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KCRoyals15 · 01-30-2025, 02:42 AM

2001

In the Eastern Baseball Federation, franchise shifts were rather uncommon as struggling teams almost exclusively dropped to the American Baseball League and were replaced with a stronger ABL club. As such, no EBF team had moved to another city since 1957, when the Columbus Cyclones moved to Chicago.

However, that changed as the Tampa Tarpons, fed up with bad attendance in a worse stadium (the Florida Suncoast Dome), called it quits after 47 years on Florida's Gulf Coast, the final 37 as a big league club. They didn't have to go far, though, as the one major city in Florida who did not have major league baseball made a play to steal a club from their nearby neighbor. Moving 90 minutes down I-4, the Orlando Wizards were born, playing in brand-new Sony Field, which was barely finished before Opening Day.

Once the season got underway, New York once again was the class of the New England League, winning the league by five games over Brooklyn, who strolled into the playoffs for the first time in seven years. The Midwest Association saw Milwaukee win 102 games, cruising to their second-straight MWA pennant. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Cincinnati tied for second at 93-69. The Bisons, though, came away with the 163rd game, punching their ticket.

In the Northern Conference postseason, the boys in Brooklyn beat the ones from Queens, as the Dodgers downed the Gothams in seven games. Milwaukee, meanwhile, held serve, bouncing Buffalo in six games. The Northern Championship was nothing to write home about, as the Black Hawks breezed past the Bisons in a four-game sweep, their second Conference Championship in four years.

In the Southern Conference, the Eastern League saw the same results as the year before, with Atlanta winning the league and Washington finishing second. The Western League once again was loaded, with St. Louis roaring to 111 wins and Louisville winning 104 games.

The Browns were especially notable as they scored 1,148 runs, the most ever by a non-PCL team, with their 7.09 runs per game ranking just behind the 1930 New York Gothams (7.10) for most in major league history. The Browns hit .304 as a team, though Salt Lake City hit .310 as a team (the highest post-World War II mark in baseball), blasted an EBF-record 318 home runs, and scored 1,138 runs...but finished a distance fifth thanks to allowing 1,011 runs. The South as a whole posted a 5.14 ERA, the highest league/conference ERA in big league history.

After a high-scoring summer, the two stingiest pitching staffs met in the East, and Washington started off the postseason by axing Atlanta in five games. St. Louis, meanwhile, locked down Louisville enough to beat the Colonels in six games. In the Southern Championship, though, the Senators grounded the Browns' high-powered attack and bested the Brownies with a four-game sweep, earning Washington's first Conference Championship since 1986.

In the Pacific Coast League, there was a notable development as the Hawaii Islanders finalized funding for a new stadium to replace Aloha Stadium, which was never very satisfactory for its primary tenant. However, at the insistence from the city of Honolulu, a new color scheme was implemented and the franchise's "place" name was tweaked, so the Honolulu Islanders the team became. It did not, as they went 68-132.

Back on the mainland, the PCL North saw San Francisco cruise to a division title, their second straight, while Sacramento finished a distant second for a second year in a row. In the South, the two top teams resided, but resurgent San Jose was atop the pile, winning a club-record 127 games and reaching the playoffs the first time since 1995. Five games back, Phoenix finished second (and in the postseason) for the fourth year running, while San Diego finished a distant third, ending the Padres' all-time record of 23-straight playoff appearances. San Diego would spend October on the couch for the first time since 1977.

In the postseason, San Francisco got all they could handle from Sacramento, but the Seals ultimately fought off the Solons in a seven-game victory. In the South, Phoenix pulled off a mild upset, beating San Jose in six games. The two-time defending champions, the Firebirds looked for a three-peat and in thrilling fashion they got it, winning game seven at Bank One Ballpark for their fourth PCL title in five years.

That left the Texas League, where three-time defending champion Dallas claimed the North Division title, punching their fifth-straight playoff ticket. Tulsa finished second for a second year in a row, three games back. In the South, Houston won their first division title since 1974, while San Antonio finished three games back in second, earning their third-straight playoff spot.

