Alltime Baseball League

[G-Force]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Go Hitmen!

Hey KC, good to see you! Hope all is well!

Your Hitmen are being allowed to stick around in the division nobody wants!

GH

[G-Force]

SEPTEMBER 18, 2026

Orlando 16, Louisville 0. A day after being on the receiving end of a 14-6 drubbing, the Orcas batter Eddie Cicotte and the Thoroughbreds, getting homers from Jeff Bagwell (27), Jim Edmonds (8) and rookie Martin Dihigo (4) to support Jim O'Toole, who hurled a complete game, 3-hit shutout for his ninth victory.

New York 1, St. Louis 0. Arky Vaughan's first inning sacrifice fly provided the only offense Dean Chance (13-6, 4.00) would need as the Heroes topped the Steamers and Satchel Paige, who fought control issues but allowed only the unearned run and four hits over 7 1/3. Randy Myers earned his 16th save for New York.

Charlotte 7, Chicago 3. Sandy Koufax won his 14th despite laboring through 5 1/3 and Aroldis Chapman earned a six out save, his 16th, as the Cougars knocked around Bill Sherdel and the Hitmen in Chicago. Rookie Andruw Jones hit his 30th for Chicago in the loss.

Memphis 7, Columbus 1. The Sounds got a three-run triple from Jose Cardenal and 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball from David Palmer, who won his 12th in defeating the Crushers.

Around the League: Denver's Willie McCovey hit two homers and drove in three to give him 31 and 104, respectively, moving him into the Western League RBI lead, one ahead of reigning MVP Billy Williams of Portland. Memphis announced that ace Chris Sale (18-8, 2.38) is done for the regular season with a calf strain. Assuming they win the Eastern League South - their magic number is now 4 - they hope Sale will be ready to go for the postseason. Seattle's Corey Kluber was knocked around for 6 runs over 4 2/3, raising his ERA to 2.63 and dropping him to second behind teammate Eppa Rixey, who's at 2.61.

[G-Force]

SEPTEMBER 19, 2026

Louisville 9, Chicago 3. In a series that could well decide the division, the Thoroughbreds picked apart Al Downing (9-5, 4.65) in the opener, notching 13 hits to support Denny McLain (12-7, 4.51) and take the series opener. Roger Connor hit his 24th homer and Xander Bogaerts drove in a pair for Louisville. Cal Ripken hit his 13th for Chicago in the loss.

New York 8, Columbus 6. Luke Easter smacked his 14th home run of the season and George Scott drove in a pair to push him past the 100 RBI plateau for the first time as the Heroes roughed up Chief Bender (9-10, 4.09). Bruce Ruffin won his 9th for New York. Johnny Mize's hitting streak reached 24, tied for the longest in the league this season.

Around the league: Memphis trimmed its magic number to 2 with a 3-2 win over Charlotte in 12 innings. Fred Pfeffer broke the tie with a single off Bill Campbell...Rickey Henderson stole two bases in the game to give him 66, one shy of Ty Cobb's ABL record...Portland's Billy Williams drove in a pair to reclaim the Western League RBI lead from Denver's Willie McCovey, 105-104.

[G-Force]

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026

Chicago 8, Louisville 3. It's been a rough two years for 3-time MVP Mickey Mantle, prompting speculation that, at 28, he'll never return to his peak form as a result of back injuries. But his first-inning grand slam sparked the Hitmen to a needed victory in game two of the pivotal three-game set, bringing them back within a game of the Thoroughbreds for the division title. Mantle's homer, only his 8th of the season, came off 16-game winner Francisco Liriano, who didn't make it out of the second.

New York 8, Columbus 6. The Heroes aren't done yet, and Luke Easter is attempting to will them to the finish line. Easter stayed hot, belting his 15th homer and reaching base all five times, driving in 5 runs in an 11-10 slugfest victory over Columbus to bring New York within two games of Louisville with 7 games remaining. In the first two games of the series, Easter is 5-for-7 with 2 homers, 7 RBI and 3 walks. Columbus' Johnny Mize went 1-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 25 games and making it the longest in the ABL this season. The record is 31 games, set by Ty Cobb in his remarkable 2022 campaign that saw him set the ABL batting mark at .414.

