Hist. Ex. ((The Sweet Spot))

[webrian]

I am an avid OOTP gamer.

My favorite thing to do, ever since I started playing OOTP in 2012, is setting up Historical Exhibition situations and playing through them. I could have said "tournaments" but I like "situations" better.

I have invented so many ways to test and try past MLB teams in OOTP.

Anyway, now that OOTP has included the ability to set a Historical Exhibition game or series for *any* year, I've been wondering:

What year is the **sweet spot** for matching historical teams from any two different eras and getting fair results?

Has anyone else considered this? It can't be just me.

Anyway, I think I've discovered it: *** 1 9 6 9 ***

That's right: 1969 is the best year in OOTP to match up teams from different historical eras. You want to see the 1905 New York Giants battle the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies? Set the year at 1969.

You want to see the 1955 Dodgers take on the 2001 Mariners? 1969.

Want the 1927 Yankees to play against the 2019 Houston Astros? 1969.

Want to see if the 2024 White Sox can beat the 1962 Mets? 1969.

Now, 1969 isn't perfect. I have found that Deadball Era teams hit more homers playing in the 1969 setting — even inside their cavernous ballyards. But they still bunt and steal as effectively as they should. It's kind of nice to see how some of those guys would have hit if they'd been trying for more homers.

Also, pitchers from earlier decades get tired just a little bit faster in 1969, but can still pitch complete games. Modern hurlers like Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander can go longer while still maintaining their strikeout numbers.

Pre-1960 hitters strike out a little bit more, but post-1995 hitters strike out a little less. It balances out nicely.

The best thing about making 1969 your historical exhibition setting is that every team more or less maintains its distinct personality — if it had one. The Whitey Herzog Cardinals still swipe lots of bases. The Braves and Dodgers teams of the 1950s still swing for the fences. The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers still hit lots of gappers off the wall. Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson and Roger Clemens and Max Scherzer and Nolan Ryan still dominate and pile up K's. And so do Walter Johnson, Dazzy Vance, Dizzy Dean, Rube Waddell, and Smoky Joe Wood.

In 1969, Joe DiMaggio's perfect swing can still kill you. So can Ted Williams. So can Ed Delahanty and Ty Cobb. And yet, they all maintain their original personality — as much as pixels can capture that.

So give it a try!

And if anyone else has been thinking about this kind of stuff, let me know! I'd like to hear your thoughts too.

[Ross333]

Nice post!

[webrian]

Thank you!