The Parallel Universe of Baseball

[mjj55409]

This is something that has been simmering in my mind for a while -- a parallel universe history of baseball. I'll be following as close as possible the structure of baseball, the development of the leagues, free agency, etc, but using fictional players. I'll try to present the unfolding of the league in the context of the history of baseball. And in my last dynasty report, I used a newspaper article style of updates. I continue that in this report, because it is so much fun.

[mjj55409]

New York Times
December 14th, 1870

The amateur base ball clubs that have been regaling us with their athletic prowess for the past few decades have decided, forthwith, to establish a National Association of professional base ball clubs. A championship committee was formed, headed by Ezra Thacker of the Boston club. Any ball club wishing to compete for the National champion whip-pennant in 1871 are to forward their membership dues of $10 to Mr. Thacker.

[mjj55409]

NY Times
March 1, 1871

The new Championship season is nearing its start. Here are the professional nines competing for the 1871 whip-pennant:

Boston Red Stockings

Spook Proctor......pitcher
Simon Southworth...catcher
Lemuel Billings....first base
Ezra Thacker.......second base
Buzz Bostater......third base
Goose Jones........short field
Tony Chavez........left field
Mathias Scanlon....centre field
Adam Queen.........right field

Chicago White Stockings

Emory Leverett.....pitcher
Duke Appleton......catcher
Hutch Moores.......first base
Green Conn.........second base
Orrin Ritchie......third base
Joshua McGraw......short field
Ray Keenan.........left field
Archie Goodwin.....centre field
Lucius Herndon.....right field

Cleveland Forest City

Clarance Mcguiness.pitcher
Harrison Raab......catcher
Harvy Mcdaniel.....first base
Watson Durkin......second base
Tookie Cabbell.....third base
Edgar Miles........short field
Benjamin Griggs....left field
Ole Kenard.........centre field
Ernest Moyer.......right field

Fort Wayne Kekiongas

Rip Hageman.........pitcher
Warley Tower.......catcher
Jessie Bronson.....first base
Pinkney Kingsbury..second base
Ebenezer Harrison..third base
Pierre Hollis......short field
Socks Mchugh.......left field
Orlando Flanagan...centre field
Hutch Witham.......right field

New York Mutual

Allie Tinsley......pitcher
Alfred Kilgore.....catcher
Sanford Dicks......first base
Clifton Bliss......second base
Louie Mcdaniel.....third base
Harvey Pulver......short field
Judge France.......left field
Clayton Alexander..centre field
Flip Newkirk.......right field

Philadelphia Athletics

Louie Allison......pitcher
Aaron Cruise.......catcher
Birdy Muller.......first base
Julius Presley.....second base
Melvin Vest........third base
Duke Gooding.......short field
Buster Marden.......left field
Aaron Martinez.....centre field
Joseph Davies......right field

Rockford Forest City

Gordon Ridgway.....pitcher
Enoch Nicholson....catcher
Ephram Motter......first base
Arch Linsey........second base
Flash Groom........third base
Earle Bartley......short field
Stinker Thom.......left field
Frederick Duffy....centre field
Allie Lambert......right field

Troy Haymakers

Allen Canfield.....pitcher
Bunk Self..........catcher
Leonard Franks.....first base
Chester Klotz......second base
Sylvester Hennessy.third base
Farley Boyett......short field
Marcellus Dewitt...left field
Spoons Lowery......centre field
Abram Clough.......right field

Washington Olympics

Johnathan Meehan...pitcher
Virgil Gamble......catcher
Orrin Holbrook.....first base
Jessee Sloan.......second base
Eddy Coats.........third base
Cornelius Olmstead.short field
Taylor Aiken.......left field
Dave Hogg..........centre field
Buster Lancaster...right field

[mjj55409]

NY Times
May 4th, 1871
Fort Wayne, Mich

The professional base-ball season got underway today with a glorious game between the Kekiongas of this city and the visiting club of Cleveland. The Cleveland club came away victorious by a score of 2-1 behind the brilliant pitching of MCGINNIS, who allowed Fort Wayne zero earned tallies.


