OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - At the Keystone: The Philadelphia Keystones of the FABL

gstatman · 06-08-2019, 11:43 PM

While the anticipation of running the Philadelphia Keystones during the 50-year “pre-play” built to a crescendo, the team in recent years has been a flagging franchise. Things started off well in the Century League, the first “major” league in this universe, starting in 1876, by fruit magnate William Whitney.

Philadelphia was a charter member and owner Jefferson Edgerton was a young owner then. The team was known as the Centennials, for obvious reasons, as Philadelphia was the birthplace of Independence. As the seasons unfolded and the CL gave way to the Federally Aligned Baseball Leagues in 1892, Philadelphia was the pre-eminent professional franchise in the nation. The Centennials/Keystones won four titles in the 17 seasons before the formation of the FABL, led by the patron saint of Philadelphia baseball, Zebulon Banks.

Banks clubbed 3,307 hits in a 22-year career with the Centennials/Keystones that spanned 2,397 games. He was a lifetime .330 hitter with his top season his 7-win 1888 campaign, as he hit .363/.424/.514 with 207 hits, which one of his two 200-hit seasons.

In the years that followed the FABL merger, however, the Keystones have fallen on hard times. Since the World’s Championship Series was instituted in 1893, there was some success in the 1890s, but Philadelphia has only had three seasons above .500 since the turn of the 20th century. The good news for Keystones fans is that the prospect cupboard is full and the future is now, as the 1925 edition went 81-73 behind the unbelievable rookie season of first baseman Rankin Kellogg. The 81-73 record last season was the best showing from the Keystones in 18 years, since an 85-66 campaign in 1909.

After a 1924 season in A-ball where Kellogg hit 39 home runs in 119 runs batted in with a .996 OPS, Kellogg was called up to start the season with the big club in 1925 and turned in a rookie season for the ages: .328 average, .443 on-base percentage, .619 slugging percentage (1.062 OPS), 35 home runs, 133 runs batted in, a league-leading 118 walks and a WAR of 7.5 in the full 154-game slate.

There was no Rookie of the Year Award in 1925, but Kellogg finished second for the Whitney Award, given to the most valuable player in each league. Kellogg finished second to the perennial Whitney winner in the Federal Association, St. Louis Pioneer RF Max Morris. Morris has won five of the last six Whitneys in the FA.

06-08-2019, 11:43 PM	#2
gstatman Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 25	A Short, Short History While the anticipation of running the Philadelphia Keystones during the 50-year “pre-play” built to a crescendo, the team in recent years has been a flagging franchise. Things started off well in the Century League, the first “major” league in this universe, starting in 1876, by fruit magnate William Whitney. Philadelphia was a charter member and owner Jefferson Edgerton was a young owner then. The team was known as the Centennials, for obvious reasons, as Philadelphia was the birthplace of Independence. As the seasons unfolded and the CL gave way to the Federally Aligned Baseball Leagues in 1892, Philadelphia was the pre-eminent professional franchise in the nation. The Centennials/Keystones won four titles in the 17 seasons before the formation of the FABL, led by the patron saint of Philadelphia baseball, Zebulon Banks. Banks clubbed 3,307 hits in a 22-year career with the Centennials/Keystones that spanned 2,397 games. He was a lifetime .330 hitter with his top season his 7-win 1888 campaign, as he hit .363/.424/.514 with 207 hits, which one of his two 200-hit seasons. In the years that followed the FABL merger, however, the Keystones have fallen on hard times. Since the World’s Championship Series was instituted in 1893, there was some success in the 1890s, but Philadelphia has only had three seasons above .500 since the turn of the 20th century. The good news for Keystones fans is that the prospect cupboard is full and the future is now, as the 1925 edition went 81-73 behind the unbelievable rookie season of first baseman Rankin Kellogg. The 81-73 record last season was the best showing from the Keystones in 18 years, since an 85-66 campaign in 1909. After a 1924 season in A-ball where Kellogg hit 39 home runs in 119 runs batted in with a .996 OPS, Kellogg was called up to start the season with the big club in 1925 and turned in a rookie season for the ages: .328 average, .443 on-base percentage, .619 slugging percentage (1.062 OPS), 35 home runs, 133 runs batted in, a league-leading 118 walks and a WAR of 7.5 in the full 154-game slate. There was no Rookie of the Year Award in 1925, but Kellogg finished second for the Whitney Award, given to the most valuable player in each league. Kellogg finished second to the perennial Whitney winner in the Federal Association, St. Louis Pioneer RF Max Morris. Morris has won five of the last six Whitneys in the FA. Attached Images __________________ Figment League: Baseball: Philadelphia Keystones (1926-52, 1962-63, 1975) Hockey: Boston Bees (1946-52, 1962-63, 1975) Basketball: Washington Statesmen (1947-52) Football: New York Stars (1975) Boxing: Alter ego of Johnny Bologna OOTP Dynasty Reports: At the Keystone: The Philadelphia Keystones of the FABL Greatest Team Tournament Last edited by gstatman; 06-09-2019 at 07:42 PM.