The National Pastime: The United States Baseball Federation rises

[KCRoyals15]

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a fictional simulation that I began way back on OOTP 20 (migrated to 22 and now 25) and have stopped and re-started over the years. As of this writing, I am 104 seasons in and figured it was time to share this sprawling alternate universe with the world.

There are a lot of logos in this save that were created by others and are either used as-is or with some modifications. I am not claiming ownership to these and if you see a logo of yours on here, THANK YOU!

Obviously, going with a retrospective like this, the day-to-day details are simply lost to history, but all teams, leagues, and players are preserved. As for my character, I began leading the Kansas City Blues, but over the coming decades would bounce around to moribund franchises to pull out of the gutter. Since my game manager uses my real name, this character will be known as "The Skipper".

I hope you enjoy!

1900

It's the dawning of a new century as the United States continues to establish itself as a major player on the world stage. Amidst the backdrop of internal turmoil in the final 40 years of the 19th century, one thing has increasingly united our great nation: baseball.

By 1900, leagues have spring up throughout the East, with a quartet emerging as formidable loops. Throughout the 1890's, debate raged through the major newspapers as the respective champions of those leagues claimed titles as "national champions" or other similar monikers.

But, in the winter of 1899-00, a major development occurred: executives from the four strongest leagues met to shore some things up. For the 1900 season, the four leagues agreed on a 140-game schedule, uniform roster and contract rules...and most importantly: a national championship would be contested. The New England League, Eastern League, Western League, and Midwest Association had joined forces, thus giving berth to the United States Baseball Federation.

The leagues would look as follows:

New England League
Boston Beaneaters
Boston Pilgrims
Buffalo Bisons
Brooklyn Dodgers
New Haven Weavers
New York Gothams
Newark Bears
Rochester Stars

Eastern League
Baltimore Terrapins
Jersey City Giants
Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Quakers
Pittsburgh Ironmen
Providence Patriots
Richmond Rebels
Washington Senators

Midwest Association
Chicago Colts
Chicago Whales
Cincinnati Tigers
Cleveland Buckeyes
Detroit Wolverines
Indianapolis Hoosiers
Milwaukee Black Hawks
St. Louis Browns

Western League
Columbus Senators
Denver Bears
Kansas City Blues
Louisville Colonels
Memphis Chicks
Minneapolis Millers
Omaha Golden Spikes
St. Paul Saints



Additionally, two other minor leagues had formed as fully-professional entities and would be recognized as part of the Federation, though they would remain fully independent...until someone had a check for a player.

Pacific Coast League
Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Oaks
Portland Beavers
Sacramento Solons
San Diego Sailors
San Francisco Missions
San Francisco Seals
Seattle Indians



Southeastern League
Atlanta Crackers
Birmingham Steelers
Charleston Cannons
Little Rock Rangers
Mobile Greenhorns
Nashville Vols
New Orleans Pelicans
Norfolk Admirals



Now let the games begin!



All four leagues had rather uninteresting playoff races, with only the Midwest Association title being decided by less than eight games. The winners of the four leagues met in a playoff, decided simply by the "best" champion facing the "worst" and the other two teams matching up.

Regardless of how it was set up, October belonged to the Cincinnati Tigers, who swept through the top-seeded Pittsburgh Ironmen and then the Rochester Stars, dispatching both in four-game sweeps to take home the inaugural National Championship. The sky seemed like the limit for the Tigers...



25-year-old Rochester ace Jim Greene set an impressive precedent by logging 405.2 innings and winning 32 games to claim Pitcher of the Year honors. Though he'd never reach 30 wins again, he won plenty of games over the ensuing 15 years...

Meanwhile, St. Paul outfielder Matt Rustin also never reached his lofty totals again, but leading the league in doubles (43), RBI (113), and slugging (.619) while hitting .362 was enough to crown him MVP. Additionally, on May 2, 1900 he hit for the first cycle in USBF history.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: Portland Beavers, 94-50
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 117-23

New Orleans' .836 winning percentage set a standard that to this day has not been met in any league, setting a precedent for an extended SEL dynasty...

[KCRoyals15]

1901

After the success of the 1900 season, the United States Baseball Federation rolled into 1901. In all four leagues, new champions emerged, with The Skipper turning heads by taking Kansas City from fifth to first, coasting to win the Western League by 11 games.

The other three leagues were considerably closer, with the Philadelphia Athletics outlasting Pittsburgh and Providence in a three-team race to take the Eastern League. The Midwest Association was even closer, as the St. Louis Browns edged the Chicago Colts by a single game. In the NEL, the Buffalo Bisons took care of business by six games with a league-best 87-53 mark.

Of note, two 1900 champions (Rochester and Louisville) fell to seventh place in their respective leagues.



In contrast to 1900, playoff drama was very much a part of the 1901 postseason. Buffalo needed seven games to slip past St. Louis, while KC took down Philadelphia in six. The Blues then claimed their first National Championship in a thrilling seven-game set over the Bisons, setting a dynasty in motion...



37-year-old stalwart Matt Oliver may have been born too late to enjoy a long USBF career, but he hung on long enough to take home MVP efforts for a .376/.439/.502 slash, leading the league in OBP and OPS, while finishing in the top-5 of a host of other categories.

26-year-old St. Louis hurler Matt Burkey would be out of baseball just few years later and led the league in...nothing, but somehow took home Pitcher of the Year honors for his 24-win season—nearly half his career total.

Also of note, Louisville hurler Emilio Cardenas set USBF history by tossing the Federation's first 9-inning no-hitter on September 15, 1901 against the Minneapolis Millers. He walked one and struck out three in the masterpiece.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 102-52
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 101-39 (2nd straight)

[KCRoyals15]

1902

Change started to come in 1902, as the third year of the United States Baseball Federation sees the schedule expanded from 140 to 156 games, allowing for limited play between the leagues (EDITOR'S NOTE: This season was simmed a few real-life years ago and I have no idea how the schedule was set up, this being a one sub-league, four-division league. I know for a fact the schedule did not have everyone play each other or anything close to it.

The season also brought exciting races all around. While the Providence Patriots earned a league title in the EL, their five-game margin was the largest in the USBF. Kansas City earned their second-straight WL title, slipping two games past Columbus with a league-best 91-65 mark.

That pales to the MWA and NEL, who both saw 156 games not be enough. Game 157 in the Midwest saw the Chicago Colts best their inner-city rival, the Whales. In New England, Rochester took their second league title in three years, winning a one-game playoff with the Boston Beaneaters.

In just the third season of the Federation, the New England League produced perhaps the greatest single-season of parity in any league: all eight teams finished within 10 1/2 games of each other and a staggering seven of eight teams finished over .500. Last-place Buffalo is still the best-ever last-place team at 76-80.



Come October, though, the drama disappeared. Both first-round series were romps, as Kansas City swept Chicago, while Providence was swept aside at the hands of Rochester. The Stars went out in the finals, though, as KC brushed aside Rochester in a five-game set as The Skipper raised his second-straight National Championship.