Clarance Mcginnis

[mjj55409]

NY Times
May 7th, 1871

The first National Association trade was executed today as Chicago sent Millard Lowry to the Cleveland club to play centre field. In return, Harvey Mcdaniel will go to Chicago to play the short fielder position.


Millard Lowry

Harvey Mcdaniel

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Originally Posted by mjj55409

This is something that has been simmering in my mind for a while -- a parallel universe history of baseball. I'll be following as close as possible the structure of baseball, the development of the leagues, free agency, etc, but using fictional players. I'll try to present the unfolding of the league in the context of the history of baseball. And in my last dynasty report, I used a newspaper article style of updates. I continue that in this report, because it is so much fun.

How do you set up a historical/fictional so it will work just like MLB? I've thought about doing something like this before, but I really only know how to set up pure fictional leagues or detailed historical ones.

[mjj55409]

Originally Posted by Eckstein 4 Prez

How do you set up a historical/fictional so it will work just like MLB? I've thought about doing something like this before, but I really only know how to set up pure fictional leagues or detailed historical ones.

What I did was start a fictional league in 1871 with 10 teams (the 9 teams for the 1871 NA + one). I then deleted the 10th team, cleared the schedule, and loaded the as played schedule. I have it set to import the statistical, financial, and player creation modifiers each year. So I'm assuming that this means that as I move through the eras, the statistics will generally match the "real" history of baseball. And that's all I'm looking for. The initial set of players seems to have generated appropriately (i.e., in comparison to the test I've run using real players) except perhaps for fielding, which appears to be too good, but that's something I can live with.

I will be handling the league structural changes, expansions, contractions, etc, myself.

[mjj55409]

National Association Update as of June 1st, 1871



Cleveland appears to be the most balanced club, and Troy is benefiting from some very good pitching.

Leaders

Hits
Earnest Moyer (Cleveland)....15
Harrison Raab (Cleveland)....14
Mathias Scanlon (Boston).....13
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)...12
Virgil Gamble (Washington)...12

Runs
Orrin Holbrook (Washington)...6
Jessie Bronson (Fort Wayne)...5
Flash Groom (Rockford)........5
Dave Hogg (Washington)........5
Harvey Mcdaniel (Chicago).....5
Hutch Moores (Chicago)........5
Mathias Scanlon (Boston)......5

Pitching VORP
Johnathon Meehan (Washington)...11.5
Austin Doll (Troy)..............10.5
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne).........9.8
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)...8.9
Theodore Welsh (Washington)......6.3


Earnest Moyer

Johnathon Meehan

[mjj55409]

National Association Update as of July 1, 1871



Troy continues its strong play through June. Washington is the only other club to match Troy in championship play wins, but the Olympics have also lost nearly as many matches as they've won.

Leaders

Hits
Earnest Moyer (Cleveland)....22
Virgil Gamble (Washington)...21
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)...19
Harrison Raab (Cleveland)....19
Judge France (New York)......18
Melvin Vest (Philadelphia)...18

Runs
Millard Lowry (Cleveland).....8
Taylor Aiken (Washington).....7
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)....7
Marcellus Dewitt (Troy).......7
Spoons Lowery (Troy)..........7
Mathias Scanlon (Boston)......7

Total Bases
Taylor Aiken (Washington).....26
Virgil Gamble (Washington)....26
Earnest Moyer (Cleveland).....25
Harrison Raab (Cleveland).....24
Melvin Vest (Philadelphia)....23

Pitching VORP
Austin Doll (Troy)..............18.8
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne)........17.8
Allie Tinsley (New York)........13.5
Johnathon Meehan (Washington)...13.5
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)..13.2

Pitching Wins
Austin Doll (Troy)...............7
Johnathon Meehan (Washington)....7
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)...6
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne).........5
Allie Tinsley (New York).........4


Taylor Aiken

Austin Doll

[scott1964]

Interesting

[mjj55409]

National Association Update for August 1st, 1871



Troy went 0-4 in championship play in July, while New York was 6-2 and Fort Wayne 4-2.