In October, Tulsa brought an end to Dallas' reign at the top, dimming the Lone Stars in six games. Likewise, the second-place team in the South came through, as San Antonio emphatically bounced Houston in a four-game sweep. The Oilers and Missions scrapped for seven games, but in the end, Tulsa won game seven on the road at Bexar County Municipal Stadium, earning their first TL title in eight years.

The national tournament featured a pair of regular customers and a couple crashing the party for the first time in a while. One regular took care of business, as the Milwaukee Black Hawks (NOR) defeat the Washington Senators (SOU). The other one did as well, as the Phoenix Firebirds (PCL) defeat the Tulsa Oilers (TL). One squad was looking for their first title in a quarter-century, while the other was seeking their second in three seasons. In the end, the Phoenix Firebirds (PCL) defeat the Milwaukee Black Hawks (NOR), 4-1 as the Firebirds won their second National Championship in three years.

For the second time in three seasons, New York's Allen Peterson was the king of New York and the Northern Conference. Though not as dominant as his Triple Crown season in 1999, Peterson slashed .337/.402/.584 with conference-best 206 hits and 142 runs, while adding 39 doubles, 8 triples, 32 homers, 120 RBI, and 52 stolen bases, winning his second MVP.

In his ninth major league season, Brooklyn righty Jesus Jimenez had steadily carved out his role on the staff. The 30-year-old led the Dodgers to the postseason by going 16-10 with a 3.29 ERA and 206 strikeouts over a conference-high 251.2 innings, earning Pitcher of the Year.

In the high-powered Southern Conference, the MVP came not from St. Louis' record-breaking offense, but from the Washington team that beat them. Senators first baseman Enrique Rivas won his third-straight batting title, slashing an incredible .383/.494/.697 with 197 hits, 126 runs, 38 doubles, 40 homers, and 140 RBI, winning his third MVP in four years.

It was a bad year to be a pitcher in the South, but not for Alberto Zalokar of Atlanta. The 35-year-old went 19-9 with a conference-best 2.55 ERA, striking out 184 in 247.0 innings, also earning his 200th career win and 2,000th strikeout during the season.

While Enrique Rivas was a worthy MVP, the vote generated considerable controversy. Salt Lake City's Joel Boyd, a 24-year-old rookie, finished second after slashing .304/.396/.721 with a major league-record 72 home runs and 168 RBI, the most outside the PCL in over half a century. The previous home run record of 64, set by Buffalo's Matt Thoms, lasted only one season.

Inside the PCL, San Jose swept the major awards, with a true surprise MVP leading the way. Luis Michel had shown power potential in his first two big league seasons, but didn't hit much. But in his third year, the 22-year-old did in a big way, slashing .302/.382/.673 with 196 hits, 137 runs, 49 doubles, and leading the PCL with 13 triples and 55 homers, driving in 138 runs and stealing 24 bases. The breakout third baseman took home the MVP trophy.

His teammate Abe Dickson was already established as a front-line pitcher, but the fourth-year lefty went 24-6 with a 3.07 ERA, leading the PCL in wins and striking out 177 over 302.0 innings. He also led the league in complete games (9) and shutouts (4) in line to earning Pitcher of the Year.

In his first year in San Francisco, longtime St Louis closer J.R. McCormick made a major bit of history. The firemen saved a PCL-best 56 games and he needed every last one of them, as his final save of the year was the 500th of his career, making him the first pitcher in major league history to reach that mark.

In the Texas League, 23-year-old Austin rookie Ken Recklinger took a liking to the Dell Diamond, which opened this year. In his debut campaign, the Wrangler rookie slashed .309/.385/.573 with 180 hits, 116 runs, 42 doubles, 36 homers, and 125 RBI, taking home Rookie of the Year and MVP honors.

For a second year in a row, San Antonio ace Josh Faulhaber was king of the hill (I tell you hwat), going 21-8 with a 3.27 ERA, leading the TL in wins, strikeouts (259), and innings (266.2). It was his fourth-straight year pacing the circuit in innings and fifth year in a row with the most strikeouts. For that, he earned his second Pitcher of the Year in a row.

