[Dukie98]

Frontier League: Although the Northeast Division race was neck-and-neck in mid-August, the Buffalo Fighting Elk pulled away to win their seventh straight division title, finishing with 99 wins. Left fielder Pedro Guerrero starred, hitting .332 with 35 homers, 109 runs scored, 132 RBI's, and 21 steals. Center fielder Tris Speaker, although he missed nearly 40 games with injuries, set the table, hitting .336 with a .441 on-base percentage, including 58 doubles, 8 homers, 105 runs scored, and 30 steals. Star shortstop Rico Petrocelli hit .304, blasting 33 homers and driving in 120 runs while posting a .392 on-base percentage. On the mound, rookie Stephen Strasburg posted a solid 13-10 mark with a 3.64 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and 174 strikeouts. Veteran Don Wilson topped the 200-win and 3,000 strikeout milestones, going 15-9 with a 3.81 ERA and 199 strikeouts, although his postseason was jeopardized by a shoulder injury. Rookie closer Michael Wuertz notched 38 saves with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. The Boston Minutemen returned to the postseason after a 6-year absence, winning 90 games -- a 27-game improvement from last season. Boston finished second in the Frontier League in runs scored. Free agent signee Chipper Jones starred, hitting .310 with a .411 on-base percentage, including 40 doubles, 28 homers, 108 RBI's, and 124 runs scored. Right fielder Manny Ramirez hit .363 and slugged .687 in an injury-riddled campaign, drilling 41 doubles, 28 homers, and plating 99 runs in just 103 games. Catcher David Ross and third baseman Rob Mackowiak smacked 22 homers apiece, with Ross driving in 88 runs and Mackowiak driving in 83. Righthander Red Ruffing had a career season, going 18-7 with a 3.06 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 214 strikeouts. Southpaw Chuck Finley set a career high in victories, going 18-6 with a 3.04 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

The Detroit Purple Gang coasted to their fourth straight division title, winning a franchise-best 110 games despite losing perennial MVP candidate Nolan Arenado to a torn groin in mid-August. Arenado posted a .347/ .448/ .618 slash line in 113 games, drilling 26 homers and knocking in 90 runs. Free agent signee Ryan Doumit had a brilliant season behind the plate, hitting .342 and slugging .555, pounding 37 doubles, 23 round-trippers, and driving in 103 runs. Center fielder Jose Cardenal had a breakout season, hitting ..326 and slugging .548, with 28 jacks, 96 RBI's, 105 runs scored, and 30 steals. Left fielder Bernard Gilkey didn't skip a beat after coming over from Vancouver in free agency, hitting .293 with 25 longballs, 102 RBI's, and 107 runs scored. Detroit had the second stingiest pitching staff in baseball, surrendering just 580 runs. Righthander Paul Derringer had the finest year of his career, going 19-5 with a 2.49 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Veteran Steve Trachsel went 16-5, setting career bests with a 3.01 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Nolan Ryan posted a 10-5 mark with a 3.24 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and fanned 281 enemy batters. Steady Lew Burdette posted an 18-7 mark with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. The 98-win London Werewolves were no pushover, as right fielder Harry Heilmann led the way, hitting .369 with a .670 slugging percentage, drilling 42 doubles, 42 homers, scoring 123 runs, and driving in 116 runs. First baseman Jim Bottomley had a breakout season in his first season as a regular, hitting .291 with 37 doubles, 33 longballs, and 98 RBI's. Right fielder Jay Buhner swatted 34 round-trippers and knocked in 97 runs. Despite losing free agent signee Jose Rijo for the season in spring training with a torn UCL, London had the best pitching staff in baseball, yielding just 569 runs. Elmer Riddle came out of nowhere to post a 17-6 mark with a 2.26 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Righthander Red Lucas notched a 17-7 record with a 2.39 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP, yielding just 11 homers and 15 walks in 226 innings. Jack Sanford went 18-7 with a solid 3.25 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and fanned 193 hitters. Closer Dale Willis missed most of the first four months of the season with a finger injury, but yielded just one earned run in 26 glorious innings, posting a microscopic 0.35 ERA and 15 saves.