Around the league: Alabama's Bruce Sutter saved his 25th of the season, matching his mark from last year. Remarkably, that leads the ABL this season, though it would be only the 41st highest save total in league history...Memphis topped Charlotte again, 6-5, cutting their magic number to 1 for the Eastern League South division title...it's been an injury-riddled season for Phoenix's Todd Helton, whose string of four straight 100-RBI seasons will end. But Phoenix can be hopeful for next season and a return to form, as the 2024 Western League MVP has posted a 1.016 OPS thus far in September.

[G-Force]

SEPTEMBER 21, 2026

Louisville 6, Chicago 3. The Thoroughbreds took the rubber match of the three-game set and put a significant dent in the Hitmen's plans to overtake them for the division title. Brian Giles had four hits, driving in two, and Johan Santana threw six solid innings before three scoreless innings of one-hit ball from Dan Plesac and Darren O'Day to seal the victory. Louisville led 5-0, getting to Ron Darling, before a Cal Ripken RBI double in the fifth and Jackie Jensen's solo shot, his 26th, in the sixth.

New York 11, Columbus 7. The Heroes rallied back from a 6-0 deficit to score 11 runs over the final five innings, including four in the ninth to break a 7-7 tie, complete a three-game sweep and stay within striking distance of Louisville at two games back. Frank Schulte hit his 25th homer of the season and George Scott crushed his 36th, a three-run shot in the ninth. Columbus' Johnny Mize went 1-for-5, pushing his hitting streak to 26. If he gets a hit in each of the six games remaining he would break the record of 31 held by Ty Cobb.

Around the league: Memphis defeated Charlotte, 10-5, on the strength of four home runs to clinch the Eastern League South division title for the second straight year. Rickey Henderson stole his 67th base of the season, tying Ty Cobb's record set in 2021. He has six games left to set the record...New York rookie Ross Barnes stole his 50th base, becoming only the fifth player in ABL history to reach the mark: Ty Cobb (4), Tim Raines, Honus Wagner and Henderson are the others.

[G-Force]

SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

Louisville 4, Memphis 3. In what looks like a preview of the Eastern League Championship Series for the second straight year, Louisville takes the opener on the strength of three homers, including Xander Bogaerts' game-winner in the top of the 9th off Rich Hill. Brian Giles (14) and Ben Oglivie (17) also homered for the Thoroughbreds. Elmer Smith (18), Bill Freehan (16) and Judy Johnson (36) went deep with solo shots for Memphis.

Chicago 7, Alabama 4. Billy Pierce battled through 8 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) to win his 15th as the Hitmen held off the Slammers on the strength of a 7-run second inning against Noodles Hahn, who lost his 14th. Larry Parrish hit his ABL-best 41st homer for Chicago. Octavio Dotel earned his ninth save. Bobby Murcer hit his 21st for Alabama.

Boston 8, New York 3. New York fell behind 4-0 early, got within a run but never caught up as the Riders put a significant dent in the Heroes' postseason hopes. Daniel Murphy hit his 10th and Paul Hines swatted his 18th for Boston.

Around the league: Johnny Mize went hitless in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Charlotte, ending his hitting streak at 26...the loss also eliminated Columbus for playoff contention...New York's Arky Vaughan had two more hits, bringing his Eastern League leading average to .361. This would be Vaughan's second time batting over .360, the other coming seven years ago in 2019 when he batted .362. The only other player to bat .360 or better? Ty Cobb, who has done it three times.

[G-Force]

SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

Louisville 7, Memphis 4. The Thoroughbreds took their second straight from the Sounds, getting another homer from Ben Oglivie (18) as well as one from Al Rosen (11) to back Eddie Cicotte, who won only his 8th game in a dismal season personally (8-14, 5.42). Judy Johnson smashed his 37th for Memphis.

Boston 5, New York 1. Watty Clark (13-8, 3.02) threw 7 1/3 innings of 1-run ball and the Riders used 2-run doubles from Bill Hinchman and Daniel Murphy off loser Dean Chance (13-7, 4.07) in the fifth to all but put the final nail in New York's playoff coffin, their tragic number now down to 1.