Despite coming up a game short of the postseason, Chicago Whales centerfielder Jason Schmitt put together a historic season: in addition to a .356 average, he led the USBF with 235 hits, 138 runs scored, and 141 stolen bases—a mark that over a century later is still the second-most in Federation history. All-told, it made for an easy MVP vote.

On the mound, Elijah Person made an exceptional first impression on his new team. After winning 31 games for Cincinnati's national champions in 1900, a decline the following year saw him get dealt to the New York Gothams in a stunning deal for a league-average infielder. It backfired tremendously for the Tigers, as Person won 31 games again in his first season in the Big Apple, logging a hefty 451 innings over 52 starts as the workhorse again won 31 games with a stellar 2.12 ERA.

---

On the minor league side, a new circuit emerged in the Northeast, as the Colonial League began play, lining up the following clubs:

Colonial League
Albany Adirondacks
Binghamton Smokers
Erie Owls
Lowell Blue Sox
Reading Keystones
Scranton-Wilkes Barre Steamers
Troy Trojans
Worcester Tornadoes



Way out west, the PCL, who already played the longest schedule in baseball, wanted to keep it that way after the USBF bumped their schedule two games longer than their previous 154-game slate. So the PCL made a fundamental change: their ambitious, famous schedule consisting of a whopping 200 games.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 128-72 (2nd straight)
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 109-31 (3rd straight)
Colonial League: Worcester Tornadoes, 71-55, defeats Lowell

The Colonial League debuted something never seen prior: an intra-league playoff between the top two finishers. Indeed, in the very first year of its use, the regular-season pennant winner (Lowell), lost the playoff.

[KCRoyals15]

1903

Entering 1903, The Skipper had a clear vision of turning the Kansas City Blues into a dynasty. The two-time defending National Champions won a record (to that point) 96 games...but it took every single victory as the Columbus Senators pushed them to the brink with a 95-win season. Unfortunately for the Senators, despite tying for the second-most wins in the Federation, it would mean an October at home.

The other three races lacked the drama from the previous season as the NEL, EL, and MWA were decided by 6-8 games apiece. Notably, the Chicago Colts repeated in the Midwest, while incredibly, the New England League saw seven of their eight teams finish above .500 for a second straight season. Three teams in that league finished 83-73, two more went 79-77, and Buffalo was in between at 81-75. Only Newark (70-86) had a losing record.



In the reverse of the previous season, a generally drama-free regular season led to a drama-filled postseason. Kansas City survived a seven-game push from New York to face the Jersey City Giants, who took down Chicago in six. Seeking a three-peat, the Blues would be denied as the Giants won their first National Championship with a seven-game series win.



Despite coming up short, KC was loaded, sweeping the MVP, Pitcher of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. Pat Atkinson posted an absurd year to take MVP honors: .364 average, 222 hits, 121 runs, 28 triples, and a league-best 128 stolen bases.

On the mound, Cory Craft logged a 1.91 and won 23 games over 358.1 innings in a league-high 41 starts to take the POTY nod. The workhorse was better than ever at 33 years old. Sadly, he only had five more starts in him after blowing out his elbow to end his career early the following season.

Though he did not win anything (aside from a Platinum Stick at 3B), Kansas City's Will Dehne did drive in 120 runs, a mark that would not be passed for nearly two decades.

--

Two more minor leagues popped up, filling up more areas further west (in early-20th century terms). The River Valley League popped up in the Midwest, while deep in the heart of Texas, a low-level loop, aptly named the Texas League, began humbly.

River Valley League
Des Moines Demons
Evansville Bees
Fort Wayne Westerns
Lincoln Grains
Peoria Distillers
Springfield Lincolns
St. Joseph Snakes
Wichita Jobbers



Texas League
Austin Spurs
Dallas Steers
El Paso Texans
Fort Worth Cats
Galveston Hurricanes
Houston Buffaloes
San Antonio Missions
Waco Cowboys



Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: Sacramento Solons, 123-77
Southeastern League: Atlanta Crackers, 111-29
Colonial League: Lowell Blue Sox, 80-46, defeats Binghamton
Texas League: El Paso Texans, 73-53, defeats Galveston
River Valley League: Des Moines Demons, 88-52, defeats St. Joseph

Both the Texas League and River Valley League elected to use a playoff between the top two finishers to decide their champion. In the SEL, the New Orleans dynasty was finally toppled...only for a new juggernaut to emerge.

[KCRoyals15]

1904

Year five of the United States Baseball Federation saw no changes to the playoff field. The defending National Champions, the Jersey City Giants, took the Eastern League again while the New York Gothams repeated in the New England League. The Chicago Colts won the Midwest Association for the third straight year and of course, the Kansas City Blues once more posted the Federation's top record (96-60) while winning the Western League for the fourth straight year.



In the postseason, both of the 1903 finalists were bounced in the semifinals as New York took down Kansas City and Chicago downed Jersey City, both in six games. In another six-game set, the Colts got the job done, defeating New York for the Colts' first National Championship.



In a rather surprising vote, New York 2B Bobby Folsom took home MVP honors. Folsom had a solid season (.312, 4 HR, 59 RBI, 81 runs), but impressed voters with his defense and leadership. Alright then.

On the mound, Kansas City right-hander John Mobley made the most of his first season in a Blues uniform, going 22-13 with a 1.83 ERA over 334 innings, tossing a league-high seven shutouts. Mobley had beaten the Blues in the 1903 National Championship Series with Jersey City, but was swapped in an ace-for-ace deal with Roy Wiley, who like Mobley, starred on his new team and turned in close to another decade of productive work.

Boston Pilgrims 2B Justin Emlet probably was the rightful MVP, as he hit .313 and led the Federation with 90 RBI, a .546 slugging percentage, and set a Federation record with a stunning 46 triples, part of an all-time record 420 triples over a career that spanned the first 23 years of the EBF.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: Oakland Oaks, 123-77
Southeastern League: Atlanta Crackers, 107-33 (2nd straight)
Colonial League: Worcester Tornadoes, 83-43, defeats Lowell
Texas League: Austin Spurs, 71-55, defeats Houston
River Valley League: Des Moines Demons, 90-50, defeats Fort Wayne (2nd straight)

[KCRoyals15]

1905

The Skipper's dynasty in Kansas City was still at full throttle, as Kansas City won a franchise-record 97 games and won the Western League (for the fifth year running) by a dozen games.

The other leagues, though, all saw new blood come to life. The Baltimore Terrapins also won 97 games, outgunning their rival Washington Senators by three games. The Midwest Association title stayed in Chicago, but moved to the West Side, as the Chicago Whales won their first league title. Lastly, the Boston Beaneaters gobbled up the New England League, winning a Federation-record 99 games.



The Beaneaters, though, went down at the hands of Chicago, who knocked off Boston in seven games. In the other semifinal, Baltimore bested the Blues in six games in a battle of 97-win teams. That set up a matchup and turtles and whales, and the Terrapins came out ahead in a battle of slow-moving creatures, winning their first National Championship in a six-game series win.



After a strong rookie season, Indianapolis Hoosiers outfielder Zane Black was even better as a sophomore, slashing .322/.385/.497 with a league-leading 30 triples, and 97 stolen bases. He took home MVP honors, a trophy he would get very acquainted with...

