Introducing the Footnote League

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

His ratings look fine to me. I'd be completely happy to have a SP like that.

I usually play the Pirates often set rookies to historical teams so I get him a lot. I don't know if its my impressions from real life or impressions from the game that caused me to think he'd be better than 17.4.

Am I to infer from that he has roughed you up on occasion?

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Its the same guy holding down two jobs. Scotty in the transporter room does wonders.

Makes a mean ristretto as well apparently...

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Am I to infer from that he has roughed you up on occasion?

He has 25.7 WAR in my current game through 1990. However while Baseball Reference gives him a 17.4 WAR through 1992 OOTP has his real life as 25.4.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

He has 25.7 WAR in my current game through 1990. However while Baseball Reference gives him a 17.4 WAR through 1992 OOTP has his real life as 25.4.

This has been explained to me - it's because they don't have access to all fielding stats so do not include it in their WAR calc.

[Brad K]

An 8.3 WAR difference due to a pitchers fielding???

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

An 8.3 WAR difference due to a pitchers fielding???

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=319806

I'm not convinced either. BTW this is what my game shows his IRL stats to be. It's hinky as all get up.

[luckymann]

CHALLENGERS SURGE AND FADE AS THE TIGERS AND CARDS STILL HOLD SWAY, ALBEIT BY TIGHT MARGINS – A’S LURKING DANGEROUSLY IN THE AL – RED-HOT SUPERBAS CHARGE INTO CONTENTION IN THE NL RACE

Notable Performances

• 1st: Highlanders starter Mike McCormick dominates the Americans with a two-hit shutout in a 5-0 win.
• 5th: A trio of fantastic pitching performances, with Brooklyn’s Jack Pfiester allowing just 8 hits and 1 ER while fanning 9 over 14 innings in a 6-2 win over the Cards, his opposing pitcher Harry Gumbert pitching 13 and giving up just 7 hits and 0 ER, and Danny Duffy of the Cubs shutting out the Giants on 5 hits in a 5-0 victory.
• 10th: A barnstorming JaCoby Jones – 5-for-5 / double, HR, 3 RBI / 5 runs scored – leads the way as the Highlanders pummel the Browns 18-2.
• 11th: Highlanders starter Chris Codiroli bewilders Detroit, shutting them out on two hits in a 2-0 win. Meanwhile the resurgent White Sox score 5 late to pip the Senators 6-4.
• 20th: The huge wraps on Americans rookie OF Oscar Charleston look to be proving right on the money as he goes ballistic against the Naps with a 5-for-6, 2 double, 2 triple, 2 ribbie game in a 10-9 win.
• 21st: A’s ace Steve Cooke goes 15 innings (206 pitches in all!), allowing 3 runs – all unearned – on 5 hits, only to see his club drop a marathon to the White Sox 4-3 in 17.
• 22nd: Boston’s Chappie McFarland pitches a one-hit complete game allowing no earned runs and fanning 4 in a 2-1 win over the Bucs.
• 23rd: Another outstanding pitching performance with Chicago’s William VanLandingham two-hitting the Sens in a 1-0 win.

Feats and Streaks
none of note

Transactions

• 10th: The Cards sign promising 1B Kevin Young to a one-year deal with a signing bonus of $846.
• 14th: Pittsburgh shores up its bullpen with the addition of Oscar Harsted for 1 year, paying him a bonus of $1100.
• 15th: Some more relievers locked down on big-money deals, with Washington nabbing undrafted FA Ricky Bottalico for $1500, the A’s paying Ron Herbel $1060 for a year of his time, and Detroit picking up Kyle Peterson for $1020.
• 17th: The Naps endeavour to solidify their roster by shipping SP Bob Ewing to the Cubs for OF Jim Lyttle and pitcher Clarence Currie.
• 19th: Despite leading the NL in Pitcher WAR and only 5 days after pitching a 6-hit shutout for the Cards, SP Dave Dravecky finds himself sent down to the franchise’s PSL club at Houston.

Injuries

• 14th: The White Sox will be without veteran SP Lefty Tyler for a couple of months after he suffers a sprained ankle.
• 19th: Former 2nd round Inaugural Draft pick Jim McAndrew will miss the rest of the Cubs’ season after suffering a stretched elbow ligament.
• 28th: A fractured finger suffered when hit by a pitch will keep Naps OF Otis Clymer out of action for at least a month.
• 30th: A sprained ankle means the Sens will have to make do without SP Lou Brissie until August.

