[Dukie98]

Frontier League: The Boston Minutemen coasted to their fourth straight division title, winning 99 games to take the Northeast Division by 17 games. Although their offense was slightly less dominant than in past seasons (perhaps due to losing Joe DiMaggio to a knee injury after 49 games), Boston's pitching staff was stronger than expected. Boston finished second in the Frontier League in runs scored with 937, and led the league with 233 homers. Nolan Arenado had another MVP-caliber season, hitting .358 and slugging .639 with 88 extra-base hits, including 33 homers, to go with 114 RBI's and 139 runs scored. First baseman Ernie Banks hit .309 and slugged .604, bopping 50 homers and driving in 149 runs. Right fielder Moises Alou hit .318 with 37 longballs and 110 RBI's. Righthander Jim Tobin went 13-8 with a 3.70 ERA. Bob Spade went 17-9 despite a bloated 5.23 ERA.

The Detroit Purple Gang returned to the postseason after a two-year hiatus, narrowly winning the Great Lakes Division with 95 wins. Although the Purple Gang ranked 20th in the Frontier League in homers, they nonetheless finished 6th in the league in runs scored. Center fielder Ken Henderson starred, hitting .348 with 46 doubles, 28 homers and 114 RBI's. First baseman Gail Hopkins hit .315 with 32 homers and 112 RBI's. Shortstop Francisco Lindor hit .280, drilling 30 homers and plating 114 runs. Detroit's pitching staff starred, allowing the fewest runs in the Frontier League. Southpaw Frank Papish went 19-9 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Bob Shirley went 16-5 (including a 12-0 start), ending the year with 299 career wins, as well as a 3.29 ERA. The Ottawa Parliamentarians had the best year in team history, winning 92 games -- a 22-game improvement over 2034 -- and making the playoffs for just the second time in team history. First baseman Frank Thomas starred, posting a .341/ .456/ .671 slash line, while drilling 52 homers and driving in a league-best 155 runs. Shortstop Tim Anderson had a breakout season, hitting .328 with 39 doubles, 23 homers, 104 RBI's, and 25 steals. Center fielder Ian Happ clubbed 36 homers and drove in 104 runs. Chappie McFarland led a no-name pitching staff, going 15-9 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Fireballer Lee Smith led one of the deepest bullpens in the league, posting 25 saves with a 2.51 ERA.

The Chicago Mules looked like the best team in baseball for four months, then narrowly avoided a historic collapse. The Mules slumped to a 15-34 record from early August through the last week of the season before a season-ending sweep of Milwaukee to salvage the Great Plains Division title with 90 wins. The Mules ranked just 20th in the Frontier League in runs scored, but narrowly missed having the strongest pitching staff in the league. Right fielder Augie Bergamo hit .343 with a .440 on-base percentage, including 44 doubles, 11 homers and 82 RBI's. Left fielder Gene Clines hit .360, leading the league with 237 hits and 15 triples, while scoring 103 runs. Center fielder Gorman Thomas popped a team-high 26 homers and drove in 69 runs despite an abysmal .204 average. Righthander Bob Moose put together another Cy Young-caliber season, going 15-10 with a 2.77 ERA, a league-best 1.03 WHIP, and 225 strikeouts. Closer Roy Parmelee notched 34 saves with a 1.57 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. The Omaha Falcons overcame an early-season slump to win 13 of their final 18 games to sneak into the playoffs with 88 wins. Veteran catcher Gabby Hartnett hit .289 with 29 homers and 97 RBI's, while ageless right fielder Cliff Heathcote hit .297 with 46 doubles, 27 round-trippers and 115 RBI's. Left fielder Bob Bescher set the table, hitting .304 with a .443 on-base percentage, stole 44 of 52 bases, and scored 119 runs. Righthander Don Aase went 15-13 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP, while Bill James posted a 15-9 record with a 3.99 ERA.

