OK, so I may have spoken prematurely a couple posts back about there being late drama. Or just flat out lied - hard to tell, really.
Whatever the case, there wasn't any. Hilldale put paid to that hope with a withering 24-13 finishing run to blow past the fading Liberty Stars and win their 4th WCA title going away.
That 103-win effort by the Crawfs ties the 1970 Black Yankees for most ever in the FC (the '75 Buckeyes have the most of all with 106).
The two main individual achievements in the 1980 EL season belong to Cristobal Torriente and David Ortiz. Cristo recorded the EL's first ever Triple Crown by hitting 325, belting 34 HR (including one on the final day to break a tie with Minnie Minoso) and driving in 122, tied for the most in either league with Leon Durham. Meanwhile, Big Papi - who is also the all-time career leader in the category with 384 - set a new single-season HR record with 46, eclipsing the 44 of Hank Thompson ('71) and Barry Bonds ('79).
337 earned Bob Harvey the other batting title, while Delino DeShields swiped the most bases of all with 75.
In the pitching arena, Gene Collins' 23 wins were the most, just pipping Hulon Stamps' 22 and the little lefty also led both leagues with 278 strikeouts. Robert Poindexter had the low ERA with 2.64, Lefty Moses the most saves with 43.
Final Top 20s
Hitters - Overall
Hitters - NeLers
Pitchers - Overall
Pitchers - NeLers
Final Leaders