Speaking of getting acquainted, Kansas City's John Mosley began the Eastern Baseball Federation's first repeat Pitcher of the Year. Mosley was simply dominant: 31-9 record, 1.78 ERA, 209 strikeouts. He did it all in a USBF-leading 42 starts and 369.1 innings.

In a season where he hit a nondescript .274 with no power (.357 slugging), Boston Pilgrims outfielder Chris Colgin posted a 7-for-11 line on April 6 (how long was that game?!), the first seven-hit game in USBF history and the only one for over two decades.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Missions, 116-84
Southeastern League: Atlanta Crackers, 96-44 (3rd straight)
Colonial League: Lowell Blue Sox, 76-50, defeats Albany
Texas League: Fort Worth Cats, 76-50, defeats Galveston
River Valley League: Fort Wayne Westerns, 86-54, defeats Toledo

[KCRoyals15]

1906

While one powerhouse rolls on, others emerge. Kansas City won the Western League for a sixth-straight season, but two other repeat winners put together historic seasons. The New York Gothams and Baltimore Terrapins each won their second straight league title, while the Terps (102-54) and NY (103-53) became the first ever Eastern Baseball Federation clubs to win 100 games in a season. Not surprisingly, all three of those races were decided by over ten games.

The one close race was in the Midwest Association, where the Indianapolis Hoosiers earn their first league title, edging the Milwaukee Black Hawks by a pair of games.

Also of note this season, tired of confusion with the Washington Senators, the Columbus Senators elected to change their name to the Columbus Cyclones. That leaves Newark and Denver (both the Bears) still doubled up on nicknames.



Indy's first trip to the postseason was a short one, as they were dispatched by New York in six games. Another six-game set saw KC take down Baltimore. In the championship series, the Gothams defeat the Blues in six games, earning New York their first National Championship.



One year after the USBF's first repeat Pitcher of the Year, Indianapolis' Zane Black took home the MVP award for a second straight season. Black was arguably even better than his 1905 season, slashing .332/.401/.518 (leading the EBF in slugging and OPS) while also leading the league in runs (113), triples (26), and homers (10) and stealing 101 bases.

On the hill, Baltimore righty Judah Tuama was named the top arm after winning 27 games with a league-leading 1.34 ERA over 349 innings. Incredibly, that 1.34 mark would not be career-best for Tuama when all said and done.

He edged out burning comet Chris Donelson, who went 30-10 with a 2.04 ERA, leading the Federation in wins and strikeouts (209). The 29-year-old rookie had arguably a better season two years later (31-7, 1.48 ERA in 1908), which not only also didn't earn him POTY, but also was his final full year as a starter due to a major elbow injury.

A pair of stolen base records fell this year as well. After swiping 451 bases in 1905, the Baltimore Terrapins stole an unfathomable 508 bases as a team, led by three players with over 100 steals. The ringleader was centerfielder Manuel Iglesias, who snagged 151 bases. Both the team and individual marks remain USBF records nearly a century later.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Diego Sailors, 126-74
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 90-50
Colonial League: Scranton-Wilkes Barre Steamers, 74-52, defeats Worcester
Texas League: Fort Worth Cats, 74-52, defeats Austin
River Valley League: St. Joseph Snakes, 93-47, defeats Fort Wayne

[KCRoyals15]

1907

The playoffs are a familiar affair, as once again, three of the four league champions are repeat winners. New York wins 100 games for the second straight season as they win their third straight New England League title. Indianapolis repeats in the Midwest Association, while Kansas City wins their seventh straight Western League title.

All three of those races were anticlimactic, decided by eight games or more, but that was not the case in the Eastern League, where the Philadelphia Athletics tied Jersey City, then took Game 157 to earn their second EL title.



Similar to the league races, the playoffs also were rather short on drama. All three series lasted just five games. Kansas City dispatched New York and Indianapolis did the same to Philly. The Blues then brushed aside the Hoosiers to take the USBF crown. The only team with multiple National Championships now has three of them.



For the third year in a row, Zane Black took home MVP honors, leading the USBF in runs (106), slashing 30 triples, and stealing 79 bases amidst a .320/.389/.492 slash line.

After a couple of runner-up finishes, Chicago Colts ace Brian Deemer finally wins Pitcher of the Year. Going 24-11 in his fifth 20-win season, Deemer led the Federation with a sparkling 1.48 ERA over 40 starts, clocking in 359.0 innings and spinning a league-best nine shutouts.

Steve Haveman was named Rookie of the Year, though his case was more unique than most. Haveman spent six seasons as a superstar in the Pacific Coast League (three-time MVP) before trying his hand in the USBF. He did pretty well, slashing .313/.413/.432 in six seasons before returning to the PCL . In an era where the PCL had not earned major-league status, Haveman racked up over 4,200 professional hits, but less than 1,100 were at the big league level.

--

Down in the minors, a new circuit joined the fray, as the Rocky Mountain League set up shop in the rugged mining country of the West. The loop would look like this:

Rocky Mountain League
Butte Copper Kings
Cheyenne Outlaws
Colorado Springs Millionaires
Ft. Collins Grizzlies
Great Falls Explorers
Ogden Railroaders
Pueblo Miners
Salt Lake City Bees



Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Missions, 144-56
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 99-41 (2nd straight)
Colonial League: Scranton-Wilkes Barre Steamers, 91-35, defeats Syracuse (2nd straight)
Texas League: Waco Cowboys, 76-50, defeats San Antonio
River Valley League: Evansville Bees, 77-63, defeats Toledo
Rocky Mountain League: Pueblo Miners, 70-56, defeats Butte

The huge year by the SF Missions proved to be a harbinger of a problem that would plague the PCL for the next 15 years: an astoundingly large gap between the best teams and the worst (Los Angeles finished 84 games back). It would also start off a dynasty that briefly turned San Fran's second team into their top one.

[KCRoyals15]

1908

Another year, another Kansas City Blues league title. The eighth straight Western League crown is far and away the most impressive. The Skipper guided a pitching staff that set USBF records with a 1.79 ERA and allowed just 366 runs (2.35 per game), both of which still stand. He also had the highest-scoring offense (643 runs and a +283 run differential). The end result was a record 110 wins, finishing 31 games clear of second-place Louisville and St. Paul.

Jersey City won an even 100 games in taking the Eastern League by eight games, while Indianapolis claimed the Midwest Association flag by 14 games. In the New England League, Buffalo needed a tiebreaker, but won Game 157 against Rochester to earn a league title.

Also of note, the end of team nickname conclusion has arrived at the big league level. Maybe people didn't confuse Newark, New Jersey and Denver, Colorado (being a 36-hour train ride apart, after all), but both teams were named the Bears until Newark elected to adopt a new moniker, becoming the Newark Eagles.



Year nine of the USBF saw maybe the biggest playoff upset to date. After needing an extra game to squeeze into the playoff field, the Buffalo Bisons stun Kansas City in a seven-round semifinal shocker. Indianapolis also wipes out a 100-win team, sweeping Jersey City. In the finals, the Bisons dispatch the Hoosiers in six games, as Indy winds up runner-up for the second straight season.



