[Hendu Style]

The 70's set a high standard for the SBL, but the 80's launched a strong opening salvo to begin the decade. Two players hit milestone homeruns. A pitcher was fast becoming the best of his generation. One division was decided in a one-game playoff. And Tropico was still the feel-good story of baseball.


On May 10th, 1980, newly-signed Winterhaven Warriors outfielder Wally Johnston walloped a solo homerun at Hank Pierce Memorial Stadium for his 500th career round-tripper. On May 25th, Dixie Dukes first baseman Rick O'Donnell matched that feat with a 3-run homer against Dullsville. Just like that, Wally and Rick became the 3rd and 4th members of the exclusive 500-homerun club in a span of 15 days.


Though homeruns may have ruled 1980, one pitcher was refining and honing his craft in a bid to become one of the all-time greats. Keith "Livewire" Boyce had left Winterhaven as a free agent after winning three consecutive Colonial League Stormy Boyd's with the Warriors in 1974-75-76, so he could chase a division title with the Arcopolis Rockets. In a vintage 1980 campaign, the 30 year-old southpaw led the CL with 20 wins and 338 strikeouts, while posting a 2.50 ERA.


Boyce and the Rockets got more than they bargained for in the CL East Division, having to beat the Bayouville Barons in an epic one-game playoff to decide the pennant. Trailing the Barons 3-2 going into the top of the 8th inning, Rodney Raymond blasted a go-ahead 2-run homer to help lift Arcopolis to a division-deciding 5-3 win on the final day of the regular season.


But in the CL West, Tropico was fast becoming a powerhouse team. Powered by '79 Triple Crown winner Ernie Fallon's .312, 29 HR, 89 RBI follow-up campaign, the newly-named Firebirds held off rival Dixie to win the division crown with a stellar 102-win regular season. The Firebirds had indeed risen from the ashes in hurricane-battered Tropico, besting the Rockets in the CLCS, 4 games to 1.


But there would be no championship celebration this time for the tiny island-nation, losing in the Sim Series to the Railers, 4-1, for Rocklyn's first title since 1964.