The Gatsby: Expanded Hall of Fame Universe

[Honus1908]

62709.1 

The Gatsby (Greatest All-Time Stars of Baseball) is my catchall for BATS/OFAS-style projects. I’ve been doing variations on it for years, annually updating franchise rosters. This is a long-term 96-team tournament. The novel thing for me is that it is based on the most recent Hall of Fame set release.

The Players: The 300+ card Hall of Fame set, and an additional 2000+ players created by averaging their best five consecutive seasons (as APBA did for the HoF set) and then selecting the year that most closely resembles those numbers. It’s inexact, but works pretty well! With APBA GO I have access to virtually every card.

Players were initially assigned to the franchise/era where they created the most value (measured by WAR) and then some swapping ensued to get more good players onto the rosters. Negro League Hall of Famers were assigned to a team from the city in which they played the most (or a nearby city).

The Teams: Current franchises are split into roughly 30-year increments (Pioneer: 19th century-1930; Classic: 1931-1960; Modern: 1961-1990; Contemporary: 1991-2020). An additional eight teams were created: The Pioneer/Classic-era Giants were split into three teams (Mutuals, Gothams, Knights); the Classic/Modern Yankees were split into three teams (Pinstripes, Bombers, Empires); NL Milwaukee Bees (1953-65) separated from Braves; AL Kansas City Monarchs (1955-67) separated from Athletics; AL Washington Senators (1961-71) separated from Rangers; NL Washington Nationals separated from Expos; plus NL Louisville Colonels (1883 stars and Hall of Famers); NL Baltimore Oracles (1890s and 1901-02 NL Orioles). Each team is given a unique nickname drawn from history, including the Negro Leagues and the minor leagues, fiction and my imagination.

Format: 96 teams seeded into 16 six-team regionals. Double-round play in each regional with top four teams advancing to seven-game semifinal playoffs. Winners meet in a seven-game regional championship. The regional champions advance to a Round of 16, followed by Division Championship Series, League Championship Series and a World Series, all best-of-seven.

I’ll play each regional straight through to get some occasional closure. Posting results on APBA BTL unless there turns out to be more interest here.

AL Regionals (top seed)

New York (New York Yankees, 1991-2020)

Boston (Boston Red Sox, 1991-2020)

Cleveland (New York Empires, 1971-1990)

Oakland (New York Pinstripes, 1931-1950)

Chicago South (Cleveland Forest Citys, 1931-1960)

Minneapolis (New York Highlanders, 1901-1930)

Baltimore (New York Bombers, 1951-1970)

Detroit (Baltimore Blackbirds, 1961-1990)

NL Regionals (top seed)

Atlanta (Atlanta Braves, 1991-2020)

Los Angeles (Chicago Orphans, 19th c.-1930)

St. Louis (St. Louis Cardinals, 1991-2020)

San Francisco (Brooklyn Superbas, 1931-1960)

Philadelphia (St. Louis Redbirds, 1931-1960)

Chicago North (Pittsburgh Alleghenies, 19th c.-1930)

Cincinnati (New York Gothams, 1921-1940)

Pittsburgh (Cincinnati Big Red Machine, 1961-1990)

[jsbennett]

This looks very interesting. I’ll definitely be following along.

[Honus1908]

AL New York Regional

Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the 10-game double-round-robin format. First time I’ve used it but the concentrated use of six teams really gave me a feel for all the lineups and pitching staffs. Will likely deploy something similar for the first round of any tournament where I don’t have a multiple-of-four number of teams.

The results were surprising as well. I expected the Yankees with their power and the Keystones and their pitching to run away with it while the other four teams fought for the remaining two advancement spots. The Royals and Maroons, however, had other plans. K.C., after a first game loss to New York, reeled off six straight wins to seal up a spot in the next round. St. Louis, mostly a motley amalgam of the World War II Browns, the late 50s Orioles and a pair of Hall of Famers from the St. Louis Stars, won their last six to vault the Royals and nail down the top seed.

