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Philadelphia set a franchise record with a 114-48 season, giving the Phillies a sixth straight playoff berth and fifth straight Eastern League title. Toronto also set a franchise record trying to keep pace as the Timberwolves took second in the EL at 108-54. For Toronto, it is their first playoff berth in a decade. Hartford’s streak was snapped as they took third at 96-66. In the Midwest League, Kansas City was first at 93-69 for their first playoff spot since 1937. Milwaukee grabbed second at 89-73, their first playoff berth since 1939. Last year’s ML champ Minneapolis fell to eighth at 73 wins.

Milwaukee’s Francisco Valencia won the MVP in his third season in the league. The Mexican first baseman led in the triple slash at .387/.455/.730 with a 1.186 OPS, 234 wRC+ and 9.9 WAR. His .387 average was the third-best season to that point. The 1.1858 OPS was a single-season record that held until 1995. Philadelphia’s Leon Frausto earned the Pitcher of the Year at age 30. The Venezuelan had a career year with an NA-best 2.09 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with 16 complete games and 7.5 WAR. Toronto’s Alex Lusk also became one of a select few to win Reliever of the Year three times, leading the NA with 45 saves.

In the first round of the playoffs, Philadelphia swept Milwaukee and Toronto battled to a 3-2 win at Kansas City. In the National Association Championship Series, the Timberwolves battled hard, but the Phillies dynasty continued. Philadelphia won the series in seven games for their unprecedented sixth consecutive NA title.



In the Southern League, Jacksonville at 99-63 took first, getting their first playoff appearance since winning the 1932 World Series. San Antonio was one back at 98-64 for only the third-ever playoff appearance for the Oilers (1907, 1924). Nashville was third at 89 wins, while last year’s SL champ Dallas dropped to 72 wins. In the Western League, San Diego took back-to-back titles, yet again finishing one game ahead of Los Angeles. The Seals were 102-60 with the defending World Series champ Angeles at 101-61 for their third straight playoff berth. Las Vegas (99-63), San Francisco (97-65) and Oakland (94-68) all had great seasons, but fell just short.

25-year old San Antonio designated hitter Sebastian “Lizard” Lunde won his first MVP with a historic season. He posted the fifth-ever MLB hitter Triple Crown with a .354 average, 55 home runs, and 149 RBI. Lunde also led the American Association in runs (125), hits (235), and slugging (.656). San Francisco journeyman Dave Garcia was the Pitcher of the Year, leading the AA in wins (21) and WAR (7.5) with 261 strikeouts and a 3.01 ERA. San Diego’s Victor Porter became a three-time Reliever of the Year winner with a 1.51 ERA, 4.5 WAR season.

The Western League prevailed in the first round as San Diego survived in five games against San Antonio and Los Angeles swept Jacksonville. In an American Association Championship Series rematch, the Angels again defeated the Seals; this time in seven games. This set up a World Series rematch as well between the Angels and Phillies. Once again, Los Angeles came out on top in five games. The Angels join the Phillies dynasty (41-44), the 1917-18 Phillies, and 1910-12 Houston Hornets as the only winners of consecutive World Series titles.






Other notes: Denver’s Caleb Yang became the seventh MLB batter to 600 home runs. Yang, Jesse Cuello, and Purvis Jones all crossed 3000 hits, making it 19 batters to have joined the club. Getting to 1500 RBI were Aubin Shrauger, Feris Adam, and Keith Strollo. Jesse Cuello and Luke Murray made it to 1500 runs scored. San Francisco’s Roy Cole, Charlotte’s Domingo Martinez, and Vancouver’s Jacob Gosselin all crossed 250 career wins. Boston 1B Blake Wynn won his 11^th Gold Glove.