The only Hall of Famers this year came from the Eastern Baseball Federation, who sent a rubber arm with over 3,000 strikeouts and a man named Tank who hit 462 of them:

SP Ben Dotson (1977-95), 96.4%
OF Aaron Tank (1978-93), 85.4%

---

In the American Baseball League, a notable development took place as, like the major leagues, they saw a franchise shift. The New Haven Knights, once a charter member of the United States Baseball Federation in 1900 and also a charter member of the ABL in 1954, said goodbye to Connecticut after 101 years. With declining attendance in a depressed industrial city and 75-year-old Yale Field being too small and too outdated with no replacement in sight, the Knights moved across the border, setting up shop in the Canadian capital as, well, the Ottawa Capitals.

The East Division saw Charlotte win with some comfort, while Richmond, Syracuse, and Birmingham took the rest of the playoff spots. Out West, Anaheim won a franchise-record 114 games, with Las Vegas a distant second and Tucson and Nashville well behind them.

In the first round, Charlotte took care of Birmingham in six games, while Richmond swept Syracuse. In the West, though, 80-82 Nashville stunned Anaheim in six games, while Las Vegas swept Tucson. Richmond then upset Charlotte in the semis while Las Vegas took advantage of the clear path by dispatching Nashville, with both series going five games. In the Finals, the Gamblers kept rolling, routing Richmond in five games for their second-straight American Baseball Cup.

In the East, Richmond's Zach Engelke slashed .316/.440/.547 with 188 hits, 113 runs, 27 doubles, 36 home runs, and 108 RBI, taking home MVP. His teammate, right-hander Matt Renshaw, went 21-10 with a 3.43 ERA and striking out 171 over 285.2 innings. He led the East in wins, ERA, innings, and shutouts (4), while logging 14 complete games.

The West was unsurprisingly swept by Anaheim, with outfielder Lamar Faulk winning MVP. The 26-year-old slashed .33/.425/.587 with 178 hits, 112 runs, 49 doubles, 27 homers, and 120 RBI. His teammate, 24-year-old righty Angelo Pena, went 19-9 with a 3.40 ERA and 176 strikeouts, leading the ABL in ERA, innings (280.2), and complete games (19) to win Pitcher of the Year.

---

Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Savannah Cardinals, 97-57, defeats Mobile
Colonial League: Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons, 90-50, defeats Binghamton
River Valley League: Akron Arrows, 84-56, defeats Toledo
Rocky Mountain League: Helena Capitals, 73-47, defeats Twin Falls
Coastal League: Macon Peaches, 114-40, defeats Johnson City (3rd straight)
Northern League: Green Bay Giants, 107-33, defeats Thunder Bay
Southwest League: Modesto Growers, 80-60, defeats Bakersfield
Southern Association: Columbus Catfish, 86-54, defeats Joplin
Northwest League: Reno High Rollers, 106-48, defeats Pocatello
Can-Am League: Quebec Carnavals, 75-51, defeats Utica (3rd straight)
Mid-Atlantic League: Altoona Engineers, 79-61, defeats Roanoke (2nd straight)
Lone Star League: Laredo Vaqueros, 87-53, defeats Abilene
Great Plains League: South Bend Silver Sox, 90-50, defeats Des Moines (4th straight)
Florida Coast League: Fort Lauderdale Flamingos, 88-52, defeats St. Petersburg (2nd straight)
Heartland League: Evansville Bees, 80-60, defeats Rockford
Atlantic Coast League: Annapolis Destroyers, 72-48, defeats Wilmington (NC)
North American League: Saskatoon Rivermen, 79-61, defeats Ft. Collins (2nd straight)

In a minor league landscape with many repeat champions, two of them stood out: the Macon Peaches, who set a Southeastern League record with 114 wins, and the Green Bay Giants, who broke the Northern League mark for victories with 107—albeit with 14 fewer games than Macon played.

