The Legacy Baseball League: A Creative Journey through Baseball's History

[LBL_Brendan]

Whereas the last month of the 1897 season saw the Division leaders flip in three of the four Divisions in an exciting run up to the postseason, 1898 had a less dramatic conclusion. Each of the four Division leaders at the end of May held on to their spot at the top of the standings through the end of the postseason, although the Great Lakes Division in the Western League came down to the final day of the season.

The challengers to the Providence Angels’ steady dominance of the Division in Boston and New York faded down the stretch, although none of the teams in the Division finished well. The Angels claim their third Ivy title in four years. Despite limping into the playoffs, the Angels’ dominant rotation will make them a tough out for the Eastern League pennant.

Could it be?! Monroe’s Rifles surged in a dominant June (June record: 24-8) to finish above .500 for the first time in franchise history. The perennial last place club will look to build on a great end to the season and carry the momentum into 1898. Otherwise, the Philadelphia Brewers continued their steady excellence and took home their third Liberty title in four years. With an offense operating at a level unmatched by any club in the LBL and a strong pitching staff, the two time champions look to be heavy favorites for a third Legacy Cup win.

A John Banwell complete game victory over the Chicago Doves on the final day of the season to clinch the Giants’ second consecutive Great Lakes title over the surging Twin City Empire (who finished the season winning seven of their last ten games to pressure Detroit). The Empire had successfully vanquished the other Chicago team earlier in the day to put the onus on Detroit to respond and avoid a tie. Detroit enters the postseason with a strong offense, a strong pitching staff, and a desire to repeat as LBL champions.

Cleveland cruised and only one of the other three teams broke -100 in run differential, which I guess can be counted as an accomplishment for the other Frontier Division teams. An unparalleled offensive infield means that Detroit should be wary in its opening round matchup with the three time Frontier Division winners. Fans can expect an exciting offensive display when the teams square off for the Western League pennant.

State of the Western League - 1898

In a squeaker, the defending champions took care of business again in 1898. Each of the four teams are well-positioned for the future with only the Doves slipping (slightly) below .500 in 1898.



Detroit remained the class of the Great Lakes Division for another season. Guerico, Griffith and Banwell remain the likely best rotation in the LBL for the Giants (although the Twin City rotation had a narrowly better 1898), and they are supported by a talented—though rarely needed—bullpen (they threw a combined 56 innings in 1898). CF Ricky McCoy has continued to make his mark on the LBL and is the clear best player in the Western League and, maybe, all of the LBL. He finishes the year with a .332/.438/.523 slash line with 9 HR and 62 SB, good for a 169 wRC+ and all-time best (for a position player) 6.2 WAR.



Just as the sun never set on the British Empire, it refuses to set on the Twin City Empire’s Jim Nemmers. The 38 year old righty was unhittable for all of 1898 and finished with a 2.36 ERA while setting an all-time record in FIP (2.615). The wily veteran went 20-7 with 85 K vs. 37 BBs and 6.90 WAR. He may just pitch forever. The rest of the Empire rotation also impressed with 31 year old Jesse Smith (2.83 ERA and 5.91 WAR) and 32 year old Simon Howson (3.37 ERA and 5.49 WAR) also having strong years.



The young bats continue to blossom for the Packers with 24 year old RF Gary Johnson (.342/.433/.456 and wRC+ 155), 27 year old CF Jamie Tew (.267/.377/.365 and 114 wRC+) and 25 year old, and 1897 Greenhorn Cup winner, C Celestin Robley (.310/.360/.374 and 113 wRC+) looking to form a strong young core for the Chicago offense. Chicago still needs to find some pitching, relying on 44 year old SP Tommy Hershey to throw another 265 innings in 1899 is unlikely to be a recipe for success, but the ancient Packer put in a solid season in 1898 with an ERA of 2.95 and 3.22 WAR.



The Doves’ pitching, much like the rest of the Great Lakes Division, remains strong. Emig – Benson – Garvin are all very capable starters with the 36 year old SP Emig continuing to shine (2.73 ERA, 6.73 WAR over 306 IP). The offense remains young, with only one regular older than 29, but the Doves will need some of their youth to take another step in their development before they can return to the playoffs. 27 year old SS Dom Shearer remains a star, but most of their hitters grade out right around league average.

It’s good to be an Athletics fan. It’s less good to be a baseball fan in St. Louis or Pittsburgh.



