[Dukie98]

Frontier League: The Buffalo Fighting Elk upgraded substantially to a 91-win team in the offseason, adding defending Cy Young Award winner Don Wilson, Jordan Zimmermann, and slugging shortstop Tom Tresh, and the new additions did not disappoint, leading Buffalo to a franchise-record 108 wins and the Northeast Division title. Buffalo was led offensively by first baseman Don Hurst, who hit .333 with 45 doubles, 36 homers and 131 RBI's, and by third baseman Eric Chavez, who hit .290 while popping 36 homers and plating 115 runs. Tresh drilled 23 homers and drove in 109 runs, while second sacker John Knight hit .322 and slugged .508, drilling 52 doubles, 21 homers, and scoring 135 runs. Wilson led the league's top pitching staff, which allowed just 571 runs on the season, posting a 19-7 mark and leading the league with a 1.96 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and 286 strikeouts, and he appeared to be a shoo-in for his fourth straight Cy Young Award. Zimmermann went 17-5 with a 2.87 ERA, while closer Gregg Olson added 36 saves with a 2.45 ERA. Buffalo was pressed by the Baltimore Robins, who set a franchise record of their own with 104 wins, including an incredible 61-23 start. The Robins led the Frontier League with 881 runs scored, as seven players popped at least 20 homers, led by catcher Gary Sanchez, who hit .286 and slugged .613, blasting 47 homers and driving in 133 runs. Right fielder Hal McRae hit .338 and slugged .597, popping 47 doubles and 33 homers, while scoring 129 runs and driving in 116. Kelly Johnson hit .307 with 33 homers, 114 runs scored, and 96 RBI's while splitting time between second and third base. Center fielder Ken Henderson hit .343 with 42 doubles, 20 homers, and 105 runs scored despite missing nearly all of September with a groin injury. Ace Randy Johnson went 17-2 with a 2.96 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 245 strikeouts, while Jeff Tesreau notched a 16-5 mark with a 2.54 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Closer Jack Baldschun notched a league-leading 39 saves with a solid 3.00 ERA. The Boston Minutemen returned to the postseason after a disappointing 79-win 2036 season, finishing with 97 wins while finishing second in the league in runs scored. Center fielder Joe DiMaggio hit .286 with 37 homers and 129 RBI's, but would miss the postseason after fracturing his wrist in the final week of the season. Third baseman Nolan Arenado hit .291 with 36 homers and 124 RBI's. Right fielder Cliff Floyd hit .284 with 30 homers, 85 RBI's, 138 runs scored, and 51 steals. Boston's pitching staff was a pleasant surprise, ranking fourth in the Frontier League in runs allowed. Knuckleballer Wilbur Wood had a career season, going 17-5 with a 3.20 ERA, while Jeff James posted a 15-8 mark with a 3.78 ERA in his first season with the club. Closer Frank Bertaina notched 31 saves with a 1.89 ERA. The Pittsburgh Golden Gorillas snuck into the playoffs with 83 wins, believed to be the lowest win total for a wild card team in league history, after rallying from a 25-36 start. Pittsburgh led the league with a .281 team batting average and 172 steals. Third baseman Bill Madlock won the batting title, hitting .361 with 48 doubles, 26 homers, 101 RBI's, 127 runs scored, and 42 steals. First baseman Johnny Mize hit .287 with 31 homers and 108 RBI's, while shortstop Scott Brosius and right fielder Chet Laabs pounded 32 round-trippers apiece. Pete Redfern paced a subpar pitching staff, going 9-10 with a respectable 3.73 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Alex Wood went 12-9 despite a mediocre 4.24 ERA and a bloated 1.40 WHIP. The Montreal Knights were in postseason contention until the final day of the year, falling just short with 82 wins. Right fielder Al Cowens led the Knights with 43 homers and 145 RBI's while hitting .317, while first baseman Joe Judge hit .342 with 29 longballs and 110 RBI's. Jack Coombs led the league in victories, posting a 22-8 mark with a 2.81 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and 231 strikeouts.

The defending league champion Ottawa Parliamentarians rallied from a 11-19 start to take the Great Lakes Division with an uninspiring 85-77 mark. Defending MVP Frank Thomas led the way with a huge second half, hitting .322 with 47 homers, 141 RBI's, and 121 walks. Shortstop Tim Anderson hit .309 with 24 homers, 30 steals, 80 RBI's, and 108 runs scored. Center fielder Ian Happ popped 27 homers, drove in 90 runs, and scored 98 runs. Dick Tidrow led a balanced, if unspectacular, pitching staff, going 15-8 with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The Toronto Predators, despite losing star outfielder Minnie Minoso in free agency, finished above .500 for the first time in eight seasons, falling just one game shy of the playoffs with 82 wins. Right fielder Chuck Klein hit .307 with 38 round-trippers and 131 RBI's, and first baseman Earl Torgeson drilled 36 longballs and drove in 109 runs while drawing 130 walks. Beany Jacobson led an underwhelming pitching staff, going 10-10 with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.