The Seattle Whales rode a hot start and a blistering finish to take the Northwest Division with 97 wins. Seattle led the Frontier League with 939 runs and a .370 team on-base percentage. Center fielder Lee Mazzilli starred, hitting .363 with a .458 on-base percentage, 40 doubles, 34 homers, 133 runs scored, and 124 RBI's. Veteran rightfielder Sherry Magee hit .293 with 33 homers, 121 RBI's, and 25 steals. Third baseman Milt Stock hit .313 with 213 hits, including 42 doubles, 14 homers, 121 runs scored, and 33 steals. Junkballer Brad Bergesen posted a 17-8 record with a 3.13 ERA. Al Benton recovered from an early-season injury to notch an 11-2 record with a 3.91 ERA. The Portland Skunks used their customary late season run, including a 13-game winning streak in mid-September, to win 94 games. Left fielder Mike Easler had a career season, hitting .340 with 42 homers and 114 RBI's. First baseman Jeff Bagwell hit .305 with 44 round-trippers and drove in 115 runs. Right fielder Cliff Floyd hit .304 and slugged .591, popping 35 homers, driving in 114 runs, and swiping 48 bags. Portland's pitching staff ranked third in the league, as southpaw Mark Thurmond went 16-11 with a 3.37 ERA, and righthander Denny McLain sported a 16-9 record with 188 strikeouts. Closer Rube Vickers saved 36 games while yielding a 2.24 ERA. The Vancouver Viceroys returned to the postseason after a four-year absence, winning 90 games despite finishing below .500 from June 1 onward. Second baseman Rougned Odor dominated offensively, hitting .300 and slugging .643 with 44 homers and 124 RBI's in just 121 games. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen hit .300 with a .402 on-base percentage, smacking 29 homers, driving in 89 runs, while scoring 109 runs and stealing 46 bases. Shortstop Aledmys Diaz hit .338 with 14 homers and 72 RBI's, while rookie catcher Charles Johnson drilled 20 longballs and drove in 66 runs in just 323 at bats. Southpaw Dennys Reyes paced a better-than-expected pitching staff by going 15-7 with a 3.05 ERA, while Jeremy Hellickson went 12-12 with a 4.02 ERA and 195 strikeouts. The Denver Spikes missed the postseason by one game after a 9-18 September swoon left them with 87 wins. Slugging right fielder Dave Robertson hit .325 with 53 homers and 154 RBI's. Second baseman John Knight hit .329 with a .424 on-base percentage, including 43 doubles, 22 homers, 88 RBI's, and stole 46 of 50 bases. Chris Reitsma went 16-12 with a 3.03 ERA, while closer Chick Brandom appeared likely to win his third Reliever of the Year Award after posting a league-best 45 saves with a 1.37 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.

Continental League: The Washington Ambassadors had a strong second half, seizing control of the Atlantic Division in the final week of the season to take their fifth straight division title with 100 wins. Washington set a HRDL record with an incredible 305 homers, as four players topped 40 homers, and four more topped 25 longballs. Right fielder George Hendrick hit .302 with 42 homers and a team-high 133 RBI's. First baseman Lee Stevens hit .296 with 47 jacks and 129 RBI's. Third baseman Willie Jones and left fielder Gus Zernial combined for 85 round-trippers and 228 RBI's. But center fielder Johnny Groth had the best all-around season of them all, hitting .334 with 38 doubles, 27 homers, 100 walks, and 125 runs scored. On the mound, Henderson Alvarez went 20-7 with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Southpaw Ricky Romero went 16-7 with a 3.78 ERA before being sidelined by a back injury in mid-September. The Hartford Huskies led the division for most of the season, winning a franchise record 98 games despite playing .500 ball for the last two months. Center fielder Tris Speaker was an MVP favorite, after hitting a franchise-record .376 with a .475 on-base percentage, including 60 doubles, 16 triples, 19 homers, 125 RBI's, 135 runs scored, and 75 steals- plus elite defense. First baseman Justin Bour built on his Rookie-of-the-Year campaign from 2034, hitting .346 and setting several franchise records of his own, by slugging .654 with 52 longballs, 155 RBI's, and 140 runs scored - including 35 second-half homers. Hartford's pitching staff sparkled, ranking second in the Continental League in runs allowed. Southpaw Steve Barber led baseball in victories while posting a 21-8 record, a 2.99 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 212 strikeouts. Chris Carpenter posted a sparkling 20-5 record of his own, leading baseball with a 2.44 ERA, while posting a 1.02 whip and 186 strikeouts before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in late August. Closer Chris LeRoux saved 34 games while yielding a 2.10 ERA.