Meanwhile, New York and Philadelphia went down to their final games to punch their tickets – with the Keystones needing an eleventh game to dispatch the pesky Halos.

The next round will pit St. Louis against Philadelphia and New York against Kansas City in best-of-7 series with the winners meeting for the regional championship.

We bid farewell to Cleveland and California but their franchises have other entries. And, for players like Joe Carter, Rocky Colavito, Bobby Grich and Nolan Ryan, they have an opportunity to get picked up if another team for which they are eligible reaches the Sweet 16.

[Honus1908]

AL NEW YORK REGIONAL SEMIFINAL

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (1991-2020)
C- Salvador Perez, Mike Macfarlane
IF- Mike Sweeney, Eric Hosmer, Whit Merrifield, Jose Offerman, Joe Randa, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, Rey Sanchez
OF-Alex Gordon, David DeJesus, Lorenzo Cain, Johnny Damon, Jermaine Dye, Jarrod Dyson
SP-Kevin Appier, Zack Greinke, Tom Gordon, Danny Duffy, Jeff Suppan
RP-Greg Holland, Jeff Montgomery, Joakim Soria, Kelvin Herrera

NEW YORK YANKEES (1991-2020)
C-Jorge Posada, Mike Stanley, Gary Sanchez
IF-Tino Martinez, Robinson Cano, Gleyber Torres, Alex Rodriguez, Scott Brosius, Derek Jeter, Didi Gregorius
OF-Hideki Mastsui, Brett Gardner, Bernie Williams, Aaron Judge, Paul O’Neill, Nick Swisher
SP-Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, David Cone, Orlando Hernandez, Matsuhiro Tanaka, Chien Ming-Wang
RP-Mariano Rivera, Dellin Betances, David Robertson

From 1991 to 2020, the New York Yankees had the best record in baseball and the Kansas City Royals had the worst. But that didn’t matter at all on the tabletop desktop this week.

The Royals, led by Mike Moustakas and Tom Gordon, eliminated the Yankees in six games to advance to the regional final to face the winner of the St. Louis Maroons and Philadelphia Keystones.

Kansas City easily took the first three games before New York battled back to make it 3-2. But Moustakas went for 3-3 with two doubles and a home run, knocking in three and Gordon shut the Yankees down with a complete game victory to wrap up the series in six. Gordon bounced back from a disastrous start in the round-robin, in which he walked 11 batters, to hurl 17 innings, yielding only six hits and striking out 22, for two wins in this series.

Royals 3, Yankees 2
W-Appier (2-2) L-Pettitte (2-1) HR-Judge (1) Martinez (2)

Royals 2, Yankees 1
W-Greinke (1-0, 14 ks) L-Sabathia (2-1) HR-Moustakas (3)

Royals 8, Yankees 2
W-Gordon (2-0, 13 ks) L-Cone (0-2) HR-Dye (3), Perez (2)

Yankees 6, Royals 1
W-Pettitte (3-0) L-Appier (2-3) HR-Williams (3), G. Sanchez (3), Torres (2)

Yankees 7, Royals 3
W-Sabathia (3-1) L-Greinke (1-1) HR-Brosius (1), G. Sanchez (4), Jeter (1), Matsui (1)

Royals 4, Yankees 1
W-Gordon (3-0) L-Tanaka (1-1) HR-Moustakas (4), Jeter (2)

Kansas City wins series 4-2. MVP: Mike Moustakas (.429, 2 HR, 7 RBI)

New York went 8-8 in tournament, hitting a meager .190, made respectable by their 26 home runs and 2.73 ERA. Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia and David Cone are the mostly likely Yankees to get picked up for the Sweet 16 should their other eligible teams advance.