Chicago 6, Alabama 1. The newly resurgent Mickey Mantle belted a pair of homers, his 9th and 10th of a largely lost season, to help lift the Hitmen and keep them within striking distance of Louisville. Javy Lopez (1) and Sherry Magee (15) also homered for the Hitmen, who got a complete game six-hitter out of Bill Sherdel (7-12, 4.41). Mantle is batting .316 with 3 homers and 9 RBI over his last 10 games in his second season hindered by injuries.

Around the league: Rickey Henderson stole his 68th base to set a NEW ABL RECORD! Henderson broke the mark of 67 set by Ty Cobb in 2021.

[G-Force]

SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

Louisville 14, Memphis 2. The Thoroughbreds make a statement with a blowout victory to complete the 3-game sweep in Memphis against the team that will be their Eastern League Championship Series opponent, getting a pair of homers from red-hot Brian Giles and seven strong innings from Denny McLain to win his 13th. The Sounds' Ken Holtzman allowed seven runs before being removed with two outs in the fifth.

New York 7, Boston 6. The Heroes rallied back from a 6-2 deficit to score 5 runs over the final three frames, including a walkoff two-run homer from Darryl Strawberry, his second of the day and 19th of the season. But the victory was for naught, as Louisville's victory eliminated New York from playoff contention.

Alabama 4, Chicago 3. The Slammers scored four runs over the first two innings against Al Downing, who settled in afterward. But Jerry Koosman, who allowed a pair to the Hitmen in the first, settled in faster, and the Slammers got stellar relief work from Ben McDonald and Dave Burba to push Chicago to the brink of elimination, their tragic number reduced to 1 with three games left.

Around the league: Orlando's Jeff Bagwell saw his hit streak end at 20 games.

[G-Force]

SEPTEMBER 25, 2026

Chicago 3, St. Louis 0. Needing a win to stay alive, Chicago got a fabulous start from Charlie Leibrandt (8-4 3.69), who threw 7 scoreless innings to outduel the Steamers' Ben Sheets (11-7, 4.12), backed by Lou Gehrig's 31st homer of the season and three more hits from Mickey Mantle. Chicago had an afternoon start, and will retreat to the clubhouse to watch with hope this evening that Louisville falters.

Louisville 7, Columbus 5. Much to Chicago's dismay, the Thoroughbreds wouldn't let the door to the playoffs stay open, mustering the clinching victory after blowing an early 5-0 lead. Dick Dietz (18) and Brian Giles (17) each homered off the Crushers' Ron Guidry and Roger Connor's 5th inning SAC Fly broke a 5-5 tie to put the Thoroughbreds ahead. In relief of Francisco Liriano, Pete Schneider and Koji Uehara combined for five innings of scoreless relief to send the defending champion Thoroughbreds back to the postseason. Giles has a .312/.391/.571 slash line in September with six homers and 18 RBI.

[kenyan_cheena]

[G-Force]

FINAL 2026 STANDINGS & LEADERS

[G-Force]

2026 ABL EASTERN LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES REVIEW

Louisville Thoroughbreds (85-75) vs
Memphis Sounds (90-70)

With four repeat division champions, we necessarily have a pair of repeat League Championship Series! So let's get to it!

Game 1
A tight, 2-1 affair through 5 1/2 blew open in the sixth when Memphis' Joe Harris belted a three-run shot off Thoroughbreds starter Johan Santana to blow it open. It was the second homer Santana allowed, the first a two-run shot to Bill Freehan in the second. Jose Mendez allowed a run over 5 1/3 and gave way to 3 2/3 scoreless innings from J.R. Richard and Ken Holtzman while the Sounds got to Pete Schneider and Francisco Liriano out of the Louisville bullpen to turn Game 1 into a laugher.

Memphis 10, Louisville 1 (Memphis leads series 1-0)

Game 2
When Louisville dealt Lefty O'Doul for pending free agent Eddie Cicotte at the trade deadline, it was for a game like this. Cicotte's final line - four runs over 6 2/3 - doesn't tell the story, as he held Memphis scoreless through five before wearing down in the sixth. In the meantime, Louisville was putting together a 14-hit attack against David Palmer and a pair of Memphis relievers, with Al Rosen, Roger Connor and Dick Dietz each driving in three on the day to get the Thoroughbreds even in the series before returning home.

