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FuzzyRussianHat · 09-27-2023, 04:33 AM

Indianapolis had the top mark in the National Association in 1977, getting back to the playoffs for the first time since their 1974 NA title. The Racers finished 101-61 atop a very strong Midwest League. Louisville was second at 95-67, earning their third straight wild card. St. Louis at 94-68 picked up the second wild card and snapped a three-year playoff skid. Columbus at 91-71 took the third wild card spot for their first berth since 1971.

In the Eastern League, Buffalo was first at 91-71 for their second EL title in four years. Boston was the closest competitor at 89-73, ultimately tying with the ML’s Cincinnati for the final wild card spot. The tiebreaker game went to the Reds to earn them back-to-back playoff berths. Last year’s National Association champ Kansas City just missed the field at 87-75, snapping a four-year playoff streak.

NA MVP went to Louisville shortstop Alberto Rivera, who led in runs (110) and WAR (9.8). The 27-year old Puerto Rican also won his third Gold Glove. Kansas City’s Mike Lee won his third Pitcher of the Year. It was a remarkable comeback for the 29-year old righty, who blew out his elbow and missed almost all of the 1976 season. In his return, he led the National Association in strikeouts (310), innings (281), wins (21-10), quality starts (28), and shutouts (8). He added a 2.37 ERA and 8.5 WAR.

The wild card round saw St. Louis sweep Columbus and Louisville sweep Cincinnati. Both league champs prevailed in round two as Indianapolis dropped the Cardinals 3-1, while Buffalo survived in five against the Lynx. The National Association Championship Series ended being a Racers sweep over the Blue Sox. Indy now has seven National Association titles (1931, 1936, 1952, 1957, 1959, 1974, 1977).

Defending World Series champ Las Vegas improved their record to 109-53 for the best mark in the American Association and the Western League. Oakland was second at 96-66 to firmly take the first wild card and get their fourth playoff berth in five years. Tampa dominated the Southern League at 101-61 for back-to-back playoff appearances. It was their first SL title in a decade.

The battle for the remaining three wild cards was very tight. Charlotte took the second spot at 87-75 to snap a 15-year playoff drought. At 86-76, Dallas took the third spot for their third straight playoff berth. The final spot saw Phoenix and Memphis tied at 85-77, both finishing one game ahead of Los Angeles, Portland, and San Diego. The Firebirds beat the Mountain Cats in the one-game playoff to advance. Houston, who had the AA’s best record last year with 109 wins, dropped to 78-84. With that, the longest playoff streak in Major League Baseball is only three years (OAK, DAL, LOU).

Oakland DH Aiden Hertlein won his second MVP award with the 27-year old lefty leading in hits (229), runs (117), doubles (51), RBI (142), total bases (400), OPS (1.042), wRC+ (177), and WAR (8.9). He also had 38 home runs and a .358 average. Tampa’s Samuel Dao won Pitcher of the Year with the fifth-year lefty leading in strikeouts with 284. He added a 2.71 ERA, 19-7 record, and 6.6 WAR over 272 innings.

Dallas downed Charlotte 2-0 and Phoenix upset Oakland 2-1 in the first round. Both wild cards stunned the league champs in round two with the Firebirds edging Las Vegas 3-2 and the Dalmatians dropping Tampa 3-1. This earned Dallas its first American Association Championship Series appearance since the early 1940s, while Phoenix saw their first since 1969. The Dalmatians dominated the series 4-1, giving Dallas its fifth AA title (1918, 1919, 1942, 1943).

The 77^th World Series was guaranteed to have a first-time MLB champion as both Indianapolis and Dallas had been snake bitten in their prior appearances. The Racers entered the series 0-6 all-time in the Fall Classic, while the Dalmatians were 0-4. The series was a seven game classic with game seven going to Dallas by a 1-0 final. Pitcher Landon Padilla was the World Series MVP with the 28-year old Puerto Rican posting an incredible playoff run. He was 5-0 in five starts with a 0.63 ERA over 43 innings and 25 strikeouts. The result gave the American Association a tenth straight World Series win over the National Association. Indianapolis now sits 0-7 in the World Series.

Other notes: Indy’s R.J. Clinton became the fourth MLB batter to 700 career home runs, a mark that wouldn’t be reached again until 2019. This would be his final season, retiring tied for third with Sebastian Lunde on the all-time list at 712. Elijah Cashman (750) and Kaby Silva (731) are above them. Carson Hanford became the first (and as of 2037, the only) MLB reliever to 500 career saves. He’d pitch one more season and retire the all-time leader at 536. Maiseli Lafaiali’I became the 17^th MLB pitcher to 3500 career strikeouts. 3B B.J. Orwig won his 11^th Gold Glove.

