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FuzzyRussianHat · 08-12-2023, 05:43 AM

The best record in the National Association belonged to St. Louis in 1971, extending their postseason streak to three years and giving the Cardinals seven playoff berths in nine years. St. Louis went 101-61 for their fourth Midwest League crown in that stretch. Columbus was second at 93-69, but the Chargers firmly got the first wild card. The 1969 NA champs are back in the postseason field after going .500 in 1970. Philadelphia won the Eastern League at 96-66 for back-to-back playoff berths. It is their first league title since 1959. Pittsburgh was second at 90-72 and got the second wild card, ending a three-year playoff skid for them.

A huge group of teams were in the mix for the remaining two wild cards. Those spots ultimately went to Montreal and Minneapolis, both at 86-76. The Maples end a six-year playoff drought and the Moose end a two-year one. Right behind them were New York and Washington at 85-77, Louisville at 84-78, Brooklyn at 83-79, Ottawa at 82-80, and Buffalo at 81-81. Last year’s National Association champion Toronto was 78-84.

Pittsburgh’s Connor Neumeyer picked up the MVP award. Picked 36^th by the Pirates in the 1969 MLB Draft, 1971 was Neumeyer’s first full season as a starter and the left-handed left fielder delivered. The Erie, PA native led the National Association in hits (219), total bases (383), batting average (.366), slugging (.640), OPS (1.060), wRC+ (212), and WAR (9.7), adding 37 home runs, 108 RBI, and 107 runs scored.

In his MLB debut, 27-year old Italian star Ugo Musacci won the Pitcher of the Year with Hartford. Musacci had won four straight Pitcher of the Year awards with Malta of the European Baseball Federation and seamlessly carried his dominance to the Huskies on a seven-year, $2,104,000 contract. He led the National Association in WAR (10.6), strikeouts (315), innings pitched (280.2), quality starts (29), and K/BB (6.8), adding a 2.37 ERA and 17-9 record.

The first round of the playoffs had Minneapolis defeat Pittsburgh in two games and Columbus top Montreal in three. The Moose upset St. Louis 3-1 in the second round, continuing the streak of early exits recently for the Cardinals. Philadelphia rolled to a sweep of the Chargers, earning their first National Association Championship Series appearance since 1960. Minneapolis had gotten there five times before, most recently in 1968, but their only title came all the way back in 1907. The Moose ended that 63 year drought, defeating the Phillies 4-2.

Defending World Series champion New Orleans won the Southern League in back-to-back seasons, but had to fend off tough competition to do so. The Mudcats had a franchise-record 101-61 mark, holding off surges from Jacksonville and Atlanta. The Gators were one behind at 100-62, a strong improvement from the 77-win 1970 season, and ended a three-year playoff drought. The Aces were 97-65 and got the second wild card, giving the 1969 World Series champs a third consecutive playoff berth. After a surprising 74-88 mark in 1970, San Diego bounced back to take the Western League at 101-61. This gave the Seals seven playoff appearances over the last eight years.

The remaining two wild cards came from the Western League with Oakland at 91-71 and Los Angeles at 90-72. Falling just short were Memphis (89-73), Albuquerque (88-74), Houston (87-75), and Phoenix (86-76). The Owls are back after a two-year layoff, while the Angels have the longest active playoff streak in MLB at four seasons. The most notable swing was San Antonio, who went from a 94-win wild card team in 1970 to a lousy 64-98 in 1971.

Los Angeles 1B Edward Torres won back-to-back American Association MVPs. The 26-year old was the home run (56), RBI (147), and total bases (390) leader, adding 7.6 WAR and a 1.049 OPS. Veteran pitcher Julius Jordan won his first Pitcher of the Year. The 33-year old righty was in his fourth season with Houston, leading in strikeouts (294), innings pitched (292.2), K/BB (6.0), quality starts (26), complete games (24), FIP- (69), and WAR (9.0). He added a 2.61 ERA and 18-12 record. For Jordan, it is the fourth time in his career as the strikeout leader.

The wild card round had Atlanta defeat Oakland 2-0 and Jacksonville drop Los Angeles 2-0. The league champs prevailed in round two as New Orleans swept the Gators and San Diego folded the Aces in four. The Mudcats were able to continue their fledgling dynasty, winning the American Association Championship Series in six games. They’re the first AACS back-to-back winner since the Seals did it in 1966-67.

The 71^st World Series saw New Orleans earn back-to-back rings and their third in franchise history, having also won it all in 1935. The Mudcats downed Minneapolis 4-2, becoming the first back-to-back World Series winner since San Diego in 1955-56. CF Amro Adda was the World Series MVP, a 31-year old Egyptian who had played in EBF’s Rome in the prior decade. Historically a great fielder but iffy batter, Adda had 17 hits, 6 runs, 3 home runs, and 12 RBI in 15 playoff games for New Orleans.

Other notes: Houston’s James Eisenhuth had the 13^th MLB Perfect Game on September 16, striking out six against Memphis. After seeing four thrown between 1965-71, it wouldn’t be until 1981 that we’d have another MLB perfecto. Catcher Gait Datsko won his eighth Silver Slugger.