The Milwaukee Raccoons were a surprise winner of the Great Plains Division, coasting to the title with 90 wins despite a 19-27 start. Right fielder Larry Walker looked to add another MVP trophy to his mantle, hitting .348 with 93 extra-base hits, tying his franchise record with 49 homers and leading the league with 146 RBI's, while stealing 36 bases. First baseman Chris Parmelee hit .305 with 30 homers and drove in 105 runs. Center fielder Eric Davis hit .289 with 26 longballs and 29 steals, while driving in 79 runs in just 114 games. Southpaw Dave Fleming notched a 13-9 record with a 3.70 ERA, while closer Brad Lesley posted 31 saves and a 2.26 ERA. The Chicago Mules snuck into the postseason with 83 wins with their traditionally strong pitching staff and slap-hitting offense. First baseman Eddie Murray led the way offensively, hitting .291 with 34 homers and 109 RBI's. Center fielder Bobby Tolan hit .317 with 48 doubles, 13 homers, 80 RBI's, and 17 steals. Righthander Chris Tillman went 12-11 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, while Oscar Judd went 10-6 with a solid 3.48 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. The Kansas City Mad Hatters missed the playoffs by a game, posting 82 wins, and extending their playoff drought to a full decade. Left fielder Kal Daniels starred, hitting .317 with 37 homers, 106 RBI's, 133 runs scored, and 67 steals. Center fielder Kirk Gibson hit .309 with 36 homers, 109 RBI's, and 21 steals. Veteran Don Drysdale paced an otherwise subpar staff, going 10-7 with a 3.28 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP; John Fulgham, a 21-game winner for Ottawa last year, signed with the Mad Hatters in free agency and lasted only 2 innings before blowing out his UCL.

The Seattle Whales made the playoffs for the seventh straight season, easily taking the Northwest Division title with 95 wins. Rookie catcher David Ross starred, hitting .284 with 32 homers and 125 RBI's. Center fielder Lee Mazzilli hit .312 with a .413 on-base percentage, ripping 57 doubles, 16 homers, 98 RBI's and scoring 107 runs. Left fielder Byron Browne hit .286 with 25 round-trippers and 93 RBI's. Jim Shaw led a balanced pitching staff, going 17-8 with a 3.83 ERA. Southpaw Mickey Mahler posted a 14-8 mark with a 3.45 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and 192 strikeouts. Art Mahaffey sported a hard-luck 15-16 record despite a strong 3.69 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The powerful Vancouver Viceroys were one of four Frontier League squads to miss the wild card by a single game, as they won 82 games. Second baseman Rougned Odor led baseball with 60 homers, while hitting .292 with 142 RBI's. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen hit .324 with 39 doubles, 32 homers, 98 RBI's, and 41 steals. Southpaw Dallas Keuchel was their most effective hurler, going 8-2 with a 3.46 ERA and 1.17 WHIP despite multiple stints on the disabled list.

Continental League: The defending champion Hartford Huskies returned to their fourth straight postseason, narrowly taking the Atlantic Division with 89 wins. Star center fielder Tris Speaker had another MVP-caliber season, winning his third straight batting title by hitting .359, while slugging .640, including 52 doubles, 14 triples, and a career-high 30 homers, while stealing 61 bases and scoring 141 runs. First baseman Justin Bour hit .300 with 38 homers and 97 RBI's, while right fielder Ron Northey hit .286 with 29 round-trippers and a team-high 120 RBIs. Southpaw Steve Barber had no letdown from his brilliant 2036 postseason, as he went 20-6 with a 3.19 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and fanned 208 hitters. After missing the playoffs last year, the Washington Ambassadors returned to the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years, winning 87 games. Washington ranked second in the Continental League with 223 homers, as left fielder Gus Zernial smashed 50 homers while driving in 130 runs. Right fielder George Hendrick hit .298 with 39 homers and 123 RBI's. Third baseman Willie Jones lashed 35 longballs while driving in 105 runs and drawing 95 walks. Center fielder Johnny Groth hit .305 while ripping 42 doubles, 23 homers, and scoring 117 runs. Franklin Morales anchored the staff, going 15-12 with a 3.96 ERA, while closer Chris Short had perhaps the finest season of his brilliant career, notching 41 saves, and setting career bests with a 0.75 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP, allowing a lone homer in 72 innings. The New York Emperors flirted with a return trip to the playoffs, but fell just short, winning 84 games. Center fielder Johnny Mostil hit .285 with 44 doubles, 27 homers, 122 RBI's, and 35 steals, while third baseman David Wright hit .289 with 47 doubles, 29 homers, 119 RBI's, and swiped 43 bags. Junkballer Paul Splittorff went 16-7 with a solid 3.71 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.