Offense was at it's lowest level ever, as the entire Federation posted a collective 2.45 ERA and hit just .237 as a whole. Sure enough, MVP Chris Fordham posted a great season (.322, 73 RBI, 112 steals), finishing second in batting and steals. He also led the USBF in hits with 192, a rather low total for a leader.

On the mound, KC took notice of a 27-year-old who had run absolutely roughshod through the Pacific Coast League the last three seasons and purchased his contract before the 1908 season. Taking a chance on Derek Anderson paid off handsomely, as the lefty went 28-9 with a 1.47 ERA, leading the USBF with 209 strikeouts and setting a still-standing USBF record with 12 shutouts.

After a considerable amount of controversy about PCL veteran Scott Haveman earning Rookie of the Year a season ago, Anderson was not tabbed ROTY, instead Buffalo shortstop Le-Song Si earned the nod.

Of note, on August 18, St. Paul right-hander Steve Law set history by spinning the first perfect game in USBF history, blanking New Haven with six strikeouts.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Missions, 133-67 (2nd straight)
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 99-41 (3rd straight)
Colonial League: Scranton-Wilkes Barre Steamers, 87-39, defeats Binghamton (3rd straight)
Texas League: Houston Buffaloes, 78-48, defeats Fort Worth
River Valley League: Fort Wayne Westerns, 109-31, defeats Peoria
Rocky Mountain League: Ogden Railroaders, 79-47, defeats Pueblo

Fort Wayne set a RVL record for wins and winning percentage (.779) that still stand. In the Rockies, Ogden's title kicked off a staggering two-decade run of dominance.

[KCRoyals15]

1909

The dynasty has been toppled! After eight long years of a Kansas City stranglehold atop the Western League, the St. Paul Saints toppled the Blues, edging out KC by a game (and Louisville by two) to earn their first WL crown. The newly re-branded (last year) Newark Eagles also earned their first league crown, winning the New England League.

The other two divisions featured 100-win teams and lackluster races. The Philadelphia A's won 100 games to take the Eastern League by 13 games—the same margin that the Indianapolis Hoosiers took the Midwest Association by. The Hoosiers were a juggernaut, winning 106 games in their fourth-straight pennant-winning campaign.



Bridesmaids no more! After back-to-back championship series defeats, Indianapolis finally gets the job done. They take care of St. Paul in five games, then win a classic over the Philadelphia A's, taking a seven-game thriller to earn their first National Championship.



Five long years after a egregious MVP snub, the Boston Pilgrims' three-base merchant gets his due, as Justin Emlet is tabbed the top USBF player. He slashes .327/.372/.510 (leading the Federation in slugging and OPS), with a USBF-leading 37 triples, plus a career-high 81 stolen bases.

On the mound, another established star earned his flowers one final time. Kansas City ace John Mobley logged an impressive 31-8 season with a miniscule 1.25 ERA, doing so in a Federation-most 43 starts (and 35 complete games) and 375.1 innings, tossing nine shutouts as well. It was the last hurrah for Mobley, whose next two seasons were cut short due to injuries. Amidst the ailments and declining performance, he would be out of the game just two years later.

Incredibly, Mobley did not lead the USBF in ERA. Underrated Cleveland Buckeyes hurler Josh Scott set a still-standing USBF record with a 1.18 ERA. The 37-year-old was incredibly still a decade away from ending his career, which saw him win 317 games—the most for any pitcher not in the Hall of Fame.

In other pitching news, barely a year after the first perfect game in the USBF, New York right-hander Craig Haney spun the second one, striking out five in a masterpiece over Jersey City on September 17. He finished third in ERA at 1.33.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Missions, 133-67 (3rd straight)
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 109-31 (4th straight)
Colonial League: Scranton-Wilkes Barre Steamers, 76-50, defeats Binghamton (4th straight)
Texas League: El Paso Texans, 74-53, defeats Dallas
River Valley League: Fort Wayne Westerns, 106-34, defeats Wichita (2nd straight)
Rocky Mountain League: Butte Copper Kings, 80-46, defeats Cheyenne

The three most-established minor league circuits were at the mercy of dynasties, while the RVL saw Fort Wayne follow up their record 109-win season with 106 victories, second-most in league history.

[KCRoyals15]

1910

After ten successful years, the United States Baseball Federation moves into it's second decade. Incredibly, the USBF sees a record four 100-win teams...but bunched into two leagues, guaranteeing that two of them spend October at home.

The New England League has a doozy of a pennant race, with 103-win New York eeking out a one-game margin over the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the Eastern League, Baltimore wins a league-high 105 games, four more than the second-place Philadelphia A's.

Further west, St. Louis wins their second Midwest Association pennant and first in nine seasons, toppling Indianapolis after a four-year reign for the Hoosiers. After seeing their stretch of eight straight pennants end a year ago, Kansas City returns to the top spot, finishing seven games clear of Omaha, albeit with only 88 wins, fewest of all league winners.



Baltimore does not mess around. The Terrapins down the KC Blues in six games to meet St. Louis, who upset New York in another six-game set. It was all Terps in the finals, though, as Baltimore joins Kansas City (who has three titles) as the second team with multiple National Championships.



Two years after earning Rookie of the Year, Le-Song Si's American Dream continued. After being born in Taiwan and arriving on Angel Island as an infant, Si has become one of the truly great players in American's Pastime, earning his first MVP award. It was an all-around strong season: .311 average, 32 doubles, 31 triples, 71 RBI, 53 steals, and the best defense anyone had seen at shortstop to date.

On the hill, 26-year-old rookie Justin Rodrigues burst onto the scene, winning 21 games with a sparkling 1.53 ERA, 215 strikeouts, and a USBF-leading 36 complete games. It was an outstanding burst to begin his career...but it was far from his magnum opus.

Interestingly, Rodrigues did not win Rookie of the Year, as Brooklyn centerfielder Jason Chaffin earned that nod, batting .323 with 215 hits, 111 runs, and 99 stolen bases. It was the start of a very strong four-year stretch for Chaffin as one of the game's best, capped off by a 224-hit season in 1913.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Missions, 132-68 (4th straight)
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 105-35 (5th straight)
Colonial League: Scranton-Wilkes Barre Steamers, 81-45, defeats Binghamton (5th straight)
Texas League: Galveston Hurricanes, 85-41, defeats El Paso
River Valley League: Evansville Bees, 95-45, defeats Wichita
Rocky Mountain League: Ogden Railroaders, 88-38, defeats Butte

[KCRoyals15]

1911

For the second year in a row, the Philadelphia Athletics win exactly 101 games. Last year, it put them four games back of Baltimore. This year, they finish four games ahead of the reigning champs to win the Eastern League. In New England, New York breezes to an 11-game finish over New Haven (is that sentence "New" enough?).

Out west, Indianapolis wins their fifth Midwest Association title in six years, squeezing two games ahead of the Chicago Whales. The upstart Omaha Golden Spikes, meanwhile, win their first Western League title, finishing three games ahead of both Kansas City and St. Paul.