Leaders

Hits
Melvin Vest (Philadelphia)...31
Harrison Raab (Cleveland)....28
Flip Newkirk (New York)......26
Virgil Gamble (Washington)...25
Louie Mcdaniel (New York)....25
Mathias Scanlan (Boston).....25
Ezra Thacker (Boston)........25

Runs
Millard Lowry (Cleveland)....11
Flip Newkirk (New York).......9
Adam Queen (Boston)...........9
Stinker Thom (Rockford).......9
Taylor Aiken (Washington).....8
Jessie Bronson (Fort Wayne)...8
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)....8
Marcellus Dewitt (Troy).......8

Total Bases
Melvin Vest (Philadelphia)....38
Flip Newkirk (New York).......36
Taylor Aiken (Washington).....34
Harrison Raab (Cleveland).....33
Louie Mcdaniel (New York).....32

Pitching VORP
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne)........31.4
Allie Tinsley (New York)........23.2
Austin Doll (Troy)..............22.9
Theodore Welsh (Washington).....17.0
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)..14.5

Pitching Wins
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)...9
Allie Tinsley (New York).........9
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne).........8
Austin Doll (Troy)...............7
Johnathon Meehan (Washington)....7


Melvin Vest

[mjj55409]

NY Times
Philadelphia. Monday, August 7th, 1871

Melvin Vest's marvelous play continues. On this day, in a 4 to 3 victory over the Boston club, Philadelphia's fine third-base man collected a safe hit in his 20th consecutive association contest.

[mjj55409]

NY Times
Monday, August 28th, 1871

There was a most anticipated base-ball this afternoon between the Mutual of this city and the White Stockings of Chicago. 1118 spectators crowded into Union Grounds to see the Chicago club, winners of all 4 of their association matches this month. The Mutual have been playing well of late, winning 9 of 12 matches since the start of July. On this afternoon, the Mutual were the victors, by a score of 6 to 5, in a match which took all of 14 innings to conclude. And on this day, when the Mutual collected 19 safe hits, the star of the game was perhaps LEVERETT of Chicago, who as switch pitcher, pitched for 6 frames and allowed the Mutual only 1 safe hit. It was all in vain for the White Stockings, however.


Emory Leverett

[mjj55409]

National Association Update for September 1st, 1871



After the Mutual cooled off the White Stockings, Troy took 2 games from Cleveland to close out the month of August.

Hits
Harrison Raab (Cleveland)....39
Melvin Vest (Philadelphia)...35
Virgil Gamble (Washington)...34
Flip Newkirk (New York)......34

Avg
Harrison Raab (Cleveland).....406
Melvin Vest (Philadelphia)....376
Orlando Flanagan (Fort Wayne).368
Ole Kenard (Cleveland)........351
Tookie Cabble (Cleveland).....340

Runs
Flip Newkirk (New York)......15
Millard Lowry (Cleveland)....14
Taylor Aiken (Washington)....12
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)...12
Green Conn (Chicago).........12

Total Bases
Taylor Aiken (Washington).....47
Flip Newkirk (New York).......46
Harrison Raab (Cleveland).....46
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)....45
Ole Kenard (Chicago)..........43

Pitching VORP
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne)........34.0
Austin Doll (Troy)..............30.6
Allie Tinsley (New York)........28.4
Theodore Welsh (Washington).....21.7
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)..17.1

Pitching Wins
Austin Doll (Troy)..............10
Allie Tinsley (New York)........10
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne).........9
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)...9

ERA
Austin Doll (Troy)..............1.59
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne)........1.62
Allie Tinsley (New York)........1.85
Theodore Welsh (Washington).....1.92
Haywood Klein (Philadelphia)....1.97


Harrison Raab

[mjj55409]

National Association Update for October 1st, 1871



Doll throws 2 shutouts as the Haymakers win 4 of 6 September matches. Cleveland matched Troy's 4-2 record.

