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3fbrown · 08-12-2019, 01:13 AM

The Boston Americans of the 1900s were very much like the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s. Both were dominant teams - even dynasties - based on a highly talented roster. And in both cases, regular season dominance was partially overshadowed by postseason struggles.

Though Replay League records from that far back are sketchy, I can’t help but remember the Boston team and how they dominated the AL. Boston won 9 pennants in the first 10 seasons in Replay League history. However, they won only one World Series out of those 9. While the NL sent a variety of different teams to the series, they usually won, despite being seemingly outmatched by the powerhouse Americans.

Much like the 90’s Braves, Boston was led by their strong starting rotation. Though maybe not quite as strong as those Atlanta teams, it was still clearly the best rotation in baseball, and it was also led by an all-time RL legend: Mike O’Neill. Though his real life career was rather pedestrian, O’Neill was the key to Boston’s success. He was a late draft pick in the inaugural league draft, and almost immediately took some major talent improvements. As a result, by 1902 he was a 26-game winner, and in 1903 he won the first of 7 Cy Young Awards. (Yes, they were called Cy Young Awards, even as Cy Young himself was in the league. If I decided to name the Replay League pitching award after the dominant early starter, it would surely be called the Mike O’Neill Award.) O’Neill ended his career with a 2.37 ERA and 354 victories, a record that would last 40 years. He is still #2 all time in wins.

Behind O’Neill the Americans boasted fellow 300-game winner and HOF inductee Frank Owen. Also less impressive in real life, Owen was an excellent pitcher, and even managed to wrestle the CY Award from O’Neill’s grasp in 1905. The back of the rotation, though better pitchers in real life, did not manage quite as good of careers as the two HOFers. Sam Leever was nearly as good as those two, but was already 29 when the league began, and so his career was significantly shorter. “Crossfire” Earl Moore had a very long career for Boston, amassing 255 wins with very good pitching, but was not quite HOF caliber. To this day, those four pitchers all rank in the top 6 in franchise victories.

The offense, while not quite as good as the pitching staff, was still among the best in baseball. It was led by outfielders Elmer Flick and Doc Gessler. Both HOFers, they were the core of the lineup. Flick was a superstar, boasting all-around excellent offense, and strong CF defense, at least in his earlier years. Doc Gessler was not quite the offensive force that Flick was - hitting for a lower average and with less power. But he demonstrated outstanding patience at the plate. When he retired he was the career leader in walks by a large margin. Though he has since been surpassed and currently ranks 10th all-time, nobody ahead of him played in the deadball era.

Although Miller Huggins and Jiggs Donohue (plus Billy Hamilton for a few years) provided quality hitting as well, the rest of the offense was not nearly as impressive. Still, with that rotation and some pretty good hitting, Boston dominated the AL like no other team has ever dominated a single decade in league history.

Boston is definitely one of the more interesting franchises in the league, so we will be hearing more about them in the future.

08-12-2019, 01:13 AM	#3
3fbrown Major Leagues Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 414	The Boston Americans The Boston Americans of the 1900s were very much like the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s. Both were dominant teams - even dynasties - based on a highly talented roster. And in both cases, regular season dominance was partially overshadowed by postseason struggles. Though Replay League records from that far back are sketchy, I can’t help but remember the Boston team and how they dominated the AL. Boston won 9 pennants in the first 10 seasons in Replay League history. However, they won only one World Series out of those 9. While the NL sent a variety of different teams to the series, they usually won, despite being seemingly outmatched by the powerhouse Americans. Much like the 90’s Braves, Boston was led by their strong starting rotation. Though maybe not quite as strong as those Atlanta teams, it was still clearly the best rotation in baseball, and it was also led by an all-time RL legend: Mike O’Neill. Though his real life career was rather pedestrian, O’Neill was the key to Boston’s success. He was a late draft pick in the inaugural league draft, and almost immediately took some major talent improvements. As a result, by 1902 he was a 26-game winner, and in 1903 he won the first of 7 Cy Young Awards. (Yes, they were called Cy Young Awards, even as Cy Young himself was in the league. If I decided to name the Replay League pitching award after the dominant early starter, it would surely be called the Mike O’Neill Award.) O’Neill ended his career with a 2.37 ERA and 354 victories, a record that would last 40 years. He is still #2 all time in wins. Behind O’Neill the Americans boasted fellow 300-game winner and HOF inductee Frank Owen. Also less impressive in real life, Owen was an excellent pitcher, and even managed to wrestle the CY Award from O’Neill’s grasp in 1905. The back of the rotation, though better pitchers in real life, did not manage quite as good of careers as the two HOFers. Sam Leever was nearly as good as those two, but was already 29 when the league began, and so his career was significantly shorter. “Crossfire” Earl Moore had a very long career for Boston, amassing 255 wins with very good pitching, but was not quite HOF caliber. To this day, those four pitchers all rank in the top 6 in franchise victories. The offense, while not quite as good as the pitching staff, was still among the best in baseball. It was led by outfielders Elmer Flick and Doc Gessler. Both HOFers, they were the core of the lineup. Flick was a superstar, boasting all-around excellent offense, and strong CF defense, at least in his earlier years. Doc Gessler was not quite the offensive force that Flick was - hitting for a lower average and with less power. But he demonstrated outstanding patience at the plate. When he retired he was the career leader in walks by a large margin. Though he has since been surpassed and currently ranks 10th all-time, nobody ahead of him played in the deadball era. Although Miller Huggins and Jiggs Donohue (plus Billy Hamilton for a few years) provided quality hitting as well, the rest of the offense was not nearly as impressive. Still, with that rotation and some pretty good hitting, Boston dominated the AL like no other team has ever dominated a single decade in league history. Boston is definitely one of the more interesting franchises in the league, so we will be hearing more about them in the future.