The MLB incorporates the Pacific Coast League into the Majors in 1954

NHBChamp

Before the Dodgers and Giants moved west, the highest-level baseball in the West was the Pacific Coast League, which was classified as slightly above AAA. Because of its high status, it seemed to be on its way to becoming a major league. With this competition, what if the MLB decides to incorporate it into their roster? This would mean that the Giants and Dodgers might not move west. I created a partial timeline, but I though it might be more fun to see what you come up with.
 
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Expat

I feel like there was still some pressure to migrate. Today the Pacific Coast League is fairly spread out, but in 1954 it was all (or maybe mostly all) actually in Pacific states/territories.

That migration to the middle of the country is still needed. Perhaps we'll see Florida and Denver baseball earlier as teams move out of the east. But some franchises will likely stay put. I would think New York would still lose at least one team.
 

Caspian

Banned
That would represent a dramatic expansion of the league, and I don't see any financial benefit to the AL and NL to do that (both leagues were largely independent at the time), because now they can't use the PCL as an open "farm" system.

The PCL will also have to establish its own farm system, right at the time when minor league baseball was collapsing across the country - someone is going to have to subsidize this new minor league requirement. The PCL has access to money, but still substantially less than the AL and NL - teams in the early 1950's were in San Francisco, Los Angeles (2), Oakland, Sacramento, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle, and while these were generally fairly major cities at the time, I'm not sure they'd have the money necessary and they might find themselves financially drained.
 

NHBChamp

Only one team in the PCL was affiliated with a Major League team. It would not become an independent league, it would be split between the AL and NL.
 

Caspian

Banned
NHBChamp said:
Only one team in the PCL was affiliated with a Major League team. It would not become an independent league, it would be split between the AL and NL.
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I see, I thought you meant turning the PCL into a third major league.

Would the PCL leadership go for that?
 

NHBChamp

caspian88 said:
I see, I thought you meant turning the PCL into a third major league.

Would the PCL leadership go for that?
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PCL could've been turned into a third major league, but I didn't think that was plausible in my timeline. In my timeline, the MLB adopts a 162-day schedule. The pre existing teams play 126 games between themselves and 36 games with the PCL, and the PCL teams play 90 games between themselves and 72 games with the other teams. (I came up with the number 162 not because it matches the current schedule, but because of comvenience.) It would be somewhat like the way divisions work today. I have no idea if the PCL would agree.
 

NHBChamp

CthulhuFhtagn said:
How would that work in the 50s? Imagine the jet lag, travel times, and tv schedules in a Tokyo-New York World Series.
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Where'd you get the idea that Tokyo was in this? :confused: All the teams are in the USA. IOTL, the Giants and Dodgers move west a few years later, so it wouldn't be that weird.
 

DTF955Baseballfan

In "If baseball Integrated early," with teams going from 2 blacks per team to being allowed to have as many as they wanted in the 1910s, there was expansion int he wake of the Federal League (Buffalo and a ew others) but then after the Roaring Twenties the leagues go from 10 back to 8 teams per league, and back to 154 games, only to expand West in 1947 and 1949, with the Braves also moving West and 4 of the PCL teams entering the majors. There would be difficutlies, but I have baseball buying a fleet of planes (Air Force run:)) that are used to ferry teams tot he West Coast and back. it's easier than the poorer teams having to have their own plane or than using trains all the time, though the train schedule is still used to a fair extent as it was OTL for the Dodgers' and Giants' move.

Having the whole PCL seems like it'd be easier in the late '40s before TV started hurting the minors so much - and baseball in general - but 1954 does seem possible, and it sounds like you have a good schedule idea. i just wonder what the dodgers and giants do - the Giants might still move anyway to Minnesota, and since this is OTL up till 1954, you're going to see some interesting things. For instance, has Don Drysdale signed yet? he's one of a few big names from California to possibly stay out there? Also, are they agreeing to honor the contracts of big league teams? If not, you could see players jumping right before and maybe a limited form of free agency.

it's also possible that the leagues by necessity split into divisions if they're incorporated into the 2 existing leagues - who wants to finish in 12th? And, offense will go up like crazy with all those new teams; could be have Mays in 55 or Mantle in '56 breaking Ruth's record?
 
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