[FuzzyRussianHat]

Defending World Series champion Washington and Montreal finished tied atop the Eastern League at 91-71. The competitive season had Ottawa only three back, Philadelphia five, and Toronto six. No tiebreaker game is used for first place in the MLB, but the Admirals were awarded the season tiebreaker. In the Midwest, Indianapolis, who hadn’t had a winning season since 1924, surprised the field by taking the title at 96-66.

Meanwhile, the second place spot saw a fierce battle with four teams tying for the spot at 88-75; Columbus, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Kansas City. Even wilder, two other teams, Detroit and Louisville, finished only one game back from joining the logjam. In basically a four-team tournament, the Chargers and Cardinals beat the Reds and Cougars; followed by a Columbus win over St. Louis, sending the Chargers to the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.

National Association MVP went to 24-year old Baltimore shortstop Dante Lutz. The Aruban hit 40 home runs and compiled an 8.7 WAR with the NA’s best OPS at 1.051. Derek Edwards of St. Louis won his second consecutive Pitcher of the Year and fourth overall in his storied career. He was the only pitcher with a sub-two ERA and his 0.89 WHIP at the time was a new single season record.

In the first round, the Midwest prevailed as Columbus upset Washington in four games and Indianapolis survived Montreal in five. In the National Association Championship Series, the Racers topped the Chargers in six, sending Indy to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.



In the Southern League, Miami won a second straight title, improving to a franchise-best 101-61 record. Dallas was second at 97-65 to earn their first playoff berth in a decade. In a competitive Western League, San Francisco took first at 98-64 with Las Vegas second at 96-66. It’s the fourth playoff berth in five seasons for the Gold Rush, while it is the first for the Vipers since 1922. Defending American Association champ Phoenix was third, three games back on Vegas.

MVP went to Oakland second-year outfielder Walter Atwood, who led the AA in WAR (7.8) and OPS (1.059). Brandon Scott, in his second season in Miami, earned his first Pitcher of the Year. The 31-year old veteran was the leader with wins at 24.

Dallas upset San Francisco in four in the first round, while Miami swept Las Vegas. In the American Association Championship Series, the Mallards prevailed in six for their second AA title in four seasons. They’d add their second World Series as well, with Miami defeating Indianapolis in five in the Fall Classic.





Other notes: Ulices Montero, the GOAT pitcher in CABA, led the AA in ERA at 2.49 in his second season with Denver. Washington closer Noah Pugliese won his fourth straight Reliever of the Year; the first player to win the award four times. Two-way Washington star Dylan D’Ippolito won his eighth Silver Slugger at pitcher. Los Angeles third baseman R.J. Bran became a nine-time Gold Glover.

In milestones, Nashville’s Corey Patrizio became the first hitter to 3500 career hits. St. Louis’s Elijah Cashman became the third to 600 career home runs. Las Vegas pitcher Bailey Johnson became the fifth to reach 3500 career strikeouts.