Inspired by nkokosioulis' The Greatest thread over in the SimLeague Baseball forum.

This is a tournament of all 94 named teams available in the SimMatchup. Due to the awkward number of clubs, a 94 slot layout is being used which means 30 teams are getting a bye during the first round and 4 teams won't get to play until the second round. Each team is represented by the very best season by win percentage in this lineup.

Still, with a simulation, anything may happen.

Each match between teams will be a best of three out of five for more fairness. Teams with only one or two seasons are going to have to work harder because of that. This will hopefully prevent any unfair upsets in the results. Also, each pitcher will be used in sequence for each game. Finally, Home and Away games will be alternated and Game 5 played in Nationals Park for the equal park factor.

Wish me luck on keeping my attention on this.

Round 1
Match 1

1927 New York Yankees (110-44) vs 1931 Philadelphia Athletics (107-45)
Athletics win 3 games to 1 over the Yankees

Game 1 (Shibe Park)
1927 Yankees 2
1931 Athletics 4
MVP: Rube Walberg goes 6.0 innings for the win

Game 2 (Yankee Stadium I)
1931 Athletics 12
1927 Yankees 5
MVP: Jimmie Foxx drives in 4 runs

Game 3 (Shibe Park)
1927 Yankees 8
1931 Athletics 1
MVP: Pat Collins drives in 3 runs

Game 4 Yankee Stadium I)
1931 Athletics 12
1927 Yankees 8
MVP: Dib Williams drives in 4 runs

Despite a good showing from Babe Ruth, Bob Meusel and the rest along with poor pitching by the A's Lefty Grove in the final inning, the Athletics took this contest and are moving to Round 2.

Round 1
Match 2

1977 Kansas City Royals (102-60) vs 1969 Seattle Pilots (64-98)
Pilots win three straight games against the Royals

Game 1 (Sicks' Stadium)
1977 Royals 6
1969 Pilots 12
MVP: Wayne Comer drives in 4 runs

Game 2 (Royals Stadium)
1969 Pilots 8
1977 Royals 3
MVP: Ray Oyler drives in 4 runs

Game 3 (Sicks' Stadium)
1977 Royals 2
1969 Pilots 3
MVP: Mike Hegan drives in game-winning run

In an amazing and unforeseen upset, the Seattle Pilots took down the 1977 KC Royals in three straight games, with Mike Hegan driving in the match-winning run in a heatedly-contested 12th inning. The Pilots move on to Round 2.

Round 1
Match 3

1958 Kansas City Athletics (73-81) vs 1886 St. Louis Maroons (43-79)
The Kansas City A's scrape up a win by 3 to 2 against the Maroons.

Game 1 (Sportsman's Park)
1958 Athletics 3
1886 Maroons 2
MVP: Ralph Terry goes 6.0 innings for the win

Game 2 (Municipal Stadium)
1886 Maroons 2
1958 Athletics 0
MVP: John Kirby tosses a 6-hit shutout

Game 3 (Sportsman's Park)
1958 Athletics 4
1886 Maroons 0
MVP: Hal W. Smith drives in 3 runs

Game 4 (Municipal Stadium)
1886 Maroons 3
1958 Athletics 2
MVP: Fred Dunlap collects 5 hits

Game 5 (Nationals Park)
1958 Athletics 4
1886 Maroons 3
MVP: Bud Daley goes 1.0 innings for the win

What an exciting match-up! The Maroons fought hard in four of the games, either winning or trailing by one, with only the one shutout to their credit. Game 4 was especially tough as it lasted up into the 14th inning and the Athletics unable to score in the bottom of the inning. However, the Kansas City Athletics just had more going for them with their own shutout and better equipment, training, and over twice the relief pitchers on the roster. It isn't too hard for me to imagine that game 4 was just too much to endure for the Maroons, leading to their loss in game 5. As a result, the Kansas City Athletics get to move to Round 2.

Round 1
Match 4

1994 Montreal Expos (74-40) vs 1890 Pittsburgh Burghers (60-68)
Expos beat the Burghers 3 games to 0.

Game 1 (WhatIfSports Park)
1994 Expos 5
1890 Burghers 0
MVP: Ken Hill goes 7.0 innings for the win

Game 2 (Olympic Stadium)
1890 Burghers 7
1994 Expos 8
MVP: Larry Walker collects 4 hits

Game 3 (WhatIfSports Park:
1994 Expos 8
1890 Burghers 4
MVP: Jeff Fassero goes 7.0 innings for the win

This was a somewhat contentious match for me. On one hand, the Burghers home ballpark is showing up as WhatIfSports Park. On the other, the 1994 season for the Expos was ended early due to the August baseball strikes of that year. Still, it was a decent set of games with the Burghers making the Expos work for a victory in game 2, but the Expos were just simply better as a team than a club that was around for only the 1890 season. The Expos move on to Round 2.

