[Dukie98]

Frontier League: The Boston Minutemen combined their explosive offense with an improved pitching staff to coast to the Northeast Division title with 104 wins. In a rarity, four teams in the division posted over 90 wins, and all six teams topped .500. Boston led the Frontier League with 240 homers and 929 runs scored, led by defending MVP Nolan Arenado, who hit .317 with a league-high 48 homers, 140 runs scored, and 128 RBI's. Star center fielder Joe DiMaggio hit .324 with 44 homers and 133 RBI's. First baseman Ernie Banks hit .299 with 38 longballs and 114 RBI's, and four other players topped 22 homers. Crafty veteran Bill Hands went 18-2 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP, yielding just 27 walks in 210 innings. Southpaw junkballer Zach Duke went 13-9 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Journeyman Harry Feldman sent a HRDL record with 48 saves, notching a 2.78 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. The Montreal Knights snapped a 13-year playoff drought, with a franchise-record 94 wins. Right fielder Ron Northey hit .281 with a team-high 33 homers and 126 RBI's. While Johnny Mize and Joe Judge split time at first base, both had spectacular seasons. Mize hit .325 and slugged .657 with 37 homers and 107 RBI's, while Judge had a breakout season, hitting .338 and slugging .592 with 17 homers, 60 RBIs, and 18 steals. Catcher Jack Hiatt hit .317 with a .421 on-base percentage. Righthander Jack Coombs led a solid, if unspectacular pitching staff, going 13-9 with a 3.41 ERA and 207 strikeouts. The Philadelphia Hawks snapped a five-year playoff drought of their own, going 92-70. First baseman Wes Parker starred, hitting .344 with 49 doubles, 27 longballs, 108 RBI's, 20 steals, and a league-high 141 runs scored. Free agent acquisition Jerry Mumphrey had a strong all-around season, hitting .292 with 42 doubles, 25 homers, 27 steals, 102 runs scored, and 90 RBI's. Left fielder Enos Slaughter hit .291 with 37 doubles, 16 homers, and a team-high 114 RBI's. Lefty Rich Nye posted a 16-7 record with a 4.16 ERA and 187 strikeouts. The Hawks sported the league's top-ranked bullpen, as closer Ken Howell notched 29 saves with a 2.65 ERA, while setup man Fernando Rodney added 6 saves and a microscopic 0.90 ERA in 60 innings. The Buffalo Fighting Elk returned to the playoffs after two years of missing the playoffs, matching the Hawks with a 92-70 record. Slugging first baseman Don Hurst hit .269, pounding 41 homers and driving in 122 runs, while left fielder Ron Jones ripped 31 round-trippers and drove in 119 runs of his own. Center fielder Nemo Leibold set the table, hitting .323 with a .433 on-base percentage, including 55 steals, and scored 119 runs. Righthander Brett Oberholtzer led a deep pitching staff, going 20-10 with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Righthander Kyle Lohse went just 11-12 despite a strong 3.11 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.

The London Werewolves, led by the league-best pitching staff, won the Great Lakes Division with 94 wins. Star right fielder Reggie Smith hit .307, pounding 41 homers, scoring 105 runs, and driving in 112. Second baseman Frankie Gustine had a breakout season, hitting .343 with 221 hits, including 43 doubles, and scored 105 runs. Center fielder Paolo Orlando hit .332 with 205 hits, including 12 homers and 70 RBI's. Catcher Wes Westrum popped 32 homers, plated 86 runners, and drew 96 walks. Southpaw Vern Olsen led the pitching staff, going 16-6 with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, allowing just 6 homers in 193 innings. Rookie righthander Jim Baskette sported a 15-6 record with a league-best 2.38 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The Werewolves narrowly held off the 89-win Cincinnati Spiders, who were the final team eliminated from the wild card. Shortstop Corey Seager led the Spiders, hitting .308 with 20 homers and 94 RBI's, while third baseman Nick Castellanos blasted 27 longballs and drove in 102 runs. Righthander Joe Presko went 19-8 with a 3.75 ERA, while Jon Matlack posted a 16-9 mark with a 3.40 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 232 whiffs.