27 year old ace Matthew Holiday remains the best pitcher in the Western League, and looks poised to hold that title for many years to come with the Detroit and Twin City rotations aging. Holiday went 18-14 with 93 K and 61 BB over 273 innings in 1898, good for a 2.80 ERA and 7.19 WAR. The defending Pitcher of the Year is likely to repeat in 1898 as he wowed fans and opponents alike this season. While lacking the star power on offense of the Philadelphia or Detroit teams, the Athletics are dangerous 1 through 8 with their entire infield taking home Golden Bat honors in 1897. Led by 30 year old SS Mike Sherrod (.340/.398/.443 with 0 HR and 23 SB, good for a wRC+ of 143), there are no easy outs in the Athletics’ lineup.



Not much to be excited about on the Oilers. Pittsburgh’s best players are definitely 27 year old hit machine, RF Randy Sliger, sure-handed 29 year old SS, Dan Milligan, and 33 year old SP Donald Henwood. Sliger and Milligan both offer above average offense (wRC+ 124 and 116, respectively) and some speed on the basepaths (29 and 19 steals), but the rest of the offense is thoroughly mediocre and there’s not much in the rotation after Henwood (3.83 ERA and 4.66 WAR). The Oilers have a way to go before they can consider themselves contenders.



The Beavers continue to be the Boileryard Brady show, with supporting characters 31 year old LF Zach Pizza (114 wRC+, 2.04 WAR) and 31 year old 2B Creigton Lucas (123 wRC+, 2.74 WAR). Boileryard characteristically raked in 1898 (.343/.403/.530 with 45 SB, 7 HR and a 162 wRC+). Brady was, however, forced to play far too many games in CF (39) given the lack of good options there for the Beavers, where his limited range was a real hindrance to the Beavers’ pitching staff (-19.34 ZR in CF). The pitching staff is anchored by 29 year old sidewinder Ulysses Barr, who pitched admirably but was not helped by the porous Beavers defense (4.58 ERA, 3.62 FIP, and 3.20 WAR). The Beavers are a genuine CF and a few pitchers away from respectability.



The Reds offense is free-swinging, with the 2nd highest batting average and the 3rd highest slugging percentage in the Western League. Unfortunately, they don’t get on base or hit for much power, playing mostly station-to-station baseball and trying to force the issues with their legs (1st in SB in the Western League). It has not been a successful strategy (6th in the Western League in runs scored) to date. Their pitching is fairly threadbare after very good ace, 33 year old LHP Chris Rosco (3.13 ERA, 5.15 WAR). Three of their pitchers put up negative WAR in 1898. So, addressing the pitching staff will need to be a major focus in the offseason. On offense, 29 year old Mike Melin had a career year (.304/.342/.448, 43 SB, 1 HR and 124 wRC+) in service of a bad Reds team and 28 year old 3B Chris Malone hit well (.345/.364/.431, 23 SB, 1 HR and 132 wRC+) and has the makings of a franchise player, but the Reds will likely have to add some thump to their lineup and pitching staff to get out of the cellar.

[LBL_Brendan]

(Best of 5)

Game 1

AT

RHP Stephen Millington vs. RHP John Griffith

Providence scores early, never looks back.

The League Cup got off to a quiet start today, with the host Providence Angels taking a low-scoring 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Brewers. Providence right-hander John Griffith was marvelous at Cartwright Stadium. The Angels now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series.

Griffith was dealing all game. He kept Philadelphia hitters off-balance, while giving the Angels 9 quality innings. Griffith threw 112 pitches, allowing 5 hits and striking out 4.

Griffith called the win the result of "everyone being in sync."

0-1

Game 2

AT

RHP Danny Edgerton vs. LHP Jim Sutton

Brewers ties series on back of strong Leo McKenzie performance.

With left fielder Leo McKenzie leading the charge, the Philadelphia Brewers got a road win over the Providence Angels, 5-3, in Game 2 of the League Cup today. McKenzie was 2 for 2 with a triple and 3 walks, while adding 2 RBI and scoring once at Cartwright Stadium to help Philadelphia force a 1-1 tie in the best-of-5 series.

Who knows how it might've ended, had it not been for Moriarty Stapleton? The Philadelphia third baseman had a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning to put the Brewers on top, 4-3. For the game, Stapleton had 2 doubles and 1 single in 4 at-bats.

Stapleton called the win "a team effort."

1-1

Game 3

AT

RHP John Griffith vs. RHP Stephen Millington

2-run ninth puts Providence on top.