[Honus1908]

AL New York Regional Semifinal

St. Louis Maroons (1931-60) vs. Philadelphia Keystones (1901-1930)

St. Louis
C-Gus Triandos, Rollie Hemsley
IF-George McQuinn, Bob Boyd, Jerry Priddy, Ski Merillo, Harlond Clift, Bob Dillinger, Willie wells, Vern Stephens
OF-Cool Papa Bell, Bob Niemann, Wally Judnich, Chet Laabs, Sam West, Fred Schulte
P-Milt Pappas, Ned Garver, Jack Kramer, Bob Muncrief, Billy O’Dell, Nels Potter, George Blaeholder, Hal Brown, George Zuverink

Philadelphia
C-Mickey Cochrane, Ossee Shrecencgost
IF-Stuffy McInnis, Harry Davis, Danny Murphy, Jimmy Dykes, Frank Baker, Lave Cross, Chick Galloway, Jack Barry
OF-Al Simmons, Bing Miller, Socks Seybold, Otis Strunk, Topsy Hartsel, Tillie Walker
P-Eddie Plank, Rube Waddell, Chief Bender, Eddie Rommel, Jack Coombs, Jack Quinn, Rube Walberg, Slim Harriss, Scott Perry

The Philadelphia Keystones finally asserted their privileged position of having four A starters, eliminating the St. Louis Maroons four games to one in a semifinal series. Eddie Plank and Rube Waddell both won their two starts demonstrating just how easily a dynamic duo can dominate a best-of-seven series. The Keystones struggled to escape the double round-robin entry but benefited here from timely hitting by Frank Baker, Mickey Cochrane and Socks Seybold. They will next meet the Kansas City Royals in the regional final.

St. Louis exits with a 9-6 record, hitting .212 and posting a 3.23 ERA.

Keystones 2, Maroons 1
W-Plank (2-0) L-Pappas (2-1)
HR-Priddy (1)

Keystones 6, Maroons 4
W-Waddell (2-1, 13 Ks) L-Garver (0-2) Sv-Coombs (1)

Maroons 4, Keystones 1
W-Kramer (3-9) L-Bender (0-2)
HR-Clift (2), Kramer (1)

Keystones 5, Maroons 0
W-Plank (3-0, CG 2-hitter) L-Pappas (2-2)

Keystones 4, Maroons 3
W-Waddell (3-1, CG 11 ks) L-Garver (0-3)
Baker walk-off RBI triple in 9th

Philadelphia wins series 4-1. MVP: Eddie Plank (2 W, 1 R in 18 IP, 15 Ks)

[Honus1908]

AL New York Regional Final

Kansas City Royals (1991-2020) vs. Philadelphia Keystones (1901-1930)

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Game 1
Al Simmons goes 4-5 with a HR, Eddie Plank hurls one-hit shutout.

Keystones 10, Royals 0
W-Plank (4-0) L-Appier (2-4)
HR-Simmons (3)

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Game 2
Eric Hosmer’s 2-run eighth-inning HR ties the series.

Royals 2, Keystones 1
W-Greinke (2-1) L-Waddell (3-2) Sv-Holland (2)
HR-Hosmer (1), Dykes (1)

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Game 3
Stuffy McInnis 3-4, R, 2 RBI, Chief Bender CG

Keystones 4, Royals 2
W-Bender (1-2) L-Gordon (3-1)
HR-Damon (1)

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Game 4
Eddie Plank strikes again with CG 2-hitter

Keystones 2, Royals 1
W-Plank (5-0) LP-Duffy (1-2)

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Game 5
Salvador Perez goes 3-4 with a 2-run homer, Zack Greinke posts second victory

Royals 5, Keystones 3
W-Greinke (3-1) L-Waddell (3-3) Sv-Holland (3)
HR-Perez (3)

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Game 6
Alex Gordon’s walk-off HR in ninth ties series 3-3

Royals 8, Keystones 7
W-Holland (3-0) L-Coombs (1-2)
HR-Gordon (1)

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Game 7
Plank hurls third CG to close out series

Keystones 9, Royals 3
W-Plank (6-0) L-Appier (2-5)
HR-Seybold (1)

Philadelphia wins series 4-3 to advance to AL Regional Championship Series (ALRCS) in 2022. MVP: Eddie Plank (3 W, 4 R in 27 IP, 19 Ks)

Plank was 6-0, 1.11 ERA overall; Al Simmons led the Keystones in hitting (.386) and HR (3) for the tournament, tied with Mickey Cochrane and Socks Seybold with 12 RBI; Amos Strunk and Stuffy McInnis each stole three bases.

