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1982 Janus Report: WC American
Baltimore Elite Giants Hilldale Athletic Club Homestead Grays New York Lincoln Giants Philadelphia Liberty Stars |
1982 Janus Report: WC National
Chicago American Giants Cleveland Buckeyes Cuban Stars East Detroit Motown Stars Indianapolis ABCs |
Stat Check: ERA
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El Clásico, 1982
The Cuban Stars matchup is nice and early this year, and yet somehow it still arrives with the East already well back in the standings after they lose their first nine games and sit at 3-12 entering this series. And while they manage to avoid a sweep with a win in the finale, this series continues to be very one-sided indeed, now sitting at 11-4 to the West.
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Just Dandy
He's still got a few years left in him one would think, but what a nice exclamation point this is on a fantastic EL career for Juan Marichal.
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April 1982 Recap
Off and running in the 1982 Eclipse and Transit League seasons. In the EL, Atlantic City has flown out of the gates while the East looks set for a long and challenging year ahead.
Monthly Award Winners
Points of Interest
Transit League The Habaneros go straight to their traditional spot in the FRC National cellar. Monthly Award Winners
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Stat Check: SB
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Out of the Shadows: Andy Porter
With the ongoing improvements being made to how OOTP treats NeLers, there's no doubt that the way OOTP has historically given preferential treatment to NeL pitchers over hitters is becoming less and less the case with each new version. Even in this save, where most of the big-name NeL guys are hand curated, if you track the WAR top 20s throughout this thread you can clearly see this shift in action. The profusion of quality NeL hitters entering the league of late is also a factor, but there's no doubt a much better balance is currently in evidence.
In saying this, I'm not necessarily suggesting the pitchers are made too strong - although that is sometimes the case - but rather that the hitters have been made too weak. Look at how Torriente, Beckwith and Co are dominating the league and clearly things are looking up. Which is great because it allows me a less equivocal feeling about how some of these mid-range pitchers have done in this league. The next few of these features will focus on these types of players. The first is Andy "Pullman" Porter, to whom EC allotted 25-odd WAR points in his original MLE assessment. That's a decent enough career by any stretch and he has exceeded that by some margin over 15 productive Eclipse League seasons, currently sitting at roughly 54 (43 rWAR). One of the smattering of foundation guys still in action, just last week saw Andy become just the 12th EL player to reach 200 career wins, doing it in fine style with a 1-0 shutout against the Royal Giants. He has been a member of the KC Monarchs since the start of the season currently in progress, after being drafted 237th overall in the Inaugural Draft back in '68 by the Red Sox (where he stayed until 1971), and also spending various amounts of time with Indy (1972), Cleveland (1973-5 - winning it all in the first and last of these) Baltimore (1976-9) and Philly (1980-1). At 35, he's definitely in his twilight but still has another three years left on his KC contract and so we expect he's got a few more wins in him. IRL, Andy also spread his time around various clubs in both US and Mexican leagues in a career that lasted from 1932 thru 1948 and saw him finish with an 81-75 record and a handy ERA+ of 111. He entered "organised" ball right at the end of his career, playing for Winnipeg in the indy Mandak league in 1950 and then for Porterville of the Southwest International League the season after that. He lived to the ripe old age of 100! Can he squeeze out a few more Wins and keep moving up the all-time leaderboard? We'll keep an eye on him and report back as things progress. EDIT: I just realised I had already covered Andy back in 1975. Oh well, big guy, you deserve a second look! |
May 1982 Recap
Eclipse League Perhaps the biggest news early on in the 1982 Eclipse League season is the travails of the Elite Giants, who lose 13 straight at one point and currently sit well off the pace and in the cellar of the WC American. The Dodgers, Black Yankees, Red Sox and Black Barons will also be concerned about their slow start and know that this next little period could very well decide whether or not they are to be a factor this year. Monthly Award Winners
Points of Interest
Transit League Apart from the Habaneros and Bears in the FRC National, things remain tight thru the end of May in the TL. Monthly Award Winners
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No, it's Iowa
Another one of those dream matchups here as Satch and Smokey Joe duke it out. They don't disappoint, with Joe taking Satchel downtown in the 4th a particular highlight for the 30000-plus in attendance. Top Santop also parks one in the seats.