As it turns out, the bright lights were not too bright for the Golden Spikes. They ran roughshod over the New York Gothams in a four-game sweep. After Philadelphia downed St. Louis in five games, Omaha flipped the tables with a five-game series win, giving the Golden Spikes their first National Championship.



For the second year in a row, Le-Song Si earns MVP, joining Indianapolis' Zane Black as the only multiple-time (and repeat) winners. Si slashed .346/.431/.559, swatting a league-high 42 triples while earning Great Glove recognition for the fourth time in as many years in the majors.

We're seeing double on the mound as well as Justin Rodrigues made it two POTY honors in two big-league seasons. A career-best 26 wins, a USBF-leading 1.86 ERA and 209 punchouts in 343.2 innings did the trick for the 27-year-old righty.

This season saw history in the form of Indianapolis Hoosiers 2B Josh Adams, who hit for the cycle on August 1 vs. Minneapolis, just shy of five years after he did so for Denver against Newark. In doing so, Adams becme the first USBF player to hit for the cycle twice.

--

With the South starting to grow more, there was burgeoning demand for more baseball south of the Mason-Dixon. Thus, the Coastal League was born this year.

Coastal League
Charleston Cannons
Charlotte Hornets
Jacksonville Tars
Macon Peaches
Miami Gators
Mobile Marines (from Southeastern League)
Norfolk Admirals (from Southeastern League)
Tampa Tarpons

Notable in the new league is the presence of two former Southeastern League clubs. Frustrated by Atlanta and New Orleans' dominance, the Mobile Marines (freshly re-named from the Greenhorns) and Norfolk Admirals made the jump. Interestingly, Mobile won the CL pennant...Norfolk finished last.

In turn, the SEL re-loaded with the establishment of the Shreveport Captains and Chattanooga Lookouts.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 135-65
Southeastern League: Atlanta Crackers, 100-40
Colonial League: Reading Keystones, 78-48, defeats Binghamton
Texas League: Galveston Hurricanes, 79-47, defeats Dallas (2nd straight)
River Valley League: Evansville Bees, 91-49, defeats St. Joseph (2nd straight)
Rocky Mountain League: Ogden Railroaders, 79-47, defeats Salt Lake City (2nd straight)
Coastal League: Mobile Marines, 97-43, defeats Tampa

[KCRoyals15]

1912

1912 was about the strongest teams of the USBF's early decade (except you, Indianapolis). New York won the NEL for the third year running, while Baltimore roared to a record-tying 110 wins, romping to an Eastern League pennant by 22 games.

In the Midwest Association, St. Louis took the crown for the second time in three years, with their 97 wins pitting them as the weakest team in the postseason field. In the Western League, Kansas City returned after a year away from the top, coasting to 104 wins and an 11-game cushion.

On the other end, a record four teams lost 100 games, with the Cincinnati Tigers bottoming out at 46-110, a league record for defeats and the fourth of five-straight 100-loss campaigns.



Both first-round series were rather lacking in drama, if not intrigue. Top-seeded Baltimore took care of St. Louis in five games; the same amount it took New York to upset Kansas City. With the top two pitching staffs on display, the series went to the limit, though the Gothams emerged in a seven-game tilt, earning their second National Championship.



Before the 1907 season, the New Haven Weavers dealt a rookie pitcher who owned two big league appearances, to the St. Paul Saints for a backup infielder. As it turns out, that pitcher could pitch—and hit, too. Having already posted strong seasons on both sides of the ball, Eric Maginn was at his best in 1912, leading the USBF in wins (29), starts (40), innings (359), and complete games, while posting 2.28 ERA. Oh, and he hit .323 with 59 RBI in 114 games. It was the peak of a Hall of Fame career that saw him win 282 games and hit .294 with over 1,600 hits.

Maginn could've claimed Pitcher of the Year, but that instead went to Baltimore lefty Russ Watt. Watt burst onto the scene two years prior and put together a five-year run as one of the best pitchers in the USBF...while doing almost nothing else outside of that. In the middle of that run, the 28-year-old went 23-7 with a league-best 1.83 ERA.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: Sacramento Solons, 145-55
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 99-41
Colonial League: Reading Keystones, 79-47, defeats Albany (2nd straight)
Texas League: Galveston Hurricanes, 83-43, defeats Oklahoma City (3rd straight)
River Valley League: St. Joseph Snakes, 87-53, defeats Evansville
Rocky Mountain League: Ogden Railroaders, 81-45, defeats Butte (3rd straight)
Coastal League: Mobile Marines, 95-45, defeats Norfolk (2nd straight)

[KCRoyals15]

1913

While strong teams and dynasties were a theme of 1912, the following season saw parity and drama reign supreme, with only one team winning over 93 games (Jersey City at 96), four different league winners this season, three very tight races, and two tiebreaker games.

While Jersey City won the Eastern League by five games, Rochester's franchise-record 93 wins allowed them to win the New England League for the first time in 11 years. The Cleveland Buckeyes, meanwhile, won the Midwest Association for the first time, though they needed to win a one-game playoff with Indianapolis. The Chicago Whales were only two games further back.

That all pales in comparison to the Western League. Denver and Omaha were 88-68, Minneapolis and St. Paul 87-67. Four teams were within ONE game. Fifth-place Kansas City (in the second division for the first time since 1900) was only three games back. In the end, Denver knocked off Omaha in Game 157 to secure the Bears' first Western League crown.



For once, the playoffs lived up to the drama of the regular season. Denver took care of Jersey City in six games, upsetting the top seed. Cleveland meanwhile, edged Rochester in a seven-game nailbiter. The Buckeyes then pulled the trick again, winning another seven-game set to defeat the Denver Bears for the Buckeyes' first National Championship.



For the third time in four years, Buffalo shortstop Le-Song Si earned MVP honors, slashing .348/.421/.514, leading the USBF with a .935 OPS, and stroking a career-high 208 hits, while driving in 86 runs. Though just 32, Si's legs were already going (just 15 steals) and as it turned out, this award would signal the end of his run as arguably the top overall player in the USBF. He remained a very good everyday player for another five years, but started missing time and wasn't as dominant as his first six seasons...

Amazingly, Milwaukee hurler Justin Rodrigues also won Pitcher of the Year for the third time in four years, lining up with Si's honors each time. Rodriguez logged a 1.58 ERA, leading the USBF, while striking out 208 batters over 347.2 innings.

Also on the mound, history unfolded once more for Steve Law. The New Haven right-hander retired all 27 Newark Eagles on May 24 in a 6-strikeout, 93-pitch masterpiece. Not only did this make him the first USBF pitcher to spin multiple no-hitters, both of them were perfect games. He is still the only major league pitcher with two perfect games.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 151-49
Southeastern League: Chattanooga Lookouts, 91-49
Colonial League: Reading Keystones, 80-46, defeats Albany (3rd straight)
Texas League: El Paso Texans, 70-57, defeats Houston
River Valley League: Peoria Distillers, 85-55, defeats Fort Wayne
Rocky Mountain League: Salt Lake City Bees, 77-49 defeats Ogden
Coastal League: Charlotte Hornets, 91-49, defeats Mobile

After 13 years of domination by New Orleans (eight titles) and Atlanta (five), the Chattanooga Lookouts finally became the third franchise to win a Southeastern League title. Incredibly, the Lookouts pulled off the task in just their second year in operation.

