The American Baseball League

[munstermash]

The American Baseball League was formed in 1890 in a time when baseball was starting to take off in popularity in the United States. There had been several leagues that had started up across the US during this period but each of these leagues had trouble sustaining teams and players as new opportunities for both developed with each new league.

The American Baseball League would be the first of its kind to have a reserve league system to develop younger players in hope to increase the leagues overall talent pool and possibly expand to more teams and cities. The reserve league system would consist of each major league team having one reserve team that would play in the same city and stadium with a schedule that would mirror their parent major league club.

This minor league would be known as the American Baseball Reserve League. Each of these teams will play an afternoon game before their parent major league club would play later that night. The major and reserve league team would travel together, share equipment, stadium and in some cases share uniforms and team names. This would make replacing injured players much easier for the major league teams and at times players could play in both the reserve game and major league game in the same day.

The American Baseball League will not have an amateur draft. Players will be discovered and signed to a reserve league team or major league contracts from semi-pro teams and leagues across the United States. The league formed a scouting committing that will scout various teams and leagues across the United States. These scouts are not affiliated with any team but work for the league to recruit players for the league. Scouts will spend a lot of time scouting the Coastal League that located in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. The Coastal League is known as one of the best semi-pro leagues in the United States and draws players from all over the country each summer. Competition to sign players out of the Coastal League is always very hard as other professional leagues will also be sending scouts to the league as well; leagues that have been in existence longer and that are more stable than the American Baseball League.

Outside the Coastal League the scouts will follow 8-16 of the top semi-pro teams from across the United States. These teams will be reported out on individually as scouts attend games trying to find the best talent that is not playing in the Coastal League. The Semi-Pro teams will each play anywhere from 30-56 games during the summer against various types of competition in all parts of the country. The players from these teams do switch teams often as they look to get signed by a professional league. Competition for signing these players is not as great as in the Coastal League but with the various levels of competition scouting can be much more difficult.

The eight founding members of The American Baseball League are teams that I for some reason or another like the name or the location or just the logos that our great logo makers on this site have come up with.
At the moment I have no plans of running any of the teams in the league, just reporting out what is going on in league. I am not following any sort of history of a league, just what comes to mind at the time.

[munstermash]

The opening season of The American Baseball League features the following teams and their respected leagues.

The American Baseball League
Brooklyn Tip-Tops
Chicago Elephants
St. Louis Terriers
Washington Generals
Boston Bees
New York Knights
Philadelphia Stars
Pittsburgh Rebels

The American Baseball Reserve League
Brooklyn Atlantics
Chicago White Stockings
St. Louis Titans
Washington Bandits
Boston Trolleys
New York Mutuals
Philadelphia Giants
Pittsburgh Grays

The Coastal League (The top Semi-Pro League in the United States)
Dayford Pilots
Crandall Giants
Crisfield Crabbers
Mansing Bay Pirates
Mount Cove Beavers
Riverwood Indians
Rock Hall Retrievers
Springwillow Blue Sox

Independent Baseball League (These are the 8 teams outside of The Coastal League that scouts will follow in 1890)
Albany Senators
Bakersfield Indians
Bennington Bears
Dansbury Stars
Lexington Hustlers
Modesto Reds
Ventura Braves
Vernon Tigers

[munstermash]

Not sure how i am going to do these yet but here is the first one.