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June 1982 Recap
Eclipse League Fairly close across all four races as we near the midpoint of the EL 1982 season. The MoStars don't seem to have hit top gear as yet, enabling their rivals to at least stay within reach, while the Mons are looking super consistent this year. Monthly Award Winners
Points of Interest
Top 20s - overall Top 20s - NeLers Nothing decided or even close to it yet in the TL with Dayton's 5-game lead in the CAC National the widest of any. Monthly Award Winners
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Transit League All-Stars, 1982
Herman Andrews of the Black Sox wins the HR Derby, with Dayton's Chico Hernandez winning the MVP as the Catto Conference beats the Francis Conference 1-0. |
EL Top Prospects
Ted Strong is currently rated the EL's top prospect ahead of Willie Bobo. Nice to see these NeL position players coming through so strong (pun not intended...).
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1982 EL All-Star / Prospects Squads and Games
The stars of today: https://i.imgur.com/d58Jpcz.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/ufHVLlB.jpg And tomorrow: HR Derby winner Carlos Delgado (Monarchs) def Ryan Howard (ABCs) ASG result Fleet 3, Weldy 2 ASG MVP Fernando Tatis jr (Monarchs) Prospects Game result Fleet 13, Weldy 3 Prospects Game MVP Marquis Grissom (Choo Choos) |
Out of the Shadows: Darltie Cooper
He coulda been a contender.
While Jim Riley's seminal book has been the backbone for much of the ensuing coverage of NeL players (and is my absolute go-to resource on the subject), he does tend to assign questionable behaviour to an inordinate number of Negro League players. Some of it is undoubtedly true, some of it is merely a product of the times and circumstances. The stuff those guys went through is something a white middle-class Australian such as myself could never fully - or even remotely - comprehend. Men have hit the bottle harder under less strenuous conditions. I don't know where I'm going with this, but today's OotS subject is one of those many JR mentions as having not fulfilled his promise and describes him as "having trouble staying in playing condition", whatever that might mean. The elder brother of fellow NeLer Anthony (not Andy, as JR erroneously claims), Darltie "Dolly" Cooper was born in Arkadelphia AR in 1902 and arrived on the NeL scene with a bang some two decades later, going 14-4 for the Indy ABCs. He plateaued a bit after that, but managed a couple more top-notch seasons, particularly in 1927 with the Harrisburg Giants of the ECL, which saw him go a superb 16-7 with a 2.51 ERA (high wins, low ERA for the league). But he only ever won 10 games one other time and generally struggled relative to these highpoints, finishing with a career 71-58 record and 4.20 ERA (109 ERA+) over 13 seasons spent with nine clubs. He only won 13 of those games over his last seven campaigns, including one final go-around in 1940, his first appearance at the pro level since 1934. Little is known of him after he retired for good other than he died at just 41 in Schenectady NY. The EL timeline has been a bit kinder to Dolly since he entered the league in the 1969 Draft, taken 24th overall by the Crawfords. He's managed to outdo his IRL self with 17 wins for the ABCs in 1976 and currently sits at age-33 with a 157-132 record and 3.62 ERA (ERA+ 111), good for about 45 rWAR. He has made it to the All-Star Game twice, in 1978 and just recently again this year, in which he is playing for the Mons and enjoying a fine season. At the time of posting, he is 13-5 with a 2.12 ERA and 4.3 rWAR already, putting him on course for a career-best year. One thing he doesn't have yet is a Championship ring, but his KC boys are travelling quite nicely to this point so that might well be on the cards as well. As always, we'll check back in over the remainder of Dolly's career to see how things play out. |
A Man, a Plan, a Canal - Panama!