The PCL once more struggled with a staggering amount of disparity. Three teams won at least 142 games (.710 winning percentage), while two teams lost over 157 games (a third lost 131 games). Last place Portland went an unfathomable 28-172 and finished 123 games out of first place (run differential: -710).

[KCRoyals15]

1914

One of these things is not like the other...That one thing, er team, was the Jersey City Giants, who matched a USBF record by posting a 110-46 record, then set a USBF record by winning the Eastern League by a whopping 32 games (Baltimore and Philadelphia Quakers tied for second by going .500).

The other three leagues, though, saw tight races. Denver won the West for the second straight year, edging Kansas City by two games. Brooklyn won the New England League for the first time, finishing one game up on New York and three ahead of New Haven.

In the Midwest Association, though, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and the Chicago Whales all finished tied at 87-69. And so Milwaukee played Chicago and won. Whales=out. The Black Hawks then faced Indianapolis and lost. Indy was in, Milwaukee out. The Hoosiers win the MWA by half a game, with Chicago just one game back in third.



Without the stress of a tight pennant race, Jersey City was ready to go for the postseason. They dispatched Indianapolis in six games, while Denver dueled Brooklyn for seven games before prevailing. For a second straight year, the Bears finished runner-up as the JC Giants won another six-game set to win their second National Championship.



After five good, if unspectacular seasons for Baltimore, centerfielder Danny Perez was traded to Kansas City before the 1914 season. It was a true blockbuster: both teams sent a pair of legitimate contributors each way (Baltimore most notably got back Bobby Collins, who blossomed into an ace for a decade). Perez, though, was the biggest immediate payoff, leading the USBF in average (.353), hits (217), doubles (41), RBIs (90), and slugging (.906).

Right-hander Andy Epperson enjoyed an outstanding career, albeit one that flew under the radar. He only led the league once in anything notable (starts in 1912), but he took the ball and did his job for 20 years straight. His only award came this season, when he logged a career-best 1.48 ERA, going 24-9 and striking out 199 batters. The POTY trophy was his only individual honor...save for an eventual Hall of Fame induction.

Waaay back in 1900, Jim Greene won 32 games and earned the first-ever USBF Pitcher of the Year award. Though no more hardware has been forthcoming as he's toiled away in tiny Rochester, New York, he's toiled away effectively, earning his 300th victory on July 5, becoming the first USBF hurler to reach that milestone. Even at 39, Greene went 21-7 with a 2.37 ERA. After another strong season in 1915, he was all set to go at 41 the following year, though a spring training arm injury ended his brilliant career.

---

A new minor league is welcomed into the auspices of the Federation as the Upper Midwest will be represented by the Northern League, which will occupy a mostly barren spot in the baseball map.

Northern League
Cedar Rapids Reds
Davenport Trappers
Duluth Dukes
La Crosse Loggers
Lincoln Lions
Sioux City Cornhuskers
Sioux Falls Packers
Superior Shippers



Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 157-43, defeats Oakland (2nd straight)
Southeastern League: Nashville Vols, 96-44
Colonial League: Albany Adirondacks, 79-47, defeats Worcester
Texas League: Oklahoma City Indians, 69-57, defeats El Paso
River Valley League: Evansville Bees, 80-60, defeats Peoria
Rocky Mountain League: Ogden Railroaders, 75-51, defeats Salt Lake City
Coastal League: Norfolk Admirals, 85-55, defeats Macon
Northern League: Superior Shippers, 68-58, defeats La Crosse

After the Pacific Coast League saw two 140+ win teams fail to have a shot at a championship the year prior, the PCL adds a postseason playoff, leaving the Southeastern League as the last postseason-less holdout. What the playoff could not prevent is the ghastly season of the worst team of the century. The LA Angels finished 20-180 for a winning percentage of .100. A .158/.218/.205 slash line as a team. A 5.30 ERA with more walks than strikeouts on the mound. A run differential of -932. The end result was finishing 137 games back of San Francisco. It was truly a shockingly awful season, with truly absolutely nowhere to go but up.

[KCRoyals15]

1915

Juggernauts rule the day as three of the four leagues boasted a 100-game winner. Once again, Jersey City ruled the roost with a 107-49 record (margin of victory: 22 games). Also out east, Brooklyn romped to a 102-54 mark, 18 games clear of New York in the NEL as they took their second straight pennant.

After two years away from the top, Kansas City was back on top in the Western League, winning 103 games. In the Midwest Association, Indianapolis took their second straight pennant. Once again it was a close, three-team race, but the Hoosiers finished two games up on Cleveland and four clear of Milwaukee.



Both first-round series with the distance. Jersey City survived Indianapolis, while Brooklyn took down Kansas City. The Giants came into the championship series looking to become just the second repeat champion...and they did just that, denying the Dodgers in six games to earn back-to-back National Championships, while also matching KC with three titles.



Jersey City shortstop Chris Slater was in his second year with the Giants after four strong years in the PCL and won Rookie of the Year in 1914. In year two, he hit .330 (second in the USBF) with a league-best .463 on-base percentage, 8 homers, and 93 runs scored, despite missing 35 games midseason due to a back injury. Despite that missed time, he took home MVP honors.

Kansas City right-hander Phil Norris won 31 games, posted a 1.87 ERA, and a USBF-best 234 strikeouts in 1914...but did not win Pitcher of the Year. A season later, he gets the job with a 30-7 season, logging a 1.73 ERA and leading the USBF with 42 starts, 364.1 innings, and 33 complete games. He became the last Federation pitcher to post two 30-win seasons...and the only one ever to do so back-to-back.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 162-38, defeats Sacramento (3rd straight)
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 86-54
Colonial League: Albany Adirondacks, 88-38, defeats Worcester (2nd straight)
Texas League: El Paso Texans, 80-46, defeats Fort Worth
River Valley League: Dayton Inventors, 82-58, defeats Evansville
Rocky Mountain League: Ogden Railroaders, 81-45, defeats Salt Lake City (2nd straight)
Coastal League: Norfolk Admirals, 97-43, defeats Mobile (2nd straight)
Northern League: Superior Shippers, 80-46, defeats Duluth (2nd straight)

The San Francisco Seals set an all-time professional baseball record with their 162 wins. On the other end of the spectrum, Portland (37-163) finishes 125 games back. After the worst season imaginable a year ago, Los Angeles improved by 51 games...and still finished 48 games below .500 and 91 games out of first place. Progress!

[KCRoyals15]

1916

Some dynasties were continuing, others were burgeoning, and one came to an end...maybe?

In the New England League, the Brooklyn Dodgers were on their way to a third-straight pennant, though not to be outdone, the Jersey City Giants cruised to their fourth-straight Eastern League pennant with a National Championship three-peat in mind.

