OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

BaseballMan · 04-14-2023, 10:43 AM

New Beginings

The National Association League faced turbulent times as seven out of its 13 teams went out of business. The league was more of a gathering of player clubs than a league of teams, with players coming and going as they pleased. Unreliable scheduling and teams not fulfilling their commitments were just a few of the issues the league faced. Financial instability plagued the league, and on December 17th, 1875, the remaining six teams left to establish the National League.
From the ashes of the National Association League of Baseball Players, a new league was born. William Hulbert had conceived the National League as a league of teams controlled by owners, rather than players. Hulbert secretly convinced some of the National Association's best players to sign with his Chicago White Stockings, and by the time Harry Wright learned of the deals, it was too late to save the National Association. The league added two teams in Louisville and Cincinnati, bringing the total to eight teams.
Chicago dominated the league, setting team records in batting average with a team total of .339 and earned run average with a team total of 1.76. Harry Wright's Red Stockings struggled, finishing 19 games behind and missing the postseason for the first time in team history.
On September 11th, Philadelphia informed the League office that it could not honor its remaining schedule due to financial difficulties, creating controversy. Hulbert was furious when Philadelphia came in second in team rankings based on winning percentage, but Bulkeley ruled that since Philadelphia had not folded and was technically still a team on hold, it was entitled to a postseason berth. Hulbert instructed his White Stockings to win the World Championship Series, resulting in a Chicago sweep. Not satisfied with the outcome or Bulkeley's decision, Hulbert replaced him as commissioner for 1877 and expelled Philadelphia and New York from the league for failing to complete their schedules.
Although the National League represented a new beginning for baseball, doubts about its survival were already starting to emerge, especially after losing two teams in major markets. People began to wonder if smaller teams like Cincinnati and St. Louis could survive if New York and Philadelphia could fail.

04-14-2023, 10:43 AM	#48
BaseballMan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 6,505	New Beginings The National Association League faced turbulent times as seven out of its 13 teams went out of business. The league was more of a gathering of player clubs than a league of teams, with players coming and going as they pleased. Unreliable scheduling and teams not fulfilling their commitments were just a few of the issues the league faced. Financial instability plagued the league, and on December 17th, 1875, the remaining six teams left to establish the National League. From the ashes of the National Association League of Baseball Players, a new league was born. William Hulbert had conceived the National League as a league of teams controlled by owners, rather than players. Hulbert secretly convinced some of the National Association's best players to sign with his Chicago White Stockings, and by the time Harry Wright learned of the deals, it was too late to save the National Association. The league added two teams in Louisville and Cincinnati, bringing the total to eight teams. Chicago dominated the league, setting team records in batting average with a team total of .339 and earned run average with a team total of 1.76. Harry Wright's Red Stockings struggled, finishing 19 games behind and missing the postseason for the first time in team history. On September 11th, Philadelphia informed the League office that it could not honor its remaining schedule due to financial difficulties, creating controversy. Hulbert was furious when Philadelphia came in second in team rankings based on winning percentage, but Bulkeley ruled that since Philadelphia had not folded and was technically still a team on hold, it was entitled to a postseason berth. Hulbert instructed his White Stockings to win the World Championship Series, resulting in a Chicago sweep. Not satisfied with the outcome or Bulkeley's decision, Hulbert replaced him as commissioner for 1877 and expelled Philadelphia and New York from the league for failing to complete their schedules. Although the National League represented a new beginning for baseball, doubts about its survival were already starting to emerge, especially after losing two teams in major markets. People began to wonder if smaller teams like Cincinnati and St. Louis could survive if New York and Philadelphia could fail. Last edited by BaseballMan; 04-14-2023 at 11:54 AM.