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FuzzyRussianHat · 08-24-2023, 04:43 AM

Defending National Association champ Montreal had the NA’s best record in 1973, taking the Eastern League for back-to-back seasons at 99-63. Ottawa was close behind at 97-65 and took the first wild card after missing the prior two postseasons. Omaha won the Midwest League for the first time since 1967 with the Hawks at 96-66. Kansas City was second at 94-68, snapping a six-year playoff skid by earning the second wild card.

At 92-70, Cleveland was the third wild card, ending a 13-year playoff drought for the Cobras. The final spot went to 89-73 St. Louis, who were two ahead of both Brooklyn and Pittsburgh, three better than Chicago, and four ahead of Detroit. This extended the Cardinals postseason streak to five years, the longest active one in MLB. Noticeable drops in 1973 came from Philadelphia, going from 96 wins to 70; and Columbus going from 86 wins to 62.

Pittsburgh LF Connor Neumeyer won his second MVP at only age 23. He led the National Association in WAR (10.1), total bases (402), OBP (.417), slugging (.683), OPS (1.100), and wRC (213), adding 49 home runs, 115 RBI, 115 runs, and 210 hits. Cleveland’s Dallas Levy won Pitcher of the Year for the second time, having also gotten it in 1970. The 26-year old righty led in quality starts with 28, posting a 2.38 ERA and 18-6 record over 272 innings with 260 strikeouts and 7.0 WAR. Unfortunately, numerous major injuries would mean Levy posted only 2.2 total WAR over the remainder of his career.

The first round playoff matchups were both 2-0 with Cleveland over Kansas City and St. Louis over Ottawa. Montreal made it back to the final by besting the Cardinals 3-1, while the Cobras stunned Omaha with an upset in five. This gave Cleveland their first National Association Championship Series berth since 1959. However, the Maples mauled them with the first NACS sweep since 1966. Montreal became the first repeat NACS champ since Kansas City in 1961-62 and took their seventh NA title overall.

Seattle had the best record in the American Association, winning their second-ever Western League title (1963). The Grizzlies finished 99-63, holding off a strong field with four other teams above 90 wins. In the Southern League, Memphis took first at 95-67 for their first playoff berth or league title since 1965. Three-time defending World Series champion New Orleans was one behind at 94-68 and took the second wild card spot.

The first wild card went to Los Angeles at 95-67, putting them in the playoff field for the fifth time in six years after missing the prior year. The battle for the remaining two spots was in the Western League. Calgary and Oakland both finished 93-69, while Albuquerque ended one back and Portland five back. This snapped a seven-year playoff drought for the Cheetahs and was the second in three years for the Owls.

Seattle LF Jaxson Caldwell won the MVP. The 25-year old lefty led in WAR (8.2), hits (227), and batting average (.375), adding 103 runs scored and a .999 OPS with 24 home runs. Albuquerque’s Sean Forcum won Pitcher of the Year with the 25-year old lefty leading in ERA (2.32), innings (299), quality starts (25), complete games (21), shutouts (7), and WAR (9.4). He added 239 strikeouts with a 23-8 record. Forcum also had a no-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk on June 29 against Atlanta.

The first round of the playoffs had New Orleans over Oakland 2-0 and Los Angeles over Calgary 2-0. In the second round, the Mudcats weren’t ready to see the dynasty end, upsetting Seattle in five games. The Angels would knock off Memphis 3-2 on the road for return for the third time in the last six years. The American Association Championship Series went the distance with game seven going to extras. Los Angeles took the finale 5-4 in 10 innings for their first title since 1968 and sixth overall. This denied New Orleans the four-peat and officially marked the end of their contention, as the Mudcats wouldn’t return to the AACS until 2021.

The 73^rd World Series was the second time that Los Angeles and Montreal had met in the Fall Classic, with the Maples taking the 1949 encounter. The Angels would give the American Association its sixth straight crown, defeating Montreal 4-1. SS Anthony Galam was finals MVP in his first full season as a starter. The 22-year old in 14 playoff games and 10 starts had 17 hits, 6 runs, 3 doubles, and 8 RBI. The Angels now have four MLB titles (1945, 46, 68, 73). The Maples are runner-up for back-to-back seasons and now 2-5 all-time in the World Series.

Other notes: Isaiah Gilbert of Calgary had 56 doubles, setting a single-season MLB record that still stands as of 2037. Boston as a team had 255 stolen bases, which stands as second-most in a National Association season. On April 21, Brooklyn’s Michael Manley went 7-7 against Milwaukee. He’s the second MLB hitter with a seven-hit game, joining Hermeo Eraso’s 7-8 in 1922. R.J. Clinton became the 15^th MLB batter to reach 600 career home runs. The next one wouldn’t happen until 1987. Clinton and Vince Scarpello both crossed 1500 career runs, bringing it to 71 players to have done so in MLB.

MLB also made a surprising rule change following the 1973 season, lowering the active roster size from 24 to 23. All of the other leagues had 24 or 25 as their number. MLB is the only of the pro leagues to have minor league affiliates, for what that’s worth.