Greg Holland of Kansas City, 3-0, 3 saves, 2.31 was regional’s top reliever; Zack Greinke (3-1, 3.49) was K.C.'s top starter; Mike Moustakas (.412-4-14) led Royals in triple crown categories; Lorenzo Cain stole seven bases.

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Regional totals
98 games
7.94 runs per game
3740 plate appearances
723 hits (40% EBH)
89 HR
45 SB
2.11 batting average
3.50 earned run average

Going to recalibrate pitching for next regional:

NL Atlanta Regional

• Atlanta Braves (1991-2020) Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones
• Chicago Lincolns (1961-90) Fergie Jenkins, Bruce Sutter, Lee Smith, Ryne Sandberg, Ron Santo, Billy Williams
• Cincinnati Outlaws (19th c.-1930) Eppa Rixey, Ben Taylor, Bid McPhee, Miller Huggins
• New York Mutuals (19th c.-1930) Christy Mathewson, Amos Rusie, Mickey Welch, Tim Keefe, Rube Marqurd, Buck Ewing, Roger Connor, Monte Ward, Jim O’Rourke
• Miami Marlins (1993-2020) Gary Sheffield, Giancarlo Stanton
• Philadelphia Whizzes (1931-1960) Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, Chuck Klein

[Honus1908]

NL Atlanta Regional Preview

With the second regional, I made some changes to the way I build the teams.

For hitters, I still determine their best five consecutive seasons using WAR. But now I average their neutralized stats and choose the closest season based on OPS (while also accounting for speed and defense). Many players’ numbers don’t change much, it might result in using their fourth best season or their second best rather than the third best. It most affects deadball hitters and players from the 1960s who get bumps; it penalizes players from high-scoring environments such as c. 1930 or 2000. (Can’t do much with nineteenth-century Hall of Famers or players from 1883 since I don’t have other cards for most.) I know normalizing (or neutralizing) is controversial in these parts, but I prefer the latter since it doesn’t change the basic characteristics of a player.

I made a more drastic change with how I chose pitchers’ cards. The first regional was very competitive and the games were thrilling, but the .211 batting average and 40% EBH disappointed me. I had hoped to get out of the BATS zone a little better so I needed more C and D pitchers. As with hitters, I choose the five best consecutive seasons using WAR. In the first regional, I simply averaged the five grades they received from APBA, like you would a report card. This time, I calculated their average ERA+ for the five years and used the following scale – it’s a tough, but fair:

 A&C = 163 and up
     A = 145-162
     B = 129-144
     C = 110-128
     D = 109 and below

I made allowances for whether the pitcher is a Z or W based on his profile for the five seasons and took into account how close they were to the next grade if they were borderline. Some Hall of Famers were downgraded (Marquard from A to C, for one) and others upgraded (Maddux and Sutter from A to A&C). We’ll see how it goes. I’m not attempting to recreate a particular season, just making a fantasy project a little more realistic.

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Number following player’s name denotes the year of his card; parenthetical number following pitcher’s grade is a fatigue rating (IP per 162 g/9) that I use in APBA GO. Pitchers are lifted automatically after yielding five runs (earned or not); once they hit their fatigue rating, they are lifted when the potential fifth run reaches base.