In the Midwest Association, Cleveland was far and away the weakest league champion, winning 89 games as they clipped Indianapolis by three games. Out in the Western League, the Memphis Chicks had spent most of their existence in the second division. However, after a second-place finish last year, they roar to 99 wins and their first pennant.

After Kansas City finished a distant fourth, The Skipper stunned the baseball world by announcing his resignation for the Blues. He had won 1,577 games, 11 pennants, and 3 National Championships in KC. In his final visit with the press, he told the assembled writers "I am ready for a new challenge, and I think I have just the one. I'll let you know soon..."



Weakest playoff team? No problem for Cleveland. The Buckeyes start off the postseason by upending top-seeded Brooklyn in six games. Memphis, meanwhile, ends Jersey City's quest for a third straight title with a seven-game triumph. In the championship series, It's the Buckeyes again in six, vanquishing the Chicks for Cleveland's second National Championship in four years.



For a second year in a row, Jersey City SS Chris Slater leads the pack. Healthy for a full season this time, Slater bats .331, raps out 188 hits, leads the USBF with 101 RBI, and in on-base percentge (.429) and OPS (.873). This was to be his peak, as the eagle-eyed SS would slowly decline, though he's remain a productive played for nearly another decade.

On the mound, it felt like just a matter of time before New Haven right-hander Chad Johnson won Pitcher of the Year and this was the time. Going 27-12 with a league-leading 1.49 ERA (after logging a 1.41 mark two years prior) and nine shutouts got the job done. The son of a Jewish mother and English father, Johnson was born on a steamship stopover in Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii, but found his way to New Haven and the Weavers were sure glad he did: he won 232 games over 16 years with the team.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 142-58, defeats San Francisco Missions (4th straight)
Southeastern League: Nashville Vols, 86-54
Colonial League: Worcester Tornadoes, 87-39, defeats Albany
Texas League: Austin Spurs, 73-53, defeats Fort Worth
River Valley League: Fort Wayne Westerns, 92-48, defeats Toledo
Rocky Mountain League: Salt Lake City Bees, 76-50, defeats Butte
Coastal League: Norfolk Admirals, 80-60, defeats Mobile (3rd straight)
Northern League: Duluth Dukes, 82-44, defeats Sioux Falls

[KCRoyals15]

1917

It is the fall of 1916. The press was assembled in outside the home of The Skipper in south Kansas City—a home that would soon be on the market. That's the reason the press was crowded on the front lawn: the man who had built the greatest dynasty in American baseball history would be announcing his next destination.

Teams from coast-to-coast had lined up to try to secure The Skipper's services. One reportedly was willing to offer a staggering $50,000 per season (he made $23,000 in his final deal with KC). Another openly said he would sign over a large ownership stake to him. But Skip held his cards close to his chest.

"Thank you all for coming out today," he said as he addressed the throng from his front porch. Seeing the growing number of clear non-press that had wandered over from around the city, he spoke again, "that goes for everybody here." After some light chuckling he continued.

"I am about to embark on the greatest challenge of my life. I took over an organization here that was a losing team and now I feel I have nothing left to accomplish here. I am ready to embark on a task that may stun many of you here."

"I will be the next manager and general manager of the Los Angeles Angels"

For a moment, there was stunned silence, save for a few gasps. Then the chatter began. The questions came pouring in as the reporters collected themselves. But The Skipper merely raised his hand to quiet the mob.

"I will not be taking any questions as to why I am making this move. I will end by saying this: Los Angeles may be the worst team in America and I get to manage it. However, I intend to change that fact very quickly."

With that, The Skipper turned and walked back inside the house as the crowd that had swelled to a few hundred continued to buzz with bemusement outside...

The Skipper was no longer in Kansas City, but his players still were, and the Blues returned to the top of the Western League. In the Midwest Association, Cleveland stayed at the top, winning their second straight MWA title with 101 wins—the same amount Brooklyn won in their fourth straight New England League title. Baltimore ended Jersey City's four-year reign atop the Eastern League, finishing three games ahead of the Giants.

On the flip side, the Rochester Stars set a new USBF record for futility, going just 42-114. The bottom had fallen out on one of the smallest markets in the Federation just four years after winning an NEL pennant. They would recover somewhat in the coming years, but rumors about their end in Rochester never quite went away...



After three straight frustrating postseason exits, Dem Bums finally got the job done. Brooklyn knocked off Baltimore in six games, then face the defending champion Cleveland Buckeyes, who had also needed six games to knock off Kansas City. There would be no repeat as the Dodgers downed the Buckeyes in six games for Brooklyn's first National Championship



How does a Japanese man make it Cleveland, Ohio in the early 20th century? No one's quite sure, but Kichizo Ito did the year prior, signing with the Buckeyes. After serving as a backup the year prior, Ito moved into the starting lineup and the results were better than anyone could've imagined. Ito batted .318 with 193 hits, 34 triples, and 89 RBI. He was arguably even better the following season, but this was the high point of a career that flamed out due to rapidly deteriorating defense that kept his bat out of the everyday lineup after his 31st birthday, despite a career .333 average.

By 1917, Cleveland right-hander Nicky Croucher was already an established star, winning 31 games in 1913, and posting a 1.57 ERA and winning MVP honors in both playoff rounds the previous season. This season saw Croucher lead the league with a miniscule 1.20 ERA, going 26-7 and spinning a USBF-best 10 shutouts. Croucher's ERA is still the second-lowest for a season in USBF history.

That mark helped Croucher edge Boston hurler Angelo Diaz. The 25-year-old turned in an outstanding second season, going 31-8 with a 2.11 ERA, leading the Federation in starts (40), complete games (36), innings (358.2), and strikeouts (211). He also led the USBF in wins, as he became the last Eastern pitcher to win 30 games, though PCL pitchers continued to pull off the feat periodically due to the longer schedules.

Still kicking around, 45-year-old Josh Scott won 22 games for Cleveland, and his last one of the year was a big one, as on September 30 he became the second USBF pitcher to win 300 games.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 125-75, defeats Sacramento (5th straight)
Southeastern League: Nashville Vols, 82-58, defeats Atlanta (2nd straight)
Colonial League: Albany Adirondacks, 76-50, defeats Worcester
Texas League: El Paso Texans, 75-51, defeats Austin
River Valley League: Peoria Distillers, 80-60, defeats Fort Wayne
Rocky Mountain League: Salt Lake City Bees, 84-42, defeats Ogden (2nd straight)
Coastal League: Mobile Marines, 79-62, defeats Miami
Northern League: Lincoln Lions, 78-48, defeats La Crosse

The Southeastern League played their first postseason playoff this year, giving every minor league a playoff system. Jockeying for Southern supremacy, the Coastal League and Southeastern League agreed to play an annual Dixie Association series, with Nashville sweeping Mobile in four games.

Meanwhile, out on the West Coast, The Skipper took the reigns in LA and immediately undersaw a shocking turnaround. Taking over a squad that that went 48-152 in 1916, Skip wheeled, dealed, scouted, and signed his way to a 67-game improvement, as the Angels went 115-85, finishing fourth for the first winning season and first-division placing for the Angels since 1904. His declaration of a quick turnaround appears to be right on track...

