Ring the Bell: An Alternate MLB History

[Colonel Zoidberg]

That’s a hell of an NL East, but I guess we would expect nothing else from a TL where the Expos and Phillies are both good.

 

[WB18]

That’s a hell of an NL East, but I guess we would expect nothing else from a TL where the Expos and Phillies are both good.

Not to mention the Marlins may come around next year like in IRL. Now that would be a stacked division.

 

[WB18]

1996 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS CINCINNATI REDS

The Phillies had the best record in baseball, they had the most exciting rookie in baseball in Ichrio and they were the defending champions. This series wasn't even supposed to be close.

Game 1, as expected would be a Phillies romp, with Curt Schilling pitching a complete game shutout with only 2 hits while Ichiro hit 2 home runs to give the Phils a 4-0 game 1 victory. Game 2 would be more of the same for the Phillies, as Reggie Sanders came a triple away from a cycle, David Cone threw 7 innings of 2 hit ball and Philly won easily 7-1.

The Series then shifted to Cincinnati where the Reds would respond, winning game 3 4-3 thanks to a Andre Dawson walk off double. Game 4 would see the Phillies go up 9-3 in the seventh, but just when you thought the series was over, the Reds rallied for 8 runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead. In the ninth, Kevin Stocker hit a home run to tie the game, only for Andre Dawson to strike again by hitting another walk-off double to win it for Cincy 12-11 to even the series. At the Vet for game 5, the Phillies ran into trouble early, as the Reds scored 4 in the first. Mo Vaughn would hit a 3 run shot in the bottom of the first to pull within one, but that was as close the Phillies would come as the Reds pulled of the upset with a 6-3 victory.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS VS ATLANTA BRAVES

Unlike the last series, this NLDS matchup of LA and Atlanta was supposed to be close, with the Braves being slight favorites to take the series and head to the NLCS.

Game 1 at Dodger Stadium would see Mike Piazza have a legendary performance, hitting 3 home runs in a 10-7 Dodger win to start the series. The Braves would bounce back however with a 3-1 win in game 3. In Atlanta, game 3 would be back and forth all game long. Then, in the 16th inning, DeLino Deshields would hit a double that scored two runs to give Los Angeles a 7-5 lead that they would never relinquish. Game 4 was the Hideo Nomo show, coming one out away from a perfect game before allowing 2 runs to score. But Atlanta could not bring home the tying run and the Dodgers advanced, winning the game 3-2 and the series 3-1 to close out Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

 

[WB18]

1996 AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
CLEVELAND INDIANS VS TEXAS RANGERS

Here they were, the Texas Rangers. After years of fustration, they finally had a winning team and were in the playoffs for the first time. Now they had to face the powerful Cleveland Indians, who were the favorites to take home their first World Title in 48 years.

Game 1 at Jacobs Field was a laugher. Cleveland jumped on Texas early and never looked back, winning 11-2. The Indians would dominate once again in game 2, with Jim Thome and Albert Belle hitting a home run each in a 16-6 Indian victory. Back in Arlington, the Rangers won game 3 out of sheer desperation 4-2, but the powerful Cleveland machine could not be stopped, taking game 4 9-4 to win the series.

NEW YORK YANKEES VS SEATTLE MARINERS

The past 2 teams who had won the AL Pennant, the Yankees (1994) and the Mariners (1995) were facing each other to see who would play for the chance to meet the Indians in the ALCS.

Game one pitted Dwight Gooden against Randy Johnson. Gooden had a field day, throwing a complete game and striking out 13, backed by an amazing performance by the Yankees offense, and game 1 was a 7-0 victory for the Yanks. Game 2 had Andy Pettitte on the mound, and he added another amazing performance by the Yankees rotation, throwing another complete game, walking no batters, and allowing just 4 hits in a 4-0 game 2 victory for New York.

Game 3 showed why the Bronx Bombers were back and ready, with Bob Wickman striking out 14 and Derek Jeter blasting 2 homers en route to a series sweep and a 9-2 victory for the Yankees.

 

[Colonel Zoidberg]

This is looking interesting. So many possibilities for the Series - you can’t go wrong with Yankees-Dodgers, and since I’m from Ohio, I find Indians-Reds intriguing both from a “battle of Ohio” standpoint and a sort of David vs Goliath standpoint.