01-30-2025, 02:42 AM	#115
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	2001: A Base Odyssey 2001 In the Eastern Baseball Federation, franchise shifts were rather uncommon as struggling teams almost exclusively dropped to the American Baseball League and were replaced with a stronger ABL club. As such, no EBF team had moved to another city since 1957, when the Columbus Cyclones moved to Chicago. However, that changed as the Tampa Tarpons, fed up with bad attendance in a worse stadium (the Florida Suncoast Dome), called it quits after 47 years on Florida's Gulf Coast, the final 37 as a big league club. They didn't have to go far, though, as the one major city in Florida who did not have major league baseball made a play to steal a club from their nearby neighbor. Moving 90 minutes down I-4, the *Orlando Wizards* were born, playing in brand-new Sony Field, which was barely finished before Opening Day. Once the season got underway, New York once again was the class of the New England League, winning the league by five games over Brooklyn, who strolled into the playoffs for the first time in seven years. The Midwest Association saw Milwaukee win 102 games, cruising to their second-straight MWA pennant. Meanwhile, Buffalo and Cincinnati tied for second at 93-69. The Bisons, though, came away with the 163rd game, punching their ticket. In the Northern Conference postseason, the boys in Brooklyn beat the ones from Queens, as the Dodgers downed the Gothams in seven games. Milwaukee, meanwhile, held serve, bouncing Buffalo in six games. The Northern Championship was nothing to write home about, as the Black Hawks breezed past the Bisons in a four-game sweep, their second Conference Championship in four years. In the Southern Conference, the Eastern League saw the same results as the year before, with Atlanta winning the league and Washington finishing second. The Western League once again was loaded, with St. Louis roaring to 111 wins and Louisville winning 104 games. The Browns were especially notable as they scored 1,148 runs, the most ever by a non-PCL team, with their 7.09 runs per game ranking just behind the 1930 New York Gothams (7.10) for most in major league history. The Browns hit .304 as a team, though Salt Lake City hit .310 as a team (the highest post-World War II mark in baseball), blasted an EBF-record 318 home runs, and scored 1,138 runs...but finished a distance fifth thanks to allowing 1,011 runs. The South as a whole posted a 5.14 ERA, the highest league/conference ERA in big league history. After a high-scoring summer, the two stingiest pitching staffs met in the East, and Washington started off the postseason by axing Atlanta in five games. St. Louis, meanwhile, locked down Louisville enough to beat the Colonels in six games. In the Southern Championship, though, the Senators grounded the Browns' high-powered attack and bested the Brownies with a four-game sweep, earning Washington's first Conference Championship since 1986. In the Pacific Coast League, there was a notable development as the Hawaii Islanders finalized funding for a new stadium to replace Aloha Stadium, which was never very satisfactory for its primary tenant. However, at the insistence from the city of Honolulu, a new color scheme was implemented and the franchise's "place" name was tweaked, so the *Honolulu Islanders* the team became. It did not, as they went 68-132. Back on the mainland, the PCL North saw San Francisco cruise to a division title, their second straight, while Sacramento finished a distant second for a second year in a row. In the South, the two top teams resided, but resurgent San Jose was atop the pile, winning a club-record 127 games and reaching the playoffs the first time since 1995. Five games back, Phoenix finished second (and in the postseason) for the fourth year running, while San Diego finished a distant third, ending the Padres' all-time record of 23-straight playoff appearances. San Diego would spend October on the couch for the first time since 1977. In the postseason, San Francisco got all they could handle from Sacramento, but the Seals ultimately fought off the Solons in a seven-game victory. In the South, Phoenix pulled off a mild upset, beating San Jose in six games. The two-time defending champions, the Firebirds looked for a three-peat