Here Comes The Paragon Baseball League!

[luckymann]

A majestic perfecto from Dick "Cannonball" Redding, the very first in PBL history!

[luckymann]

First-timers

Bartolo Colon, Bullet Rogan, Jerry Koosman, Wally Schang, Keith Hernandez, Luke Appling, Turkey Stearnes, Christy Mathewson, George Uhle, Phil Niekro, Roger Bresnahan, Charlie Gehringer, Mel Ott.


Every-timers

Clayton Kershaw, Arky Vaughan, George Cuppy.

[luckymann]

Won by Ernie Banks of New Orleans.

[luckymann]

This year sees the Northwest win 4-3 and Albert Pujols win MVP honours.

[luckymann]

The Beacons continue to shine, now out by a whopping 16 in the North after just 80 games. The other three races remain close. Bats finally warming up again.

Monthly Award Winners

Northwest League

• Batter – Ted Williams (Connecticut): 372 / 9 HR / 17 RBI
• Pitcher – Dick Redding (Seattle): 5-0 / 1.39 / 35 K / 45.1 IP

Southeast League

• Batter – Johnny Mize (New Orleans): 362 / 10 HR / 32 RBI
• Pitcher – George Uhle (Carolina): 3-0 / 1.03 / 15 K / 35 IP

Weekly Award Winners

• 6th: Mike Trout (Seattle) / Johnny Mize (New Orleans)
• 13th: Dan Brouthers (Las Vegas) / Lou Gehrig (Kansas City)
• 20th: George Sisler (New Jersey) / Willard Brown (Washington)
• 27th: Mark McGwire (Portland) / Frank Thomas (Carolina)

Milestones

• 1000 hits: Honus Wagner
• 150 HR: Barry Bonds
• 100 HR: Turkey Stearnes

Other Observations and Points of Interest

• Virgil Trucks gets just his 4th win over the past five seasons.
• Trevor Story hits just his 3rd HR over the same period.

Top 20s

[luckymann]

It took him a while to get going with just 8 HR in his first four PBL seasons, but this effort takes Big Mac to an equal career best 20 HR for the season with plenty left to play.




Meanwhile, Atlanta's Chris Sale becomes the first PBL pitcher with 20 or more strikeouts in a game, fanning 21 while allowing just 1 hit in a 5-2 win against Florida. He now leads the PBL with 194 for the season.

[luckymann]

Not much change really - the Beacons haven't run away with the North just yet, but nor have they given up too much ground and still look pretty safe. Portland, by dint of a 20-9 month, has made a nice move in the West and now leads by 6. Both the East and South remain tight, albeit with only two real chances in each.

Cole Hamels is currently Top 3 in all TC categories.


Monthly Award Winners

Northwest League

• Batter – Reggie Jackson (Connecticut): 299 / 14 HR / 26 RBI
• Pitcher – Sam McDowell (New Jersey): 5-1 / 1.57 / 57 K / 46 IP

Southeast League

• Batter – Joey Votto (Atlanta): 356 / 11 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Addie Joss (Atlanta): 4-1 / 1.45 / 23 K / 49.2 IP

Weekly Award Winners

• 4th: Barry Bonds (Las Vegas) / Bobby Abreu (New Orleans)
• 11th: Dick Redding (Seattle) / Albert Pujols (Florida)
• 18th: Alex Bregman (Seattle) / Adrian Beltre (Indianapolis)
• 25th: Ken Griffey jr (Los Angeles) / Joey Votto (Atlanta)

Milestones

• 200 Saves: George Cuppy, Dennis Eckersley

Other Observations and Points of Interest

• Carlos Beltran and Andre Dawson each hits just his 2nd PBL HR, Pops Stargell and Joe Sewell each his 4th.
• Orel Hershiser gets just his 2nd career win, Danny Darwin his 3rd, Tommy John and Steve Carlton each his 7th.
• Tom Glavine into the rotation at New Orleans.

Top 20s

[luckymann]

After a sluggish start, the Blues seem to be on a roll now and have just caught the Firebirds atop the South thanks to this outstanding game from their catcher.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Having never - in fairly limited opportunities, admittedly - even gone close to double figures in his first five PBL seasons, it's fair to say Ernie Banks has had a breakout 1966. This little night on the town takes his season HR total to 31, more than double his career total on Opening Day. He hits for the cycle against KC the following week.

[luckymann]

While neither the West or East Divisions are totally locked down, only the South remains truly in play with the Firebirds a game clear of the Blues as we enter September.

It really has been a low BA season, with only a handful of players on track to hit 300+.

Monthly Award Winners

Northwest League

• Batter – Barry Bonds (Las Vegas): 244 / 11 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Bullet Rogan (Los Angeles): 5-0 / 0.95 / 35 K / 47.1 IP

Southeast League

• Batter – Henry Aaron (Atlanta): 337 / 12 HR / 27 RBI
• Pitcher – Tommy Bond (Carolina): 6-2 / 1.03 / 6 SV / 21 K / 26.1 IP

Weekly Award Winners

• 8th: Rick Reuschel (Seattle) / Mookie Betts (Indianapolis)
• 15th: Rogers Hornsby (Portland) / Joe Morgan (New Orleans)
• 22nd: Jeff Bagwell (New York) / Eddie Murray (Virginia)
• 29th: Bullet Rogan (Los Angeles) / Lou Gehrig (Kansas City)

Milestones

• 100 Wins: Felix Hernandez, Nap Rucker

Other Observations and Points of Interest

• Grant “Home Run” Johnson hits just the 9th of his PBL career, Billy Hamilton his 8th, Mike Piazza his 6th, Dick Allen his 5th, Max Carey his 3rd.
• Sal Bando, in his 102nd at-bat, hits his first!
• Jerry Koosman gets just his 5th career win, Bob Lemon his 8th.

