American Baseball League

[bwburke94]

Michigan Mayhem... not appropriate for 1901 then just cut Michigan!

[kbusch22]

POST SEASON AWARDS

NL MVP: Jesse Burkett, LF, Washington Pilots
Burkett was outstanding all season, winning the NL Triple Crown by batting a ridiculous .427 (255 hits in 597 At-Bats) along with 19 HRs and 171 RBIs. He also cracked the top 10 list in the NL in steals, swiping 36 bases. Also incredibly impressive was the fact that he only struck out 35 times. The Pilots would be ecstatic to see the veteran Burkett put up similar numbers next season.

NL Cy Young: Harry Howell, Massachusetts Whalers
Howell was certainly a workhorse, starting 40 games for Massachusetts and pitching 341.2 innings. He had a 24-11 record on the year to the tune of a 2.21 ERA with 153 K's. The 25-year old righty is currently a free agent who will certainly be looking to cash in on his huge season.

NL Rookie of the Year: Lou Gertenrich, RF, Delmar Railroads
It was a very solid season for the 26-year old rookie. Delmar showed great faith in Lou by making him the Opening Day cleanup hitter from the get-go. The move paid dividends as Gertenrich appeared in 148 games, batting .302 with 15 HR, 119 RBI, and 29 steals. Lou is testing the free agent waters but look for the defending WS champs to send an offer his way, as he was a key contributor to the team.

NL Gold Gloves
Kid Nichols, P, New York Bluebirds
Charlie Dexter, C, Northeast Triumvirate
Hughie Jennings, 1B, Oregon Trailblazers
Kid Gleason, 2B, Idaho Snakes
John McGraw, 3B, New York Bluebirds
Tommy Corcoran, SS, Delmar Railroads
Fielder Jones, OF, Washington Pilots
Sam Crawford, OF, Northeast Triumvirate
George Yeager, OF, New Jersey Highlanders

SL MVP: Joe Kelley, LF, Tennessee Sounds
Kelley provided an immediate threat as the cleanup hitter for the Sounds as he helped propel his team to the Southern League Pennant. Kelley batted .382 with 20 HR and 150 RBI. Kelley is also out on the free agent market.

SL Cy Young: Jesse Tannehill, Tennessee Sounds
The lefty Tannehill was flat out dominant throughout most of the season, going 25-7 with a 2.25 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 292 innings (39 starts). Unfortunately, Tannehill might wind up being remembered for losing the deciding game of the World Series due to a defensive meltdown. Tannehill is also testing the free agent waters.

SL Rookie of the Year: Eddie Plank, P, Utah Bees
The 26-year old left handed rookie was simply amazing during his first season in the big leagues. In 37 starts and 255.2 innings, Plank limited hitters to an ERA of just 1.94 en route to going 20-11 on the season with 183 strikeouts. Plank provides a perfect compliment to the other ace of the team, veteran righty Brickyard Kennedy.

SL Gold Gloves
Sam Leever, P, Louisiana Jazz
Ossee Schreckengost, C, California Gold Rush
Ad Yale, 1B, Georgia Empire
Freddy Parent, 2B, Utah Bees
Harry Wolverton, 3B, Kentucky Stallions
George Davis, SS, Nevada Sin
Chester Engel, OF, South Carolina Bobcats
Nixey Callahan, OF, Illinois Bruins
Fred Ketchum, OF, Kentucky Stallions

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There is going to be a LOT of Free Agent movement this offseason, I'm sure the draft had a lot to do with it, as did the influx of generated rookies. I'll post the key signings once I get to that point.

[kbusch22]

TALLY LIST
This list will be updated as I go through the years, keeping a running tally of how states are performing. All of the states are separate, as in the future joint teams may be shifted around and whatnot.

WS = World Series win
PE = League champion
PL = Playoff berth

Alabama
Arkansas
California: 1 WS, 1 PE, 2 PL
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware: 1 WS (w/ Maryland), 1 PE (w/ Maryland), 1 PL (w/ Maryland)
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland: 1 WS (w/ Delaware), 1 PE (w/ Delaware), 1 PL (w/ Delaware)
Massachusetts
Michigan: 1 PL
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York: 1 PE, 1 PL
North Carolina: 1 PL
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee: 1 PE, 1 PL
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington: 1 PL
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

[kbusch22]

Key Free Agent Signings

The top free agent on the market, 1901 SL MVP left fielder Joe Kelley, wound up re-signing with the Tennessee Sounds for the next 5 seasons.

