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Toronto snapped a five season playoff drought in 1962 with the National Association’s best record at 107-55. The Timberwolves were Eastern League champs surprisingly for only the sixth time considering their relative success with it their first league title since 1929. In the Midwest League, defending NA champ Kansas City won back-to-back league titles, finishing 97-65. It is their fifth first place in franchise history. The Cougars finished two games better than Omaha at 95-67.

The Hawks were right in the mix with a number of Eastern League teams for the four wild card spots. Montreal and Pittsburgh both finished 96-66 to move forward, snapping a nine-season playoff drought for the Maples and giving the Pirates back-to-back berths. Omaha took the third spot one game behind for their first playoff spot since 1956. Boston at 94-68 took the final spot, finishing two ahead of Hartford. In the last decade, the Red Sox have made the playoffs seven times, although only once did they get beyond the second round. Ottawa (87-75) and Brooklyn (72-90) both had four year playoff streaks snapped, meaning no National Association team has longer than a two season active playoff streak.

Indianapolis was around .500, but they had the NA MVP in R.J. Clinton. It was the second MVP for the 25-year old right fielder from Wisconsin, who led in home runs (47), slugging (.640), and OPS (1.021), adding 8.5 WAR and a .326 average. Pittsburgh’s Richard Thieman won Pitcher of the Year. It was a career season for the 29-year old in his ninth season with the Pirates, leading in wins (22-7), FIP- (64) and WAR (8.7). He had a 1.87 ERA over 265 innings with 244 strikeouts.

Pittsburgh beat Omaha and Montreal topped Boston in the first round of the playoffs, both 2-0. Toronto cruised to a 3-0 sweep in round two over the Maples, while Kansas City bested the Pirates in four. In the National Association Championship Series, the Cougars toppled the Timberwolves in five games, making KC the first repeat NA champ since the Philadelphia dynasty of the 1940s. It is the third title for Kansas City, who also won it in 1937.



Major League Baseball’s top overall record belonged to Oakland in 1962. The Owls had a franchise-record 108-54 season, winning the Western League for only the second time (1942). Calgary gave chance at 101-61, easily taking the first wild card. It is both back-to-back wild cards and back-to-back 100+ win seasons for the Cheetahs. The Southern League title went to defending World Series champ Oklahoma City for the third straight season, giving them a four-year playoff streak after starting with no berths in the franchise’s first 54 seasons. The Outlaws were 93-69, four games better than both Charlotte and Miami at 89-73.

For both the Canaries and Mallards, that record put them one game away from a wild card. The remaining three spots went to three Western League teams that each finished 90-72. Denver, last year’s top record holder, and Seattle both are in the playoffs for back-to-back seasons. Portland is in for the third time in four seasons. Phoenix had a three-year streak ended as they dropped to tenth in the WL at 75-87.

Although Las Vegas was last in the Western League, slugger Ron Koehler earned his second straight MVP. The 33-year old DH had his fourth 50+ home run season, leading the AA with 56. He was also the leader in RBI (132), runs (129), walks (117), OBP (.419), slugging (.636), OPS (1.056), wRC+ (172), and WAR (8.1). It was the final season of Koehler’s three-year stay in Sin City, as he signed with Oakland in offseason.

San Diego was mid-tier, but ace Spenser Emond was certainly not. The 37-year old won his record seventh Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first MLB (and as of 2037, the only) seven-time winner. It was a remarkable comeback as he had missed nearly all of 1961 with a torn elbow ligament, seemingly putting his career in jeopardy. Emond had a career high 303.1 innings pitched, leading the AA in ERA (2.58), WHIP (1.01), K/BB (8.0), quality starts (26), and WAR (9.2). It was his swan song, as Emond suffered a torn UCL in spring training 1963. He would return for a partial season in 1964, becoming MLBs fifth 300 game winner.

In the first round of the American Association playoffs, Denver swept Seattle and Calgary creamed Portland. The Dragons stunned Oakland with n 3-2 upset, while Oklahoma City cruised to a sweep of the Cheetahs. In an AACS rematch, the Outlaws would be denied a repeat as Denver took the series in five games. It was the third American Association title for the Dragons, who won it all 1938 and 1925.

Denver added a third World Series ring to the trophy shelf, outlasting Kansas City in a seven-game classic. It was an impressive run for the Dragons, who were one game away from missing the playoffs entirely. Among the stars of the run was catcher Herbert Arredondo, who won second round and AACS MVP, posting 26 hits, 11 runs, 3 home runs, and 15 RBI in the postseason. LF Brian Fullen was the World Series MVP. In the playoffs, he hit five home runs with 10 RBI, 14 hits, and 7 runs.





Other notes: Crossing 1500 runs scored were Carson Tinker and Jaxson Bradley. Martin Medina crossed 1500 RBI.