Concept
The TCBL is a historical league with random-debut format, with a guiding, franchise-based theme.
Franchise owners own "reserve rights" to all players from their teams as determined by having the highest number of games played in that uniform. Players who played the most games for a team not represented in the league cannot be claimed, and will enter the draft "at large". Owners get the entire lineage of the team through all its moves and name changes. So the Dodgers could play either in Brooklyn or LA, and choose names including the Atlantics, Grays, Bridegrooms, Superbas, and Robins. Owners may change cities, parks, and names within their lineage when they choose, but will be committed to that one franchise for the duration
Drafts
Each year, the game will generate a pool of 100 or so randomly selected historical players. Franchise owners will have a chance at the beginning of each round to execute claims on as many of their players as they like, spending their next draft picks sequentially (highest first) to do so. This will make for interesting calculus about how much guys are worth relative to pick positioning in the round, how far they’re likely to fall, etc. In the long view, this mechanism should facilitiate occasional "bumper crops" of players for each team through the league's progression. If Ted Williams and Roger Clemens come out in the same year, the Sox will get them both.
Finances
Market size normalized (all stadiums have the same capacity). No restrictions on ticket prices, etc. If it starts to look like this is going to make the playing field too uneven, we'll correct it early.
Recalc
Three-year recalc with middle year doubled in impact
Ratings
1-10 scale
Negro League players
Yes! I think top 50 WAR for each hitters and pitchers. Recalc will be based on available Major League Equivalent stats developed by researchers.
Neutralization
We will use real stats for recalc. The game automatically neutralizes across eras, so guys who hit 8-10 homers in the Deadball Era will have high Power.