The Continental League
Almost a baseball league
New baseball league proposed
William Shea proposed the Continental League in November of 1958, and it was formally announced on July 27, 1959.
A Letter From Continental League President Branch Rickey To American League President Joseph Cronin
Effect on MLB
Although there was never a game played in the Continental League, the MLB felt pressured by it and it ultimately resulted in the MLB expansion.
Failure of the continental league
Before ever playing a game, the Continental League failed. The opposition from Major League Baseball team owners resulted in the failure. The MLB would continue to have a monopoly on professional baseball, but did add four teams in response to the threat of a rival league.
Centerfield CUT by zuroffh1
Sources
Brown, Maury. "60-Cycle Hum » Blog Archive » The Cronin Papers – Branch Rickey,Expansion Cities Call, Piersall, and President Kennedy." 60Cycle Hum. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.
Dodd, Mike. "MLB Expansion Effects Still Felt 50 Years Later around the Leagues." USATODAY.COM. USA Today, 11 Apr. 2011. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.
Nevard, David. "Continental League." The Continental League. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.
"William Shea." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Nov. 2014. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.