OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Simplest Beginnings: From Amateurism in 1857, to Pro Ball (1870), Int'l Ball, & More

tm1681 · 04-29-2023, 06:59 PM

The other semi-pro circuit was the Baseball League of the American Prairie, commonly shortened to the Prairie League (PL):

The PL covered a larger area than the other two leagues, allowing applicants from the Dakotas and Kansas all the way east to southern Illinois. However, in the end the initial ten clubs were largely confined to four states as Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska combined to have nine of the ten.

During the first year of the Prairie League, it was St. Paul as the frontrunner and nine other teams fighting for second place. The North Stars finished an incredible 64-26, winning the title by no less than ten games. The rest of the league was a bit of a palindrome, with records ranging from 54-36 to (Omaha) to 36-54 (Des Moines).

The Prairie League’s first Batsman of the Year was Kansas City second baseman Henry Garvin (.387 AVG, 1.070 OPS, 114 R, 158 R, 257 TB, 86 RBI all lead the PL), while old hand Duane Foster of St. Paul (39 y/o, 31-13, 48 GS, 390.2 IP, 29 CG, 5.4 WAR) was its first Pitcher of the Year. Garvin doubled up on the major awards as he was also the league’s inaugural MVP (7.90 WPA in 90 games).

04-29-2023, 06:59 PM	#18
tm1681 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,127	The other semi-pro circuit was the Baseball League of the American Prairie, commonly shortened to the Prairie League (PL): The PL covered a larger area than the other two leagues, allowing applicants from the Dakotas and Kansas all the way east to southern Illinois. However, in the end the initial ten clubs were largely confined to four states as Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska combined to have nine of the ten. During the first year of the Prairie League, it was St. Paul as the frontrunner and nine other teams fighting for second place. The North Stars finished an incredible 64-26, winning the title by no less than ten games. The rest of the league was a bit of a palindrome, with records ranging from 54-36 to (Omaha) to 36-54 (Des Moines). The Prairie League’s first Batsman of the Year was Kansas City second baseman Henry Garvin (.387 AVG, 1.070 OPS, 114 R, 158 R, 257 TB, 86 RBI all lead the PL), while old hand Duane Foster of St. Paul (39 y/o, 31-13, 48 GS, 390.2 IP, 29 CG, 5.4 WAR) was its first Pitcher of the Year. Garvin doubled up on the major awards as he was also the league’s inaugural MVP (7.90 WPA in 90 games).