The Chicago Mules were the best of a bad lot, coasting to the Great Plains division title with just 85 wins. The punchless Mules ranked 20th in the Frontier League in runs, and dead last in baseball with just 77 homers. Right fielder Augie Bergamo provided the offensive spark, hitting .354 with a .450 on-base percentage, including 207 hits, 12 homers, 79 RBI's, and 94 runs scored. Left fielder Gene Clines hit .342 with 44 steals and 105 runs scored. Bob Moose anchored the pitching staff, but received poor offensive support, as he followed up his 25-win season with a 13-11 mark despite a 2.57 ERA, a league-best 1.05 WHIP, and fanned 251 hitters.

The Seattle Whales were the class of the Northwest Division, winning 101 games behind a balanced offense which led the Frontier League with a .286 average, and a top-three pitching staff. Right fielder Sherry Magee hit .301 with a .420 on-base percentage and .587 slugging percentage, including 89 extra-base hits, 36 homers, 135 RBI's, 128 runs scored, and 61 steals. First baseman Lee May clubbed 41 homers and drove in 112 runs. Third baseman Milt Stock hit .358 with 235 hits, including 42 doubles, 14 homers, 83 RBI's, 42 steals, and scored 115 runs. Righthander Jim Tobin went 18-4 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Veteran Bob Osborn missed two months, but he went 10-2 with a 2.69 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. The Portland Skunks made their fourth straight postseason appearance, winning 94 games. Portland scuffled near .500 for four months, before exploding with a 38-14 record after August 1. First baseman Jeff Bagwell hit .302 with a .433 on-base percentage and a .624 slugging percentage, pounding 43 homers and driving in 120 runs. Center fielder Dave Henderson hit .293 and slugged .502, popping 33 longballs and driving in 102 runs. Left fielder Mike Easler hit .324 and slugged .516, ripping 43 doubles, 25 homers, scoring 126 runs, and plating 103 more. On the mound, southpaw Mark Thurmond went 19-8 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Pete Falcone followed up his strong rookie campaign by going 15-10 with a 3.93 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and 232 punchouts. Closer Gene Walter notched 7 wins, 33 saves, a 2.21 ERA, and a 0.98 WHIP.

Continental League: The powerful Washington Ambassadors overcame an injury-riddled pitching staff to blast 254 homers on their way to the Atlantic Division title, as they held off the Virginia Beach Admirals by a game to take the division with 86 wins. Left fielder Gus Zernial blasted 47 round-trippers and drove in 117 runs -- one of five Ambassadors to top 30 homers, and one of six to top 90 RBI's. First baseman Lee Stevens hit .283 with 42 homers and 116 RBI's. Center fielder Johnny Groth hit .334 with 49 doubles, 18 homers, and 101 RBI's. Washington's pitching ranked near the bottom in the league -- the lone bright spot was relief ace Chris Short, who earned 39 saves with a 2.45 ERA, an 0.87 WHIP, and an incredible 114 strikeouts in 80 innings. The Admirals narrowly missed making the playoffs for the first time in five years. First baseman Chris Shelton hit .298 with 32 homers and 138 RBI's. Second baseman Danny Murtaugh hit .328 with 39 doubles, 114 runs scored, and 45 steals. Southpaw fireballer Johnny Vander Meer led a deep pitching staff, going 13-8 with a 3.57 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 227 strikeouts in just 181 innings.

