[Pelican]

I have tried this with the Federal League in 1914, and much earlier with the Union Association in 1884. Laborious task, in that there was no template provided for either league in OOTP. However, the players who played in the "major leagues" as defined by OOTP exist, and the others can be roughly created. My main player issue was no minors in 1884 or 1914, although players who later played in the majors do exist, with their minor league records, in 1914. If you are trying this today, you would have the entire universe of players, down to independent leagues and unsigned free agents. I think, as long as your new league was unaffiliated with MLB or any MLB team, it could operate independently. Of course, labor of love, you would have to set up franchises with stadiums and budgets and their own farm systems. [Others would know better; but you might be able to reach the same outcome through expansion; although this would be within the structure of MLB, and not the competitive outlier you want. Another option is to play off-season, winter league, when MLB players might be "available" to you.]. You might have to play as Commissioner, at least as to the teams in your new league, as I don't know how you you could otherwise prevent MLB raids and signings of your new league players by the AI. I'd encourage you to try and post the results.