and in thrilling fashion they got it, winning game seven at Bank One Ballpark for their fourth PCL title in five years. That left the Texas League, where three-time defending champion Dallas claimed the North Division title, punching their fifth-straight playoff ticket. Tulsa finished second for a second year in a row, three games back. In the South, Houston won their first division title since 1974, while San Antonio finished three games back in second, earning their third-straight playoff spot. In October, Tulsa brought an end to Dallas' reign at the top, dimming the Lone Stars in six games. Likewise, the second-place team in the South came through, as San Antonio emphatically bounced Houston in a four-game sweep. The Oilers and Missions scrapped for seven games, but in the end, Tulsa won game seven on the road at Bexar County Municipal Stadium, earning their first TL title in eight years. The national tournament featured a pair of regular customers and a couple crashing the party for the first time in a while. One regular took care of business, as the Milwaukee Black Hawks (NOR) defeat the Washington Senators (SOU). The other one did as well, as the Phoenix Firebirds (PCL) defeat the Tulsa Oilers (TL). One squad was looking for their first title in a quarter-century, while the other was seeking their second in three seasons. In the end, the Phoenix Firebirds (PCL) defeat the Milwaukee Black Hawks (NOR), 4-1 as the Firebirds won their second National Championship in three years. For the second time in three seasons, New York's Allen Peterson was the king of New York and the Northern Conference. Though not as dominant as his Triple Crown season in 1999, Peterson slashed .337/.402/.584 with conference-best 206 hits and 142 runs, while adding 39 doubles, 8 triples, 32 homers, 120 RBI, and 52 stolen bases, winning his second MVP. In his ninth major league season, Brooklyn righty Jesus Jimenez had steadily carved out his role on the staff. The 30-year-old led the Dodgers to the postseason by going 16-10 with a 3.29 ERA and 206 strikeouts over a conference-high 251.2 innings, earning Pitcher of the Year. In the high-powered Southern Conference, the MVP came not from St. Louis' record-breaking offense, but from the Washington team that beat them. Senators first baseman Enrique Rivas won his third-straight batting title, slashing an incredible .383/.494/.697 with 197 hits, 126 runs, 38 doubles, 40 homers, and 140 RBI, winning his third MVP in four years. It was a bad year to be a pitcher in the South, but not for Alberto Zalokar of Atlanta. The 35-year-old went 19-9 with a conference-best 2.55 ERA, striking out 184 in 247.0 innings, also earning his 200th career win and 2,000th strikeout during the season. While Enrique Rivas was a worthy MVP, the vote generated considerable controversy. Salt Lake City's Joel Boyd, a 24-year-old rookie, finished second after slashing .304/.396/.721 with a major league-record 72 home runs and 168 RBI, the most outside the PCL in over half a century. The previous home run record of 64, set by Buffalo's Matt Thoms, lasted only one season. Inside the PCL, San Jose swept the major awards, with a true surprise MVP leading the way. Luis Michel had shown power potential in his first two big league seasons, but didn't hit much. But in his third year, the 22-year-old did in a big way, slashing .302/.382/.673 with 196 hits, 137 runs, 49 doubles, and leading the PCL with 13 triples and 55 homers, driving in 138 runs and stealing 24 bases. The breakout third baseman took home the MVP trophy. His teammate Abe Dickson was already established as a front-line pitcher, but the fourth-year lefty went 24-6 with a 3.07 ERA, leading the PCL in wins and striking out 177 over 302.0 innings. He also led the league in complete games (9) and shutouts (4) in line to earning Pitcher of the Year. In his first year in San Francisco, longtime St Louis closer J.R. McCormick made a major bit of history. The firemen saved a PCL-best 56 games and he needed every last one of them, as his final save of the year was the 500th of his career, making him the first pitcher in major league history to reach that mark. In the Texas League, 23-year-old Austin rookie Ken Recklinger took a liking to the Dell Diamond, which opened this year. In his debut campaign, the