The Chicago Mules won 102 games, pulling away in September to take a tough Great Plains Division, led by the top offense in the Frontier League. First baseman Jimmie Foxx looked to repeat as MVP, setting several franchise records as he flirted with a Triple Crown, posting an incredible .372/ .493/ .741 slash line, leading the league in batting and homers with 56, while knocking in 139 runs and scoring 161 times. Second baseman Carlos Baerga starred, hitting .342 and slugging .535 while drilling 220 hits, including 45 doubles, 25 homers, and driving in 115 runs. Veteran right fielder Hal McRae hit .327 and slugged .579, smacking 90 extra-base hits, including 55 doubles, 28 homers, and driving in 132 runs. Third baseman Pie Traynor drilled 230 hits, including 43 doubles, while hitting .345 and scoring 118 runs. Southpaw Odalis Perez led a middle-of-the-pack pitching staff, going 16-6 with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Julio Machado led one of the league's deepest bullpens, notching 32 saves with a 3.12 ERA and 107 strikeouts in just 61 innings. The Minneapolis Penguins returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence, notching 96 victories. Center fielder Mike Trout had his usual MVP-caliber season, hitting .337 with a .460 on-base percentage, while blasting 44 jacks, knocking in 113 runs, scoring 137, and swiping 24 of 26 bags. Right fielder Darryl Strawberry hit .282 and slugged .526, drilling 34 homers, driving in 95 runs, and scoring 123 times. Catcher Javy Lopez hit .282 and slugged .501, jacking 24 longballs and plating 73 runs. Righthander Wade Miller went 14-6 with a 3.10 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 192 strikeouts. Closer Aaron Barrett saved 36 games with a 2.89 ERA. The Omaha Falcons were one of the most pleasant surprises in baseball in the first half before their pitching staff was decimated by injuries to Clayton Kershaw, Urban Shocker, and Jeff Tesreau. Omaha jumped out to a 17-3 start on its way to a 94-win season and a playoff bid, as they led the Frontier League with 211 homers. Left fielder Trey Mancini had a monster year, hitting .349 and slugging .594, as he smacked 217 hits, 43 homers, 137 RBI's and scored 111 runs. Joe Pepitone transitioned from first base to center field but didn't miss a beat offensively, hitting .319 with 40 homers, 130 RBI's, and 120 runs scored. Steady right fielder Jim Wynn hit .290 with a .392 on-base percentage, including 37 doubles, 43 homers, 136 runs scored, and 122 RBI's. After a brilliant first two months, Tom Brewer faded down the stretch, finishing with a 12-11 record and a 3.81 ERA. Southpaw Harvey Haddix went 15-10 despite a middling 4.20 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.

The Denver Spikes ran away with the Northwest Division, winning 98 games to take the division title by 14 games, as they topped .500 for the first time in seven seasons. Slugging left fielder Willie Stargell led the Spikes, hitting .361 and slugging .714 as he smacked 83 extra-base hits in 126 games, including 42 homers and knocked in 104 runs. First baseman Ryon Healy hit .345 and slugged .548, drilling 47 doubles, 29 homers, and plated 124 runs. Center fielder Terry Moore hit .302 with 46 doubles, 15 homers, and 85 RBI's. Southpaw Greg Swindell notched a 16-8 mark with a 3.53 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 222 strikeouts. Dick Bosman posted a 14-12 record with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Veteran closer Ken Howell saved 36 games with a 2.26 ERA.

Continental League: The Charlotte Aviators topped 100 wins for the third straight season, winning 108 games to take the Atlantic Division and clinch their sixth straight playoff spot. 40-year-old DH Sherry Magee had a magical season, hitting .312 and slugging .577, ripping 45 doubles and 40 homers as he drove in 141 runs and scored 136 times. First baseman Mark Teixeira hit .312 with a .414 on-base percentage, including 39 doubles, 36 longballs, and drove in 109 runs. Catcher Tony Pena hit .342 , drilling 19 homers and playing 92 runs while scoring 88. Outfielders Matt Stairs and Stan Spence smacked 30 homers apiece, with each topping 100 RBI's. Charlotte also posted a top-three pitching staff, led by southpaw Bob Ojeda, who went 19-5 with a 2.29 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. Red Ames posted a 17-4 mark with a 3.34 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Bob Shawkey sported an 11-6 record with a 3.27 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and fanned 219 batters. The Virginia Beach Admirals, despite losing ace Chris Carpenter on Opening Day, won 100 games behind the league's second-ranked pitching staff. Right fielder Reggie Jackson hit .304 with a .565 slugging percentage, including 35 homers, 88 RBI's, 105 runs scored, and 24 steals. First baseman Eric Hinske hit .313 and slugged .578, smacking 40 doubles, 25 homers, and plating 91 runs. Third baseman Mike Schmidt hit .284 with a .408 on-base percentage, drilling 28 homers, scoring 118 runs, and driving in 92. Crafty southpaw Joe Magrane was brilliant, posting a 14-5 record while setting a franchise record with a 2.10 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP. Veteran Joaquin Andujar went 15-9 with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. The New York Emperors won 93 games, returning to the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. Third baseman David Wright starred, hitting .314 and slugging .516, ripping 46 doubles, 19 homers, knocking in 101 runs while scoring 107, and swiping 26 bags. Right fielder Darryl Motley smacked 29 longballs while driving in 110 runs. Steady shortstop Pee Wee Reese hit .290 with a .404 on-base percentage, while scoring 100 runs Southpaw Steve Avery sported a 12-5 record with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, but was knocked out of the playoffs with a late-season back injury. Journeyman Alejandro Sanabia lodged a 16-10 record with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Veteran Corey Kluber posted a 12-11 mark with a 3.86 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and whiffed 201 hitters. The Jacksonville Gulls snapped a two-year string of missing the playoffs by winning 92 games, thanks to the second-most prolific offense in baseball. Despite losing star left fielder Beals Becker to a broken kneecap in June, the Gulls topped 1,000 runs with their powerful offense. DH Robin Yount hit .365 and slugged .589, drilling 90 extra-base hits, including 56 doubles and 26 homers, while driving in 135 runs and scoring 140. First baseman Jim Thome posted a .303/ .428/ .517 slash line, drilling 37 doubles and 29 homers, with 127 RBI's and 130 runs scored. Right fielder Dan Ford hit .304, while blasting 29 homers and plating 110 runs while scoring 118. Third baseman Robin Ventura hit .304 while jacking 27 longballs and driving in 119 runs. As impressive as Jacksonville's offense was, its pitching was equally lousy, finishing 20th in the league in runs allowed. Ubaldo Jimenez was the best of a bad lot, going 11-7 with a 4.99 ERA, while Dave Rozema went 9-8 with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