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July 1982 Recap
Eclipse League All four races still well and truly alive after a late slip-up by the Motown Stars drags them back to the pack after they looked set to break free. Those flat run differentials in the FC American show just how evenly-poised that group is, while the Lincoln Giants must be the sentimental favourite and find themselves in relatively unfamiliar territory heading into August: close enough if good enough in the WCA. Monthly Award Winners
Points of Interest
https://i.imgur.com/OmGxehV.jpg https://i.imgur.com/rAUkH6F.jpg https://i.imgur.com/lMbW8x5.jpg https://i.imgur.com/lddy0zN.jpg Transit League The Marcos have the CAC American under control and look the team to beat. The others are still up for grabs and look set for big finishes. Monthly Award Winners
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Stat Check: TB
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August 1982 Recap
Eclipse League While the Motown Stars are all but assured of another playoff run, there's still everything to play for in the other three divisions. In the FC American, a 10-game winning streak helps the Crawfords move to the top of the standings, but the RGs and BGs are still in the hunt. It looks like it is down to the Mons and West in the FC National, with the third-placed MeSox' deficit now in double figures. A super close tussle in the WC American, with the LGs making a nice move to join the Grays and LibStars in contention. a 10-game losing streak ends the Athletics' chances and they now find themselves in the cellar, albeit only 9 1/2 off top spot. Monthly Award Winners
Points of Interest
Top 20s - overall Similarly to the EL, the Marcos look all but home but the other three races still have plenty of life left in them. In the CAC American, the Harlem Stars post an 11-game win streak to take a tilt at the division-leading Browns, with the Blue Birds not out of it yet. The Cubans are hanging on for dear life in the FRC American, with the Grays and Black Senators nipping at their heels. And finally, the FRC National is a race in two between the Clowns and Wolves, with Indy two to the good entering September. Monthly Award Winners
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Notes from the Transit Lounge: end of 1982 TL regular season
Some incredibly tight finishes in the TL this year, the closest being the CAC American where, despite a loss on the last day, the Browns sneak home by a game from the Stars, who also lose their final contest.
Just the one record set this year - the 2.72 ERA posted by Carlos Eduardo Hernandez. https://i.imgur.com/dZViNoj.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/S4b3Gcd.jpg https://i.imgur.com/PaPNJQ0.jpg https://i.imgur.com/7qJg59V.jpg Nice to see some new blood in the playoff mix this year and we're a decent chance of a first-time Champion emerging. Apart from the Clowns, who have been here three times previously and won it all in 1972, each of the other three clubs is making only their second post-season appearance with none of them having taken the title. |
Stat Check: WAR, Pitchers
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Notes from the Transit Lounge - 1982 AAA Conference Championship Series
We will indeed have a first-time AAA Champion, as the Clowns are knocked out by the Cubans, who'll meet the Marcos after they take all five to dispose of the Browns.
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Out of the Shadows: Straight outta Houston
Our final spotlight for the 1982 EL season falls upon another one of those elusive types who somehow seems to have almost slipped through a crack in the sidewalk of posterity.
Other than his statistical record on both Seamheads and BBRef, none of my sources have even a passing reference to 1930s-40s pitcher Jesse Houston, including - most surprisingly - Jim Riley. He mentions a "Bill" Houston who looks likely to be Jesse in disguise, but this entry consists of but three lines and only mentions his time with the Grays. What we do know of Jesse is that his birth name was Benjamin and that this birth took place in Montgomery AL on July 17, 1909. He played a couple seasons with the Cincinnati Tigers (1936-37) before moving to the American Giants for the next two, spent 1940 in Mexico with Tampico and then passed his final recorded season at Homestead, in 1941. SH has his career record at 18-15 with a nice 116 ERA+, while Eric Chalek allocates him a modest 6 WAR. Records show he died aged 58 in Cincy. The Eclipse League version of Jesse Houston was drafted 46th overall by the Royal Giants in 1970. Since then, in addition to the RGs he has spent time with the Grays and Black Barons along with his current club, the Cuban Stars West, for whom he is currently playing out his first season and with whom he is also contracted for 1983. Over that span he has recorded 202 Wins against 145 Losses and an ERA of 3.43, exactly matching his IRL ERA+ of 116 and racking up a healthy 67 rWAR, give or take. He has also made two ASG appearances and was a part of the Grays' 1977 Championship team. A definite improvement on the historical. Sadly, however, Jesse has recently picked up a rotator cuff strain that will keep him out of action for three more weeks and, with his CSW boys making a run at the playoffs, might have more consequence for both player and club than a run-of-the-mill injury. Now in his age-35 season, Jesse is in the twilight of a fine career and, as always, we'll check in with him again before he takes his leave of us. On the topic of which, as is tradition in this final OotS report for the year, here's an update of all the players so featured to this point. ACTIVE PLAYERS - BATTERS https://i.imgur.com/CJpLBw0.jpg ACTIVE PLAYERS - PITCHERS https://i.imgur.com/Ga0iluQ.jpg RETIRED PLAYERS - BATTERS https://i.imgur.com/3cQWvHL.jpg RETIRED PLAYERS - PITCHERS https://i.imgur.com/AyT7WBw.jpg |
Notes from the Transit Lounge: Polo!