Hits
Mathias Scanlon (Boston).....44
Flip Newkirk (New York)......42
Harrison Raab (Cleveland)....42
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)...41

Avg
Orlando Flanagan (Fort Wayne).368
Melvin Vest (Philadelphia)....360
Mathias Scanlon (Boston)......358
Harrison Raab (Cleveland).....356
Ole Kenard (Cleveland)........328
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)....336

Runs
Millard Lowry (Cleveland)....17
Flip Newkirk (New York)......17
Spoons Lowery (Troy).........15
Taylor Aiken (Washington)....14

Total Bases
Flip Newkirk (New York).......55
Taylor Aiken (Washington).....54
Louis Mcdaniel (New York).....54
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)....52
Mathias Scanlon (Boston)......51

Pitching VORP
Austin Doll (Troy)..............43.6
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne)........34.0
Allie Tinsley (New York)........33.2
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)..28.6
Theodore Welsh (Washington).....22.7

Pitching Wins
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)..13
Austin Doll (Troy)..............12
Allie Tinsley (New York)........11
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne).........9
Johnathan Meehan (Washington)....9

ERA
Austin Doll (Troy)..............1.44
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne)........1.62
Theodore Welsh (Washington).....1.91
Allie Tinsley (New York)........1.95
Johnathan Meehan (Washington)...2.08


Austin Doll

[mjj55409]

Great Conflagration in the City of Chicago
New York Times
Chicago. October 8, 1871
The most terrible conflagration that ever occurred in this city broke out about 11 o'clock last night, and having already swept over six entire blocks, is still raging with almost unabated fury. The details are still emerging, but the devastation is immense, including the base ball park of the White Stockings club, destroying the uniforms, bats, and balls. With this terrible act of nature rendering impotent one of their most formidable opponents, the championship remains to be decided between the Haymakers of Troy and the Forest City club of Cleveland.

[mjj55409]

Chicago Plays Final Association Game; Falls Victim to Philadelphia; Score 6 to 2.
New York Times
October 30, 1871
The White Stockings met the Athletics in the Metropolis to-day, playing the final scheduled game of the 1871 National Association season. The White Stockings, having been outfitted with uniforms and equipment provided by the other Association clubs, were permitted to host the Athletics here at Union Grounds. The final loss a tragic conclusion to a dark month for the Chicagos. But the tragedy in Chicago is not to distract from the fine season of the Haymakers. They have proved themselves the class of Association, claiming the whip-pennant by winning 10 of 14 championship matches since the beginning of August behind the incomparable pitching of DOLL.



Final Association Leaders

Hits
Flip Newkirk (New York)......46
Mathias Scanlon (Boston).....45
Melvin Vest (Philadelphia)...44
Mathias Scanlon (Boston).....42
Harrison Raab (Cleveland)....42

Avg
Orlando Flanagan (Fort Wayne).368
Harrison Raab (Cleveland).....356
Mathias Scanlon (Boston)......346
Melvin Vest (Philadelphia)....338
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)....336

Runs
Spoons Lowery (Troy).........18
Millard Lowry (Cleveland)....17
Flip Newkirk (New York)......17
Green Conn (Chicago).........16

Total Bases
Flip Newkirk (New York).......59
Louis Mcdaniel (New York).....56
Taylor Aiken (Washington).....54
Tookie Cabbell (Cleveland)....52
Green Conn (Chicago)..........52
Mathias Scanlon (Boston)......52

Pitching VORP
Austin Doll (Troy)..............46.3
Allie Tinsley (New York)........36.8
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne)........34.0
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)..28.6
Theodore Welsh (Washington).....22.7

Pitching Wins
Austin Doll (Troy)..............15
Clarance Mcguiness (Cleveland)..13
Allie Tinsley (New York)........11
Ludwig Engler (Chicago)..........9
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne).........9
Johnathan Meehan (Washington)....9

ERA
Austin Doll (Troy)..............1.57
Rip Hageman (Fort Wayne)........1.62
Allie Tinsley (New York)........1.84
Theodore Welsh (Washington).....1.91
Aleck Mchenry (Boston)..........2.08
Johnathan Meehan (Washington)...2.08

Melvin Vest's hitting streak stands at 28 games, having hit safely in every game for the Athletics this season.