April 29th 1890

Washington 8 at Philadelphia 2
The Generals scored 6 in the top of the 9th to pick up the win.
W-Jim Vent (1-0) 9 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 6 K, 6 BB
L-Bob Collins (0-1) 9 IP, 11 H, 8 ER, 5 K, 10 BB

Boston 9 at Brooklyn 10 (11)
Brooklyn scores 2 in the bottom of the 9th to send it to extra innings then both teams scored 6 runs in the 10th inning.
W-Pop Waters (1-0) 11 IP, 16 H, 9 ER, 8 K, 4 BB
L-Mike White (0-1) 10.2 IP, 8 H, 9 ER, 5 K, 13 BB

New York 3 at St. Louis 2
New Yorks scores in top of 9th to take the lead.
W-Lem Tiffan (1-0) 9 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 7 K, 4 BB
L-Pete Craig (0-1) 9 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 10 K, 3 BB

Pittsburgh 3 at Chicago 9
Chicago put up 5 in the 4th inning.
W-Lon Lincoln (1-0) 9 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 7 K, 2 BB
L-Jake Pilger (0-1) 8 IP, 8 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 10 BB

Top Performers
LF-Ed Galstad, Boston 4-5, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB
SP-Jim Vent, Washington (1-0) 9 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 6 K, 6 BB
2B-Bryant Price, Boston 3-5, HR, 4 RBI, R
SP- Pete Craig, St. Louis (0-1) 9 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 10 K, 3 BB

ABL Coastal & Independent League Scouting Reports
SP-Hoot Hoffman (1-0) Dayford 9 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 10 K, 5 BB
26 year old Hoffman looks like a player to follow this season, throws harder than most in the ABL.

SP-Joe Diemer, Crandell (1-0) 9 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 3 K, 5 BB
Mixed feelings on Diemer, decent stuff but does not look the part.

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May 2nd 1890

Washington 2 at Philadelphia 5
George Kittleson singled in the bottom of the 9th to drive in Chick Beaver for the win.
W-Bob Fobes (1-0) 9 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 4 BB
L-Jim Hatcher (0-1) 8.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 9 K, 1 BB

Boston 4 at Brooklyn 6
Brooklyn scores 5 in the bottom of the 9th including a Phil Gandy 2-run walk off HR.
W-Dan Mathews (1-0) 9 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 K, 2 BB
L-Joe Money (0-1) 8.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 K, 7 BB

New York 3 at St. Louis 5
St. Louis scores 2 in each the 7th and 8th for the win.
W-Tom Wagner (1-0) 9 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 6 K, 6 BB
L-Bill Gray (0-1) 8 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 5 K, 3 BB

Pittsburgh 5 at Chicago 2
Pittsburgh scored 2 in each the 5th and 8th.
W-George Christensen 9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 K, 6 BB
L-Art Magone (0-1) 9 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 4 K, BB

Top Performers
P-Bob Fobes, Philadelphia (1-0) 9 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 4 BB
P-Tom Wagner, St. Louis (1-0) 9 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 6 K, 6 BB
RF-Dave Sheldon, St. Louis 2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB
P-Jim Hatcher, Washington (0-1) 8.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 9 K, 1 BB


ABL Scouting Reports
3B-Abe Singleton, Springwillow 2-4, HR, 4 RBI, R BB
27 years old, great defensive player that shows some good work at the plate. We should look at trying to get this kid into the ABL. Will be tough to bring into the league, kid can really play and will have plenty of offers.

C-Highball Sullivan, Mount Cove 2-5, HR, 3 RBI
Noticed this guy while scouting Singleton. He is kind of old at 36 but can really swing the bat and block balls in the dirt, decent arm. Would need to get him into the league this year.

[munstermash]

May 3rd 1890

Washington 18 at Philadelphia 3
Generals smack four homeruns in the win.
W-Jim Vent (2-0) 9 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 13 K, 2 BB
L-Red Shaw (0-1) 8.1 IP, 18 H, 18 ER, 6 K, 7 BB
HR- Washington: Bowers 2(2), Sellers (1), McBride (1),

Boston 5 at Brooklyn 4
Boston with 2 in the 4th and 5th for the win.
W-Tom Peterson (1-0) 9 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 K, 4 BB
L-Red Fishpaw (0-1) 9 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 4 K, 6 BB
HR-Brooklyn: Gandy (2)

New York 0 at St. Louis 5
St. Louis with 4 in the 6th inning.
W-Pete Craig 9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 1 BB
L-Lem Tiffan 8 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 8 K, 1 BB
HR-none