The Providence Angels moved to within one game of the Legacy Cup today, downing the Philadelphia Brewers on the road at Boeselager Stadium by a score of 4-3. Angels right-hander John Griffith had a strong outing. He threw 9 innings allowing 3 runs. The win gives the Angels a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 League Cup.

The outcome might have been different for Providence, had it not been for Keith Krikorian, the 30-year old first baseman. Krikorian stroked a 2-run single in the top of the ninth inning to put Providence up, 4-3. For the game, he was 3 for 5, including 1 double and 2 singles.

"Every team in baseball loses," Brewers manager Ronnie Arrington said. "We're in the playoffs and we still have the same guys that got us here. We'll bounce back."

1-2

Game 4

AT

LHP Jim Sutton vs. RHP Danny Edgerton

Brewers tie League Cup with blowout.

The Philadelphia Brewers and the Providence Angels will take the League Cup to a decisive 5th game. Facing a must-win situation today, the Brewers shut out the Angels 7-0 at Boeselager Stadium to force the series into what will essentially be a one-game playoff. Philadelphia right-hander Danny Edgerton did his part. He threw 9 innings of shutout ball.

Edgerton, who was born in New Jersey, threw 134 pitches over 9 innings, while allowing no runs.

"We'll enjoy this win," said Edgerton. "But there's more we hope to accomplish."

2-2

Game 5

AT

RHP Josh Weber vs. RHP John Balcombe

Brewers advance to third Legacy Cup after 8th inning surge.

One thing is certain -- the Philadelphia Brewers and Providence Angels left it all on the field.

In a back-and-forth League Cup that went to the final game, the Brewers prevailed at Boeselager Stadium today to advance to the Legacy Cup. Philadelphia won the deciding game 4-3 to capture the series 3-2.

"In a series that close, you feel fortunate to come out on top of it," said Danny Edgerton, who was named series MVP.

Edgerton put up a 0.50 ERA over 18 innings pitched, with a 2-0 record.

3-2

Series MVP: RHP Danny Edgerton

[LBL_Brendan]

(Best of 5)

Game 1

AT

LHP Mike Griffth vs. RHP Matthew Holliday

Detroit wins Game 1 in extras on the road.

When the games really matter, the Detroit Giants put on their best show, beating the Cleveland Athletics by a final score of 7-5 today. Ricky McCoy was 4 for 6 with a home run and 3 singles. He scored 2 runs. Detroit now leads Cleveland 1-0 in the best-of-5 affair.

In the top of the 12th, McCoy hit a solo home run to put his team on top. The Giants would go on to win the game.

"Things broke our way today and that's great," Giants manager James Victors said. "It's important, though, to stay focused and not pat yourself on the back too much. We aren't done yet."

1-0

Game 2

AT

RHP John Banwell vs. RHP Samuel Altman

Cleveland evens the series 1-1, wins Game 2 8-3.

With first baseman David Latch leading the charge, the Cleveland Athletics defeated the visiting Detroit Giants, 8-3, in Game 2 of the League Cup today. Latch was 2 for 4 with a home run. He scored 2 times and drove in 3 at Bozeman Municipal Park to help Cleveland force a 1-1 tie in the best-of-5 series.

Mike Sherrod dealt the Giants a blow in the bottom of the second. Batting with runners on 2nd and 3rd and Cleveland leading 3-0, Sherrod, who finished 2nd in the WL in batting average with .345 in 1896, hit a 0-1 changeup for a 2-run single.

Latch called the win "a collective effort."

1-1


Game 3

AT

RHP Matthew Holliday vs. LHP Mike Griffth

Athletics hold off 9th inning surge, Cleveland extends series lead 2-1.

The Cleveland Athletics moved to within one game of the Legacy Cup today, downing the Detroit Giants on the road at The Old Grounds by a score of 7-5. Athletics right fielder Mike Furrow went 3-4 with a home run and 2 singles, while adding 2 RBI and scoring once. The win gives the Athletics a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 League Cup.

Mat Dace, the 29-year old third baseman , had a direct impact on the outcome. Dace contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the fourth inning to put Cleveland up, 2-0.

"We cashed in when we had the chance," said Cleveland manager Troy Bujak.

1-2

Game 4

AT

RHP Samuel Altman vs. RHP John Banwell

Detroit offense explodes, forces Game 5

The Detroit Giants and the Cleveland Athletics will take the League Cup to a decisive 5th game. In a must-win situation today, the Giants beat the Athletics 7-2 at The Old Grounds to force the series into what will essentially be a one-game playoff. Detroit right-hander John Banwell had a big role in the win. He threw 9 innings of 8-hit ball.

