

George Gore sets the longest recorded hit streak of 31 games.

World Series
Game 1: Cincinnati 10, Baltimore 3
Game 2: Baltimore 5, Cincinnati 2
Game 3: Baltimore 12, Cincinnati 5
Game 4: Baltimore 14, Cincinnati 10
Game 5: Baltimore 4, Cincinnati 2 Baltimore Orioles win their first World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- George Derby, SP, BOS; AL- Tony Mullane, SP, ATH
MVP : NL- Jim McCormick, SP, CIN (1878-1881); AL- John Ward, SP, BAL (1880, 1881)
MVH : NL- John O'Rourke, CF, CIN (1881); AL- Fred Dunlap, 2B, BAL (1881)

League expands to 16 teams.

Chicago White Sox take Hugh Daily with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Louisville beats Baltimore in a one game playoff to face Brooklyn in the World Series.

Jack Farrell and Roger Connor both hit for the cycle.

7/2/1882 Al Spalding throws the leagues first no hitter!

World Series
Game 1: Brooklyn 8, Louisville 7 (Louisville score 4 in the top of the 9th, but fall a run short).
Game 2: Brooklyn 5, Louisville 3
Game 3: Brooklyn 5, Louisville 4 (Both teams score 3 in the 12th, Brooklyn scores another in the 13th, and Louisville can't score).
Game 4: Louisville 7, Brooklyn 2
Game 5: Brooklyn 7, Louisville 6 Brooklyn Atalntics win their second World Series!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Bill Sweeney, SP, NYG; AL- Hugh Daily, SP, CWS
MVP : NL- Jim McCormick, SP, CIN (1878-1882); AL- Jim Whitney, SP, LOU (1882)
MVH : NL- Roger Connor, 1B, BRK (1882); AL- Dan Brouthers, 1B, CLE (1879, 1880, 1882)

Washington Nationals take Bob Emslie with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Chicago White Stockings had a 1 game lead over the Cincinnati Red Stockings going into the last game of the season. They were scheduled to play each other. Cincinnati, needing the win, scored to in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings. Chicago quickly scored 1 in the top of the 10th, but Cincinnati scored 2 more in the bottom of the 10th for the win, forcing an extra game.

Chicago won the rematch 2-0 for the right to face Philadelphia in the World Series.

Dan Brouthers had a dominant offensive season.

Roger Connor hits for the cycle again, as does Dan Brouthers.

World Series
Chicago wins in 6 after dropping the first 2 games.

Chicago White Stockings win their league leading 4th World Series.

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- John Coleman, SP, PIT; AL- Art Hagan, SP, CWS (A)
MVP : NL- Jim McCormick, SP, CIN (1878-1883); AL- Tony Mullane, SP, PHI (1883)
MVH : NL- Roger Connor, 1B, BRK (1882, 1883); AL- Dan Brouthers, 1B, CLE (1879, 1880, 1882, 1883)

Washington Nationals take Charlie Geggus with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Philadelphia and Cincinnati to meet in the World Series.

Another fantastic season for Dan Brouthers.

Charlie Geggus, the #1 draft pick in last years draft, leads the league in ERA (0.79) and K's (574!).

6/9/1884 Bill Vinton throws a no hitter

6/30/1884 Dick Burns becomes the second player to collect 6 hits in a game.

7/24/1884 Al Spalding throws his second career no hitter

World Series
Philadelphia wins in 6. This is their first World Series win!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Bob Black, SP, STL; AL- Charlie Geggus, SP, WAS
MVP : NL- Bob Black, SP, STL (1884); AL- John Ward, SP, BAL (1880, 1881, 1884))
MVH : NL- Roger Connor, 1B, BRK (1882-1884); AL- Dan Brouthers, 1B, CLE (1879, 1880, 1882-1884)

Chicago White Sox take Sam Thompson with the #1 pick.

Hall of Fame
Levi Meyerle- The leagues first MVH in 1871, Levi put together a great 9 year career, and, 5 years after retiring is still has the highest VORP of all retired players, 10 current players have higher VORP's.

Nominated but not inducted- Joe Start was an excellent fielder, and one of the better offensive first basemen in the first years.

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Season Recap
St. Louis and Baltimore to meet in the World Series.

Jerry Denny hits 11 HR's. The first time a player has hit double digit HR's in a season.

Roger Connor continues to put together an incredible career.

4/16/1885 John Sneed hits for the cycle

4/20/1885 Buck Ewing collects 6 hits in 1 game.

World Series
St. Louis win in a back forth game 7 that saw Baltimore score 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to tie it. STL scored 2 in the top of the 10th, and held Baltimore to just 1 in the bottom of the 10th. This is their first World Series win!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Jimmy Ryan, LF, SFG; AL- Amos Cross, C, DET
MVP : NL- Bob Black, SP, STL (1884, 1885); AL- John Ward, SP, BAL (1880, 1881, 1884, 1885)
MVH : NL- Roger Connor, 1B, BRK (1882-1885); AL- Dan Brouthers, 1B, CLE (1879, 1880, 1882-1885)

Boston Americans take Cannonball Titcomb with the #1 pick.