Pittsburgh 3 at Chicago 4
Grant Perkins 3 run HR in Chicago’s 4 run 6th
W-Lon Lincoln (2-0) 9 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 13 K, 3 BB
L-Jake Pilger (0-2) 8 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 5 K, 5 BB
HR-Chicago; Perkins (1)

Top Performers
1B- Joe Bowers, Washington 4-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R
SP-Pete Craig, St. Louis 9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 1 BB
SP-Jim Vent, Washington 9 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 13 K, 2 BB
3B-Grant Perkins, Chicago 2-2, HR, 3 RBI, R, 2 BB

[munstermash]

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[John C]

Well, I'm in. Reminds me, in a way, of the ABL I ran over ten years ago (online league, was the first to do a full-out simmed history. I was big on retro as well.)

Looking forward to reading about this.

[munstermash]

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[munstermash]

Do this a little different, four teams at a time.

[munstermash]

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[munstermash]

May 6th 1890

Philadelphia 4 at New York 1
W-Bob Collins (1-1) 9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 2 BB
L-Bill Gray (0-2) 9 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 11 K, 4 BB
HR-Philadelphia: Conti (2)

Washington 1 at Boston 16
W-Mike White (1-1) 9 IP, 8 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 1 BB
L-Jim Hatcher (1-1) 8 IP, 12 H, 15 ER, 1 K, 16 BB
HR-None

Pittsburgh 0 at St. Louis 1
W-Tom Wagner (2-0) 9 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 3 BB
L-George Christensen (1-1) 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 4 BB
HR-none

Brooklyn 8 at Chicago 6
W-Pop Waters (2-0) 9 IP, 14 H, 6 ER, 6 K, 1 BB
L-Art Magone (0-2) 9 IP, 13 H, 7 ER, 2 K, 7 BB
HR-Chicago: Kelly (1)

Top Performers
Ed Galstad, Boston 4-5, 4 RBI, R, BB
Tom Wagner, Pitssburgh (2-0) 9 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 3 BB
Joe Liska, Boston 2-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Bob Collins, Philadelphia (1-1) 9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 2 BB

Scouting Reports
None

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May 8th 1890

Pittsburgh 12 at Brooklyn 6
W-Jake Pilger (1-2) 9 IP, 13 H, 6 ER, 3 K, 5 BB
L-Dan Mathews (1-1) 9 IP, 17 H, 11 ER, 9 K, 9 BB
HR-Pittsburgh: Anderson (1), Derra (1), Brooklyn: Summers (1), Syler (1)

Washington 7 at New York 1
W-Jim Vent (3-0) 9 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 2 BB
L-Lew Tiffan (1-2) 9 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 7 K, 2 BB
HR-Washington: Barrett (1), Sellers (2),

Chicago 5 at Boston 3
W-Lon Lincoln (3-0) 9 IP, 15 H, 3 ER, 7 K, 2 BB
L-Joe Money (0-2) 9 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 K, 5 BB
HR-None

Philadelphia 1 at St. Louis 13
W-Pete Craig (2-1) 9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 9 K, 0 BB
L-Bob Fobes (1-1) 8 IP, 13 H, 7 ER, 3 K, 8 BB
HR-Philadelphia: none, St. Louis: Adams (1)

Top Performers
Pete Craig, St. Louis (2-1) 9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 9 K, 0 BB
Spider Summers, Brooklyn 4-5, HR, 4 RBI, R
Jim Adams, St. Louis 3-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB
Jim Vent, Washington (3-0) 9 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 2 BB

Coastal League Scouting Reports
RF-Ed Lane, Crisfield 4-7, HR, 5 RBI, 2 R
Looks like a guy you can build a team around, will be a lot of teams after him.

1B-Tex Brewer, Crisfield 4-5, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Big left handed hitting 1B with a great stroke, has not shown power so far but looks like he will.