 

[WB18]

1996 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
LOS ANGELES DODGERS VS CINCINNNATI REDS

The feel good story of the playoffs, the Cincinnati Reds who had surprised everyone by beating the defending champion Phillies vs the young, up-and-coming Dodgers with Mike Piazza leading the charge in a series that was supposed to be mildly close with Los Angeles being slim favorites

Game 1 at Chavez Ravine would show how tough the Dodgers could be, as Mike Piazza had 6 RBI's and Hideo Nomo threw a complete game shutout to open the series with a 9-1 victory for the boys in blue. Game 2 would see the Reds respond with a 3-2 10 inning win with Andres Galarraga hitting a go-ahead triple to win it. As the series shifted to Cincinnati, the Dodgers had a 4-0 lead but could not hold it as the Reds erupted for 8 runs in the seventh en route an 8-5 victory to go up 2 games to 1. Game 4 would see Hideo Nomo back on the mound to throw 7 innings of one hit ball for LA. Greg Gagne hit a home run in the second which was enough for the Dodgers in a 1-0 win to tie the series. Game 5 would be another Dodgers win by the score of 6-3 to take a 3-2 series lead heading home.

Game 6 at Dodger Stadium would be a disaster for the home team as Andre Dawson and Andres Galarraga put on a hitting show, combining to go 9 for 10 at the plate, leading to a 13-4 Cincy victory. Game 7 would be close, but LA seemed to be a step ahead all night as they lead 4-1 with two outs in the top of the ninth, the bases were loaded however and Andre Dawson, who had been clutch all postseason was at the plate. Need I say more?

"The 2-2 again to Dawson, swing and long drive to right [Raul] Mondesi goes back to the wall AND IT'S GONE!! Dawson has struck again and now the Reds lead! Unbeliveable!"
- Al Michaels calling Andre Dawson's ninth-inning grand slam

Demoralized, the Dodgers went down 1-2-3 in the ninth and the Reds were going to the World Series. In a 2010 interview, then-Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda said that game was the only loss he cried actual tears over while Andre Dawson became the most-hated man in Southern California. In Cincy however, fans celebrated into the early hours of the next morning as their team was going to their first World Series in six years.


1996 AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
CLEVELAND INDIANS VS NEW YORK YANKEES

The Indians and the Yankees, two teams that were considered to be the future of baseball going at in what should be a classic ALCS and as it turned out, it lived up to that hype.

The Indians had the home-field advantage and shut out the Yankees 5-0 in game one thanks to amazing pitching by Brian Anderson, pitching a 2-hitter and striking out 11 batters. Game two was a Yankees triumph, by a score of 7-5, with amazing hitting by Bernie Williams leading the way for the Bronx Bombers to tie the series heading the the cathedral itself, Yankee Stadium

Game 3 was a scoreless affair into the 11th, with both the Indians and the Yankees having great pitching. In the end, Cleveland won 1-0 thanks to an inside the park home run by Albert Belle. Game 4 was another low-scoring affair, but Derek Jeter's 4 hit performance led the Yankees to victory against the Tribe 4-1. Game 5 was Cleveland blowout, scoring 9 runs in the third and 5 in the 7th, culminating to a 16-3 victory.

As the series shifted to Jacobs Field, after being humiliated and on the verge of elimination, the Yankees said that it was go time. With the help of Wade Boggs hitting for the cycle and Jimmy Key hurling 7 complete innings, the Yankees forced game 7 with a 8-3 win. Even with the crowd against them, the Yankees jumped out with a 4-0 lead in the 5th. That would not be the case for long. The next inning, Sandy Alomar Jr hit a grand slam to tie the game. And after a few scoreless innings, in the 9th, Omar Vizquel hit a triple, with Alomar scoring him to win the series and the pennant for the Tribe.

 

[WB18]

1996 WORLD SERIES
CLEVELAND INDAINS VS CINCINNATI REDS

Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati would be the host of the first two games of an all Ohio world series between the powerful Cleveland Indians and the cinderella Cincinnati Reds. Across the state, people were making bets on the series ranging from the traditional (loser wears the other teams shirt to work the day after the series ends) to the bizzare (loser has to wear underpants on their head to work the day after the series ends)

It was hellish conditions on the day the first game was supposed to be held, and the game was pushed back for one day due to precipitation. The next day, the sun was out, the temperature was 70 degrees, and it was baseball time. It was a rock solid match-up on the mound, with Cleveland starting Charles Nagy and the Reds starting Lee Smith. Nagy got the best of Smith, hurling 11 K's and the Indians offensive juggernaut scoring 7 runs in the 5th en route to a 9-5 win for Cleveland to steal home-field advantage. Game two showed a great pitching performance by Cincinnati's Denny Neagle, halting the Tribe to just 3 hits, whiffing 13 batters en route to a 3-0 win for the Reds heading across the state.

