Deadball has been my favorite era to read about but most frustrating to play in a game format for many of the reasons you list.
I am currently replaying the 1915 season with Field Day Baseball and it’s been fantastic. Field Day does some things I wish other games considered to make it more era specific.
1. They have 2 error chance numbers instead of 1 at 51 , also now 24. They keep the range check 53 and the hit + possible error 52
2. The “ reckless runner” Some players get this designation for over aggression taking the extra base. They have to go when others may try for that base. Reckless runners cover the spectrum from the worst players to Ty Cobb. Those assist numbers are getting duplicated along with some thrilling plays when these guys pull it off.
3. 1915 & 1908 have their own FAC deck, designed for those seasons, also separate bunt - H&R charts.
4. A small but valuable thing they list how many sacrifice bunts a player had next to his rating. This is so valuable in replaying to see one player with 5 and another with 50, when they may have similar ratings.
These adjustments have allowed me to really get into the era and flow of games.
Deadball era has always been a fun time to read about, because the written word was the only medium at the time and so much was written too.
Those game mechanics sound fantastic. I have contemplated and wrote an article about what a game from that era would be like if designed how people of the time saw the game. Things they valued based on how and what they saw in the game. Not saying it would need to go to that extreme, but perspective is a big part of things.
The manager who won the most recent Shoeless Joe APBA deadball tournament used the hit and run and sacrifice bunt as often as he could in order to score runs.
Playing with 1908 or other seasons from that time really reinforces what a "pitcher" first game it was. At least for me anyway. Most of the hitters feel interchangeable. Of course, with some exception and outliers and those outliers like Wagner types really stand out. But otherwise, you don't have your those not a great batting average but good slugger type, or even so-so average guy but good OBP guy.
Not to your point specifically about the 1908 defensive stats, but in general the deadball era was a transformational time for defense. Looking back, it doesn't seem that way maybe. But the gloves they had by 1908 were night and day from those in the 1890s and the gloveless days obviously. I am sure in your reading from that season probably have seen old-timers complaining how they were ruining the game.
Deadball has been my favorite era to read about but most frustrating to play in a game format for many of the reasons you list.
I am currently replaying the 1915 season with Field Day Baseball and it’s been fantastic. Field Day does some things I wish other games considered to make it more era specific.
1. They have 2 error chance numbers instead of 1 at 51 , also now 24. They keep the range check 53 and the hit + possible error 52
2. The “ reckless runner” Some players get this designation for over aggression taking the extra base. They have to go when others may try for that base. Reckless runners cover the spectrum from the worst players to Ty Cobb. Those assist numbers are getting duplicated along with some thrilling plays when these guys pull it off.
3. 1915 & 1908 have their own FAC deck, designed for those seasons, also separate bunt - H&R charts.
4. A small but valuable thing they list how many sacrifice bunts a player had next to his rating. This is so valuable in replaying to see one player with 5 and another with 50, when they may have similar ratings.
These adjustments have allowed me to really get into the era and flow of games.
Deadball era has always been a fun time to read about, because the written word was the only medium at the time and so much was written too.
Those game mechanics sound fantastic. I have contemplated and wrote an article about what a game from that era would be like if designed how people of the time saw the game. Things they valued based on how and what they saw in the game. Not saying it would need to go to that extreme, but perspective is a big part of things.
The manager who won the most recent Shoeless Joe APBA deadball tournament used the hit and run and sacrifice bunt as often as he could in order to score runs.
Playing with 1908 or other seasons from that time really reinforces what a "pitcher" first game it was. At least for me anyway. Most of the hitters feel interchangeable. Of course, with some exception and outliers and those outliers like Wagner types really stand out. But otherwise, you don't have your those not a great batting average but good slugger type, or even so-so average guy but good OBP guy.
Not to your point specifically about the 1908 defensive stats, but in general the deadball era was a transformational time for defense. Looking back, it doesn't seem that way maybe. But the gloves they had by 1908 were night and day from those in the 1890s and the gloveless days obviously. I am sure in your reading from that season probably have seen old-timers complaining how they were ruining the game.