The New Orleans Crawfish did not miss a beat despite the offseason departure of All-Star third baseman Manny Machado, winning 97 games to take the Southeast Division, making the playoffs for the twelfth time in fifteen seasons. The Crawfish led baseball with 972 runs, and finished second in the Continental League with 253 round-trippers. Center fielder Hank Lieber made a splash, hitting .324 with 43 homers and a franchise-record 146 RBI's. Right fielder Yasiel Puig hit .310, popping 40 homers and driving in 129 runs while scoring 119 times. Rookie Max Alvis ably filled Machado's sizable shoes, hitting .314 and slugging .519 with 30 longballs, 108 RBI's, and 18 steals. Left fielder Tommy Davis set the table, hitting .325 with 211 hits, including 41 doubles, 27 homers, 81 RBI's, and 132 runs scored. New Orleans advanced despite a subpar rotation, led by Joe Presko and John Montefusco, who combined for a 28-15 record despite both posting ERA's over 5.00, with Presko surrendering 50 homers in just 230 innings. Closer Terry Adams led a strong bullpen, posting an 11-4 mark with 34 saves and a 2.67 ERA. The Ducks narrowly held off the 94-win Atlanta Ducks. Left fielder Jim Greengrass hit at a .309 clip with 41 longballs and 138 RBI's, while right fielder Gary Roenicke matched him, hitting .304 with 38 homers and 139 RBI's. Third baseman Ken Reits hit .321, blasting 24 homers and driving in 84 runs. Adam Jones patrolled center field while having a career season at the plate, hitting .301 with 34 homers and plating 108 runs. Ed Walsh led a solid pitching staff, going 17-8 with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP, while Paul Toth tallied 19 wins despite a middling 4.19 ERA. The Miami Flamingos rode a terrific first half to their first playoff spot in 15 years, winning 87 games despite a 41-48 second half record. The Flamingos were led offensively by second sacker Jose Vidro, who hit .346 with 43 doubles, 33 homers and 120 RBI's, and right fielder Frank Robinson, who set a franchise record with 47 homers and drove in 137 runs while hitting .294. Center fielder Kevin Kiermeier hit .279 and slugged .517, including 23 homers and 89 RBI's, before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in mid-September. Carl Druhot led the pitching staff, going 12-10 with a 4.14 ERA, while Joe Grahe went 12-7 with a 4.41 ERA.

The Dallas Wildcatters won their third straight Texas Division title with 89 wins on the strength of a league-best pitching staff that allowed just 692 runs. Offensively, they were led by left fielder Mike Greenwell, who hit .333 and slugged .543, with 28 homers, 115 RBI's, and 30 steals. Third baseman Brook Jacoby popped 31 homers and drove in 118 runs. First baseman Chick Gandil hit .337 with 51 doubles and scored 104 runs. Righthander Hank Borowy posted a 17-13 mark with a 3.52 ERA and 251 whiffs. David Palmer sported a 14-8 record with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Red Ames went 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA. Dallas edged out the Austin Mustangs by one game, as Austin won 88 games to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons. First baseman Mo Vaughn dominated offensively, hitting .330 with a .618 slugging percentage, launching 45 jacks and driving in a franchise-record 151 runs. Left fielder Bob Johnson smacked 43 homers, drove in 110 runs, and scored 121. Catcher Keith Moreland hit .325 and slugged .532, bopping 22 homers and driving in 93 runs. Second baseman Ryne Sandberg hit .288 with 38 doubles, 26 homers, 75 RBI's, 121 runs scored, and 32 steals. George Susce led a workmanlike pitching staff, going 13-9 with a 4.08 ERA. Charlie Puleo went 10-5 despite a subpar 5.30 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. The Houston Pythons won 86 games, and they were edged out for the final wild card spot by the Flamingos by a single game. They were led offensively by left fielder Larry Hisle, who hit .346 and slugged .682, setting franchise records with 53 round-trippers and 146 RBI's. Three other Pythons (center fielder Ryan Thompson, first baseman Adam LaRoche, and right fielder Eddie Rosario) each smacked over 40 homers. Crafty southpaw Jerry Reuss posted a 20-7 record with a 3.45 ERA, while Rick Wise went 17-9 with a 4.75 ERA.

The Los Angeles Kangaroos ran away with the Southwest Division, winning 107 games to take the division by 23 games, scoring a HRDL-best 972 runs and posting a team .296 average. Shortstop Corey Seager starred, hitting .331 with 40 doubles, 33 homers and 133 RBI's. Right fielder Ron Northey had a career year, hitting .320 with 37 homers and 142 RBI's. Third baseman Frank Baker rallied from a slow start to hit .322 with a .545 slugging percentage, including 30 homers, 107 RBI's, 128 runs scored, and 22 steals. Second sacker Jerry Priddy hit .308 with a .416 on-base percentage, including 16 homers and 82 RBI's. Nap Rucker led a deep pitching staff, posting a 16-7 mark with a 3.61 ERA and 208 strikeouts. Closer Mark Clear notched 7 wins with 39 saves, sporting a 2.47 ERA and struck out 98 batters in 69 innings. The defending champion Albuquerque Conquistadors won 84 games, falling just short of the last wild card slot. Once again, Albuquerque posted a potent offense, finishing third in the HRDL with 960 runs scored. Third baseman Manny Machado had a monster season after signing as a free agent, hitting .344 and slugging .709, blasting 55 homers and driving in 129 runs in just 137 games. First baseman George Brett hit .303 with 49 doubles, 36 round-trippers and drove in 117 runs while scoring 132 times. Slugging catcher Tex Erwin pounded 43 longballs while plating 113 runs. Righthander Bob Gibson led an otherwise-mediocre pitching staff, going 16-4 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.