Atlanta Braves (1991-2020)
One World Series championship; five NL pennants; three NL West titles, 15 NL East titles; 20 playoff appearances
C-Javy Lopez 95, Brian McCann 09
IF-Freddie Freeman 19, Kelly Johnson 16, Marcus Giles 01, Ozzie Albies 20, Chipper Jones HoF, Martin Prado 16, Rafael Furcal 04, Jeff Blauser 90
OF-Andruw Jones 04, David Justice 93, Jason Heyward 15, Ron Gant 93, Ender Inciarte 16, Ronald Acuna Jr 18
SP-John Smoltz HoF Bxz (26), Greg Maddux 94 A&Cxz (28), Tom Glavine H By (25), Julio Teheran 15 Cy (24), Steve Avery 94 Cy (24), Kevin Millwood 03 Cy (24)
RP-Craig Kimbrel 13 A&Ckx (7), Mark Wohlers 94 Cxyw (8), Greg McMichael 97 Bxz (9)

Chicago Lincolns (1961-90)
One NL East title; one playoff appearance
C-Jody Davis 86, Randy Hundley 66
IF-Leon Durham 83, Bill Buckner 82, Ryne Sandberg HoF, Glenn Beckert 68, Ron Santo HoF, Keith Moreland 87, Don Kessinger 74, Shawon Dunston 86
OF-Billy Williams HoF, Jose Cardenal 70, Rick Monday 73, Dave Kingman 80, Jim Hickman 72, Adolfo Phillips 66
SP-Fergie Jenkins H Bxz (34), Rick Reuschel 75 Cyz (26), Bill Hands 73 Cyz (26), Rick Sutcliffe 88 Cy (26), Dick Ellsworth 66 Dz (25), Bill Bonham 80 Dyz (21), Scott Sanderson 78 Cx (24)
RP-Bruce Sutter 77 A&Ckyz (12), Lee Smith 84 Bxz (11)

Cincinnati Outlaws (19th c.-1930)
One World Series championship (1919!); one AA championship (1882)
C-Heinie Peitz 01, Bubbles Hargrave 22, Ivey Wingo 22
IF-Ben Taylor HoF B(A*) (26), Long John Reilly 83, Bid McPhee HoF, Miller Huggins HoF, Heinie Groh 19, Harry Steinfeldt 06, Buck Herzog 14, Tommy Corcoran 03
OF-Edd Roush 25, Cy Seymour 03, Curt Walker 21, Mike Mitchell 11, Bob Bescher 11
SP Noodles Hahn 03 Byz (33), Eppa Rixey H Byz (33), Dolph Luque 20 Byz (30), Tony Mullane 83 A (50), Wil White 83 A (50), Bob Ewing 04 By (32), Red Lucas 30 Cz (30), Pete Donohue 21 Cyz (27), Fred Toney 21 B (29)

Miami Marlins (1993-2020)
Two World Series Championships; two NL pennants; three playoff appearances
C-JT Realmuto 17, Charles Johnson 99
IF-Derrek Lee 03, Jeff Conine 01, Luis Castillo 06, Dan Uggla 09, Mike Lowell 06, Brian Anderson 18, Hanley Ramirez 10, Miguel Rojas 17
OF-Giancarlo Stanton 14, Cliff Floyd 03, Marcel Ozuna 19, Gary Sheffield 94, Cody Ross 09, Juan Pierre 06
SP-Josh Johnson 08 Bx (24). Dontrelle Willis 06 Cy (24), Jose Fernandez 16 Bk (23), AJ Burnett 06 Cx (24), Ricky Nolasco 11 Dx (23), Brad Penny 06 Cyz (23)
RP-AJ Ramos 13 Bx (8), Steve Cishek 18 Ax 8, Antonio Alfonseca 02 Cy (8)

New York Mutuals (19th c.-1930)
Five World Series Championships (two in the 19th century); 12 NL pennants (two 19th century)
C-Buck Ewing HoF, Jack Meyers 13
IF-Roger Connor HoF, Fred Merkle 11, Larry Doyle 12, John Montgomery Ward HoF A (33), Art Devlin 11, Sammy Strang 05, Art Fletcher 20, Al Bridwell 10
OF-George Burns 14, Benny Kauff 20, Jim O’Rourke HoF, Fred Snodgrass 13, Sam Mertes 04, Red Murray 11
P-Christy Mathewson 12 A&Cyz (33), Amos Rusie H Ak (40), Mickey Welch H Ay (40), Tim Keefe H Axz (40), Hooks Wiltse 04 Bx (29), Jeff Tesreau 18 Bx (28), Red Ames 06 Bxyw (26), Rube Marquard 15 Cyz (28), Luther Taylor 03 Dy (30)