Not much of a contest as the Marcos lock down their first TL AAA title with a comfortable sweep of the Cubans, with 1B John Lindsay named MVP.
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EL September 1982 Awards
Still everything to play for in three of the four races (although the Crawfords are making a run for it in the FC American) and I'll be back soon with a full recap.
In the meantime, the following players were rewarded for their excellent on-field performances through September with the monthly gongs:
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Saving it Late
Undoubtedly the game of the 1982 season, even more so in the context of its timing and circumstance, as you'll see in the season recap post.
Another on the same day is perhaps less dramatic in the broader scheme, but equally memorable. |
1982 Transit League Major Awards
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PITCHER OF THE YEAR RELIEVER OF THE YEAR https://i.imgur.com/yaz656A.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/UEEdF1a.jpg |
1982 EL Regular Season Summary
Close in all four races without any real late drama. The Crawfords clinch first, then the MoStars and Grays in quick succession. A calamitous collapse by the Monarchs including 10 straight losses sees them opens the door in the FC National and the Cuban Stars West just walk on through with – including that epic one of the previous post – to eventually take it out relatively comfortably, all things considered.
Batting titles to rookie Mack Jones and Cristobal Torriente. Cristo has had another nonpareil campaign (an EL-high 10.8 WAR) and his 121 RBI are second only to Keston Hiura's 126, while he also finishes top 3 in HR for the WC, albeit some margin behind John Beckwith's league-leading 37. Among the pitchers, Darltie Cooper's 24 Wins leads all others, with only Nate Moreland (21) joining him above 20. Dolly also records the low ERA with 2.50. Gene Collins fans 323 batters to lead that category, while John Brown and Lefty Moses tie for the lead with 36 Saves. Hank Thompson becomes the third member – alongside Big Papi (currently on 435) and Juan Abreu (410) – of the 400 HR club. At the time of posting, Eric Chavez is next in line with 376. Leroy Matlock earns career Win number 200. Those 105 losses by the East tie the EL record. However far the Grays go this year, they’ll have to do it without ace Carlos Zambrano after he suffers a back injury that has almost certainly ended his season. Not that it will have any bearing on the post-season, but Cleveland loses Dolf “The Pride of Havana” Luque – in the middle of a nifty 18-4 season at the gentlemanly age of 35 – for the remainder of this year and all of next after he suffers a rotator cuff tear. Tough road back for him at that age, let’s hope he’s got a few years left in him. Final Top 20s Hitters - Overall Hitters - Rookies Hitters - NeLers Pitchers - Overall Pitchers - Rookies Pitchers - NeLers Final Leaders https://i.imgur.com/ossw9Er.jpg |
1982 EL Conference Championship Series
Fleet Conference Cuban Stars West (91-71) v Pittsburgh Crawfords (89-73) Best of seven, West with home-field advantage. Tough races for both clubs means they'll be primed for this. The Crawfs have to cope with the absence of key infielder Cesar Hernandez, who won't be back this season, while the West will dearly miss pitcher Jesse Houston, who should be back in time for the World Series should they make it through. That's a fairly even swap. Pittsburgh will need to contain the CSW big bats to have a chance here, one would think. The home side wins the first five games in a real arm wrestle, sending the series back to Nashville with the West needing to continue this streak to prevail. It doesn't work out that way, as the Crawfords knock them out with a strong 5-0 win behind Louis Dula to book their spot in the big decider for just the second time and keep alive their dream of a maiden EL title. Edgar Wesley adds to his highlight reel with the MVP nod. https://i.imgur.com/R6cTysz.jpg Weldy Conference Detroit Motown Stars (94-68) v Homestead Grays (89-73) Best of seven, Motown Stars with home-field advantage. What a fascinating match-up this is, with the MoStars looking to become the first EL club to achieve a threepeat and the Grays also looking for their third title. An absolute showcase for the league with two marquee players in Shohei Ohtani and Cristobal Torriente doing battle alongside a host of big names. Queries over the fitness of Smoky Joe Williams and Roy Campanella cancel each other out, but there's no doubt Detroit's chances are helped by the fact that Homestead is without Carlos Zambrano. All the same, this is a blockbuster akin to a heavyweight title fight. The clubs swap wins the opening two games in Detroit but then the Grays win the next two at home including a huge comeback victory in Game 4 to take control of the series at 3-1 and finish off the unexpectedly flat MoStars with a shutout win behind ShoTime to claim a huge scalp and progress to the WS. Manny Machado is named series MVP. https://i.imgur.com/Q6gZQGE.jpg |