The #2 free agent on the market, left fielder Fred Clarke, incredibly similar to Kelley except that he is a year younger and bats lefty, chose not to re-sign with his previous team the Missouri Terriers. Instead, he signed a 5-year pact with the New Jersey Highlanders. The deal was equal to the one Kelley got.

NL Cy Young Award winner Harry Howell certainly managed to cash in and found a new team in the process. The former Massachusetts Whaler signed a 3-year deal with the Illinois Bruins.

While they re-signed Joe Kelley, the Tennessee Sounds pitching rotation took a hit. SL Cy Young Award winner Jesse Tannehill inked a 4-year deal with the West Virginia Jamboree. Sounds starter Ed Doheny also left, receiving a 3-year contract from the Connecticut Warriors. To address this void, the Sounds signed 31-year old righty Joe McGinnity to a 2-year contract after a brilliant season with the Alabama Barons.

The defending World Series champion Delmar Railroads only lost 2 players. NL ROTY Lou Gertenrich waited too long to sign a new contract and had to settle on a 1-year deal with the Virginia Tides. Also leaving was valuable utility infielder Monte Cross, who signed a 1-year agreement with the Philadelphia Liberty.

The biggest news, however, was that the defending champs signed one of the top pitchers in baseball history. 35-year old veteran Cy Young, currently #2 on the all-time wins list (behind Kid Nichols) with 301 victories, signed a 3-year deal with the Railroads. The Railroads have to look like favorites to repeat.


1902 Expansion Draft Top 10
1. Kansas Legends – RH SP John Cardigan
2. Nevada Sin – RH SP Doug Tinker
3. Connecticut Warriors – RH SP Matt Phillips
4. Montana-Wyoming Wildlife – RH SP Eric Wolfenbarger
5. Rhode Island Red Hens – LH SP Aaron West
6. Minnesota Groundhogs – RH SP Jeff Watson
7. Mississippi Riverboats – RH SP Dan Deangelo
8. Virginia Tides – LH SP Zachary Hulbert
9. Dakota Coyotes – RH SP Jesse Hainsworth
10. South Carolina Bobcats – RH SP Marshall Dallimore

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Definitely a pitching-heavy draft…all 10 of those guys have a ton of potential. Also, oddly enough, none of them seem to be historical players.

All set for 1902.

[kbusch22]

Did 1902 already...playoffs and WS probably sometime tomorrow.

Proud of Connecticut, definitely the most improved team. On the reverse side, Illinois...jeez...talk about falling off the map. Gotta give California props for making it to the playoffs for a 2nd straight year despite the 10 team divisions. Also worth mentioning North Carolina ace Jack Powell won 30 games...probably gonna be the Cy Young.

As for some rather depressing (yet ironic) news...Kansas #1 Overall pick John Cardigan started the 3rd game of the season. He pitched 9 strong, giving up 3 runs...but he took the loss. He proceeded to break his wrist and his season came to an end. Ouch.

[RedsoxRockies]

Thats it if Massachusetts and colorado dont start winning harpoon is going to be mad

[kbusch22]

1902 Championship Series

Just a quick note going in...if you'll notice in the Northern standings, New York ended on a 5 game winning streak while Michigan ended on a 4 game losing streak. Its interesting to note that New York swept Michigan in the final series of the year, beating the tar out of their pitching staff 35-14. We'll see if that has any effect in their postseason meeting:

NLCS: The New York Bluebirds continued their dominance of the Michigan Turbos through the first two games to take a 2-0 advantage. Michigan finally showed some life, evening the series...but in the end it was New York that won the trip to the World Series. In the deciding game 5, New York starter Eric Green got rocked, prompting reliever Nicholas McPhedran to pitch 4 brilliant innings, biding time for the New York offense to score big against Michigan starter Don Grove.
Series MVP: P Kid Nichols

SLCS: In their second postseason appearance, the California Gold Rush have earned a trip to the World Series by ousting the North Carolina Emeralds with an impressive 3-game sweep. California came from behind in Game 1, scoring a run in each of the final four innings. From there, the series was California's for the taking, as they scored early and often. California took a huge gamble, sending 18-year old righty and 2nd year player Darwin Dillard to the mound for Game 2. He went 17-9 on the year but had a ballooned ERA of 5.02 through 258.1 innings. He showed up to play, pitching a complete game giving up just 1 run.
Series MVP: P Darwin Dillard

World Series to come later.