Monthly Awards
American League

• Batter: Austin Jackson CWS (.423 / 0 HR / 24 RBI / 18 RBI)
• Pitcher: William VanLandingham CWS (5-1 / 1.74 / 19 K)
• Rookie: Cy Falkenberg CLE (4-2 / 1.18 / 22 K)

National League

• Batter: Pete Runnells PHI (.396 / 19 RBI / 22 R)
• Pitcher: Rube Manning BRO (6-2 / 2.83 / 26 K)
• Rookie: Jack Pfiester BRO (5-3 / 2.39 / 41 K)

Leaders
American League

• BA: George Stone CWS .389
• HR: 3 tied on 5
• RBI: Austin Jackson CWS 49
• BWAR: Solly Hemus CWS 3.9
• SB: Rudy Law WAS 38

• W: Many tied on 10
• ERA: Ed Head PHA 1.94
• K: Jake Weimer WAS 81
• SV: Dad Hale WAS 4
• PWAR: Ed Head PHA 3.1

National League

• BA: Alan Bannister BSN .358
• HR: Bill DeLancey NYG 5
• RBI: Billy Johnson NYG 55
• BWAR: Pete Runnels PHI 3.6
• SB: Delino DeShields BRO 33

• W: 2 tied on 12
• ERA: Orlando Hernandez BSN 2.23
• K: Harry Harper PIT 85
• SV: 2 tied on 5
• PWAR: Harry Gumbert STL 2.8

Standings

[luckymann]

The term “lesser light” is perhaps a misnomer for George Stone. OOTP would certainly argue so. He has appeared in nearly every save I’ve ever done, always rates well, and usually performs up to those ratings. Indeed, he only got into the FL because he was among a batch of free agents the game for some reason created late last season and had already been signed before I picked up on it. Not wanting to interfere too much I let it stand, but his 26 career WAR would have almost certainly made him ineligible under normal circumstances.

Really, though, he is a perfect candidate for the premise upon which this league is based. Of those 26 WAR, 8 came in a torrid 1906 campaign for the Browns that saw him win the AL batting title with .358 and lead the league in OBP (.417) and SLG (.501), as well as total bases (291), and finish second with 7 HR. 15 more came in his combined 1905, 1907 and 1908 seasons. And, excluding an 0-for-2 (striking out both times) appearance for Boston in 1903, he only played 6 seasons all up, finishing with a career batting mark of .301.

So with such a small sample size it’s no surprise he rates off the charts in OOTP. But, as the only non-HOFer to win the AL batting title between 1901 and 1928, he is also the personification of footnotoriety (my term). As it turns out I’m glad he snuck through.

So, I’m sure, are the White Sox, given George’s exemplary FL rookie season performance for them so far. Shine bright Silent George, keep those hits a-comin’.

BBREF PAGE
SABR BIO ARTICLE

[luckymann]

Win Probability Added for the month of June, 1903.

[luckymann]

Updated Top Prospects and Farm Systems reports have been released:

[luckymann]

Helped mightily by Detroit's steep slump, the Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators have charged past the Tigers in the AL.

Washington strung together an FL record 14 wins, while the A's have gone a torrid 15-5 since June 19th.

It looks like we've got a red-hot three-way battle on our hands for the AL pennant.

Same goes in the NL, and again this is as much a result of St Louis's 2-8 start to July as it is the performances of their nearest challengers, Brooklyn and Pittsburgh.

Strap yourselves in folks, this could get bumpy.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by luckymann

What if there were no Ruths, Mantles, Johnsons or Trouts hogging the headlines, the limelight, the leaderboards and the payrolls?

What if, by some strange quirk of fate, the zeroes suddenly became the heroes?

What would the baseball world look like with the underdog as the ubermensch?

Speculate no more, baseball fans. I present to you the Footnote League.

Come on down, lesser lights, for now it is your time to shine!

Step right up, little guy, for now you are the big man on campus!

Grab a bat, Moonlight Graham. It's two down in the 9th and the winning run is on third. Go knock that sucker in and cover yourself in the glory that was never afforded you the first time around!

Late to the party I know, but this is a fantastic concept luckymann! Well done! Enjoy it!

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Late to the party I know, but this is a fantastic concept luckymann! Well done! Enjoy it!

Yea. Kinda sticks it to the people who think you can only have fun with all stars.

[luckymann]

If nothing else comes of it, at least I have created a world in which Dale Berra is simply Dale Berra, and not Yogi's son...

[Brad K]

And there's no Honus Wagner statue where he can do drug deals.

[Brad K]

Has Marv Throneberry appeared yet?

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

And there's no Honus Wagner statue where he can do drug deals.

No, we've only got one for this guy...

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Has Marv Throneberry appeared yet?

No, but big bro has...

[ALB123]

I love the old baseball jersey's with collars. Always have...

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by ALB123

I love the old baseball jersey's with collars. Always have...

Agreed. Some of the uni mod work is sensational.