[Nick Soulis]

THE BASEBALL CHRONICLE
Edition 1-1


March 17, 1871

In the dawn of spring the masses in the most populous cities of the country come out from a trying winter to enjoy the air and renew their vigor. For years that national game of baseball had played a central role in this annual revival and rite of spring.

Almost every city across the nation has its local ballfield and center stage of local game that produce local heroes. If good enough, these heroes go on to leave their local abode on a ministry of play to join the traveling teams that barnstorm the nation and create the debate of which club really is the grandest. This debate has of course always been subjective with local bias dominating thought and many dream matchups never really happening due to a lack of structure.

There have been internal rumors and discussions from within the game that the structure needed to make the national game legitimate was being prepared. Now, finally, those rumors appear to be bearing fruit. In an unprecedented move, many of the biggest names in the game both on and off the field have come together to create the National Association of Baseball Clubs. A nationwide circuit of baseball clubs, which will compete for a championship.

Three men have come to the forefront of this ambitious endeavor. First there is Harry Wright who through his excellent management of the Cincinnati Red Stockings club has established himself as the prominent name in baseball across the land. Wright has excepted the idea and even agreed to take over a club in Boston that will carry on many of the traditions of the Cincinnati club, including its iconic name. For any league to be successful the buy in of Mr. Wright was mandatory.


Mr. Harry Wright

The next figure is that of Robert Ferguson who helped spear head this idea from a player’s point of view and will be an intricate piece in convincing players that becoming a professional is the best thing for them and the game. Ferguson of course is a fine player in his own right and will participate in the league as a player, as will Wright for the inaugural season. It has already been agreed to internally that Ferguson will become the first president of the new league.

In the meantime, business mogul James Kerns will be the first league president. He will take the role for the first season because of his business background and his ability to deal with the financials including attendance and gate receipts. The eight cities that are rumored to be chosen for the first season have already put in their bids and are likely to start recruiting some of the best talent across the land. There is no restriction on who can play in the league or even a roster maximum size at this point. The eight cities that are expected to field teams are:

Boston
Chicago
Fort Wayne
Cleveland
Troy
New York
Philadelphia
Cleveland

Schedules and roster are sure to follow with an expected season start date of April and the idea of two division and a championship between the two best clubs in October being a likely set up. The league is keen on making one champion to silence the national debate that currently dominates talk around the nation.

The excitement of what is to come next and the incredible precedence of a first professional sports league of any kind has us on the brink of something truly fascinating.


**Please note I am not chasing after exact historical accuracy but rather am creating my own unique history and storylines.