1982 Eclipse League World Series
Homestead Grays v Pittsburgh Crawfords Best of seven, Grays with home-field advantage. Mild upsets on both counts in the Conference Series, you’d have to say, but that only tells me even more that these two clubs deserve to be where they are. Despite their matching regular season records, the general consensus seems to be that the Grays will just have a bit too much firepower for the Crawfords, and I subscribe to that theorem myself, even without Big Z. Six of their starting lineup had ten or more homers this year, with Bill Wright having 8 and Roberto Clemente 9, so they are a beast with many ways to beat you and with Ohtani and Dihigo at the top of the rotation they have a bunch of big-game experience to call on. Zambrano's absence does leave them a bit vulnerable at the bottom of the rotation and the Crawfords will need to full exploit that if they want to improves their chances here. Those chances are, at any rate, decent enough. Pittsburgh actually had 41 more homers during the regular season than their opponents for this decider, with Carlos Delgado and big Bul Durham mashing more than 30 taters apiece. They will miss Cesar Hernandez, however, and their pitching can get a bit shaky as the rotation's 4.37 ERA - nearly a full point higher than Homestead's 3.55 - can attest. For mine, Earl Gurley is the key for the Crawfs. Like ShoTime and Martin in the opposition dugout, he is such a unique player seemingly capable of the impossible and if he can fly he'll take the rest of them with him. As always, a truly fascinating contest awaits us. I am tipping the Grays in six or seven, albeit without much confidence. https://i.imgur.com/Rk3guWU.jpg https://i.imgur.com/ZmK4C8h.png https://i.imgur.com/z0uZdA5.jpg https://i.imgur.com/6myc56F.png An ugly 18-5 blowout sees the Grays take the opening game with Campy belting two homers for the victors and Carlos Delgado doing likewise for the vanquished, then they double their advantage the next day as Ohtani delivers a controlled performance in a 5-1 final. Another 10-4 rout in Pittsburgh for Game 3 leaves the Crawfords almost down for the count as Campy goes yard again but they manage to stay alive with their first signs of life the following day in a 10-5 win. The Crawfs look to have clawed another one back in Game 5, leading by two heading into the 9th only to blow the save as the game heads into extras tied at 6. It stays that way until the Grays score twice in the 11th and Pittsburgh has no answer, ending a fairly disappointing series as the Grays join the Buckeyes at the top of the list with their third EL title. For Shohei, who was part of all of those Cleveland Championships, a fourth ring is on its way; for Senor Dihigo, a third. Homestead shortstop Adam Jones, who has an extraordinary series hitting 571 with 5 homers and 11 RBI (Campy has 4 and 12), takes out the MVP award. Game 1 https://i.imgur.com/rLL3Gt4.jpg Game 2 https://i.imgur.com/FIRy7MO.jpg Game 3 https://i.imgur.com/GmYe3Sk.jpg Game 4 https://i.imgur.com/LMceE0Q.jpg Game 5 https://i.imgur.com/HyaVhxx.jpg https://i.imgur.com/e4Aslfj.jpg |
1982 Housekeeping
Managerial Culls Talk about unmerciful, as the MoStars fire Manager AJ Schaffer, despite making the playoffs and after two titles in two years, and the Champions don't renew Skipper Hisanori Takahachi's contract, opting instead to let him walk and promote Marty Munhall from AAA Akron. He is joined in the unemployment queue by Sam Gilbert (Dodgers), Gabe Garcia (Athletics), John Payne (ABCs - Cool Papa Bell inherits the job) and Lennie Pearson (Red Sox) and Leonys Martin (Royal Giants), with those last two simply not renewed rather than fired. Roster News Key Extensions: P Kelvim Escobar (Liberty Stars) 4/2778; 1B George Scott (Dodgers) 2/1500. Opt-Outs: OF Mike Easler (ABCs); OF Ken Singleton (American Giants); 1B Miguel Cabrera (Lincoln Giants); C Roy Campanella (Grays); SS John Henry Lloyd (Elite Giants); SS Mookie Betts (Red Sox); C Carlos Delgado (Crawfords); 2B Roberto Alomar (Black Yankees). Voided Contracts: P Ugueth Urbina (Motown Stars); P Ricky Nolasco (Crawfords); 2B Luis Arraez (Monarchs); P Johnny Markham (West); P Jose Alvarado (Black Barons); P Ramon Ramirez (Dodgers). Prospect Pipeline https://i.imgur.com/hHqzBW8.jpg |
1982 Retirees
A fairly low-key exiting class and I doubt there's a HoFer among them.