Hall of Fame
Asa Brainard- Only had 4 really good years, but leads all retired SP in VORP and ERA. Won the MVP in 1874.

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Season Recap
Both Brooklyn and Cincinnati lose their final game of the season, forcing a 1 game playoff for the right to face the Detroit Wolverines in the World Series. Brooklyn won this game 4-1.

Connor and Brouthers continue to be the offensive stars of the league.

5/7/1886 Amos Cross hit for the cycle.

8/6/1886 Check Fulmer collected 6 hits in one game.

Bob Emslie and Tony Mullane both hurled no hitters.

World Series
Brooklyn wins in 7, winning the final game 3-0. This is their second World Series win!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Larry McKeon, SP, CIN; AL- Jocko Flynn, SP, DET
MVP : NL- Tom Lee, SP, BRK (1886); AL- John Ward, SP, BAL (1880, 1881, 1884-1886)
MVH : NL- Roger Connor, 1B, BRK (1882-1886); AL- Dan Brouthers, 1B, CLE (1879, 1880, 1882-1886)

Boston Americans take Mike Tiernan with the #1 pick.

Hall of Fame
George Zettlein- This was a surprise pick by the committee. Though he had a longer career than Brainard, and was always very good, he never put together that great run. He was never awarded MVP. That said, he was top 10 VORP every year he pitched.

Nominated but not inducted- Jimmy Wood: Most thought he was a better lock than Zettlein. Speculation is that, even though he was an incredible 2Bmen, Barnes has set the bar too high, swaying voters away from Wood, in spite of being the MVH 2 times in his career.

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Season Recap
Baltimore to meet Brooklyn in the World Series.

Connor and Brouthers continue to be the offensive stars of the league.

4/8/1887 Hank O'Day throws a no hitter.

6/19/1887 Denny Lyons hit for the cycle.

8/4/1887 Al Spalding becomes the first pitcher to win 300 games!

World Series
Brooklyn wins in 6. This is their third World Series win, and a repeat!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Mike Griffin, CF, PHI; AL- Mike Tiernan, RF, BOS
MVP : NL- Peek-A-Boo Veach, SP, BRK (1887); AL- John Ward, SP, BAL (1880, 1881, 1884-1887)
MVH : NL- Roger Connor, 1B, BRK (1882-1887); AL- Dan Brouthers, 1B, CLE (1879, 1880, 1882-1887)

New York Giants take Ed Delahanty with the #1 pick.

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Season Recap
Baltimore beats Philadelphia on the the last game of the season, to avoid going into a tie, and will face the Chicago White Stockings in the World Series.

Connor continues to dominate while Brouthers put together a fine year, but not what he has been accustomed to.

7/8/1888 Bill Sowders tosses a no-hitter.

Bill Stearns and John Ward join the 300 win club.

World Series
Chicago wins on a walk off homerun by Dude Esterbrook in the bottom of the 10th in game 7. This is their third league leading fifth World Series title!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Jake Beckley, 1B, NYG; AL- Scott Stratton, SP, CWS
MVP : NL- John Harkins, SP, CWS (1888); AL- Jim Whitney, SP, LOU (1882, 1888)
MVH : NL- Roger Connor, 3B, BRK (1882-1888); AL- Dave Orr, 1B, PHI (1888)

Washington Nationals take Jack Doyle with the #1 pick.

Hall of Fame
Nominated but not inducted- Lip Pike became a victim of the committee having difficulty comparing players who had different numbers of games played. Pike had a very nice career and was the MVH in 1876, but apparently, he just didn't put together a strong enough run of great years.

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Season Recap
The Baltimore Orioles make their third consecutive World Series, and face the Philadelphia Quakers.

The Connor and Brouthers era appears over.

Harry Stovey has a monster year with a VORP of (82.7).

Billy Hamilton has an OBP of .485 and swipes 141 bases.

Emmett Seery knocks in 157 runs.

Al Spalding and Bill Stearns reach the 350 win mark.

World Series
Philadelphia wins in 5. This is their first league World Series title!

Offseason
Rookie of the year: NL- Bug Holliday, CF, BRK; AL- Herman Long, SS, CLE
MVP : NL- Hardie Henderson, SP, PHI (1889); AL- Pete Conway, SP, DET (1889)
MVH : NL- Harry Stovey, LF, CHI (1889); AL- Sam Thompson, RF, CWS (1889)

Saint Louis Browns take Cy Young with the #1 pick.

Hall of Fame
Charley Jones never had one defining year, but for the early stages of baseball, he was one of the best CF, and LF later in his career.

As the committee was accepting Jones' nomination they revisited Lip Pike and Jimmy Wood, and inducted both, as they put up fantastic numbers, which have held solid over time, in the early, shorter seasons.