Wrangler rookie slashed .309/.385/.573 with 180 hits, 116 runs, 42 doubles, 36 homers, and 125 RBI, taking home Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. For a second year in a row, San Antonio ace Josh Faulhaber was king of the hill (I tell you hwat), going 21-8 with a 3.27 ERA, leading the TL in wins, strikeouts (259), and innings (266.2). It was his fourth-straight year pacing the circuit in innings and fifth year in a row with the most strikeouts. For that, he earned his second Pitcher of the Year in a row. The only Hall of Famers this year came from the Eastern Baseball Federation, who sent a rubber arm with over 3,000 strikeouts and a man named Tank who hit 462 of them: SP Ben Dotson (1977-95), 96.4% OF Aaron Tank (1978-93), 85.4% --- In the American Baseball League, a notable development took place as, like the major leagues, they saw a franchise shift. The New Haven Knights, once a charter member of the United States Baseball Federation in 1900 and also a charter member of the ABL in 1954, said goodbye to Connecticut after 101 years. With declining attendance in a depressed industrial city and 75-year-old Yale Field being too small and too outdated with no replacement in sight, the Knights moved across the border, setting up shop in the Canadian capital as, well, the *Ottawa Capitals. The East Division saw Charlotte win with some comfort, while Richmond, Syracuse, and Birmingham took the rest of the playoff spots. Out West, Anaheim won a franchise-record 114 games, with Las Vegas a distant second and Tucson and Nashville well behind them. In the first round, Charlotte took care of Birmingham in six games, while Richmond swept Syracuse. In the West, though, 80-82 Nashville stunned Anaheim in six games, while Las Vegas swept Tucson. Richmond then upset Charlotte in the semis while Las Vegas took advantage of the clear path by dispatching Nashville, with both series going five games. In the Finals, the Gamblers kept rolling, routing Richmond in five games for their second-straight American Baseball Cup. In the East, Richmond's Zach Engelke* slashed .316/.440/.547 with 188 hits, 113 runs, 27 doubles, 36 home runs, and 108 RBI, taking home MVP. His teammate, right-hander Matt Renshaw, went 21-10 with a 3.43 ERA and striking out 171 over 285.2 innings. He led the East in wins, ERA, innings, and shutouts (4), while logging 14 complete games. The West was unsurprisingly swept by Anaheim, with outfielder Lamar Faulk winning MVP. The 26-year-old slashed .33/.425/.587 with 178 hits, 112 runs, 49 doubles, 27 homers, and 120 RBI. His teammate, 24-year-old righty Angelo Pena, went 19-9 with a 3.40 ERA and 176 strikeouts, leading the ABL in ERA, innings (280.2), and complete games (19) to win Pitcher of the Year. --- Minor League Champions Southeastern League: Savannah Cardinals, 97-57, defeats Mobile Colonial League: Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons, 90-50, defeats Binghamton River Valley League: Akron Arrows, 84-56, defeats Toledo Rocky Mountain League: Helena Capitals, 73-47, defeats Twin Falls Coastal League: Macon Peaches, 114-40, defeats Johnson City (3rd straight) Northern League: Green Bay Giants, 107-33, defeats Thunder Bay Southwest League: Modesto Growers, 80-60, defeats Bakersfield Southern Association: Columbus Catfish, 86-54, defeats Joplin Northwest League: Reno High Rollers, 106-48, defeats Pocatello Can-Am League: Quebec Carnavals, 75-51, defeats Utica (3rd straight) Mid-Atlantic League: Altoona Engineers, 79-61, defeats Roanoke (2nd straight) Lone Star League: Laredo Vaqueros, 87-53, defeats Abilene Great Plains League: South Bend Silver Sox, 90-50, defeats Des Moines (4th straight) Florida Coast League: Fort Lauderdale Flamingos, 88-52, defeats St. Petersburg (2nd straight) Heartland League: Evansville Bees, 80-60, defeats Rockford Atlantic Coast League: Annapolis Destroyers, 72-48, defeats Wilmington (NC) North American League: Saskatoon Rivermen, 79-61, defeats Ft. Collins (2nd straight) In a minor league landscape with many repeat champions, two of them stood out: the Macon Peaches, who set a Southeastern League record with 114 wins, and the Green Bay Giants, who broke the Northern League mark for victories with 107—albeit with 14 fewer games than Macon played. Last edited by KCRoyals15; 01-30-2025 at 02:46 AM.