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FuzzyRussianHat · 11-19-2023, 06:46 AM

1982 was the first year post expansion with many wondering how the additional teams and expansion draft would affect everything. In the National Association, Ottawa had a remarkable turnaround from only 76 wins the prior season to 115-47 atop the new Northeast Division. This set the record for most wins for the NA and is tied for the second-best in MLB history with 1916 Denver. The all-time mark remains Phoenix’s 120-42 in 1907. Elsewhere in the division, Hartford was 100-62 to get the first wild card.

Last year’s World Series champ Montreal fell to 83-79. The other NA team to crack triple-digit wins was Minneapolis, winning the Upper Midwest Division at 100-62. This gave the Moose back-to-back playoff berths. The only team with a winning record in the East Division was Baltimore at 98-64, getting their first playoff berth in six years. Washington, the NACS runner-up last year, was an abysmal 69-93. The Lower Midwest Division went to Louisville at 97-65, giving the Lynx their sixth playoff berth in eight years. St. Louis was second at 94-68, which was good enough for the second wild card to end a four-year playoff drought. Falling short of the wild card was Chicago at 92-70 and Toronto at 90-72.

Although the Cubs missed the playoffs, CF Janus Garcia won his third National Association MVP in four years. Still in only his fifth season, the 25-yeaer old from Lee’s Summit, Missouri was the leader in runs (122), hits (216), average (.384), and WAR (11.3), adding 26 home runs and a 1.030 OPS. Ottawa’s Innocenzo Chinaglia won the Pitcher of the Year. The 31-year old Italian was in his second season with the Elks after starting his career in Europe with Malta and Zurich. Chinaglia won in a weak field with 5.5 WAR, a 2.41 ERA over 264.2 innings, 203 strikeouts, and a 19-7 record.

In the first round, Hartford earned the road sweep over Louisville and St. Louis edged Baltimore, sending both wild card teams forward. The Cardinals shocked Ottawa by knocking out the record-setting Elks 3-1. This gave St. Louis its first seventh National Association Championship Series berth and first since winning the 1963 World Series. Minneapolis downed Hartford 3-1 to give the Moose their seventh NACS berth and first since 1971. The Cardinals crushed Minneapolis with a sweep and continued on their Cinderella run as the last team in. It was the fifth pennant for St. Louis who had their 1908-10 dynasty along with the 1963 title.

The only team with double-digit wins in the American Association was Phoenix at 106-56, using their high-powered offense to take the Southwest Division. This gave the Firebirds back-to-back playoff berths. The Southwest was the strongest division with both wild cards coming out of there. Las Vegas, winners of 110 games the prior year, finished 94-68 for their sixth playoff appearance in seven years. Albuquerque at 92-70 picked up their second berth in three seasons. San Francisco at 89-73 was in the wild card conversation as well as Seattle (90-72) and Calgary (88-74). The latter two finished behind 93-69 Vancouver in the Northwest Division. This ended a 12-year playoff drought for the Volcanoes, who had won only 75 games the prior year.

In the South Central Division, Oklahoma City was first at 92-70, besting Dallas by seven games. The Outlaws secured a third playoff berth in four years. While none of the expansion eight debuted with a winning record, Austin was the closest with an 80-82 opening salvo. In the Southeast Division, Tampa took the top spot in a weak field at 86-76 to snap a four-year playoff drought. Nashville was the closest competitor at 83-79. Defending American Association champ Atlanta fell from 103 wins in 1981 to a middling 77-83.

Houston SS Jimmy Caliw won American Association MVP for the second time. When combined with his Oceania Baseball Association MVPs, it was the 11^th MVP for the 36-year old Filipino lefty, making him the first player in world baseball history to win 11 MVPs in a career. The only other player with ten was Mexican League legend Kiko Velazquez. Caliw led the AA with 9.8 WAR and won his 14^th Gold Glove, adding 45 home runs, 120 RBI, and a .299/.360/.572 slash. Las Vegas ace Jonah Mors won his fourth Pitcher of the Year in five seasons. The 28-year old righty led in WHIP (1.01), shutouts (8), FIP- (68), and WAR (8.6). Mors had a 2.93 ERA and 20-11 record with 230 strikeouts in 273.1 innings.

In the wild card round, Las Vegas got the road sweep over Tampa and Oklahoma City swept Albuquerque. Phoenix defeated their division rival Vipers 3-1 in round two, while Vancouver survived in five games against the Outlaws. This sent the Firebirds to their first American Association Championship Series since 1977 and the Volcanoes to their first since 1957. The 1982 AACS was a seven game classic that came down to the wire. In game seven in the desert, Firebirds slugger P.J. Avio smacked a two-run walk off home run to give Phoenix a 5-3 win and their first AA pennant since 1964. It was the eighth American Association title for the Firebirds. (1907, 30, 33, 51, 53, 60, 64, 82)

In the 82^nd World Series, It was underdog wild card St. Louis coming off their surprising NACS swept against the high-powered Phoenix squad fresh from a walkoff game seven win. The Fall Classic ultimately lacked drama as the Cardinals claimed the title in five games, earning their third ring (1909, 1963). A key player in the run was pitcher Travis West, who went 4-0 in four starts with a 0.84 ERA over 32.1 innings and 25 strikeouts. Another leader was NACS MVP 3B Ethan Martinez, a 40-year old veteran who won three rings with the 1970s New Orleans dynasty. In 14 starts, Martinez had 22 hits, 9 runs 4 doubles, 3 home runs, and 15 RBI.

Other notes: 3B Christopher Sollinger won his ninth Gold Glove. Two-way player Khaled Scott won his ninth Silver Slugger as a pitcher.