The Atlanta Ducks earned their sixth straight playoff spot, winning the Southeast Division with 93 victories. Atlanta's explosive offense ranked first in the Continental League with 228 homers and second in runs scored. Left fielder Jim Greengrass hit .311 with 48 homers and 147 RBI's. Veteran second baseman Roberto Alomar hit .319 and slugged .471, ripping 49 doubles, 13 homers, swiping 24 bags, and scoring 114 runs. Shortstop Jose Hernandez ripped 31 homers, 11 triples, and drove in 116 runs. The Miami Flamingos qualified for their third straight playoff spot, winning 91 games. Second baseman Jose Vidro hit .347 with 54 doubles, 17 homers, 98 RBI's, and 109 runs scored. DH Frank Catalanotto hit .334 with a league-high 232 hits, including 48 doubles, 26 homers, and 111 RBI's. Left fielder Bob Cerv ripped 31 jacks with 123 RBI's, while right fielder Frank Robinson popped 28 round-trippers with 80 RBI's in just 116 games. Southpaw Carl Druhot won a team-high 15 games despite a middling 4.42 ERA. Closer Dave LaRoche notched 39 saves with a 2.26 ERA and 102 strikeouts. The New Orleans Crawfish made the playoffs for the fourteenth time in the last seventeen years. Six Crawfish hit at least 20 homers. Third baseman Dave Hollins ripped 37 homers and drove in 113 runs. Center fielder Hank Lieber hit .296 with 32 homers and plated 120 runs. Left fielder Tommy Davis hit .324 with 219 hits, including 35 doubles, 24 homers, and he scored 105 runs. First baseman Don Mattingly hit .318 with 43 doubles, 27 homers, and 115 RBI's. Second sacker Jose Altuve hit .337 and scored 101 runs in just 119 games. Veteran Ed Walsh went 12-4 with a 3.20 and a 1.00 ERA. Joe Presko posted an 18-10 mark despite a pedestrian 4.72 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

The Oklahoma City Otters were an out-of-nowhere winner of the Texas Division, as they jumped from 75 to 86 wins. Third baseman Leo Gomez exploded, hitting .302 while leading the Continental League with 53 homers and driving in 133 runs. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez hit .307 with 32 round-trippers, while stealing 55 bases, scoring 131 runs, and driving in 125. Midseason acquisition Ralph Garr hit .341 and ripped 23 doubles while scoring 35 runs and driving in 33 in 50 games. Jack Warhop led a middle-of-the-pack pitching staff, going 12-12 with a 4.48 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Mike Paxton paced the Otters with a 13-10 record, despite a 4.70 ERA.

The Los Angeles Kangaroos won their third straight division title, taking the Southwest Division with 101 victories, despite losing southpaw Nap Rucker for the season in spring training. Third baseman Frank Baker led a deep and balanced lineup, hitting .335 with 38 homers, 123 RBI's, 125 runs scored, and 22 steals. Shortstop Corey Seager hit .311 with a .390 on-base percentage, ripping 19 homers and driving in 90 runs. Outfielders Matt Stairs, Adam Jones, and Jack Clark combined for 76 homers. Free agent acquisition Smoky Joe Wood rallied from a slow start to post an 18-6 record with a 3.36 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 237 strikeouts. Righthander Steve Woodard sported a 17-8 record with a 3.36 ERA. Ricky Romero and Rich Gale won 15 games apiece, while closer Greg McMichael saved 35 games with a 2.03 ERA. The San Diego Zookeepers were one of the most pleasant surprises of the season, winning 94 games. First baseman Dick Burrus hit .316 and slugged .516, with 50 doubles, 13 homers, 16 homers, 104 RBI's, and 103 runs scored. DH George Stovall hit .339 with 45 doubles, 9 homers, and 73 RBI's. Shortstop Luis Aguayo bopped 37 homers with 104 RBI's, while right fielder Carlos Peguero drilled 34 homers and drove in 120 runs. On the mound, Rick Porcello posted a 17-8 mark, with a 3.94 ERA. Closer Jason Christiansen saved 33 games while sporting a 1.29 ERA. The Anaheim Antelopes returned to the postseason with 92 wins. Center fielder Dale Murphy hit .286 with 44 homers and 111 RBI's, while DH David Murphy popped 20 longballs and drove in 108 runs. Anaheim allowed the second-fewest runs in the league, led by southpaw Frank Tanana, who went just 15-14 despite a 3.23 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and 282 strikeouts. Randy Wells went 13-11 with a 3.76 ERA. Clay Bryant anchored the league's strongest bullpen, notching a league-high 41 saves with a 1.64 ERA. The Las Vegas Aces narrowly missed returning to the playoffs for the first time in six years, winning 86 games. Left fielder Minnie Minoso rewrote the franchise record book by hitting .348 and slugging .667; he also hit 43 homers and drove in 128 runs. Right fielder Willie Horton hit .286 with 38 longballs and 107 RBI's. Matt Harrison posted a 13-9 mark with a stellar 2.60 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.