NB Fergie Jenkins is an odd one, no idea (after an 18-7 season and at just 32) why the game has retired him but I decide not to override it. |
1982 Awards
GRANT MEDAL (MOST VALUABLE PLAYER) STOVEY MEDAL (PITCHER OF THE YEAR) WHITE PLATE (RELIEVER OF THE YEAR) https://i.imgur.com/oCIfHpl.jpg FOWLER MEDAL (ROOKIE OF THE YEAR) https://i.imgur.com/luUV5k6.jpg GARRETT BUTTON (MANAGER OF THE YEAR) FC: Alberto Chavira, Monarchs WC: Hisanori Takahashi, Grays KINDLING AWARD (SILVER SLUGGER) FC / WC https://i.imgur.com/3lvUQts.jpg SLICK AWARD (GOLD GLOVE) FC / WC https://i.imgur.com/OqMMFtt.jpg |
1982 EL Free-Agent Class / Rookie Draft
Category A NeLers coming into the EL via the 1982 Draft are Andy Cooper, Bill "Money" Monroe and Grant "Home Run" Johnson, along with NeL-MLB hybrid Elston Howard, while big names among the new MLB entrants include George Foster, Ken Griffey sr (meaning him and Junior will be floating around at the same time, perhaps even on the same team like they did for a bit IRL!), Keith Hernandez, Joe Morgan, Stretch McCovey, Sammy Sosa and the mighty Ichiro Suzuki. Quite the class indeed!
New FAs are led by the incomparable Oscar Charleston, Carlos Beltran and Mario Soto. The prized first overall pick is in the hands of the Cuban Stars East this year, and they spend it on Joe Morgan. Carlos Carrasco is a bit of a surprise second pick, taken by the Giants, with the ABCs picking Mex Hernandez third. Willie McCovey at 10th overall is a fantastic get for the MeSox. Here are the first two rounds in their entirety. |
Walker House, the EL's Hall of Fame
While no players were inducted in the first ballot, we are 15 seasons in and counting now, so it won't be long until Walker House gets its first enshrinees.
Only two were on the inaugural ballot, with Masahiro Tanaka getting 16% of the vote and Jae-weong Seo just 3.1% which means this will be his only one. For this league, 80% of the vote is needed to get your plaque and players stay on the ballot for 15 years unless they receive less than 5%, in which case they drop off. |
I don't remember what you're using for stats/projections here, but another view of HR Johnson:
https://i9s.org/wp/?player=johnso003gra |
Quote:
https://i.imgur.com/B26vzXc.jpg |
EL 1983 Opening Day
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EL 1983 Janus Report
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Doing His Barney
Cleveland's Barney Morris opens the no-no account for the 1983 EL season with this nugget against a fairly stacked Giants lineup.
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El Clásico, 1983
Well they certainly made them work for it, but the West continues its dominance of the East in the annual Cuban Stars matchup, winning all three games to stretch their overall series lead to 12-4.
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April 1983 Recap
Eclipse League With the exception of the struggling 7-18 Black Yankees, the 1983 Eclipse League season sees things pretty close heading into May. The Elite Giants start red-hot, winning their first 7 games before cooling off but they still lead narrowly in the FC American. Terrible news for the Monarchs as they lose superstar Fernando Tatis jr for the year to a PCL tear, and his absence is already telling with them sitting mid-standings and barely above 500. The WC National once again looks anyone's race, while in the WC National the American Giants take advantage of the MoStars stumbling out of the blocks to sit in first place. After a brief stay in the WCN cellar, Detroit has found some form and now sit at 14-12 and just two off the pace. Monthly Award Winners
Points of Interest
Transit League Look at those Habaneros! Is it a false start or are the perennial cellar-dwellers finally going to have a year in the sun? Monthly Award Winners
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Stat Check: TB
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Out of the Shadows: Johnny Markham
We've left our run a bit late on the subject of this feature, pitcher Johnny Markham. I don't mind that so much, I mean his historical stats aren't going anywhere and it affords us more perspective on what he has achieved as an EL player in this timeline.