Philadelphia Whizzes (1931-1960)
One NL pennant
C-Spud Davis 31, Andy Seminick 47, Stan Lopata 56
IF-Don Hurst 31, Ed Bouchee 61, Pinky Whitney 36, Danny Murtaugh 43, Willie Jones 49, Pinky May 43, Granny Hamner 52, Bobby Morgan 50
OF-Richie Ashburn 54, Del Ennis 55, Chuck Klein 31, Lefty O’Doul 32, Ron Northey 50
P-Robin Roberts H Byz (38), Curt Simmons 62 Cz (27), Curt Davis 40 Cz (24), Syl Johnson 33 Dyz (22), Ken Heintzelman 47 D (24), Ray Benge 28 Dy 25, Bob Miller 50 Cz (19), Phil Collins 34 D (24), Jim Konstanty 51 D(C*)z (16)

My predictions:

1. Mutuals Nine Hall of Famers, including four A starters (not to mention Monte Ward) will be tough to beat; no crushers but they’ll manufacture enough runs to keep Matty & Co. in the W column
2. Braves A Hall of Fame starting trio with lights-out Kimbrel in the pen, plus a solid lineup top-to-bottom should give N.Y. a challenge
3. Marlins Miami is similar to the K.C. Royals (who I underestimated in the first regional) in that they don’t have an imposing winning percentage but did put together two championship seasons and should escape the round-robin
4. Lincolns A strong Hall of Fame nucleus though not much depth, Chicago should have enough to outflank Cincy and Philly and advance
5. Outlaws The 19th century wasn’t quite as generous as it was for N.Y. but did yield two A pitchers in White and the ambidextrous Mullane; Hall of Fame Negro Leaguer Ben Taylor, a slick-fielding, high-average 1B acquired from Indianapolis, provides another strong arm as a B(A*) pitcher. Could be the Cin(cy)derella team …
6. Whizzes Three Hall of Famers and catching depth but little else will likely result in an early exit.

[Honus1908]

NL Atlanta Regional - Round Robin #1

Chipper Jones and Freddie Freeman homered for the Braves as Greg Maddux tossed a one-hitter.

W-Maddux (1-0) L-Fergie Jenkins (0-1)
HR-C. Jones (1), Freeman (1)

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Derrek Lee goes 3-4 with 4 RBI to lead the Marlins.

W-Josh Johnson (0-1) L-Noodles Hahn (0-1)
HR-Lee (1), Marcel Ozuna (1)

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Chuck Klein’s two-run HR tied it in the 9th, but Buck Ewing singled home George Burns to win it in extras.

W-John Montgomery Ward (1-0) L-Phil Collins (0-1)
HR-Klein (1)

[Honus1908]

NL Atlanta Regional - Round Robin #2

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Braves 6, Outlaws 4

A two-run pinch-hit HR by Ronald Acuna Jr. and a three-run blast by Dave Justice, gave Atlanta (2-0) a dramatic ninth-inning comeback against Cincinnati.

W-Greg McMichael (1-0) L-Will White (0-1)
HR-Acuna Jr. (1), Justice (1)
Javy Lopez 3-4

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Mutuals 4, Lincolns 0

Amos Rusie of New York (0-2) struck out 11 while blanking Chicago (0-2) on three hits.

W-Rusie (1-0) L-Rick Reuschel (01-1)
Larry Doyle 4-5, 2 SB; Buck Ewing 3-5, 3 SB

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Whizzes 8, Marlins 6

A five-run seventh inning brought Philadelphia (1-1) back from a 5-1 deficit; Lou Chiozza’s two-run double in the eighth provided a much needed cushion against Miami (1-1).

W-Curt Simmons (1-0) L-AJ Ramos (0-1) Sv-Ken Heintzelman (1)
HR-Derrek Lee (2), Marcel Ozuna (2), Hanley Ramirez (1)
Cliff Floyd 3-4