08-24-2023, 04:43 AM	#533
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,617	1973 in MLB Defending National Association champ Montreal had the NA’s best record in 1973, taking the Eastern League for back-to-back seasons at 99-63. Ottawa was close behind at 97-65 and took the first wild card after missing the prior two postseasons. Omaha won the Midwest League for the first time since 1967 with the Hawks at 96-66. Kansas City was second at 94-68, snapping a six-year playoff skid by earning the second wild card. At 92-70, Cleveland was the third wild card, ending a 13-year playoff drought for the Cobras. The final spot went to 89-73 St. Louis, who were two ahead of both Brooklyn and Pittsburgh, three better than Chicago, and four ahead of Detroit. This extended the Cardinals postseason streak to five years, the longest active one in MLB. Noticeable drops in 1973 came from Philadelphia, going from 96 wins to 70; and Columbus going from 86 wins to 62. Pittsburgh LF Connor Neumeyer won his second MVP at only age 23. He led the National Association in WAR (10.1), total bases (402), OBP (.417), slugging (.683), OPS (1.100), and wRC (213), adding 49 home runs, 115 RBI, 115 runs, and 210 hits. Cleveland’s Dallas Levy won Pitcher of the Year for the second time, having also gotten it in 1970. The 26-year old righty led in quality starts with 28, posting a 2.38 ERA and 18-6 record over 272 innings with 260 strikeouts and 7.0 WAR. Unfortunately, numerous major injuries would mean Levy posted only 2.2 total WAR over the remainder of his career. The first round playoff matchups were both 2-0 with Cleveland over Kansas City and St. Louis over Ottawa. Montreal made it back to the final by besting the Cardinals 3-1, while the Cobras stunned Omaha with an upset in five. This gave Cleveland their first National Association Championship Series berth since 1959. However, the Maples mauled them with the first NACS sweep since 1966. Montreal became the first repeat NACS champ since Kansas City in 1961-62 and took their seventh NA title overall. Seattle had the best record in the American Association, winning their second-ever Western League title (1963). The Grizzlies finished 99-63, holding off a strong field with four other teams above 90 wins. In the Southern League, Memphis took first at 95-67 for their first playoff berth or league title since 1965. Three-time defending World Series champion New Orleans was one behind at 94-68 and took the second wild card spot. The first wild card went to Los Angeles at 95-67, putting them in the playoff field for the fifth time in six years after missing the prior year. The battle for the remaining two spots was in the Western League. Calgary and Oakland both finished 93-69, while Albuquerque ended one back and Portland five back. This snapped a seven-year playoff drought for the Cheetahs and was the second in three years for the Owls. Seattle LF Jaxson Caldwell won the MVP. The 25-year old lefty led in WAR (8.2), hits (227), and batting average (.375), adding 103 runs scored and a .999 OPS with 24 home runs. Albuquerque’s Sean Forcum won Pitcher of the Year with the 25-year old lefty leading in ERA (2.32), innings (299), quality starts (25), complete games (21), shutouts (7), and WAR (9.4). He added 239 strikeouts with a 23-8 record. Forcum also had a no-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk on June 29 against Atlanta. The first round of the playoffs had New Orleans over Oakland 2-0 and Los Angeles over Calgary 2-0. In the second round, the Mudcats weren’t ready to see the dynasty end, upsetting Seattle in five games. The Angels would knock off Memphis 3-2 on the road for return for the third time in the last six years. The American Association Championship Series went the distance with game seven going to extras. Los Angeles took the finale 5-4 in 10 innings for their first title since 1968 and sixth overall. This denied New Orleans the four-peat and officially marked the end of their contention, as the Mudcats wouldn’t return to the AACS until 2021. The 73^rd World Series was the second time that Los Angeles and Montreal had met in the Fall Classic, with the Maples taking the 1949 encounter. The Angels would give the American Association its sixth straight crown, defeating Montreal 4-1. SS Anthony Galam was finals MVP in his first full season as a starter. The 22-year old in 14 playoff games and 10 starts had 17 hits, 6 runs, 3 doubles, and 8 RBI. The Angels now have four MLB titles (1945, 46, 68, 73). The Maples are runner-up for back-to-back seasons and now 2-5 all-time in the World Series. Other notes: Isaiah Gilbert of Calgary had 56 doubles, setting a single-season MLB record that still stands as of 2037. Boston as a team had 255 stolen bases, which stands as second-most in a National Association season. On April 21, Brooklyn’s Michael Manley went 7-7 against Milwaukee. He’s the second MLB hitter with a seven-hit game, joining Hermeo Eraso’s 7-8 in 1922. R.J. Clinton became the 15^th MLB batter to reach 600 career home runs. The next one wouldn’t happen until 1987. Clinton and Vince Scarpello both crossed 1500 career runs, bringing it to 71 players to have done so in MLB. MLB also made a surprising rule change following the 1973 season, lowering the active roster size from 24 to 23. All of the other leagues had 24 or 25 as their number. MLB is the only of the pro leagues to have minor league affiliates, for what that’s worth. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)