Louisville 11, Memphis 4 (Series tied 1-1)

Game 3
Mike Trout underwhelmed this season (.266-16-65) when everyone expected him to reach megastardom getting out of the pitching haven home confines of Seattle. But what they expected came to fruition in Game 3, as Trout went 3-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBI in the fifth off the Sounds' Doug Fister to break open a 2-1 game and set Denny McLain on cruise control, tallying seven innings of one-run ball before Koji Uehara and Robbie Ray got the final six outs to put the defending champs up in the series.

Louisville 7, Memphis 1 (Louisville leads series 2-1)

Game 4
Rickey Henderson, the presumptive Eastern League MVP, showed why in the pivotal fourth game of the ELCS as he helped pull Memphis even in the series, reaching base five times including 2 homers, a walk, 3 runs scored and 3 RBI to back Terry Larkin, who came up huge with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Louisville's Jake Arrietta faced three batters before leaving with an injury, and the Louisville bullpen couldn't piece it together, allowing five Memphis homers.

Memphis 7, Louisville 1 (Series tied 2-2)

Game 5
Johan Santana has been solid for Louisville since signing as a free agent before the 2025 campaign for a hefty seven year, $168.8 million deal - a price tag seeking better than solid. But Santana earned his money in the pivotal Game 5, fanning 10 over 6 1/3 innings of five-hit, one-run ball while Mike Trout and Devon Travis homered to lift Louisville within a game of a second straight trip to the ABL Championship Series.

Louisville 8, Memphis 3 (Louisville leads series 3-2)

Game 6
On a team with players like future Hall of Famer Honus Wagner and all-arounder Mike Trout, the ELCS this season belonged to catched Dick Dietz. Dietz picked up another two hits in what proved to be the clinching Game 6 and took home series MVP honors after batting an absurd .611 in the series with 6 RBI. Eddie Cicotte came through again, throwing seven innings of 3-run ball and Koji Uehara notched a six out save to send the Thoroughbreds on to defend their title.

Louisville 6, Memphis 3 (Louisville wins series 4-2)

[luckymann]

Loving this league G-Force. I have a couple questions about how you set it up, do you mind if I PM them to you?

G

[G-Force]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Loving this league G-Force. I have a couple questions about how you set it up, do you mind if I PM them to you?

G

Thanks for reading! of course, shoot me a message

GH

[luckymann]

Sent! Thanks bud.

G

[G-Force]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Sent! Thanks bud.

G

No sweat just replied

GH

[G-Force]

2026 ABL WESTERN LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES REVIEW

Seattle Grinders (105-55) vs Phoenix Scorpions (92-68)

Game 1
It took 7 games to decide this series a year ago, with Seattle getting a tiebreaking eighth-inning homer from Schoolboy Rowe to make it to their first ABL Championship Series. So to say these teams have familiarity is an understatement. The Grinders took the opener this time around, getting a walkoff RBI single from Joe Medwick - their offseason signing to make up for the loss of Mike Trout to Louisville - a thrilling end to a pitchers duel between Phoenix's Stephen Strasburg and the Grinders' Eppa Rixey, each of whom took a no decision. Phoenix can hold on to this thought: They won Game 1 last year but lost the series.
Seattle 3, Phoenix 2 (10 innings) (Seattle leads series 1-0)

Game 2
A down season hindered by an abdominal strain that cost him six weeks left Todd Helton a contributor for Phoenix, but a shell of the player he was as the 2024 Western League Most Valuable Player. But that guy showed up in Game 2, swatting a pair of homers, off Seattle starter Corey Kluber. Jim Bunning was solid for seven innings, allowing three runs, and Jose DeLeon got the final six outs as the Scorpions take the WLCS home knotted at a game apiece.
Phoenix 5, Seattle 3 (Series tied 1-1)

Game 3
Seattle's signing of Mat Latos in the offseason was lost in the shine of their acquisition of Eppa Rixey to be their ace, replacing Schoolboy Rowe who left in free agency. But Latos ended up leading the Western League with 19 wins, and in his first postseason start rebounded from early difficulties to keep Seattle in it and ultimately get the win to reclaim the series lead. Latos allowed three runs over six innings, but benefited from a four-run sixth keyed by Kevin Mitchell's two-run single.
Seattle 6, Phoenix 3 (Seattle leads series 2-1)

