I've owned OOTP 3, 4, 5, took a couple years off, and towards the end of 2007 bought OOTP8. Many, many times over the years I have attempted the complete replay of history, but never finished. Usually it was due to just losing interest. Previously, my best efforts were making it to the mid-70's, and then accidentally sabotaging the whole project by not properly accounting for the arrival of free agency, and having a sort of anarchy take over the league. Another time I made it through 1994 before losing interest. I have no idea why I didn't just finish that one. I seem to recall Bob Horner being the all-time home run leader in that one. Perhaps that's why I didn't finish it.
Anyhow, I finally finished one. I used the in-game database, 3-year recalc, and replayed the complete World Series era, 1903-2006. I know that other databases are often preferred, but I was reasonably happy with the results. I imported players to their original teams from the beginning and never turned the draft on.
The big winners in my replay, from a World Series standpoint, were the Boston Red Sox. 30 post-season appearances and 13 world championships, including a three-peat 1918-1920. (The New York Giants of 1930-1932 and St. Louis Cardinals of 1943-45 also pulled this off). They also spread out their success, winning at least one world title in every decade save the 50's, 60's and 2000's. The Yankees and Giants both won 10 titles, the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins franchise won 9. The St. Louis Cardinals made the most post-season appearances at 33, but won "only" 7 world championships. They absolutely ruled the National League in the 40's, winning 9 consecutive pennants (1940-48), including 5 world titles in that span.
The only one of the original franchises to have never won a World Series are the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles. Despite 5 post-season spots, they never capitalized. Actually, besides the Orioles, the only other clubs to have not won at least one championship are Arizona, Colorado, San Diego and Tampa Bay, and only the D-Rays and D-Backs have never made a playoff appearance (the Marlins have won 3 world series).
As far as individual player performances, Ted Williams was the standard. He played 25 seasons, all but one with Boston. He was the rookie of the year in 1939, and then went on to win 15(!) MVPs. 18-time All star, 5 gold gloves. The career leader in OBP (.472), VORP (1857.9), runs (2527), total bases (6859), walks (3154), and of course home runs (752) and RBIs (2353). In 1961, at the age of 42, he hit .303 with 45 homers and 111 rbis, and did not win the MVP. Oh, and he also won 5 triple crowns.
Career batting average leaders: Willie Keeler .356, Ed Delahanty at .3416, Lou Gehrig at .341. Albert Pujols is 4th all-time at .3389, although he obviously has a ways to go.
The career hits top 10: Cobb - 4053, Tony Gwynn - 3909, Eddie Collins - 3885, Ted Williams - 3811, Stan Musial - 3585, Richie Ashburn - 3522, Joe Jackson - 3519, Tris Speaker - 3400, Zach Wheat - 3277, George Brett - 3205. Hornsby, Ott, Appling, Joe Morgan, Molitor, Will Clark, Gehrig, Rafael Palmeiro, Jesse Burkett, Lajoie, Bert Campaneris, and Tillie Shafer round out the 3000 hit club. Campaneris hung around FOREVER and only hit .255 for his career.
In the home run department, after Teddy Ballgame's 752, there was Barry Bonds at 703 and still active. McGwire, Ruth and Griffey Jr. (still active) round out the 600 club. The rest of the 500 club includes Palmeiro, Killebrew, Frank Thomas, Sosa (active), Mantle, Reggie Jackson, McGriff, McCovey, and the still active duo of Larry Walker and Jim Thome. Mel Ott, Johnny Mize and Lou Gehrig all just missed.
Rickey Handerson stole 1095 bases to lead the universe. Ruth hit 61 homers in 1921 and that record stood until McGwire hit 73 in 1995, and that stood until Sosa hit 74 in 2000. Sosa and McGwire both hit 60 in a season 3 times. Ruth and Todd Helton each did it once. Ruth also has the single season RBI record with 205.
The 300-win club is 13 strong, with Cy Young at 522. He's followed by Mathewson, Chief Bender, Walter Johnson, Whitey Ford, Roger Clemens, Gaylord Perry, Curt Simmons, Pete Alexander, Eddie Cicotte, Addie Joss, and Lefty Grove. And finally Steve Carlton finished with exactly 300.
I don't know. I posted this mainly for myself. But if anybody wants to know anything, I'll be happy to look into it.