08-12-2023, 05:43 AM	#498
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,180	1971 in MLB The best record in the National Association belonged to St. Louis in 1971, extending their postseason streak to three years and giving the Cardinals seven playoff berths in nine years. St. Louis went 101-61 for their fourth Midwest League crown in that stretch. Columbus was second at 93-69, but the Chargers firmly got the first wild card. The 1969 NA champs are back in the postseason field after going .500 in 1970. Philadelphia won the Eastern League at 96-66 for back-to-back playoff berths. It is their first league title since 1959. Pittsburgh was second at 90-72 and got the second wild card, ending a three-year playoff skid for them. A huge group of teams were in the mix for the remaining two wild cards. Those spots ultimately went to Montreal and Minneapolis, both at 86-76. The Maples end a six-year playoff drought and the Moose end a two-year one. Right behind them were New York and Washington at 85-77, Louisville at 84-78, Brooklyn at 83-79, Ottawa at 82-80, and Buffalo at 81-81. Last year’s National Association champion Toronto was 78-84. Pittsburgh’s Connor Neumeyer picked up the MVP award. Picked 36^th by the Pirates in the 1969 MLB Draft, 1971 was Neumeyer’s first full season as a starter and the left-handed left fielder delivered. The Erie, PA native led the National Association in hits (219), total bases (383), batting average (.366), slugging (.640), OPS (1.060), wRC+ (212), and WAR (9.7), adding 37 home runs, 108 RBI, and 107 runs scored. In his MLB debut, 27-year old Italian star Ugo Musacci won the Pitcher of the Year with Hartford. Musacci had won four straight Pitcher of the Year awards with Malta of the European Baseball Federation and seamlessly carried his dominance to the Huskies on a seven-year, $2,104,000 contract. He led the National Association in WAR (10.6), strikeouts (315), innings pitched (280.2), quality starts (29), and K/BB (6.8), adding a 2.37 ERA and 17-9 record. The first round of the playoffs had Minneapolis defeat Pittsburgh in two games and Columbus top Montreal in three. The Moose upset St. Louis 3-1 in the second round, continuing the streak of early exits recently for the Cardinals. Philadelphia rolled to a sweep of the Chargers, earning their first National Association Championship Series appearance since 1960. Minneapolis had gotten there five times before, most recently in 1968, but their only title came all the way back in 1907. The Moose ended that 63 year drought, defeating the Phillies 4-2. Defending World Series champion New Orleans won the Southern League in back-to-back seasons, but had to fend off tough competition to do so. The Mudcats had a franchise-record 101-61 mark, holding off surges from Jacksonville and Atlanta. The Gators were one behind at 100-62, a strong improvement from the 77-win 1970 season, and ended a three-year playoff drought. The Aces were 97-65 and got the second wild card, giving the 1969 World Series champs a third consecutive playoff berth. After a surprising 74-88 mark in 1970, San Diego bounced back to take the Western League at 101-61. This gave the Seals seven playoff appearances over the last eight years. The remaining two wild cards came from the Western League with Oakland at 91-71 and Los Angeles at 90-72. Falling just short were Memphis (89-73), Albuquerque (88-74), Houston (87-75), and Phoenix (86-76). The Owls are back after a two-year layoff, while the Angels have the longest active playoff streak in MLB at four seasons. The most notable swing was San Antonio, who went from a 94-win wild card team in 1970 to a lousy 64-98 in 1971. Los Angeles 1B Edward Torres won back-to-back American Association MVPs. The 26-year old was the home run (56), RBI (147), and total bases (390) leader, adding 7.6 WAR and a 1.049 OPS. Veteran pitcher Julius Jordan won his first Pitcher of the Year. The 33-year old righty was in his fourth season with Houston, leading in strikeouts (294), innings pitched (292.2), K/BB (6.0), quality starts (26), complete games (24), FIP- (69), and WAR (9.0). He added a 2.61 ERA and 18-12 record. For Jordan, it is the fourth time in his career as the strikeout leader. The wild card round had Atlanta defeat Oakland 2-0 and Jacksonville drop Los Angeles 2-0. The league champs prevailed in round two as New Orleans swept the Gators and San Diego folded the Aces in four. The Mudcats were able to continue their fledgling dynasty, winning the American Association Championship Series in six games. They’re the first AACS back-to-back winner since the Seals did it in 1966-67. The 71^st World Series saw New Orleans earn back-to-back rings and their third in franchise history, having also won it all in 1935. The Mudcats downed Minneapolis 4-2, becoming the first back-to-back World Series winner since San Diego in 1955-56. CF Amro Adda was the World Series MVP, a 31-year old Egyptian who had played in EBF’s Rome in the prior decade. Historically a great fielder but iffy batter, Adda had 17 hits, 6 runs, 3 home runs, and 12 RBI in 15 playoff games for New Orleans. Other notes: Houston’s James Eisenhuth had the 13^th MLB Perfect Game on September 16, striking out six against Memphis. After seeing four thrown between 1965-71, it wouldn’t be until 1981 that we’d have another MLB perfecto. Catcher Gait Datsko won his eighth Silver Slugger. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)