Round 1
Match 5

1890 Columbus Solons (79-55) vs 1985 Toronto Blue Jays (99-62)
Blue Jays knock down the Solons 3 to 1

Game 1 (Exhibition Stadium)
1890 Solons 5
1985 Blue Jays 6
MVP: Lloyd Moseby drives in game-winning run

Game 2 (WhatIfSports Park)
1985 Blue Jays 5
1890 Solons 3
MVP: Dave Stieb throws a complete game victory

Game 3 (Exhibition Stadium)
1890 Solons 3
1985 Blue Jays 1
MVP: Jack Easton throws a complete game victory

Game 4 (WhatIfSports Park)
1985 Blue Jays 6
1890 Solons 2
MVP: Damaso Garcia collects 4 hits

Not much for me to say here, really. Game 1 went 11 innings so it was a bit tight near the end. The Solons got one win, but lost three games altogether. Seeing as the Solons had only three seasons to choose from for the tournament, this was a result I actually expected.

Round 1
Match 6

1957 Milwaukee Braves (95-59) vs 1885 Providence Grays (53-57)
Braves top the Grays, 3 to 2

Game 1 (WhatIfSports Park)
1957 Braves 2
1885 Grays 4
MVP: Jerry Denny hits walk-off home run

Game 2 (County Stadium)
1885 Grays 1
1957 Braves 2
MVP: Lew Burdette goes 8.0 innings for the win

Game 3 (WhatIfSports Park)
1957 Braves 6
1885 Grays 11
MVP: Barney Gilligan drives in 4 runs

Game 4 (County Stadium)
1885 Grays 0
1957 Braves 3
MVP: Gene Conley goes 6.0 innings for the win

Game 5 (Nationals Park)
1957 Braves 13
1885 Grays 2
MVP: Red Schoendienst drives in 4 runs

Well, that was kind of exciting. Two games with double digit scores. Not going to lie, thought the Grays would lose three straight games. Well, despite putting up a decent fight, the Grays are eliminated and the Braves move on to the next round.

Round 1
Match 7

1997 Florida Marlins (97-70) vs 2008 Tampa Bay Rays (97-65)
Rays beat the Marlins by 3 to 2.

Game 1 (Tropicana Field)
1997 Marlins 7
2008 Rays 6
MVP: Devon White collects 4 hits (16 innings!)

Game 2 (Pro Player Stadium)
2008 Rays 7
1997 Marlins 4
MVP: Carlos Pena hits 2 homers

Game 3 (Tropicana Field)
1997 Marlins 4
2008 Rays 5
MVP: Carlos Pena drives in game-winning run

Game 4 (Pro Player Stadium)
2008 Rays 3
1997 Marlins 5
MVP: Gary Sheffield hits walk-off home run

Game 5 (Nationals Park)
1997 Marlins 7
2008 Rays 13
MVP: Eric Hinske drives in 4 runs

In a bit of geographical irony, rivals Marlins and Rays take the field in several close games until the last one with the Rays collecting 7 runs in the first inning. The Marlins fought hard to catch up, with two desperate and under-the-tag slides home for two of the three runs home in the top of the ninth. The Rays were just that determined to win the tie breaker game, so they move on to the next round.

OOC: I blame Minecraft

Round 1
Match 8

1986 New York Mets (108-54) vs 1944 Philadelphia Blue Jay's (61-92)
Blue Jay's sneak a win past the Mets by 3 to 2.

Game 1 (Shibe Park)
1986 Mets 3
1944 Blue Jay's 4
MVP: Ken Raffensberger goes 8.1 innings for the win

Game 2 (Shea Stadium)
1944 Blue Jay's 2
1986 Mets 1
MVP: Charley Schanz throws a complete game victory

Game 3 (Shibe Park)
1986 Mets 8
1944 Blue Jay's 3
MVP: Wally Backman collects 4 hits

Game 4 (Shea Stadium)
1944 Blue Jay's 1
1986 Mets 4
MVP: Bob Ojeda goes 7.0 innings for the win

Game 5 (Nationals Park)
1986 Mets 1
1944 Blue Jay's 6
MVP: Jimmy Wasdell collects 4 hits

Between the Mets' large number of seasons and the Blue Jay's only 2 seasons, I expected the Mets to have this in the bag. Imagine my surprise when the Jays take the first two games, lose the next two, then sneak in a big win at Nationals Park for the match. A big showing for the club that gets them an in to the next round.

Round 1
Match 9

1890 Cleveland Infants (55-75) vs 1998 Atlanta Braves (106-56)

Game 1 (Turner Field)
1890 Infants 3
1998 Braves 9
MVP: Andruw Jones drives in 4 runs

Game 2 (WhatIfSports Park)
1998 Braves 11
1890 Infants 8
MVP: Chipper Jones drives in 4 runs

Game 3 (Turner Field)
1890 Infants 10
1998 Braves 3
MVP: Henry Larkin drives in 3 runs

Game 4 (WhatIfSports Park)
1998 Braves 2
1890 Infants 13
MVP: Henry Larkin drives in 4 runs

Game 5 (Nationals Park)
1890 Infants 6
1998 Braves 10
MVP: Henry Gruber gets shelled

Okay, I'll admit. I wasn't expecting the Infants to roar into life like they did in game 2, then take the win in 3 and 4. Perhaps they sensed if they didn't make it here that was it, since there is no losers bracket. But, unfortunately for them, the Braves stepped up in game 5 and got 8 scored runs in the first inning. Even though Gruber got shelled as a pitcher in game 5, he got in a hit on the only time he went up to bat, showing a one-game average of 1.000.

Such as it is, the Braves move on to the next round.