The series relocated itself to Cleveland and Jacobs Field for the next three games of the series. Game 3 showed a Indians squad ready to play, with Jim Thome hitting 2 homers and Craig Biggio starting a triple play, with the Tribe winning 6-2. Game 4 was a very exciting game. With the Indians down to their last strike and the score being 7-5 and Omar Vizquel on 3rd, Sandy Alomar Jr hit a home run to send the game into extra innings. In the 11th, a bunt by Kenny Lofton allowed Thome to score and for Cleveland to win the game 8-7.

Not one seat was left open at "The Jake" once again for game 5, and the fans were showcased to a thriller for the second night in a row. This back and forth game was tied at 5 at the bottom of the 9th with the Indians batting. Then Albert Belle put an end to the 1996 season.

"The 3-1 to Albert, SWING AND A DRIVE, TO DEEP CENTER, AWAY..BACK..GONE!!!! ALBERT BELLE HAS DONE IT!!! THE INDIANS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL!!!"
- Tom Hamilton (Indians radio announcer) calling Albert Belle's walk-off home run to win the 1996 World Series

Fans would be stunned by this. Their city hasn't won a big league championship since the 1964 Browns and the Indians won the World Series for the first time since 1948. Fans would storm the field in celebration, local police officers were sent to help but even they were awed by this. Cleveland is back on top of the Baseball World. Albert Belle would win the MVP trophy for his heroic homer to win the series.

Also during the series, the MLB also announced the Phoenix and Tampa Bay would be receiving expansion teams that will begin play in 1998.


What Else happened in Sports for 1996?

NBA: Sean Kemp, Gary Payton and the Seattle SuperSonics are NBA Champions defeating Shaquille O'Neals Orlando Magic in a seven game thriller in the NBA Finals

NFL: The San Francisco 49ers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl XXX 41-28. The Cleveland Browns also announce plans to build a new stadium. While the stadium is being built, they will play at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

NHL: In possibly the biggest upset in Stanley Cup Finals history, the Florida Panthers (in just their third season of existence) defeat the Detroit Red Wings in the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals in game 7 with Ed Jovalanski scoring in overtime of the final game. After the season, the Winnipeg Jets, rumored to be sold to buyers from Phoenix, AZ, were instead sold to a group from Houston and will be moving there for the 1996-97 season and beyond.

CFL: The Edmonton Eskimos defeat the defending Champion Baltimore Stallions to win the Grey Cup. The league also added more United States based teams after the success of the Baltimore Stallions.

MLS: In the first ever MLS season, DC United wins it all over the Kansas City Wizards.

 

[Seandineen]

If Canada gets a third franchise could there also be if not DC the other Northern Virginian option? I am a junkie for as much expansion as possible.

 

[dsp19]

If Canada gets a third franchise could there also be if not DC the other Northern Virginian option? I am a junkie for as much expansion as possible.

Are there enough cities that can support major league baseball teams? You have to fill a stadium of close to 50,000 or attempt to at this point in the timeline. MLB only has 30 teams. Maybe you can get to 32 like the NFL but after that there are going to be franchises struggling in small markets not filling their stadiums. There are a lot of medium sized cities that aren't going to support initiatives to build a baseball stadium over education, local pay for municipal workers, etc. It costs a lot of money for places like Buffalo, Charlotte or Portland, Oregon to build a major league baseball stadium, especially when Buffalo and Charlotte already have football stadiums and are either at risk of losing their NFL team without a new stadium (Buffalo) or just built a football stadium in the 1990s (Charlotte)

 

[WB18]

If Canada gets a third franchise could there also be if not DC the other Northern Virginian option? I am a junkie for as much expansion as possible.

Well, Vancouver landed the A’s so now Canada has 3 teams. DC/Northern VA is still possible should there be another expansion or relocation down the road.

 

[Seandineen]

I’m so happy for the idea. There is an Strong need for more franchise opportunities. It is possible.

 

[WB18]

1996-97 MLB Offseason

Construction on the new Giants ballpark in San Jose finishes in time for opening day of 1997, the stadium will seat 40,000 fans and will be known as Chevron Field. The franchise will also be re-named to the San Jose Giants.

- Tony Gwynn signed a 7 year deal with the San Diego Padres.

- Cliff Floyd signed a 2 year contract with the Montreal Expos.

- Pedro Martinez signed a 3 year deal with the San Diego Padres.

- Orel Hershiser signs a 2 year contract with the New York Yankees.

- Albert Belle signs a 4 year with the Cleveland Indians.