09-27-2023, 04:33 AM	#608
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,032	1977 in MLB Indianapolis had the top mark in the National Association in 1977, getting back to the playoffs for the first time since their 1974 NA title. The Racers finished 101-61 atop a very strong Midwest League. Louisville was second at 95-67, earning their third straight wild card. St. Louis at 94-68 picked up the second wild card and snapped a three-year playoff skid. Columbus at 91-71 took the third wild card spot for their first berth since 1971. In the Eastern League, Buffalo was first at 91-71 for their second EL title in four years. Boston was the closest competitor at 89-73, ultimately tying with the ML’s Cincinnati for the final wild card spot. The tiebreaker game went to the Reds to earn them back-to-back playoff berths. Last year’s National Association champ Kansas City just missed the field at 87-75, snapping a four-year playoff streak. NA MVP went to Louisville shortstop Alberto Rivera, who led in runs (110) and WAR (9.8). The 27-year old Puerto Rican also won his third Gold Glove. Kansas City’s Mike Lee won his third Pitcher of the Year. It was a remarkable comeback for the 29-year old righty, who blew out his elbow and missed almost all of the 1976 season. In his return, he led the National Association in strikeouts (310), innings (281), wins (21-10), quality starts (28), and shutouts (8). He added a 2.37 ERA and 8.5 WAR. The wild card round saw St. Louis sweep Columbus and Louisville sweep Cincinnati. Both league champs prevailed in round two as Indianapolis dropped the Cardinals 3-1, while Buffalo survived in five against the Lynx. The National Association Championship Series ended being a Racers sweep over the Blue Sox. Indy now has seven National Association titles (1931, 1936, 1952, 1957, 1959, 1974, 1977). Defending World Series champ Las Vegas improved their record to 109-53 for the best mark in the American Association and the Western League. Oakland was second at 96-66 to firmly take the first wild card and get their fourth playoff berth in five years. Tampa dominated the Southern League at 101-61 for back-to-back playoff appearances. It was their first SL title in a decade. The battle for the remaining three wild cards was very tight. Charlotte took the second spot at 87-75 to snap a 15-year playoff drought. At 86-76, Dallas took the third spot for their third straight playoff berth. The final spot saw Phoenix and Memphis tied at 85-77, both finishing one game ahead of Los Angeles, Portland, and San Diego. The Firebirds beat the Mountain Cats in the one-game playoff to advance. Houston, who had the AA’s best record last year with 109 wins, dropped to 78-84. With that, the longest playoff streak in Major League Baseball is only three years (OAK, DAL, LOU). Oakland DH Aiden Hertlein won his second MVP award with the 27-year old lefty leading in hits (229), runs (117), doubles (51), RBI (142), total bases (400), OPS (1.042), wRC+ (177), and WAR (8.9). He also had 38 home runs and a .358 average. Tampa’s Samuel Dao won Pitcher of the Year with the fifth-year lefty leading in strikeouts with 284. He added a 2.71 ERA, 19-7 record, and 6.6 WAR over 272 innings. Dallas downed Charlotte 2-0 and Phoenix upset Oakland 2-1 in the first round. Both wild cards stunned the league champs in round two with the Firebirds edging Las Vegas 3-2 and the Dalmatians dropping Tampa 3-1. This earned Dallas its first American Association Championship Series appearance since the early 1940s, while Phoenix saw their first since 1969. The Dalmatians dominated the series 4-1, giving Dallas its fifth AA title (1918, 1919, 1942, 1943). The 77^th World Series was guaranteed to have a first-time MLB champion as both Indianapolis and Dallas had been snake bitten in their prior appearances. The Racers entered the series 0-6 all-time in the Fall Classic, while the Dalmatians were 0-4. The series was a seven game classic with game seven going to Dallas by a 1-0 final. Pitcher Landon Padilla was the World Series MVP with the 28-year old Puerto Rican posting an incredible playoff run. He was 5-0 in five starts with a 0.63 ERA over 43 innings and 25 strikeouts. The result gave the American Association a tenth straight World Series win over the National Association. Indianapolis now sits 0-7 in the World Series. Other notes: Indy’s R.J. Clinton became the fourth MLB batter to 700 career home runs, a mark that wouldn’t be reached again until 2019. This would be his final season, retiring tied for third with Sebastian Lunde on the all-time list at 712. Elijah Cashman (750) and Kaby Silva (731) are above them. Carson Hanford became the first (and as of 2037, the only) MLB reliever to 500 career saves. He’d pitch one more season and retire the all-time leader at 536. Maiseli Lafaiali’I became the 17^th MLB pitcher to 3500 career strikeouts. 3B B.J. Orwig won his 11^th Gold Glove. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)