Carl Warwick had a critical at-bat with one out in the bottom of the seventh for Detroit. He came through with a 2-run double to put Detroit in front, 4-1.

"It was a good day but I'm not letting my guard down," Warwick said. "I'll let my guard down as soon as someone puts a big, fat championship ring on my finger."

2-2

Game 5

AT

RHP Harry Thompson vs. RHP Gregory Guerico

Cleveland wins decisive Game 5, 6-1, advances to Legacy Cup.

When the entire season comes down to one game, Mike Sherrod said you find out what a team is really about.

As it turns out, the Cleveland Athletics are made of fight and tenacity, as the team got by the Detroit Giants 6-1 tonight at The Old Grounds in order to win the League Cup and book a place in the next round.

"It wasn't hard to get excited for this game," said Sherrod, whose strong offensive output earned him MVP honors. "Our guys answered the call and proved a lot about what our team is all about."

Sherrod hit .435 with a .458 on-base percentage. He had 0 home runs, drove in 6 RBI and scored 4 runs.

2-3

Series MVP: SS Mike Sherrod

[catamount_kid]

(Almanac error this year makes for a very abbreviated Legacy Cup update!)

Once again, the Brewers juggernaut reigns supreme with their third Legacy Cup in four years of play.

Taking the Brewers into the eighth game, the Cleveland Athletics concluded their third year of dominance with a narrow defeat at home against LBL legend Leo McKenzie and the powerful Philadelphia arsenal.

So heroic was SP Samuel Altman's three performances against the victors that he was crowned series Most Valuable Player by Madigan House. Altman hurled over forty innings this offseason, with a ERA of 1.56 and ERA+ of 225. All three of his Legacy Cup appearances were complete games.

However, the offensive powerhouse of Philadelphia behind 4-time League MVP Leo McKenzie, 2-time Grande Snagger and Golden Bat Rusty Hall, and 1898 3B Golden Bat Moriarty Stapleton (a true playoff hero) proved too much for even Samuel "The Ace" Altman to overcome.

The victory in Cleveland marks Philadelphia's fourth notch in the Legacy Cup, which will be displayed in the Brewers offices until next year.

[LBL_Brendan]

What a year!


Maybe it was always inevitable that 1898 would end this way—with Leo McKenzie and the Brewers hoisting the Legacy Cup for the third time. The team from Cleveland put up a fight, but the Philadelphia offense was relentless and the best offense the LBL has seen to date by a wide margin.


After falling behind 2-1 to Providence in the Eastern League Cup, the Brewers rallied to take the five game series against their frequent Eastern League rivals and kept rolling from there. In the Western League, a rematch from 1897's Western League Cup saw the squad from Cleveland avenge their '97 loss by beating the Detroit Giants in five.


A number of league records were broken in 1898.


On the offensive side, DET CF Ricky McCoy put up the most WAR in a season to date with 6.23 (topping PHI LF Leo McKenzie's legendary 1895 season total of 5.88). PHI CF Rusty Hall drove in more runs than anyone in LBL history, driving in 95 (topping the old record of 89 set by CHP CF Ryan Sullivan). Finally, setting a record unlikely to ever be broken without an expanded schedule, BRK C Artemis Wool struck out 167 times in 405 plate appearances.


The entire pitching record book was more or less rewritten in 1898. PHI RHP Stephen Millington set a record for ERA (2.335) by barely beating out DET LHP Mike Griffith (2.349) and TCE RHP Jim Nemmers (2.362). Nemmers, however, set the new mark for FIP (2.615). Flamethrower NYK RHP Eduardo Chell set the new strikeout record ,with 126 over 222 IP, besting the old mark of 115 set by PRV RHP John Griffith in 1897. PIT RHP Frederic Hayter walked more men than any pitcher before him (179), including Frederic Hayter in 1897 (155), to become the single-season walk king for the second year in a row. Ironman CHD RHP Billy Emig set a record for IP (306.2), squeaking by DET RHP John Banwell (301.1). Finally, big RCH RHP Ivy Maw set a new WHIP mark (1.113), edging by TCE RHP Jesse Smith (1.117).

