A World Without The Yankees (1901-????)

[jcbarr]

I'm sure that most of you are familiar with the history of baseball and how the teams moved around and eventually became what they are today, but I'm also sure that some of you are not, so I'm going to give a brief background here.

We start first with the Milwaukee Brewers. You might ask yourself; what do the Brewers have to do with the Yankees, well it's slightly complicated, and they really don't have anything to do directly with the Yankees, but it is pretty interesting. The Brewers began playing baseball in 1901. This ironically is the same year that the Baltimore Orioles began playing baseball.

In 1902, Milwaukee moved to St. Louis to become the Browns and Baltimore stayed put and kept with the name of the Orioles. At this point in history there were no Yankees, and the world was good and sane.

The Orioles played out the 1902 season before they too moved. They went north to New York and became known as the Highlanders. Still there were no Yankees, and the world was still good.

Finally in 1913 the Highlanders became the Yankees and the world began to crumble. The Yankees now existed and we were lost in a world that had no Orioles

Never fear. In 1954 the Browns moved to Baltimore and took on the name of the Orioles. This once again brought the world in to balance, well as much of a balance as there could be with the Yankees around.

So with all that said it boils down to this;

Milwaukee Brewers = Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles = New York Yankees
New York Yankees = NOTHING

This dynasty will never include the Yankees as a franchise. I plan to take over the 1901 Baltimore Orioles and will block their move to New York, effectively eliminating the Yankees from baseball history.

[CDuffy26]

I like the idea, mainly because I hate the Yankees. All I have to say is...GO O's!

[PotatoOfCouch13]

You've definitely piqued my curiosity. Although, I know you're still going to build a dominant team!

Good luck!

[mbanghar]

I love the idea. I like not only th elack of the Yankees, but also seeing a dynasty actually start in 1901. Look forward to more.

[filihok]

Awesome!!! This could be the greatest dynasty of all time...besides mine...

[jcbarr]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I am going to set some ground rules now and hope to have them posted before the end of the day. I am going to try to simulate the reserver clause up to 1975 as well. Trading will become a much bigger factor and I am trying to come up with some good story lines and things that I can work in to the dynasty. I figure that I will need to do that for people to really get in to something like this. I'm even thinking of turning off peaks to make it that much more difficult on me.

[filihok]

Definately set up some ground rules for # of trades you can make, free agents, and cuff your self on drafting.

I posted this poll in the General Discussion forum regarding some ideas I had for drafting.

http://sportsmogul.com/vbulletin2/sh...d.php?t=181324

You can take a look at it and take some ideas or give some ideas.

[jcbarr]

Ground Rules

League Settings (different from default)

• Injury frequency -30%
• Injury severity -30%
• Medical staff effect -30%
• Promotion to MLB +90%
• Promotion to AAA +90%
• Promotion to AA +90%
• Promotion to A +90%
• Contract renewals +100%
• Mimic historical drafts -100%

What I am trying to do here is make everything as even and fair as I can for the first part of the dynasty. As I'm sure all of you are aware, free agency didn't pop up until 1975. The reserve clause was still in effect until then. I am going to try to emulate that as best I can. I won't be able to stop player movement all together, but it should be pretty close.

League Editor (different from default)

• Women Enter Baseball - 0 (off)
• Cash (all teams) - 9300
• Hide Peak Ratings - ON

Game Options (different from default)

• Equalize Cities - ON
• Finance and Computer GMs - COACH
• Play By Play - COACH (never used)
• Amateur Draft - HISTORICAL (only)

Special Conditions

At the beginning of the 1974 season (whenever we get there) the equalize cities option will be turned off. Contract renewals at that point will be set to +70 and will decline 10% every year after until we have reached back down to the default settings. This should help simulate the start of free agency without letting it boom right out of the gates. I realized that only two players became free agents in 1975, but that is when it officially started and I am going to give all the players that option if they so choose. I am thinking of using CatKnight's city data at that point, but I'm not sure if it will mess up historical sims or if it is solely for the use of current sims.

GM Restrictions

• Trades proposed must be through trade block
• I can accept trades proposed from other teams but may not edit them except to balance cash
• I may not trade players for only cash
• No free agents will be signed until after the 1974 season
• I will not use PBP mode at all during this dynasty
• I may not offer trades that are more than 3 players for 1
• There will be no limit to the amount of trades I can make

Hopefully this will give me the desired effect. I am hoping to have a balanced and competitive league up until 1975 and beyond. The reserver clause was still in effect and players could not move teams unless owners decided to cut them or they traded them. Trades did occur but not that often. This is one thing that will be different in this dynasty than in real life. I have not modified the trade frequency setting and I actually hope to see players moving around teams in trades rather than free agency. I have never played with these settings that I am using right now, so this should be very interesting to say the least.

[mbanghar]

Query. Do you plan on alter the simulation settings at all to mirror the deadball period? Because when I started my sim in 1919 I was on pace to shatter offensive records. The numbers were rivalling what teams do today, and I think that takes some of the fun out. Just was curious if you were going to test sim a few seasons to see what the stats wound up looking like first, or just planning on leaving everything the way it is?

[jcbarr]

I normally haven't had problems when I start in 1901. I am going to run a test or two just to see what happens. I don't want stuff to be all crazy early on.

