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Season 12 (1998)
The 2000s recorded the first sweep in a World Series en route to their first All Decades League championship. The 2000s were among the elite in all facets of the game, leading the league in BA, HR, and runs scored as well as having the top bullpen ERA and the 2nd best defensive efficiency in the league.
For the first time in eight seasons, a team other than the 1890s or 1900s made the playoffs from the Golden League. The Pre1890s rode the arms of their starting pitchers to climb into the top two for the first time since 1989 (Season 3).
Notable Moments from 1998
-Bill Sweeney (1900s) and Joe Kelley (1900s) recorded his 2,000th career hit
-Willie Mays (1950s), Alex Rodriguez (1990s), and Stan Musial (1940s) hit their 500th career HRs
-Vida Blue (1970s) threw the 9th no-hitter in league history vs the 1990s. This was the first no-hitter thrown since 1995.
-J.R. Richard (1970s) won his 200th game and earned his 4th Cy Young Award.
-Paul Hines (Pre1890s) collected his 11th Gold Glove Award; Mike Schmidt (1980s) and Roy Smalley (1970s) each collected his 6th Gold Glove Award
-Willie Mays (1950s) became the first 2 time MVP in league history
-Toad Ramsey (Pre1890s) was the first starting pitcher to post a WHIP under 1.00 with a 0.97 WHIP
Final Standings
Golden League W-L
1890s 105-57
Pre1890s 99-63
1900s 84-78
1930s 79-83
1940s 73-89
1920s 63-99
1910s 43-119
Modern League W-L
2000s 96-66
1970s 87-75
1990s 85-77
1950s 85-77
2010s 83-79
1980s 77-85
1960s 75-87
Round 1 Playoffs
1890s over 1970s (4-3) - Despite having the league’s leading SP in victories and ERA, J.R. Richard, on the hill, the 1970s fell 9-0 in game 7 to the 1890s. Amos Rusie was dominant, firing a 7 hit shutout, while striking out 15 batters in the series clinching victory. In the series, Rusie threw 2 shutouts with 31 strikeouts to gain the series MVP honors.
Round 1 Playoffs
2000s over Pre1890s (4-1) - Vernon Wells and Joe Mauer each hit 3 HRs in the opening round of the playoffs leading the 2000s to their 1st World Series appearance. Jim Parque threw a complete game 2 hitter allowing only 1 unearned run in the series clinching game 5 victory.
1998 World Series
2000s over 1890s (4-0) - Dean Palmer (2000s) hit 2 HRs in a 10-4 victory in game 4 of the World Series leading the 2000s to their first league championship. The 2000s held the 1890s to 4 runs or less in their sweep over the 1890s.
Awards:
MVP - Willie Mays (1950s) - .339 BA; 48 HR; 104 RBI; 119 R (2X MVP Winner)
Cy Young - J.R. Richard (1970s) - 22-9; 2.51 ERA; 288 K (4X Cy Young Award Winner)
Rookie of the Year - Larry Herndon (1980s) - .285 BA; 38 HR; 106 RBI; 105 R
League Leaders:
BA - Frankie Frisch (1930s) - .340 BA
OPS - Willie Mays (1950s) - 1.063 OPS
HR - Chick Hafey (1930s) - 56 HR
RBI - Chick Hafey (1930s) - 139 RBI
SB - Jake Stenzel (1890s) - 51 SB
W - J.R. Richard (1970s) - 22 W
ERA - J.R. Richard (1970s) - 2.51 ERA (new record)
K - Amos Rusie (1890s) - 444 K
Saves - Aroldis Chapman (2010s) - 39 SV
Shutouts - J.R. Richard (1970s) & Amos Rusie (1890s) - tied with 6 SOs (tied record)
Comparisons to the Real World
-Chick Hafey hit a career high 29 HR in 1929.
-While Frankie Frisch never led the league in BA, he did hit .340 or better three times.
-Willie Mays did win 2 MVP awards in his MLB career
1998 Draft:
1st round picks and key additions
Pre1890s - Pete Hotaling, CF
1890s - Ben Sanders, P
1900s - Honus Wagner, CF/SS
1910s - Charlie Hollocher, SS
1920s - Fred Merkle, 1B
1930s - Bob Meusel, 3B
1940s - Willy Flager, SS
1950s - Wally Burnette, P
1960s - John Mayberry, 1B
1970s - Paul Mitchell, P
1980s - Paul Assenmacher, P
1990s - Doug Drabek, P; Dennis Eckersley, P
2000s - Erik Eckenstahler, P
2010s - Yoan Moncada, 3B
Notable Retirements
-Eric Soderholm (1970s) - 1291 H; 306 HR; 2 All-Star appearances
-Cy Seymour (1900s) - 1707 H; 421 HR; 1259 RBI; 5 All-Star appearances
-Reb Russell (1910s) - 104 W; 1702 K; 5 All-Star appearances
-Buck Herzog (1910s) - 1637 H; 221 HR; 1018 R; 392 SB; 3 All-Star appearances
-Dave Nilsson (1990s) - 1427 H; 315 HR; 10 All-Star appearances
-Gio Gonzalez (2010s) - 162 W; 3416 K; 5 All-Star appearances
-Andy Pafko (1950s) - 1297 H; 334 HR; 3 All-Star appearances
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