Top 20s

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Another fruitless season for the chronically-underperforming Gothams, and even with AJ's heroics they need 17 to get past the Rainiers in this one. His third of the game ultimately proved the difference.

[luckymann]

Drama is narrowly averted as the Stags fairly limp home to take the West Division by 4, while KC sees off a stubborn Atlanta unit to win the South by 3. The pitiful Grays lose a PBL-record 109 games, while the Panthers win their last 6 to avoid losing 100 by the barest of margins.




September Award Winners

Northwest League

• Batter – Jim Wynn (Seattle): 290 / 9 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Greg Maddux (Boston): 4-0 / 1.05 / 38 K / 43 IP

Southeast League

• Batter – Larry Walker (Carolina): 284 / 8 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Nap Rucker (Carolina): 6-0 / 1.48 / 34 K / 48.2 IP

Weekly Award Winners

• 5th: Robinson Cano (New Jersey) / Henry Aaron (Atlanta)
• 12th: Rod Carew (Las Vegas) / Johnny Damon (Virginia)
• 19th: Doc White (Boston) / Nap Rucker (Carolina)
• 26th: Reggie Jackson (Connecticut) / Lou Gehrig (Kansas City)

• 3rd: Dustin Pedroia (New Jersey) / Buck Leonard (Virginia)

Milestones

• 100 wins: Pete Alexander
• 200 HR: Ted Williams

Other Observations and Points of Interest

• John Montgomery Ward, who plays as a two-way, hits just his 4th PBL homer. Stan Hack, his 10th.
• Dolf Luque gets just his 2nd career win, Jimmy Key and Larry French each his 8th.

Amazingly, Billy Hamilton's 319 BA to take the SE crown is the league's highest. Dan Brouthers leads the NW with 315 as only he and Willie Keeler (306) break 300. In fact, only 8 do so in the entire PBL.

The big bats did come alive late but this was another season where the pitchers held sway for the majority. Bullet Rogan finishes with an ERA of 1.76, the second best in PBL history. Dick Redding sets a new mark with 9 shutouts, as do Chris Sale with a K/9 of 11.09 and Bob Friend with 53 saves.

Felix Hernandez is the King of K with 309, while Greg Maddux and Nap Rucker tie for the most wins with 23.

Ted Williams leads both leagues with 42 HR and is the first to pass the 200 career mark.


Final Top 20s and Leaders

[luckymann]

NW League

Boston Beacons (99-69) v Portland Stags (91-77)

Best of seven, Beacons with home-field advantage.

Game 1



Game 2



Game 3



Game 4



Game 5



Game 6




Boston wins series 4 games to 2

SERIES MVP: Turkey Stearnes (BOST)

SE League

Carolina Triplets (107-61) v Kansas City Blues (93-75)

Best of seven, Triplets with home-field advantage.

Game 1



Game 2



Game 3



Game 4



Game 5



Game 6




Carolina wins series 4 games to 2

SERIES MVP: Larry Walker (CARO)

[luckymann]

Carolina Triplets v Boston Beacons

Best of nine, Triplets with home-field advantage.

No real argument possible that the two best teams this season have made it to The Big Dance. Caro, with a chance to three-peat, should prove just a bit too strong for the Beacons here, especially with how their pitchers have been going. But it will be tight, especially if that changes.

Triplets in eight.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Carolina

HALLADAY HURLS TRIPLETS TO GAME 1 TRIUMPH

WP: Juan Marichal (1-0)
LP: Doc White (0-1) 6.2 IP / 8 H / 2 ER / 5 K
SV: Tommy Bond (4)


CARO: Roy Halladay 6.2 IP / 6 H / 1 ER / 5 K. Joe Cronin 2-4 / 2-run HR [2]. Roger Bresnahan 2-4 / RBI. George Davis 2-4.

BOST: Ed Delahanty 2-4


PotG: Roy Halladay (CARO)

[luckymann]

Game 2 in Carolina

WALKER, TRIPLETS GO BONKERS IN 12-1 DEMOLITION JOB

WP: Nap Rucker (3-0) 9 IP / 4 H / 1 ER / 6 K
LP: Felix Hernandez (2-1)


CARO: Larry Walker 2 2B / 2 HR [4] / 4 RBI. Mel Ott 3-run HR [2]. Roger Bresnahan 3-5 / RBI. John Olerud 2-3 / 2B / RBI. Frank Thomas 2-5 / 2B / RBI.

BOST: Arky Vaughan 2-4 / 2B.


PotG: Larry Walker (CARO)

[luckymann]

Game 3 in Carolina

NIP-AND-TUCK AFFAIR SEES BEACONS BREAK DUCK WITH 3-2 WIN

WP: Ned Garver (1-0) 7 IP / 3 H / 1 ER / 3 K
LP: Mel Stottlemyre (1-1) 9 IP / 3 H / 3 ER / 5 K
SV: Bob Friend (1)


BOST: Fred Clarke solo HR [1].

CARO: John Olerud solo HR [1].


PotG: Ned Garver (BOST)

[luckymann]

Game 4 in Boston

ALL TIED UP: MAD DOG LEADS BEACONS TO CUSHY GAME 4 VICTORY

WP: Greg Maddux (3-0) 7.1 IP / 7 H / 0 ER / 6 K
LP: Old Hoss Radbourn (1-2)


BOST: Arky Vaughan 3-run HR [1]. Graig Nettles 2-4 / 2-run HR [1]. Ed Delahanty 2-4 / 2B.

CARO: Mel Ott solo HR [3]. Roger Bresnahan, Dick Lundy 2-3. John Olerud 2-4.


PotG: Greg Maddux (BOST)