The New Orleans Crawfish earned their ninth straight playoff spot, dominating the Southeast Division with a league-leading 110 victories. Center fielder Austin Kearns had a brilliant all-around season, hitting .347 witha .433 on-base percentage, while drilling 39 doubles, 29 homers, driving in 113 runs while scoring 110. Catcher Charles Johnson had a career year, hitting .304 and slugging .588, while ripping 36 jacks and driving in 99 runs. Left fielder Tommy Davis and second sacker Omar Infante each hit .323 with 22 steals, with Davis launching 23 homers, driving in 98 runs, and Infante drilling 17 homers and knocking in 91 runs. Righthander Stan Coveleski went 19-6 with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP with 204 strikeouts. Southpaw Wilbur Cooper went 13-10 with a 3.53 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and whiffed 235 hitters. The Atlanta Ducks finished a distant second in the Southeast Division with 96 wins. DH Hank Greenberg hit .296 and slugged .562, including 46 doubles, 39 homers, and drove in a career-high 138 runs while scoring 121 runs. Left fielder Mike Young hit .295 and slugged .539, smacking 36 longballs and driving in 98 runs. Right fielder Rusty Staub, a free agent signee, hit .289 with 27 round-trippers and 129 RBI's. Southpaw Mel Parnell was the lone bright spot on an otherwise middling pitching staff, going 17-4 with a 2.36 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 196 whiffs.

The El Paso Armadillos earned their fifth straight postseason appearance, winning the Texas Division with 94 wins, as they led baseball with 245 homers. Defending MVP Joe DiMaggio set franchise records with 48 homers and 151 RBI's, while hitting .311 and slugging .624. First baseman Rafael Palmeiro hit .292 with 42 homers and 106 RBI's, while DH Rougned Odor blasted 41 jacks and drove in 110 runs. Catcher Victor Martinez continued his late-career renaissance, hitting .310 and slugging .496, with 22 longballs and drove in 72 runs. Righthander James Paxton posted a 15-8 record with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Javier Vazquez sported a 13-9 mark with a 3.59 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 253 strikeouts. Closer Brayan Villareal saved 27 games while yielding a 2.08 ERA.

The Phoenix Lizards made their fifth straight postseason appearance, dominating the Southwest Division with 106 wins and the highest-scoring offense in baseball. Eight regulars topped .300, with third baseman Carlos Guillen hitting .369 and slugging .593, ripping 224 hits, including 48 doubles, 14 triples, 20 homers, and driving in 117 runs. Second baseman Jim Viox hit .351, leading baseball with 59 doubles, while driving in and scoring 100 runs. Catcher Pat Borders hit .311 with 23 round-trippers and 100 RBI's in just 124 games. Left fielder Clyde Milan hit .345 with a .433 on-base percentage, leading baseball with 170 runs scored and 95 steals, leading the league for the third straight season. Southpaw Cliff Lee led a workmanlike pitching staff, going 17-7 with a 3.96 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and fanning 185 hitters. Veterans Henderson Alvarez and Jim Hughes won 16 games apiece, with Alvarez notching a 4.14 ERA and Hughes posting a 4.65 ERA. Closer Taijuan Walker won 8 games and saved 25, yielding a 2.57 ERA with 83 strikeouts in just 63 innings.

Best season in team history: Detroit Purple Gang (110 wins); New Orleans Crawfish (110 wins); Phoenix Lizards (106 wins)

Worst season in team history: Cleveland Rocks (58 wins); Portland Skunks (55 wins); Hartford Huskies (55 wins); Washington Ambassadors (45 wins)