Game 4
Ross Youngs homered and Scott Sanderson threw seven innings of one-run ball before a raucous home crowd as the Scorpions once again got back even in the series. Max Bishop drove in all three runs for Seattle, who outhit Phoenix 10-9 but couldn't get the big one they needed.
Phoenix 6, Seattle 3 (Series tied 2-2)

Game 5
Stephen Strasburg has been in Phoenix since the beginning...he holds every pitching record the Scorpions have, and is third in ABL history in wins with 126. But he's only won one pennant, the inaugural season of the ABL, and never has won a championship. He's trying to change that, and after a solid outing in Game One he was exceptional here in giving Phoenix the series lead. Strasburg threw a complete game six-hitter and was backed by homers from Charlie Keller and Hank Thompson off Eppa Rixey in the second as Phoenix stands one win away from converting their fourth division title into their first pennant.
Phoenix 6, Seattle 0 (Phoenix leads series 3-2)

Game 6
Jim Bunning was strong, going seven innings, giving up two runs. But Seattle's Corey Kluber was better, throwing six innings of one-run ball before Yank Robinson fanned five in three innings of scoreless relief to send the WLCS to Game 7 again! Max Bishop hit his second homer of the series and Roberto Clemente added three hits, raising his series average to .370.
Seattle 2, Phoenix 1 (Series tied 3-3)

Game 7
Seattle's standing as an extreme pitchers park is well known in the ABL. But the Grinders didn't make it look that way in the pivotal seventh game of the WLCS. Seattle scored six times in the fourth off Willie Mitchell and Candy Cummings and added three in the seventh for an insurmountable lead to push themselves to their second straight ABL Championship Series appearance. After a pair of WLCS losses, they made it to the ABLCS but fell short a year ago. Will this year be the culmination of the journey?
Seattle 9, Phoenix 4 (Seattle wins series 4-3)

[G-Force]

State of the ABL: Expansion & Realignment

Alltime Baseball League president Zach Matthews held his annual presser before the ABL Championship Series, which lacked much in the way of new developments but solidified details on things we already knew were coming.

Last year's presser revealed franchises awarded to Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Oklahoma City. At the time, Matthews said their nicknames would be announced before this year's ABLCS.

Matthews was flanked by banners with four fresh new logos for the new franchises:

The Pittsburgh Predators

The Atlanta Crackers




The Minnesota Mustangs

The Oklahoma City Storm

As announced last year, Matthews confirmed that realignment will occur, only now we have the details of the realignment.

In the Eastern League

North
New York
Boston
Columbus
Pittsburgh

Central
Charlotte
Memphis
Louisville
Chicago

South
Alabama
Orlando
St. Louis
Atlanta

In the Western League

North
Seattle
Minneapolis
Portland
Sacramento

Central
Omaha
Denver
Oklahoma City
Las Vegas

South
New Orleans
San Antonio
Los Angeles
Phoenix

The two big observations from the announced realignment are Louisville and Chicago BOTH leaving the North, which has to make New York, Columbus and Boston thrilled; and the idea that Seattle, winners of four straight division titles, get the two closest challengers to them in Omaha and Denver out of the division, replaced by an expansion squad.

Matthews reiterated his statement from a year ago, that there is no further expansion planned.

"I think 24 teams is perfect, and the addition of one wild card is fun," he said. "But again, we will not dilute the ABL."

He was, however, asked about a new rumor - that the Sacramento Stingers have reportedly had internal discussions about moving the franchise, one that peaked with 2.63 million in attendance in 2020 but drew less than 1.5 million this season in the culmination of a steady decline for a franchise that has yet to win a division title.

"I hate the idea of a team leaving a market," Matthews said. "That said, franchises are businesses. If a business is failing, it explores its options. I won't encourage a team to move, but I'm not going to look to hamstring them either. If they wish to weigh the possibility of moving, my only requirement is it be transparent."

If Sacramento were to leave, it could be relatively local, such as San Francisco, though one city being bandied about is Wichita, Kansas.