11-19-2023, 06:46 AM	#714
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,966	1982 in MLB 1982 was the first year post expansion with many wondering how the additional teams and expansion draft would affect everything. In the National Association, Ottawa had a remarkable turnaround from only 76 wins the prior season to 115-47 atop the new Northeast Division. This set the record for most wins for the NA and is tied for the second-best in MLB history with 1916 Denver. The all-time mark remains Phoenix’s 120-42 in 1907. Elsewhere in the division, Hartford was 100-62 to get the first wild card. Last year’s World Series champ Montreal fell to 83-79. The other NA team to crack triple-digit wins was Minneapolis, winning the Upper Midwest Division at 100-62. This gave the Moose back-to-back playoff berths. The only team with a winning record in the East Division was Baltimore at 98-64, getting their first playoff berth in six years. Washington, the NACS runner-up last year, was an abysmal 69-93. The Lower Midwest Division went to Louisville at 97-65, giving the Lynx their sixth playoff berth in eight years. St. Louis was second at 94-68, which was good enough for the second wild card to end a four-year playoff drought. Falling short of the wild card was Chicago at 92-70 and Toronto at 90-72. Although the Cubs missed the playoffs, CF Janus Garcia won his third National Association MVP in four years. Still in only his fifth season, the 25-yeaer old from Lee’s Summit, Missouri was the leader in runs (122), hits (216), average (.384), and WAR (11.3), adding 26 home runs and a 1.030 OPS. Ottawa’s Innocenzo Chinaglia won the Pitcher of the Year. The 31-year old Italian was in his second season with the Elks after starting his career in Europe with Malta and Zurich. Chinaglia won in a weak field with 5.5 WAR, a 2.41 ERA over 264.2 innings, 203 strikeouts, and a 19-7 record. In the first round, Hartford earned the road sweep over Louisville and St. Louis edged Baltimore, sending both wild card teams forward. The Cardinals shocked Ottawa by knocking out the record-setting Elks 3-1. This gave St. Louis its first seventh National Association Championship Series berth and first since winning the 1963 World Series. Minneapolis downed Hartford 3-1 to give the Moose their seventh NACS berth and first since 1971. The Cardinals crushed Minneapolis with a sweep and continued on their Cinderella run as the last team in. It was the fifth pennant for St. Louis who had their 1908-10 dynasty along with the 1963 title. The only team with double-digit wins in the American Association was Phoenix at 106-56, using their high-powered offense to take the Southwest Division. This gave the Firebirds back-to-back playoff berths. The Southwest was the strongest division with both wild cards coming out of there. Las Vegas, winners of 110 games the prior year, finished 94-68 for their sixth playoff appearance in seven years. Albuquerque at 92-70 picked up their second berth in three seasons. San Francisco at 89-73 was in the wild card conversation as well as Seattle (90-72) and Calgary (88-74). The latter two finished behind 93-69 Vancouver in the Northwest Division. This ended a 12-year playoff drought for the Volcanoes, who had won only 75 games the prior year. In the South Central Division, Oklahoma City was first at 92-70, besting Dallas by seven games. The Outlaws secured a third playoff berth in four years. While none of the expansion eight debuted with a winning record, Austin was the closest with an 80-82 opening salvo. In the Southeast Division, Tampa took the top spot in a weak field at 86-76 to snap a four-year playoff drought. Nashville was the closest competitor at 83-79. Defending American Association champ Atlanta fell from 103 wins in 1981 to a middling 77-83. Houston SS Jimmy Caliw won American Association MVP for the second time. When combined with his Oceania Baseball Association MVPs, it was the 11^th MVP for the 36-year old Filipino lefty, making him the first player in world baseball history to win 11 MVPs in a career. The only other player with ten was Mexican League legend Kiko Velazquez. Caliw led the AA with 9.8 WAR and won his 14^th Gold Glove, adding 45 home runs, 120 RBI, and a .299/.360/.572 slash. Las Vegas ace Jonah Mors won his fourth Pitcher of the Year in five seasons. The 28-year old righty led in WHIP (1.01), shutouts (8), FIP- (68), and WAR (8.6). Mors had a 2.93 ERA and 20-11 record with 230 strikeouts in 273.1 innings. In the wild card round, Las Vegas got the road sweep over Tampa and Oklahoma City swept Albuquerque. Phoenix defeated their division rival Vipers 3-1 in round two, while Vancouver survived in five games against the Outlaws. This sent the Firebirds to their first American Association Championship Series since 1977 and the Volcanoes to their first since 1957. The 1982 AACS was a seven game classic that came down to the wire. In game seven in the desert, Firebirds slugger P.J. Avio smacked a two-run walk off home run to give Phoenix a 5-3 win and their first AA pennant since 1964. It was the eighth American Association title for the Firebirds. (1907, 30, 33, 51, 53, 60, 64, 82) In the 82^nd World Series, It was underdog wild card St. Louis coming off their surprising NACS swept against the high-powered Phoenix squad fresh from a walkoff game seven win. The Fall Classic ultimately lacked drama as the Cardinals claimed the title in five games, earning their third ring (1909, 1963). A key player in the run was pitcher Travis West, who went 4-0 in four starts with a 0.84 ERA over 32.1 innings and 25 strikeouts. Another leader was NACS MVP 3B Ethan Martinez, a 40-year old veteran who won three rings with the 1970s New Orleans dynasty. In 14 starts, Martinez had 22 hits, 9 runs 4 doubles, 3 home runs, and 15 RBI. Other notes: 3B Christopher Sollinger won his ninth Gold Glove. Two-way player Khaled Scott won his ninth Silver Slugger as a pitcher. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)