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In 1926, it was again Ottawa and Toronto atop the Eastern League with one game separating them. This time, the Elks were the league champ at 98-64, one-better than the Timberwolves. Montreal at 96 wins just missed out on snapping their playoff drought. Elks slugger Robert Ross earned National Association MVP with the lead in WAR (9.9), RBI (144), and tied for first in home runs (49). Although below .500, Buffalo boasted the Pitcher of the Year in Derek Edwards, leading in ERA (2.10) and WAR (10.3). Edwards became a two-time winner, having also taken the PotY in 1920.


In the Midwest League, Cleveland took first at 91-71 for their fourth playoff berth in five years and third league title in that stretch. Louisville fended off Kansas City and Chicago for the wild card spot, the first for the Lynx since 1919.

The EL teams advanced in the first round as Toronto topped Cleveland and Ottawa beat Louisville, both in four games. In a NACS rematch, the Timberwolves got the better of the Elks in six games.



Houston was the 1926 Southern League champion at 103-59 for their sixth playoff appearance in seven years and fifth league title in that stretch. After getting only 68 wins the year before, Atlanta bounced back at 90-72 to take the second place playoff spot ahead of Memphis and Nashville. For the second time in his career, Oklahoma City first baseman Ethan Lewis was named American Association MVP. However, the Outlaws again were middling, winning only 75 games.

Los Angeles earned back-to-back playoff berths by winning the Western League at 104-58, their first league title since 1912. Albuquerque, whose only other playoff appearance was back in 1901, took the second place spot at 98-64. They beat San Diego by one game, preventing the Seals from their first playoff appearance despite finishing with 90+ wins seven times now. Defending World Series champion Denver fell completely off a cliff, taking dead last at 65-97.

The AA Pitcher of the Year went to Albuquerue's Crazy Legs Snider, an all-time great name, who posted a 9.8 WAR season. The Isotopes also had Reliever of the Year Kyle Ruschak, pushing them to the fewest runs allowed in the American Association.

That served Albuquerque well as they upset Houston on the road in five games in the first round, while the Angels survived in five against the Aces. The Isotopes knocked off Los Angeles in six in the AACS for their first-ever World Series appearance. In a seven-game thriller, the 26th Fall Classic went to Albuquerque over Toronto.





Other notes: Hartford's Ripley Goldstein reached the 3000 career hit threshold, the third player in MLB history to do so. Later that year, Montreal's Joe Thibault joined him in the 3000 hit club. Toronto's Archie Mereidth became the second batter to 600+ career home runs. Reaching 1500 runs scored were Calgary's Jonathan Gibbs, Tampa's Troy O'Brien, and Cincinnati's Christopher Ross. Miami's George Showalter reached 1500 career RBI.