The Stingers are committed to Sacramento through the 2028 campaign, but the story will bear following over the next year-plus.

GH

[G-Force]

2026 ABL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES REVIEW

Louisville Thoroughbreds (85-75) vs Seattle Grinders (105-55)

Game 1
It was lost on nobody in Seattle that this year's ABL Championship Series was not only a rematch against the team that stopped them a year ago, but a team that now had their one-time favorite son, Mike Trout, who signed with Louisville as a free agent. So it surely was lost on nobody in the raucous crowd in Seattle for Game One that Trout's replacement, Joe Medwick, dealt most of the damage in the opener, belting two homers as Seattle cruised to a 7-0 victory to snatch the series lead. Eppa Rixey went 8 2/3 but ceded the final out to Tim Lincecum for a, technically, combined shutout. But Rixey was exceptional, fanning eight and walking only one while scattering seven hits - one by Trout, who went 1-for-4, striking out twice. Johan Santana, who missed last year's series with a shoulder injury, allowed three runs over 6 1/3 for the Thoroughbreds in the loss.
Seattle 7, Louisville 0 (Seattle leads series 1-0)

Game 2
Louisville rebounded from Game One's defeat by surging out to a 5-1 lead, knocking around Jerry Reuss, who got the nod with Corey Kluber being pushed back to the road opener - and a potential Game 7. But Eddie Cicotte unravled and Koji Uehara couldn't stop the bleeding as the Grinders rallied, getting homers from Dan Brouthers and postseason legend Roy Campanella, to come back to win 8-7 and take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Seattle 8, Louisville 7 (Seattle leads series 2-0)

Game 3
Louisville's Denny McLain navigated trouble but allowed only 2 runs over 5 2/3, But Seattle's Corey Kluber allowed only two hits and an unearned run over six innings and was backed by an eight-out, six strikeout performance from Yank Robinson to put the defending champs in a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 series deficit. Every Seattle starter reached base.
Seattle 5, Louisville 2 (Seattle leads series 3-0)

Game 4
Louisville brought Johan Santana back on short rest to try and keep their season alive. And Santana was solid - solid enough that the decision to pull him after 67 pitches with one out in the fifth could at least be debated. There was no debate after relievers Darren O'Day and Pete Schneider combined to surrender five runs, the big blow a three-run shot from Roy Campanella - a three-time postseason series MVP who was quiet during the WLCS. Seattle got great work out of Mat Latos, an afterthought signing last offseason who led the Western League this year with 19 wins - plus this one, the series clincher in which he hurled seven innings of one-run ball before Tim Lincecum got the final six outs to give the Seattle Grinders the series sweep and their first ABL Championship!
Seattle 8, Louisville 1 (Seattle wins series 4-0)

Series MVP: Dan Brouthers (.462/.611/.769 for the series).

[G-Force]

ABL 2026 Golden Glove Winners




Pitcher
Ben Sheets (St.Louis Steamers) - 1st

Catcher
Alex Avila (Louisville Thoroughbreds) - 1st

First Baseman
Freddie Freeman (Alabama Slammers) - 1st

Second Baseman
Snuffy Stirnweiss (New York Heroes) - 4th

Third Baseman
Ron Santo (Orlando Orcas) - 1st

Shortstop
Tony Kubek (St. Louis Steamers) - 5th

Left Fielder
Kevin McReynolds (Chicago Hitmen) - 1st

Center Fielder
Andruw Jones (Chicago Hitmen) - 1st

Right Fielder
Hank Aaron (Columbus Crushers) - 1st






Pitcher
Mike Leake (San Antonio Stallions) - 1st

Catcher
Charlie Bennett (Las Vegas Bosses) - 1st

First Baseman
Albert Pujols (Sacramento Stingers) - 4th

Second Baseman
Max Bishop (Seattle Grinders) - 1st

Third Baseman
Nolan Arenado (Omaha Pioneers) - 1st

Shortstop
Bill Dahlen (Seattle Grinders) - 3rd

Left Fielder
Jose Cruz (Omaha Pioneers) - 9th

Center Fielder
Gary Pettis (Seattle Grinders) - 1st

Right Fielder
Ross Youngs (Phoenix Scorpions) - 1st