Born 1908 in Shreveport LA, Johnny actually proved something of a lucky charm in his early NeL career despite never really attaining great individual heights as a player. According to Jim Riley, he played in five of the first eight Negro American League pennant winners when he was in the league. A fair stretch among lesser teams is wedged in between his rather unimpressive 3-7 rookie 1930 season with the Monarchs and his far better 7-0 1937 season. That year saw the first of the aforementioned pennants, with two more coming in quick succession in 1939 and 1940. I'm not 100% sure on this however, as despite Jim Riley's assertions, Seamheads shows no stats for him in either of these seasons. Johnny then - via a brief stint with the Chicago indy Palmer House All-Stars club - signed with the Black Barons in 1941, where he would play out the remainder of his NeL career and where he would again be part of pennant-winning outfits in both 1943 and '44, losing on each occasion to the Grays in the World Series. In the first of those, he went 6-2 with a league low 1.72 ERA but he lost form quickly and was out of the league for good after the 1945 season, finishing with a career record of 27-20 and 105 ERA+. He died in 1975. The EL version of Johnny was drafted 201st overall in the inaugural 1968 Draft by the American Giants, with whom he has ended up doing three tours of duty, winning 94 games all told. His 16 Eclipse League seasons have also seen him play for the ABCs (1972), Royal Giants (1973-76), Liberty Stars (1977-78), Black Barons (late '78), Black Yankees (1979-80), Cuban Stars West (1981) and his current club the Crawfords, which he joined this season on a one-year deal. Now in his age-36 season, Johnny has amassed 238 Wins (tied for 6th on the all-time list) vs 227 losses, with his career 3.69 ERA almost mirroring his IRL career ERA+ at 104. He is yet to win a title, but took home the 1973 Stovey Medal for best pitcher after going 20-12 with a league-low 2.56 ERA and has made four All-Star appearances. At the time of posting, his WAR total sits at a healthy 69.8. A nice little career indeed! Let's hope he's a few years left in the game ahead of him. |
May 1983 Recap
Eclipse League The status quo holds throughout May, with only the Black Yankees still out of contention and all races nice and tight. A disappointing regression for the Liberty Stars and what odds the MoStars holding up the rear in the WCN at this or any point? Monthly Award Winners
Points of Interest
Transit League Yes, it was too good to be true as the traditional House of David capitulation finally arrives in the form of a 9-game losing streak to tighten the FRN right back up again, pulling it back into line with the other three. Monthly Award Winners
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Stat Check: L
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Stat Check: SV
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3000 Hit Club, Population 1
Rod Carew becomes the first EL player with 3000 career Hits and has a fair break on his nearest rivals.
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June 1983 Recap
Eclipse League The Crawfs and Grays break away from the pack, while things tighten right up in the WCN with the MoStars making a nice move back into contention. Monthly Award Winners
Points of Interest
Top 20s - overall https://i.imgur.com/JN4t7Hb.jpg Top 20s - NeLers https://i.imgur.com/32N271k.jpg Transit League Only the Cubans with a clear break to this point and even they aren't home free just yet. Dayton’s Alexei Casilla hits in 32 consecutive games, tied for second-best in the league’s history behind Bob Oliver’s 36 in 1975. Monthly Award Winners CAC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Bobby Marshall (Black Crackers) 271 / 17 HR / 30 RBI. CAC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Alex Colome (White Sox) 5-0 / 3.05 / 34 K / 41.1 IP. FRC BATTER OF THE MONTH: Glenallen Hill (Hornets) 379 / 9 HR / 28 RBI. FRC PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Carlos Eduardo Hernandez (Clowns) 4-1 / 2.20 / 40 K / 45 IP. |
A Transit League Classic
Down at AAA, two famous clubs give us one of the games of the season, if not all time.
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