MVP

PHI LF Leo McKenzie (4x) (.369/.490/.553, 1 HR, 13 2B, 25 3B, 42 RBI, 102 R, 53 SB, 196 wRC+, 5.6 WAR)

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

PHI RHP Stephen Millington (2x) (23-10, 2.34 ERA, 71 BB, 87 K, 26 CG, 6 SHO, 6.1 WAR)

BATTING TITLE

PHI LF Leo McKenzie (3x) .369

GRANDE SNAGGERS

PRV P Josh Weber (2x)
RCH C Elbart Willard (1x)
NYK 1B Jason Allen (3x)
PHI 2B Edward Ashling (1x)
BOS 3B Pete Stephens (1x)
BOS SS Kensington Jones (3x)
PRV LF Matt Hall (1x)
PHI CF Rusty Hall (1x)
BKN RF Mick Samuelson (3x)

GOLDEN BAT

PRV P Jim Sutton (1x) (.288/.288/.338, 0 HR, 0 SB, 78 wRC+, -0.1 WAR)
BOS C Justin Alcorn (1x) (.280/.355/.350, 1 HR, 1 SB, 109 wRC+, 1.2 WAR)
BOS 1B Steve Moss (1x) (.355/.410/.448, 2 HR, 0 SB, 153 wRC+, 2.3 WAR)
BLT 2B George Tonelli (3x) (.368/.432/.459, 0 HR, 30 SB, 161 wRC+, 0.8 WAR)
PHI 3B Moriarty Stapleton (1x) (.288/.367/.383, 4 HR, 11 SB, 122 wRC+, 3.0 WAR)
NYK SS Jared Jacobs (2x) (.309/.368/.364, 3 HR, 16 SB, 119 wRC+, 1.3 WAR)
PHI LF Leo McKenzie (4x) (.369/.490/.553, 1 HR, 53 SB, 196 wRC+, 5.60 WAR)
PHI CF Rusty Hall (2x) (.352/.421/.467, 1 HR, 11 SB, 162 wRC+, 5.8 WAR)
BOS RF Doug Lyon (1x) (.329/.409/.396, 2 HR, 6 SB, 132 wRC+, 3.0 WAR)

GREENHORN CUP

RCH CF Mariano Paddon(.365/.433/.452, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 44 R, 5 SB, 159 wRC+, 2.3 WAR)

MVP

DET CF Ricky McCoy (2x) (.332/.438/.523, 9 HR, 11 2B, 17 3B, 57 RBI, 84 R, 62 SB, 164 wRC+, 6.2 WAR)

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

DET LHP Mike Griffith(1x) (18-12, 2.35 ERA, 59 BB, 69 K, 20 CG, 5 SHO, 4.7 WAR)

BATTING TITLE

DET LF Brian Newton (1x) .354

GRANDE SNAGGERS

SLB P Ulysses Barr (1x)
CHD C Joseph Day (2x)
SLR 1B Bobby Hewitt (2x)
CHD 2B Nicky Williams (3x)
CHP 3B Minkus Himes (3x)
CHD SS Dom Shearer (2x)
TCE LF Charles Nevell (3x)
CLE CF Johnny Hyde (3x)
CHD RF Brian Vogel (3x)

GOLDEN BAT

DET P John Banwell (1x) (.289/.327/.337, 0 HR, 0 SB, 94 wRC+, 0.5 WAR)
CHP C Celestin Robley (2x) (.310/.360/.374, 0 HR, 6 SB, 118 wRC+, 2.5 WAR)
CHD 1B Matthew Jakubowski (1x) (.317/.404/.409, 6 HR, 17 SB, 135 wRC+, 3.0 WAR)
SLB 2B Creighton Lucas (1x) (.312/.376/.384, 2 HR, 34 SB, 126 wRC+, 2.7 WAR)
DET 3B Al Barnes (1x) (.322/.366/.441, 1 HR, 15 SB, 133 wRC+, 3.4 WAR)
CLE SS Mike Sherrod (3x) (.340/.398/.443, 0 HR, 23 SB, 147 wRC+, 3.8 WAR)
DET LF Brian Newton (1x) (.354/.390/.478, 0 HR, 24 SB, 152 wRC+, 2.1 WAR)
DET CF Ricky McCoy (2x) (.332/.438/.523, 9 HR, 62 SB, 163 wRC+, 6.2 WAR)
SLB RF Boileryard Brady (2x) (.345/.403/.530, 7 HR, 45 SB, 164 wRC+, 2.3 WAR)

GREENHORN CUP

PIT LF Cletus Hoyles (.270/.314/.367, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 32 R, 93 wRC+, 0.8 WAR)

[catamount_kid]

Rumors of a forming LBL Player's Union in New York City. Could it be true?