[mjj55409]

New York Times
November 15, 1871
The delegates from the professional clubs assembled at Collier's Rooms, on Broadway, last night, and began the proceedings for organizing the Association tours for 1872. It would appear that the Chicago club, not having recovered fully from the Great Fire, will not field a professional nine in 1872. Neither will Fort Wayne and Rockford, the Western teams not willing to incur the expense of the Eastern tours. There is some interest from our amateur clubs in Brooklyn, the Eckfords and the Atlantics, to try their hand at the professional game.

The Association also took pains to highlight the best performances of the season just passed. It was announced that awards would be given to the players who best exemplified the game, both at the pitch and at the bat. The Doubleday Award, in recognition of proficiency in pitching, was given to DOLL of Troy, and the Cartwright Award, for the most powerful bat, was given to NEWKIRK of the Mutual.


Flip Newkirk

Austin Doll

[CatKnight]

Interesting first year, and a pretty good race between Troy and Cleveland.

[mjj55409]

New York Times
March 5th, 1872

The following base-ball clubs have committed to Championship match play for the 1872 season.

Baltimore Canaries
Pitcher........Simeon Mccall (16IP with Philadelphia)
Pitcher........Louie Allison (4-9, 142IP with Philadelphia)
Catcher........Bunk Self (.287/.300/.391 with Troy)
First base.....Skeeter James (no team)
Second base....Harvy Mcdaniel (.314/.324/.419 with Chicago)
Short field....Harvey Pulver (.190/.205/.214 with New York)
Third base.....Archie Hook (no team)
Left field.....Joel Stickney (.246/.242/.504 for Chicago)
Centre field...Joseph Davies (.212/.222/.465 for Philadelphia)
Right Field....Irwin Poe (no team)

Baltimore spent a little money on the pitching, hardly any on the bats.

Boston Red Stockings
Pitcher........Crab Mosier (1-4, 2.78 ERA, 45 IP)
Catcher........Ira Mccullough (no team)
First base.....Nicholas Hinkley (no team)
Second base....Sylvester Hennessy (.325/.336/.427 with Troy)
Short field....Goose Jones (.220/.241.266)
Third base.....Elwood Meehan (no team)
Left field.....Bernard Bixby (no team)
Centre field...Adam Queen (.212/.221/.255)
Right Field....Archibald Mahar (no team)

Hennessy is the only meaningful addition to this team

Brooklyn Eckfords
Pitcher........Johnathan Meehan (9-7, 2.08 ERA, 125 IP with Washington)
Catcher........Alfred Kilgore (.248/.261/.294 with New York)
First base.....Emanuel Hoover (.225/.225/.263 with Rockford)
Second base....Sanford Dicks (1 game with New York)
Short field....Farley Boyett (.272/.310/.369 with Troy)
Third base.....Leonard Franks (.298/.293/.397 with Troy)
Left field.....Flip Newkirk (.331/.359/.424 with New York)
Centre field...Stinker Thom (.284/.295/.373 with Rockford)
Right Field....Jessie Bronson (.224/.263/.355 with Fort Wayne)

A good collection of outfield batsmen.

Brooklyn Atlantics
Pitcher........Johan Beal (1 IP with Fort Wayne)
Catcher........Warley Tower (.224/.224/.269 with Fort Wayne)
First base.....Windy Landry (no team)
Second base....Dooley Kopp (no team)
Short field....???
Third base.....???
Left field.....Orlando Flanagan (.368/.377/.421 with Fort Wayne)
Centre field...Marcellus Dewitt (.328/.333/.369 with Troy)
Right Field....Socks Mchugh (.299/.309/364 with Fort Wayne)

Some good bats, but too many unknown commodities on this club.

Cleveland Forest City
Pitcher........Aleck Mchenry (8-8, 2.08 ERA, 173 IP with Boston)
Catcher........Harrison Raab (.356/.361/.424)
First base.....Earnest Moyer (.268/.285/.307)
Second base....Melvin Vest (.338/.344/.392 with Philadelphia)
Short field....Edgar Miles (.282/.307/.336)
Third base.....Taylor Barlett (no team)
Left field.....Fletcher Kearns (no team)
Centre field...Frances How (no team)
Right Field....Benjamin Griggs (.266/.278/.323)

Keep an eye on Kearns and How, two promising amateurs moving into the professional ranks.