- Tony Fernandez signed a 2 year deal with the Boston Red Sox.

- Matt Williams signs a 2 year deal with the Montreal Expos.

- Franchises in Phoenix and Tampa Bay will begin play in 1998. There already is rumors of another round of expansion coming as soon as 2001.

- The Minnesota Twins, unable to find a site to replace the MetroDome, explore relocation options. Charlotte, Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Buffalo appear to be front-runners.

- Molson Brewery purchases the Montreal Expos from Claude Brochu for 103 million (in Canadian dollars)

 

[Coiler]

- The Minnesota Twins, unable to find a site to replace the MetroDome, explore relocation options. Charlotte, Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Buffalo appear to be front-runners.

It would be something for them to move out of DC as they did historically and then move back in.

 

[dsp19]

It would be something for them to move out of DC as they did historically and then move back in.

Yup, the Twins were originally the first Washington Senators until 1960 or 1961 I believe. Then there was a second Washington Senators that moved to Dallas and became the Texas Rangers

 

[Seandineen]

What an irony!

 

[dsp19]

I don't know if I'm sold on the Twins getting moved. They're only 5 years removed from winning a World Series and had some success in Minnesota. They go through some tough times in the 1990s but Minneapolis is a good baseball city. I think they should stay put. The Brewers on the other hand are definitely a relocation candidate with old County Stadium starting to fall apart and Milwaukee being in fraught financial shape for a new ballpark (although Wikipedia has the Brewers breaking ground on Miller Park in 1996 which means the timeline assumes they stay put)

 

[dsp19]

Have the Yankees also made their moves getting Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson like they did IRL? That's what they did after they lost to Seattle in 1995. The Yankees remain unusually passive for a team that is owned by Steinbrenner and is close to the top. I assume Orel Hershiser gives them a veteran starter with postseason experience to get them to win a World Series. NYY not pulling off power moves under the Boss is ASB

After 1995 the Yankees also fired Showalter and brought in Joe Torre to lead the dynasty. Who is the manager in NY at this point?

 

[WB18]

I don't know if I'm sold on the Twins getting moved. They're only 5 years removed from winning a World Series and had some success in Minnesota. They go through some tough times in the 1990s but Minneapolis is a good baseball city. I think they should stay put. The Brewers on the other hand are definitely a relocation candidate with old County Stadium starting to fall apart and Milwaukee being in fraught financial shape for a new ballpark (although Wikipedia has the Brewers breaking ground on Miller Park in 1996 which means the timeline assumes they stay put)

But, who would buy the team to keep them in Minneapolis-St. Paul? The Twins were going through some economic issues at the time and the Metrodome was falling apart. They also got no revenue from most the Metrodome amenities and looked at relocation several times in the 1990s. Sure, Carl Pohlad had the cash to keep the team afloat but they had all those previous problems I mentioned earlier.

The Brewers... I just can't imagine them moving, even with County Stadium falling apart. Miller Park still gets built but an accident that delayed opening day is averted ITTL and it opens a few years early in 1999.

 

[dsp19]

Keep in mind, we are now entering an era where the Yankees were far beyond any of their competition. To erase their championships from 1998 to 2000 strains credulity. They were only forced into a deciding game of a series once in those three years (2000 division series vs. Oakland, when they won the series in 5). Otherwise they easily swept aside all opponents. They were not forced to a 7th game in any series in 1998, 1999 or 2000. If it's not definitely said that moves did or did not occur, then we have to assume that the same thing happens in the timeline as it does IRL. For example, the Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson being on the Yankees in 1996 occurred IRL and was not specifically alluded to here (if I was reading closely enough)

 

[WB18]

Have the Yankees also made their moves getting Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson like they did IRL? That's what they did after they lost to Seattle in 1995. The Yankees remain unusually passive for a team that is owned by Steinbrenner and is close to the top. I assume Orel Hershiser gives them a veteran starter with postseason experience to get them to win a World Series. NYY not pulling off power moves under the Boss is ASB

After 1995 the Yankees also fired Showalter and brought in Joe Torre to lead the dynasty. Who is the manager in NY at this point?

Tino stays in Seattle, rejecting the Yankees offer to stay with Mariners since they went to the World Series in 95 ITTL. Jeff Nelson still ends up with the Yankees. Steinbrenner was probably the most powerful owner in Baseball during his reign as Yankee owner.

And, Showalter still leaves the Yankees, ending up in San Diego and the Yankees end up hiring Jim Leyland from the Pirates. Torre ends up with the Marlins after the Leyland hire by NYY.