WHAT IF?: Gambling, the "Lasker Plan", the Color line and the death of the American League

JackLewisKerouac · 06-25-2018, 04:53 PM

Introduction: I am an OOTP novice, getting entrenched with OOTP19 and loving its new historical functions, like the Color Barrier, historical minors, etc. I've honestly never did a legit dynasty, not even when I last played OOTP sometime in the first Obama term. Jumping in with both feet on this huge project.

I've done exhaustive research, looking at the New York Times daily from the 1920s to re-construct an off-the-field narrative for this Dynasty. I hope you enjoy and are entertained by this "What If" Dynasty!

THE LASKER PLAN: What if post-Black Sox hysteria ruined Major League Baseball?

Infamously, the 1919 World Series nearly broke the national pastime, allegations of gambling and "throwing" the World Series haunted the baseball world. In 1920, eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted in the case after gamblers fixed the 1919 series, paying off Sox players and leading to a World Series win by the Cincinnati Reds.

What is lost to history is how close Major League Baseball came to blowing the whole system up and making a new league. In our timeline, the post-Black Sox hysteria led to, through the "Lasker Plan," the creation of Major League Baseball's first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who ruled with an iron fist until 1944. An ardent segregationist, Landis made sure that the Major League color barrier was in full force until his death in 1946. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color line.

What if the "Lasker Plan" severed the league, as it almost did - teams supporting a commissioner on one side, opposing ballclubs left out of the league entirely?

The Beginning: 1920, real-life transactions and lineups turned on up to the 1920 World Series.....

Sizeman21 · 07-25-2018, 12:46 AM

What happened to this? Really wanted to see what you had planned and see all of your research

06-25-2018, 04:53 PM	#1
JackLewisKerouac Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: USA Posts: 8	WHAT IF?: Gambling, the "Lasker Plan", the Color line and the death of the American League Introduction: I am an OOTP novice, getting entrenched with OOTP19 and loving its new historical functions, like the Color Barrier, historical minors, etc. I've honestly never did a legit dynasty, not even when I last played OOTP sometime in the first Obama term. Jumping in with both feet on this huge project. I've done exhaustive research, looking at the New York Times daily from the 1920s to re-construct an off-the-field narrative for this Dynasty. I hope you enjoy and are entertained by this "What If" Dynasty! THE LASKER PLAN: What if post-Black Sox hysteria ruined Major League Baseball? Infamously, the 1919 World Series nearly broke the national pastime, allegations of gambling and "throwing" the World Series haunted the baseball world. In 1920, eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted in the case after gamblers fixed the 1919 series, paying off Sox players and leading to a World Series win by the Cincinnati Reds. What is lost to history is how close Major League Baseball came to blowing the whole system up and making a new league. In our timeline, the post-Black Sox hysteria led to, through the "Lasker Plan," the creation of Major League Baseball's first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who ruled with an iron fist until 1944. An ardent segregationist, Landis made sure that the Major League color barrier was in full force until his death in 1946. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color line. What if the "Lasker Plan" severed the league, as it almost did - teams supporting a commissioner on one side, opposing ballclubs left out of the league entirely? The Beginning: 1920, real-life transactions and lineups turned on up to the 1920 World Series.....

07-25-2018, 12:46 AM	#2
Sizeman21 Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: The bleachers of Sportsman's Park Posts: 435	What happened to this? Really wanted to see what you had planned and see all of your research __________________