Middletown Mansfields
Pitcher........Austin Doll (15-10, 1.57 ERA, 246 IP with Troy)
Catcher........Simon Southworth (.283/.289/.354 with Boston)
First base.....Duke Appleton (.275/.294/.324 with Chicago)
Second base....Watson Durkin (.234/.245/.271 with Cleveland)
Short field....Duke Gooding (.226/.246/.304 with Philadelphia)
Third base.....???
Left field.....???
Centre field...Taylor Aiken (.270/.275/.394 with Washington)
Right Field....???

Opened the purses for Doll, Southworth, and Aiken, but the backers might be running out of money.

New York Mutual
Pitcher........Buzz Tower (8 IP)
Catcher........Martin Mcclellan (.063 in 8 games with Fort Wayne)
First base.....Whitey Dorsey (no team)
Second base....Ezra Thacker (.285/.299/.341 with Boston)
Short field....Earle Bartley (.250/.263/.315 with Rockford)
Third base.....Ezekiel Butter (no team)
Left field.....Floyd Finch (no team)
Centre field...Tony Chavez (.240/.238/.328 with Boston)
Right Field....Manuel Branch (no team)

Butter is a top amateur.

Philadelphia Athletics
Pitcher........Elias Phillips (16 IP)
Catcher........Aaron Cruise (.305/.310/.317)
First base.....Birdy Muller (.333/.391/.375)
Second base....Green Conn (.333/.339/.456 with Chicago)
Short field....Johnson Covey (no team)
Third base.....Arch Linsey (.292/.327/.365 with Rockford)
Left field.....Lucius Herndon (.361/.394/.410 with Chicago)
Centre field...Allie Lambert (.284/.307/.421 with Rockford)
Right Field....Dave Hogg (.345/.344/.534 with Washington/Philadelphia)

Might not have enough talent at the pitch.

Troy Haymakers
Pitcher........Felix Schroder(no team)
Catcher........Jimmie Hinkle (.241/.333/.241)
First base.....Julius Presley (.288/.306/.376 with Philadelphia)
Second base....Chester Klotz (.242/.260/.258)
Short field....Clifton Bliss (.240/.256/.280 with New York)
Third base.....Pierre Hollis (.279/.293/.342 with Fort Wayne)
Left field.....Ellis Seward (no team)
Centre field...Frederick Duffy (.284/.305/.353 with Rockford)
Right Field....Spoons Lowery (.305/.306/.322)

Quite a lot of change for a team that just captured the Championship. Lowery is a key bat, and Seward is a heralded amateur.

Washington Olympics
Pitcher........Rip Hageman (9-7, 1.62 ERA, 172 IP with Fort Wayne)
Catcher........David Greer (.214/.200/.357 in 10 games)
First base.....Ira Field (.313/.316/.375)
Second base....Roland Mull (.303/.323/.693)
Short field....Julian Boles (.198/.217/.210)
Third base.....Lemuel Billings (.265/.274/.311 with Boston)
Left field.....Buster Lancaster (.220/.265/.244)
Centre field...Archie Goodwin (.264/.289/373 with Chicago)
Right Field....Orrin Holbrook (.375/.375/.458 in 7 games)

Bringing in Hageman is a good move for this club.

Washington Nationals
Pitcher........Taylor Stanly (3-2, 2.18 ERA, 33 IP with Chicago)
Catcher........Enoch Nicholson (.206/.206/.294 with Rockford)
First base.....Dilly Lovejoy (no team)
Second base....Tookie Cabbell (.336/.354/.426 with Cleveland)
Short field....Pinkney Kingsbury (.250/.256/.310 with Fort Wayne)
Third base.....Ebenezer Harrison (.307/.316/.347 with Fort Wayne)
Left field.....???
Centre field...Mathias Scanlon (.346/.336/.400 with Boston)
Right Field....???

Scanlon, Cabbell, and Kingsbury are good, but where is the rest of the outfield?