[jcbarr]

Baltimore, MD. April 1st 1901

The year is 1901. This is the beginning of the modern era of baseball. Our professional teams are now split in to two leagues, the National League and the American League. Competition is fierce and fans are rabid. It is no longer good enough to play the game, now you must play to win.

The city of Baltimore has flourished and become a booming town of industry, art and socialization. This year they get their chance to have their own professional baseball team. The people of the city clamored and screamed to get a team in to the area, and they got their wish. They didn’t just get one however, they got two. The Washington Senators moved in just down the road into Washington DC.

Owner James Barr was well aware of the other team in Washington. He knew that he must ensure that the team was a winning team or he was likely to lose fans and loyalty to the Senators. It was vital that the team have the right manager, one that could motivate and ensure a winning season in the city of Baltimore. Third baseman John McGraw was just that man. John would lead the Orioles in to the 1901 season as a player and a manager.

The next thing that was needed was a ball park. Construction on Oriole Park had begun two years prior in 1899. The want for a team was strong even then, and they knew that if they could erect a park they would certainly have a better chance at landing the team. The park was revolutionary for its time. It featured concession stands, cushioned seats and over hangs to help keep patrons cool during the hot summer days.

The Baltimore Orioles are ready to begin their hopefully long history, starting right now.

McGraw’s Shenanigans

It didn’t take long for player/manager John McGraw to make his presence known. He was known for being an excellent ball player, but no one really knew what to make of him as a manager. Black players were not allowed to play in the “major” leagues. They had their own league to play in and most were happy with that. McGraw, although a racist in the truest sense of the word, didn’t care about that. All he cared about was winning games.

When he saw Charlie Grant pitch for the Columbia Giants, a Negro team in Chicago, he knew that he was the real deal. He also knew the rules of Major League Baseball. This presented a problem. How could he get Grant into the league and on to the Orioles’ roster? He concocted an idea, a very bad one, but an idea nonetheless. McGraw told the league that Grant was a Cherokee Indian. Chief Tokahama, as he was calling him, had been living on a reservation when McGraw discovered him. Everything looked like it was going to work, at least for a while. McGraw hadn’t thought about the fact that there were two teams based out of Chicago and surely someone from there had seen Grant play, or heard about him at the very least. White Sox owner Charles Comiskey found out that Grant played for the Negro team and quickly informed the league. While no official sanction was imposed, McGraw was red flagged by the league and told that any roster management would be closely watched from here on out.

[RedsoxRockies]

That sounds like it should be a song, McGraws shenanigans

[jcbarr]

Now that you mention it, that would make a pretty good pub song I'm sure.

[jcbarr]

Interview with John McGraw

Bob Foley (BF): First off let me start by thanking you for taking the time to speak with me prior to the first game of the 1901 baseball season. It truly is an honor.

John McGraw (JM): The pleasure is all yours I'm sure.

BF: You have caused quite a stir around Baltimore in recent days. Your attempt to bring an black man in to the game of baseball was foiled and exposed for a farce. What comments do you have about that?

JM: It would have been a **** of a thing if it had worked. I do know that. Anything to get the advantage. It's all about winning games, not how you play the game. I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for that **** Charles Comiskey.

BF: So are you saying that you don't care about sportsmanship?

JM: I care about winning games. If you can do that and be nice and friendly with everyone then so be it. If you can't then I'm not going to lose any sleep at night about it.

BF: Are you at all concerned about the pressure of being both the starting third baseman and the coach?

JM: Coaching a ball club isn't all that hard. I mean you don't have to be a genius to do this stuff. You put the best players that you got on the field and if they play like dung then you pull 'em and put someone else in there that wants to give it a go.

BF: I think that there is much more to this game than simply that.

JM: You ever played pro ball?

BF: Well no I have not.

JM: Then you don't know what there is to this game at all then. When you have played 10 years of pro ball then you come back and tell me how to run my team, until then I'm god when it comes to making baseball decisions, you got that?

BF: Yes, sir.

JM: You got any more questions?

BF: What are the expectations for this team this year?

JM: To win the league. Isn't that what everyone's expectations are?

BF: Well I'm sure that not every team thinks that they can honestly win the league every year.

JM: Well what's the point of playing if you don't think that?

BF: Point taken.

JM: We take the field to win every game. We won't be happy with any loss. We know that it is going to happen but that doesn't mean that we have to like it. We aren't going to get used to losing. We are going to hate it and we are going to do everything in our power not to let it happen. When it does we will figure out why and fix it. It's that simple. We plan to win every game.

BF: I can't wait to see how that turns out.

JM: I'm sure you can't. I got a game to go to, so if you don't mind I'll be seeing you later.

BF: Absolutely.

[jcbarr]

McGraw Squashes Early Trade

Before the Orioles had even played their first game of the 1901 season McGraw was already turning down trade offers.

The Superbas were eager to get their hands on IF Jimmy Williams and who wouldn't be. They offered two decent players in return but McGraw was having none of this deal. He had the following to say;

"Did they check out our roster at all? The last thing that we need is a first baseman. We got so many now that we don't know what to do with them. Most of them can't even get time during the season. Some times I think that I might be the only one that pays attention to anything that is going on."

The wily veteran never ceases to entertain with his choice of words.





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