Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Prequel--An OOTP History

SelzShoes · 05-10-2005, 03:18 PM

The National cycle of recession/depression that culminated with the Panic of 1877, further strained the Empire. Prepared to enter the season with eight clubs, only six would start the season: Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati and the relocated Cleveland franchise in Buffalo. Pittsburgh and Saint Louis failed to meet their annual obligation to the league just weeks before the start of the season. Cleveland, unable to purchase adequate grounds for a park “sufficient to maintain profit” was sold to investors in Buffalo who had been shut out of the Ontario-New York League formed some two seasons before. While the other owners, notably Franklin of Philadelphia and Hartpence of Boston (who had purchased the club from Avery in the off season), urged readmitting Temple’s New Yorkers and adding another club from “the stronger teams in the lesser league in abundance these days.” McCormick held firm:

“Why should we rush headlong and add two clubs, when we will need to find two clubs to replace them next season, and two more the season next. I am committed to fielding the strongest league possible, not the largest.”

The hastily redrawn schedule called for each club to face each other 18 times, and the personal battles between players began to grow. “Before then you’d see a fellow twice, and if he did something to bug you, well, you had time to cool down—a couple weeks or a whole winter,” Rodney Stollings recalled. “Now, if someone was busting you, a week later, there he was again, doing the same thing—you started to hate the other fellow.”

Team payrolls began to skyrocket as the best players won roster slots over the cheaper ‘muffins’ that usually rounded out a bench. Quality players, stars in their own right, found themselves relegated to junior squad status. Sport writers early on called it “That amazing season.”

“Never has the top talent of the game been so concentrated, never has the game been so blessed,” wrote the Boston Post. “If there was any question of the status of the game in the hearts of Americans, this championship battle leaves no doubt. Memories of East/West conflict are gone; the game has risen above such petty battles.”

But the cheering of the press and crowds only hid battles yet to be fought. Battles that would test the strength of the Empire.

05-10-2005, 03:18 PM	#48
SelzShoes High School Varsity Join Date: Apr 2005	1877-That Amazing, Shameful Season The National cycle of recession/depression that culminated with the Panic of 1877, further strained the Empire. Prepared to enter the season with eight clubs, only six would start the season: Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati and the relocated Cleveland franchise in Buffalo. Pittsburgh and Saint Louis failed to meet their annual obligation to the league just weeks before the start of the season. Cleveland, unable to purchase adequate grounds for a park “sufficient to maintain profit” was sold to investors in Buffalo who had been shut out of the Ontario-New York League formed some two seasons before. While the other owners, notably Franklin of Philadelphia and Hartpence of Boston (who had purchased the club from Avery in the off season), urged readmitting Temple’s New Yorkers and adding another club from “the stronger teams in the lesser league in abundance these days.” McCormick held firm: “Why should we rush headlong and add two clubs, when we will need to find two clubs to replace them next season, and two more the season next. I am committed to fielding the strongest league possible, not the largest.” The hastily redrawn schedule called for each club to face each other 18 times, and the personal battles between players began to grow. “Before then you’d see a fellow twice, and if he did something to bug you, well, you had time to cool down—a couple weeks or a whole winter,” Rodney Stollings recalled. “Now, if someone was busting you, a week later, there he was again, doing the same thing—you started to hate the other fellow.” Team payrolls began to skyrocket as the best players won roster slots over the cheaper ‘muffins’ that usually rounded out a bench. Quality players, stars in their own right, found themselves relegated to junior squad status. Sport writers early on called it “That amazing season.” “Never has the top talent of the game been so concentrated, never has the game been so blessed,” wrote the Boston Post. “If there was any question of the status of the game in the hearts of Americans, this championship battle leaves no doubt. Memories of East/West conflict are gone; the game has risen above such petty battles.” But the cheering of the press and crowds only hid battles yet to be fought. Battles that would test the strength of the Empire.