The Atlanta Ducks took the Southeast Division title, tying a franchise record with 105 wins. The Ducks ranked second in the Continental League in runs scored, led by first baseman Dots Miler, who hit .317 and slugged .586 with 36 homers, 125 RBI's, and 37 steals. Leftfielder Jim Greengrass hit .282 and slugged .511, ripping 35 homers and driving in 114 runs. Catcher Miguel Olivo blossomed into a star, hitting .288 and slugging .533, with 28 homers and 96 RBI's -- and stealing 19 of 21 bags. Righthander John Montefusco appeared primed to win his third career Cy Young Award after going 23-3 with a 2.44 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 208 strikeouts. Ed Walsh gave the Ducks a second ace, going 15-9 with a 3.15 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and 207 strikeouts. Atlanta held off the New Orleans Crawfish, a perennial postseason participant. New Orleans third baseman Manny Machado led the way, hittind .318 with 43 longballs and 107 RBIs. Slugging first baseman Joey Meyer hit .303 with 32 homer and plated 103 runs On the mound, Wilbur Cooper carried the way , going 14-10 with a 2.02 ERA. Closer Clarence Pickrel notched 28 saves with a 1.61 ERA.

The Dallas Wildcatters took a crowded Texas Divisions title with 96 wins. Left fielder Mike Greenwell led the way, hitting .353 with 57 doubles, 18 homers, 100 RBI's, and 110 runs scored. Right fielder Ken Landreaux hit .306 and slugged .521, with 26 longballs and 116 RBI's. Center fielder Jim Busby hit .324 , including 18 homers, 42 steals, 93 runs, and 86 RBI's. On the mound, fireballer Red Ames bounced back to have a strong third-year campaign, going 16-12 with a 3.41 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and fanned 226 enemy batters. Steady Hank Borowy went 15-11 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Clay Bryant anchored the best bullpen in the league, saving 47 games and posting a 1.64 ERA, with 104 whiffs in just 77 innings. The Houston Pythons outslugged enough opponents to sneak into the playoffs with 88 wins. Left fielder Larry Hisle hit .303 with 44 homers and 143 RBI's. DH Norm Cash bopped 47 longballs in his lone season with the squad, and drove in 111 runs to boot. Ryan Thompson pounded 37 round-trippers and plated 124 runs. Crafty southpaw Jerry Reuss posted a 19-9 record with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Closer Rick Waits notched 39 saves and a 1.90 ERA.

The explosive Albuquerque Conquistadors won 109 games to take the Southwest Division. Scoring 1067 runs and blasting 267 round-trippers, Albuquerque led the Continental League in most offensive categories. Five players- George Brett, Frank Baker, Tex Erwin, Doc Miler, and Vic Power - each blasted at least 30 homers and drove in at least 110 runs. Brett his .333 with 49 homers and 158 RBI's, while Baker returned to form, hitting .344 with 46 homers and 154 RBI's. Miller won the batting title, hitting .366 with 33 homers, 132 RBI's, 28 steals, and 120 runs scored. Righthander Bob Gibson had a career season, going 20-2 with a 2.71 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and a career-high 221 strikeouts. The Los Angeles Kangaroos won 100 games behind a solid offense and the second-best pitching staff in the league. Center fielder Bobby Tolan hit .349 with 50 doubles, 56 steals, 22 homers, 127 runs scored, and 100 RBI's. Catcher Elston Howard hit .324 and slugged .530, bopping 23 homers and driving in 95 runs. Leftfielder Gary Matthews hit .313 with 26 homers, 110 runs, and 96 RBI's. Slugging first baseman Brad Fullmer led the squad with 32 longballs and 122 RBI's. Ace Nap Rucker went 21-9 with a 2.99 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and 267 strikeouts. Control ace Steve Woodard went 16-10 with a 3.82 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and just 26 walks in 215 innings. The 90-win San Diego Zookeepers were one of the best stories of the season, surviving the early season loss of ace righthander Ham Iburg to make their first playoff appearance since 2017. Right fielder Raul Mondesi had a breakout season, hitting .336 and slugging .620, blasting 45 longballs and swiping 37 bags to go along with 131 RBI's and 110 runs scored. Shortstop Julio Franco, healthy for the first time in years, hit .345 with 27 homers, 51 steals, 85 RBI's, and 96 runs scored. Second baseman Rougned Odor hit 37 homers and drove in 122 runs. Rookie righhander Weldon Henley filled Iburg's shoes, sporting a 21-11 record with a 3.65 ERA. Southpaw Al Grabowski went 17-9 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Closer Bill Sayles posted 31 saves with a 1.87 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP.