OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The National Pastime: The United States Baseball Federation rises

KCRoyals15 · 11-24-2024, 03:44 PM

1921

As offense continued to shoot upwards (a record 4.9 runs per game and a league average of .293), the standings saw a shakeup from some of the usual suspects. Kansas City did win the Western League for the fifth-straight year, but they were the only repeat winner in the United States Baseball Federation.

In the New England League, the Buffalo Bisons won their first pennant since 1908 and their third all-time. After a couple of years away, the Cleveland Buckeyes won their fifth Midwest Association crown in nine seasons. Lastly, the Providence Patriots won their first Eastern League crown, edging out Washington by a game, with the Philadelphia Quakers and Baltimore close behind as well.

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Providence proved to be up for the task, as they upended #1 seed Kansas City in a surprisingly easy five-game series. Buffalo, meanwhile, needed seven games to scrape by Cleveland. In the championship, though, the Bisons took down the Patriots in six games, securing Buffalo's second National Championship.

One of the top contact hitters of his time, Divino Edmison had essentially cut the strikeout out of his game. Striking out just seven times in 672 plate appearances, the Kansas City second baseman set USBF record by hitting .395, stroking 230 hits, 35 doubles, 12 homers, and 114 RBI in a season to remember.

Buffalo righty Jason Day was unconcerned with the improved offense. After not posting an ERA higher than 2.57 in his first four seasons, year #5 saw him go 23-6 with a USBF-best 2.23 ERA over 290.1 innings, spinning a league-high five shutouts. Unfortunately, Day would battle injuries for the next three years before Buffalo gave up on him and he finished his career with parts of three seasons in the PCL.

Rookie of the Year Hoshihiko Tokuda was one of the first Japanese natives to play in the USBF, but he made his mark right away. The 22-year-old burst on to the scene with a huge season: .344/.412/.620 slash line, 207 hits, 41 doubles, 22 triples, and setting USBF records with 27 homers and 122 RBI, becoming the first 20-home run hitter in Federation history. On top of that, Tokuda stole 58 bases. He easily could've been MVP, though he settled for ROY and MVP runner-up.

Cleveland ace Nicky Croucher was also unbothered by the increased offense, winning 24 games with a 2.71 ERA. On July 10, he picked up his 300th career victory.

While Croucher still was going strong (and would win 383 games lifetime), 39-year-old Indianapolis hurler Joe Kreisher was barely hanging on. In his penultimate season, though, he earned his 300th win on September 11.

---

Out west, another minor league would pop up, as the Pacific Coast League would gain their first West Coast competition with the Southwest League beginning play. With The Skipper in place in Los Angeles and breaking attendance records, Wrigley Field was constructed across town for the Angels. Interestingly enough, the SWL moved in right away to the Angels' old digs at Washington Park.

Southwest League
Fresno Raisin Eaters
Los Angeles Conquistadors
Phoenix Firebirds
Reno Railroaders
San Bernardino Highlanders
San Diego Gulls
Santa Barbara Foresters
Tucson Javelinas

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 129-71, defeats Los Angeles
Southeastern League: Atlanta Crackers, 100-40, defeats Chattanooga (3rd straight)
Colonial League: Reading Keystones, 85-41, defeats Lowell (2nd straight)
Texas League: El Paso Texans, 71-56, defeats Galveston
River Valley League: Dayton Inventors, 106-34, defeats Toledo (2nd straight)
Rocky Mountain League: Ogden, 91-35, defeats Salt Lake City
Coastal League: Tampa Tarpons, 88-52, defeats Mobile
Northern League: Cedar Rapids, 75-51, defeats Duluth
Great Lakes League: Akron Rubbermen, 99-41, defeats Youngstown
Southwest League: Los Angeles Conquistadors, 86-68, defeats Tucson

11-24-2024, 03:44 PM	#22
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	Wild Herd 1921 As offense continued to shoot upwards (a record 4.9 runs per game and a league average of .293), the standings saw a shakeup from some of the usual suspects. Kansas City did win the Western League for the fifth-straight year, but they were the only repeat winner in the United States Baseball Federation. In the New England League, the Buffalo Bisons won their first pennant since 1908 and their third all-time. After a couple of years away, the Cleveland Buckeyes won their fifth Midwest Association crown in nine seasons. Lastly, the Providence Patriots won their first Eastern League crown, edging out Washington by a game, with the Philadelphia Quakers and Baltimore close behind as well. , Providence proved to be up for the task, as they upended #1 seed Kansas City in a surprisingly easy five-game series. Buffalo, meanwhile, needed seven games to scrape by Cleveland. In the championship, though, the Bisons took down the Patriots in six games, securing Buffalo's second National Championship. One of the top contact hitters of his time, Divino Edmison had essentially cut the strikeout out of his game. Striking out just seven times in 672 plate appearances, the Kansas City second baseman set USBF record by hitting .395, stroking 230 hits, 35 doubles, 12 homers, and 114 RBI in a season to remember. Buffalo righty Jason Day was unconcerned with the improved offense. After not posting an ERA higher than 2.57 in his first four seasons, year #5 saw him go 23-6 with a USBF-best 2.23 ERA over 290.1 innings, spinning a league-high five shutouts. Unfortunately, Day would battle injuries for the next three years before Buffalo gave up on him and he finished his career with parts of three seasons in the PCL. Rookie of the Year Hoshihiko Tokuda was one of the first Japanese natives to play in the USBF, but he made his mark right away. The 22-year-old burst on to the scene with a huge season: .344/.412/.620 slash line, 207 hits, 41 doubles, 22 triples, and setting USBF records with 27 homers and 122 RBI, becoming the first 20-home run hitter in Federation history. On top of that, Tokuda stole 58 bases. He easily could've been MVP, though he settled for ROY and MVP runner-up. Cleveland ace Nicky Croucher was also unbothered by the increased offense, winning 24 games with a 2.71 ERA. On July 10, he picked up his 300th career victory. While Croucher still was going strong (and would win 383 games lifetime), 39-year-old Indianapolis hurler Joe Kreisher was barely hanging on. In his penultimate season, though, he earned his 300th win on September 11. --- Out west, another minor league would pop up, as the Pacific Coast League would gain their first West Coast competition with the *Southwest League* beginning play. With The Skipper in place in Los Angeles and breaking attendance records, Wrigley Field was constructed across town for the Angels. Interestingly enough, the SWL moved in right away to the Angels' old digs at Washington Park. Southwest League Fresno Raisin Eaters Los Angeles Conquistadors Phoenix Firebirds Reno Railroaders San Bernardino Highlanders San Diego Gulls Santa Barbara Foresters Tucson Javelinas Minor League Champions Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 129-71, defeats Los Angeles Southeastern League: Atlanta Crackers, 100-40, defeats Chattanooga (3rd straight) Colonial League: Reading Keystones, 85-41, defeats Lowell (2nd straight) Texas League: El Paso Texans, 71-56, defeats Galveston River Valley League: Dayton Inventors, 106-34, defeats Toledo (2nd straight) Rocky Mountain League: Ogden, 91-35, defeats Salt Lake City Coastal League: Tampa Tarpons, 88-52, defeats Mobile Northern League: Cedar Rapids, 75-51, defeats Duluth Great Lakes League: Akron Rubbermen, 99-41, defeats Youngstown Southwest League: Los Angeles Conquistadors, 86-68, defeats Tucson Last edited by KCRoyals15; 12-11-2024 at 12:33 AM.