OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Pelican · 10-31-2022, 10:52 PM

I'm one of those players who can't stick to one season for too long. Instead, I keep getting new ideas about past years. My usual approach is to look at history and ask the question how things could have changed, if.... That "if" can be "if there were no color bar" [1938]; or "if the Federal League had signed more players" [1914]; or "if the Philly A's had invested money in the team, and stayed in Philadelphia" [1952]; or "had the Phillies made better personnel decisions" [1960 and 1971]. Those last three seasons are also, respectively, the year I was born, the year of my first baseball game, and the year Vets' Stadium opened.

In more recent years [2021 and 2022 replays], the "what if" revolves around reducing the impact of money (or lack thereof; or the refusal to spend) on team rosters and talent and organizations. In those years I either impose a hard salary cap, level up the funds available to teams like the Pirates, Oakland, Kansas City, or both. The idea is to approach something more like parity. Plus expansion to Charlotte and Buffalo. The Rays finally give up and move to Montreal and become the Moose. The Pirates bolt for New Orleans as the Buccaneers. And the Athletics move again, to their fourth city, San Jose, to play in Pied Piper Stadium.

1914 is a work in progress. I've only progressed a few games into the season. After some research, reading a number of books on the Federal League, I was aware of a number of top players who nearly signed (or even signed and reneged) with Federal League teams. I've added a dozen or so guys to Federal League rosters. For example, slugger Gavvy Cravath joined several of his Phillies teammates on the Baltimore Terrapins. The Brooklyn Tip-Tops signed Jim Thorpe away from the Giants. Johnny Evers and the aging Frank Chance have joined Joe Tinker with the Chicago Whales. Burt Shotton left the Browns for the Kansas City Packers. Zack Wheat left Brooklyn for the Packers. Pol Perritt left the Cardinals for the Packers. Frank "Wildfire" Schulte left the Cubs for the Pittsburgh Rebels. Ed Konechty joined the Rebels from the Cardinals. Slugger Vic Saier bolted the Cubs for the St. Louis Terriers. Plus, the most recent defection, Shoeless Joe Jackson joins the Buffalo Blues from the New York baseball Giants. And in the most momentus, a young lefty hurler and sometimes outfielder walked across the street from the Baltimore Orioles park to the new Federal League grounds and signed a contract with the Terrapins. His name: George Herman Ruth.

More to come on 1938, 1952, 1960, and 1971 projects.

Plus the 1884 Union Association, featuring the Wilmington Quicksteps.

10-31-2022, 10:52 PM	#1
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,886	Historical Sims in Progress I'm one of those players who can't stick to one season for too long. Instead, I keep getting new ideas about past years. My usual approach is to look at history and ask the question how things could have changed, if.... That "if" can be "if there were no color bar" [1938]; or "if the Federal League had signed more players" [1914]; or "if the Philly A's had invested money in the team, and stayed in Philadelphia" [1952]; or "had the Phillies made better personnel decisions" [1960 and 1971]. Those last three seasons are also, respectively, the year I was born, the year of my first baseball game, and the year Vets' Stadium opened. In more recent years [2021 and 2022 replays], the "what if" revolves around reducing the impact of money (or lack thereof; or the refusal to spend) on team rosters and talent and organizations. In those years I either impose a hard salary cap, level up the funds available to teams like the Pirates, Oakland, Kansas City, or both. The idea is to approach something more like parity. Plus expansion to Charlotte and Buffalo. The Rays finally give up and move to Montreal and become the Moose. The Pirates bolt for New Orleans as the Buccaneers. And the Athletics move again, to their fourth city, San Jose, to play in Pied Piper Stadium. 1914 is a work in progress. I've only progressed a few games into the season. After some research, reading a number of books on the Federal League, I was aware of a number of top players who nearly signed (or even signed and reneged) with Federal League teams. I've added a dozen or so guys to Federal League rosters. For example, slugger Gavvy Cravath joined several of his Phillies teammates on the Baltimore Terrapins. The Brooklyn Tip-Tops signed Jim Thorpe away from the Giants. Johnny Evers and the aging Frank Chance have joined Joe Tinker with the Chicago Whales. Burt Shotton left the Browns for the Kansas City Packers. Zack Wheat left Brooklyn for the Packers. Pol Perritt left the Cardinals for the Packers. Frank "Wildfire" Schulte left the Cubs for the Pittsburgh Rebels. Ed Konechty joined the Rebels from the Cardinals. Slugger Vic Saier bolted the Cubs for the St. Louis Terriers. Plus, the most recent defection, Shoeless Joe Jackson joins the Buffalo Blues from the New York baseball Giants. And in the most momentus, a young lefty hurler and sometimes outfielder walked across the street from the Baltimore Orioles park to the new Federal League grounds and signed a contract with the Terrapins. His name: George Herman Ruth. More to come on 1938, 1952, 1960, and 1971 projects. Plus the 1884 Union Association, featuring the Wilmington Quicksteps. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.”