[Nick Soulis]

Season 8
Final



Excellence Project Season 8: A Season of Historic Dominance and October Dreams
October 6 | By Cooperstown Press
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As the dust settles on the grueling 162-game regular season in Excellence Project Season 8, four legendary clubs now prepare for battle in the League Championship Series. The campaign was filled with towering home runs, microscopic ERAs, dominant pitching rotations, and a pennant chase that came down to the wire in the National League. Now, the field has been whittled down to four — and the road to the championship is officially underway.
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SEASON IN REVIEW: COLLINS, STARGELL, COOMBS HEADLINE AWARD CONTENDERS

No player symbolized offensive brilliance in 2025 like Eddie Collins of the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics. The 23-year-old second baseman torched opposing pitchers en route to the batting title, hitting .366 with 227 hits, 140 runs, and an astonishing 131 RBIs — all while swatting 31 homers, more than many expected from the athletic infielder.
Behind him, a trio of fellow Athletics — Stuffy McInnis (.346), Danny Murphy (.327), and Frank Baker (128 RBI) — gave Philadelphia the most feared top half of any lineup in the league.
In the power department, Willie Stargell of the 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates reigned supreme with 58 home runs and a league-leading 160 RBIs, muscling Pittsburgh to a 103-win season and the American League West title. The left-handed slugger was simply unpitchable at times, punishing both fastballs and off-speed alike.
On the mound, it was total domination by the Philadelphia Athletics staff. Jack Coombs led the league with 26 wins, supported by Eddie Plank (23), Harry Krause (22), and Charles Bender (241 Ks). Krause also led the league in strikeouts with 276, while Coombs posted a 2.91 ERA across 318 innings. Their rival for pitching supremacy came from the National League, where Roger Clemens of the 2005 Astros posted a league-best 2.62 ERA, just ahead of Hank Robinson (2.65) and Bob Moose (2.85) of Pittsburgh.
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PLAYOFF PREVIEW: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
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AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES



Philadelphia 1910 Athletics (110–52) vs Pittsburgh 1972 Pirates (103–59)
The Battle of Titans. The two winningest teams of Season 8 now collide for a ticket to the championship round. Philadelphia features the most balanced offense and deepest pitching staff in the league, with five everyday players over 125 RBIs and a rotation of aces from top to bottom. But the Pirates enter the postseason with swagger, firepower, and the most feared man in the league — Willie Stargell.
Key Matchup: Philadelphia’s elite rotation (Coombs, Krause, Plank) vs. Pittsburgh’s power bats (Stargell, Oliver, Hebner).
X-Factor: Can the Pirates bullpen — largely untested late in the year — hold up against the relentless Philadelphia lineup?
Season Series: Tied 4–4.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES



St. Louis 1926 Cardinals (94–68) vs San Francisco 1969 Giants (96–66)
While the American League is a heavyweight showdown, the National League series is all about grit, strategy, and timing. The Cardinals surged late, outlasting the 1913 Pirates in a tense East Division race. Rogers Hornsby (.331 AVG, 46 HRs, 134 RBIs) leads an explosive offense that loves to jump on pitchers early. But San Francisco comes in quietly dangerous, with Willie McCovey (49 HRs, 142 RBIs) and Gaylord Perry (2.90 ERA) anchoring a team that plays smart, situational baseball.
Key Matchup: Perry vs. Hornsby — two legends on a collision course.
X-Factor: The speed and savvy of outfielders Bobby Bonds and Ken Henderson could swing games late for San Francisco.
Season Series: Giants lead 5–3.
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STORYLINES TO WATCH

• Is this the best rotation we’ve ever seen? The 1910 Athletics have four pitchers with 20+ wins and 230+ strikeouts. That’s unheard of. Can they be stopped?
• The Willie Show: Stargell and McCovey were the two most dangerous sluggers in the league. If both advance, we could see a legendary home run duel.
• A New Dynasty Brewing? If Philadelphia wins it all, they may go down as the most dominant team in Excellence Project history.
• Unsung Heroes: Don’t sleep on Bob Moose of Pittsburgh or Jim Bottomley of St. Louis, who could prove decisive in tight postseason battles.
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As October begins, the Excellence Project is poised for its most thrilling postseason yet. The stars are aligned, the legends are ready, and only one team will rise to the top.
Let the playoffs begin.