[kbusch22]

1902 World Series

GAME 1: California Gold Rush 7, New York Bluebirds 5
California starting pitcher Jack Harper certainly didn’t pitch his best, surrendering 5 runs with 13 hits and 1 walk. However, that was enough for the victory as the Gold Rush pounded out 5 runs against all-time wins leader Kid Nichols and 2 against New York reliever Harry Felix. Ed Foster closed it out as California takes the early lead.

GAME 2: California Gold Rush 3, New York Bluebirds 5
Bluebirds hitters John Gochnauer, Kid Elberfeld, and John Anderson combined to drive in 4 runs in the 3rd in what would ultimately be the deciding factor in the game. There was no great start from Darwin Dillard this time around, while New York starter Eric Green pitched 8 terrific innings. John Kull closed it out to tie the series.

GAME 3: New York Bluebirds 1, California Gold Rush 15
Straight up domination is really all that can be said here. Right fielder Elmer Flick homered and drove in 6 runs on the night in the barrage of California runs. Bret Raymond went the distance for the win, allowing just an unearned run and throwing 120 pitches to save the bullpen for the next game.

GAME 4: New York Bluebirds 5, California Gold Rush 9
Elmer Flick drove in 4 more runs as the Gold Rush managed to rough up New York ace Kid Nichols. Jack Harper did just enough to get by as California moved to within one game of a World Series title.

GAME 5: New York Bluebirds 4, California Gold Rush 3
This game was very similar to Game 2 of the series with Eric Green pitching another 8 awesome innings as catcher Deacon McGuire drove in 2 runs against Darwin Dillard. Hard-throwing lefty John Kull closed out the game and sent the series back to New York.

GAME 6: California Gold Rush 3, New York Bluebirds 4
With the off day between games, New York opted to send out Kid Nichols once again, while California stuck with Bret Raymond who looked brilliant in his last start. The game was a pitching duel, both pitchers giving up just 3 runs in 8 innings. Harry Felix pitched a scoreless top of the 9th before pinch hitter Lon Ury doubled in Deacon McGuire off of California reliever Bob Ewing. Against all odds, the series was now tied.

GAME 7: California Gold Rush 3, New York Bluebirds 2
This exciting game 7 saw the recent trend of tightly pitched matchups continue. Eric Green gave it all that he had, but it just wasn’t enough as Jack Harper saved by far his best game of the postseason for this occasion. California showed faith in Harper as he clinged to a 3-2 lead in the 9th. With men on 1st and 3rd and 2 outs, Harper delivered a fastball to pinch-hitter Lon Ury, striking him out. Harper was carried off the field a hero.

1902 CHAMPIONS: CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
World Series MVP: RF Elmer Flick

[kbusch22]

Might try simming up to the beginning of 1903 (therefore doing the Awards, FAs, and 1903 draft) today...though no guarantees. But that'll be it, I won't be doing the 1903 season until next week as I'm going to Florida for the long weekend. Besides, that California/NY WS was really exciting, not sure I can top that right now. <_<....>_>

[TheNamelessPoet]

go CT!!!

[kbusch22]

Well I'm at work now...but it might still be awhile before I can post anymore results. For some reason, the modem at my house died over the weekend, completely out of the blue. So I have no Internet access.

I might try continuing the game and just post whatever I get done whenever I can get my sutpid Internet fixed. Technology sucks.

[lilbman07]

How did you do that everytime I try it my game crashes

[kbusch22]

How did you do that everytime I try it my game crashes

Do what? I just said my home internet is down so I won't be able to post results on this for awhile.

[lilbman07]

Do what? I just said my home internet is down so I won't be able to post results on this for awhile.

make the 40 teams. Everytime I try my game crashes

[RedsoxRockies]

Do you put an even number in each league?