[KCRoyals15]

1918

There was little change at the top of the standings as the top teams throughout the past few seasons again found their way to the top of the standings. After a one-year sabbatical from the postseason, Jersey City squeezed past Baltimore by a couple games to win the Eastern League.

That was the only new pennant winner as Baltimore, Kansas City, and Cleveland all repeated in their respective leagues. The defending National Champions in Brooklyn won their fifth straight NEL pennant, while Cleveland won a franchise-best 105 games along with their third straight Midwest Association crown.



With just 89 wins, Jersey City was far and away the worst team in the field, but they shockingly swept Cleveland in the first round. Brooklyn took down Kansas City in six and looked like they were poised to repeat. However, the Giants came up big with a seven-game triumph, earning their third National Championship in five years. For as much ink has been spilled on Kansas City's dynasty, the scoreboard now show: Jersey City 4, Kansas City 3 when it comes to national titles.



Third-year Cleveland outfielder Joey Habets hit his peak at the age of 25, salshing /334/.392/.437, driving in 87 runs and stealing 75 bases in a 209-hit season as he took home MVP honors.

In his third year, Louisville right-hander Tim LeBlanc put it all together as a 26-year-old. A shrewd midseason trade with Seattle brought him over from the PCL in 1916 and LeBlanc has only improved since then. It culminated in a 28-9 season and 1.43 ERA, leading the USBF in both categories.

Over the past decade, stolen bases had gradually slowed down and 1918 was a demarcation point in that. Minneapolis' Ricky Camarena swiped 103 bases and Jake Pina snagged 100. Pina could've easily earned MVP, hitting .329 with 199 hits and 75 RBI, the culmination of a very good career spent mostly on a mediocre team.

Also of note, New York righty Ray Simpson had posted a great (if award-less) career, but suffered through two truly miserable seasons to end it. On August 7, though, he spun his 300th win, the second pitcher to pull off the feat. It would be his final victory in a lousy 8-28 campaign (after 8-23 the year prior) and his final career victory.

Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: Los Angeles Angels, 133-67, defeats San Francisco Seals
Southeastern League: New Orleans Pelicans, 94-46, defeats Atlanta
Colonial League: Worcester Tornadoes, 76-50, defeats Reading
Texas League: Houston Buffaloes, 72-54, defeats El Paso
River Valley League: Fort Wayne Westerns, 79-61, defeats Peoria
Rocky Mountain League: Salt Lake City Bees, 87-39, defeats Ogden (3rd straight)
Coastal League: Jacksonville Tars, 79-61, defeats Charleston
Northern League: Lincoln Lions, 81-45, defeats Sioux City (2nd straight)

In the PCL, The Skipper's turnaround reached the mountaintop in a dizzying amount of time. The Angels finished second, but knocked off perennial power San Francisco in the PCL Championship, going from 152 losses to a title in just two years' time.

[KCRoyals15]

1919

1919 brought the curtain down on the second decade of USBF play and it also brought the curtain down on the best team in the last half-decade. The Brooklyn Dodgers won a franchise-record 108 games, romping to a 26-game margin in the New England League. Kansas City, meanwhile, won the Western League for the third straight season after The Skipper's departure.

Meanwhile, Baltimore won the Eastern League for the second time in three seasons. Over in the Midwest Association, the Milwaukee Blackhawks have suffered four second-place finishes (including the three-way tiebreak in 1914), but finally broke through with their first pennant.



Facing a team 17 games worse than them, Brooklyn got all they could handle in the first round from Baltimore, as the Terrapins pushed the Dodgers for seven games. Kansas City, meanwhile, brushed aside Milwaukee in five games. The Dodgers, though, defeated the Blues in five games, earning Brooklyn their second National Championship in three years.



History was made on the awards front as Buffalo ace Marcos Estrada became the first player in USBF history to earn Pitcher of the Year and MVP honors in the same year. Estrada led the Federation with a 1.23 ERA , going 25-12 and leading the USBF with 337.2 innings, 187 strikeouts, and 33 complete games, while also tossing a no-hitter against Milwaukee on August 22, becoming the first POTY to have a no-hitter in the same season. Estrada had two more exceptional seasons before the injury bug bit. He only posted one healthy season after his 30th birthday, leaving behind a tale of "what if?"

Of note, Newark Eagles second baseman Matt Strawn tied for the USBF lead in home runs with 11. What was notable, though, is that on July 29, he became the first USBF player to crush three home runs in a game, also adding a triple and driving in seven against Milwaukee.

Scott Barnett was a generally nondescript lefty who was generally solid for generally bad teams over a 16-year career. The 26-year-old, though, earned a day in the sun on June 20, spinning the USBF's fourth perfect game, as he shut down the Richmond Rebels, striking out five and needing 96 pitches to complete the gem.

One fascinating career came to a close this season. Already 29 when the USBF formed in 1900, Dudley Burton spent 1900 with the Philadelphia Quakers, then was flipped to Newark before the 1901 season. Over the next 18 years, Burton became the first truly great reliever for the Eagles, winning 136 games with 214 saves (a record), appearing in 970 games total—a figure that wouldn't be topped until 1951. Interestingly enough, Burton ended his career as a starter, making 15 of his 16 career starts for the Boston Beaneaters in 1919 after being released by Newark midway through the previous season. His one career shutout came six days after his 49th birthday. Despite pitching until he was the oldest player in USBF history, Burton posted a 1.92 career ERA, still the lowest of any pitcher with at least 1,500 innings.

---

A new minor league joins the fray as the Great Lakes League is founded, overlapping the current footprints of the River Valley and Colonial Leagues. With this addition, the entire professional baseball landscape under the USBF now stands at 104 teams (32 major league, 72 minor), passing the century mark for the first time.

Great Lakes League
Akron Rubbermen
Allentown Brewers
Canton Bulldogs
Flint Vehicles
Grand Rapids Griffins
Harrisburg Senators
South Bend Silver Sox
Youngstown Steelers


Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: Sacramento Solons, 147-53, defeats San Francisco Seals
Southeastern League: Atlanta Crackers, 96-44, defeats New Orleans
Colonial League: Worcester Tornadoes, 79-47, defeats Albany (2nd straight)
Texas League: Galveston Hurricanes, 77-49, defeats Oklahoma City
River Valley League: Fort Wayne Westerns, 86-54, defeats St. Joseph
Rocky Mountain League: Ogden, 92-34, defeats Salt Lake City
Coastal League: Mobile Marines, 84-56, defeats Miami
Northern League: Duluth Dukes, 79-47, defeats Sioux City
Great Lakes League: Grand Rapids Griffins, 90-50, defeats Flint

The Rocky Mountain League has been essentially a two-team league between Ogden and Salt Lake City for the entire decade, with those two playing each other for the title in five of the last six years. Frustrated by this, the RML elected to try something never done before: a four-team playoff to get two more teams into the postseason field. It didn't work, as Ogden and Salt Lake City squared off again in the finals.