Independent League Scouting Reports
Bones Boyd, Bakersfield 9 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 3 BB
Mixed feelings from scouts on Boyd, I think he needs a third pitch and need to see him against a better team.

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May 9 1890

Washington 2 at New York 7
W-Roy Walker (1-0) 9 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB
L-Hugh Imperati (0-1) 8 IP, 12 H, 7 ER, 2 K, 3 BB
HR-Washington: none, New York: Walker (1),

Pittsburgh 7 at Brooklyn 8
W-Red Fishburn (1-1) 9 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 10 K, 8 BB
L-Cole Greenwalt (0-1) 8.2 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 5 K, 13 BB
HR-Pittsburgh: Wedding (1), Butts (2), Brooklyn: Scott (1)

Philadelphia 4 at St. Louis 5
W-Buck Franke (1-0) 9 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 7 K, 7 BB
L-Red Shaw (0-2) 8.2 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 2 K, 6 BB
HR-Philadelphia: none, St. Louis: Uffer (1)

Chicago at Pittsburgh (Rain)

Top Performers
Washington Carr, New York 3-4, HR, 4 RBI, R
Roy Walker, New York (1-0) 9 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB
Jake Scott, Brooklyn 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Joe Webster, Brooklyn 2-3, RBI, R, 3 BB

Scouting Reports
None

[munstermash]

Standings Update

St. Louis 5-1
Brooklyn 4-2
Chicago 3-2
Washington 3-2
Boston 2-3
New York 2-4
Philadelphia 2-4
Pittsburgh 2-4

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May 10 1890

Chicago 6 at Boston 7
W-Mike White (2-1) 9 IP, 13 H, 6 ER, 9 K, 5 BB
L-Thomas Clay (0-1) 8.1 IP, 14 H, 7 ER, 5 K, 2 BB
HR-None

Pittsburgh 0 at Brooklyn 7
W-Pop Waters (3-0) 9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 11 K, 0 BB
L-George Christensen (1-2) 8 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 3 K, 4 BB
HR-Pittsburgh: none, Brooklyn: Syler (2), Snyder (1)

Philadelphia 11 at St. Louis 10
W-Bob Collins (2-1) 10 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 3 K, 8 BB
L-Pete Craig (2-2) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 BB
HR-Philadelphia: None, St. Louis: Collins (1)

Chicago 5 at Boston 11
W-Tom Peterson (2-0) 9 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 5 BB
L-Leo Snyder (0-1) 8 IP, 13 H, 9 ER, 5 K, 8 BB
HR-Chicago: None, Boston: Petersen (1), Galstad 2 (3), Stevens (1)

Washington at New York (Rain, will be made up 9-2 as a DH)

Top Performers
Ed Galstad, Boston 5-8, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R
Joe Liska, Boston, 7-8, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB
Pop Waters, Brooklyn (3-0) 9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 11 K, 0 BB
Tom Syler, Brooklyn 2-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R


Coastal League Scouting Report

Top 5 Scouted Hitters
Joe Heumann (23), Crandell .486 avg, 1 HR, 6 RBI
George Burns (28), Dayford .464 avg, 3 HR, 11 RBI
Tex Brewer (26), Crisfield .548 avag, 0 HR, 5 RBI
Gabriel Lemon (27), Crisfield .333 avg, 2 HR, 9 RBI
Madison Mayes (33), Crandell .406 avg, 1 HR, 8 RBI

Independent League Scouting Report

Top 5 Hitters
Jack Hutts (26), Danbury .500 avg, 0 HR, 6 RBI
Willis Beck (29), Lexington .391 avg, 2 HR, 6 RBI
Jack Drake (29), Ventura .463 avg, 3 HR, 15 RBI
Bill Burnum (30), Bennington .438 avg, 3 HR, 8 RBI
George Reynolds (30), Danbury .483 avg, 1 HR, 7 RBI