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FuzzyRussianHat · 10-17-2023, 06:26 PM

Chicago won the Midwest League at 102-60 for the National Association’s best record. Although the Cubs had gotten to the NACS last year, this is their first ML title since 1969. Kansas City was second at 96-66, easily grabbing the first wild card. The Cougars have now earned six playoff berths in the last seven seasons. In the Eastern League, Montreal was first at 96-66 to snap a four-year playoff drought.

For the remaining three wild cards, the spots ultimately went to Detroit (92-7), Cincinnati (91-71), and Boston (90-72). Defending World Series champ Louisville (88-74) just fell short, as did Brooklyn (87-75), Toronto (85-77), Philadelphia (85-77), Washington (85-77), and Baltimore (84-78). The Tigers are back in the playoffs after missing the prior two years. The Reds and Red Sox both secured a third berth in four years.

Chicago CF Janus Garcia followed up his 1978 Rookie of the Year with the 1979 National Association MVP. He pulled it off despite only playing 119 games due to injuries, but still managed to lead the NA in slugging (.595), and OPS (.977), adding 8.3 WAR and 26 home runs. The Cubs also had Pitcher of the Year from Gilbert Macias. The 29-year old Salvadoran was in his second year in the Windy City after beginning his career in CABA’s Nicaragua. Macias was the leader in ERA (2.28), wins (23-4), K/BB (6.5), FIP- (67), and WAR (8.1), adding 208 strikeouts in 261 innings.

In the first round of the playoffs, Cincinnati swept Detroit and Kansas City bested Boston 2-1. Chicago downed the Reds 3-1 and Montreal defeated Kansas City 3-1 to send both league champs to the National Association Championship Series. It was the third NACS berth in five years for the Cubs and the third of the decade for the Maples, who won in 1972 and 1973. Montreal won the series 4-2 for their seventh National Association title. The Cubs have gotten to the NACS six times since 1964 after no appearances prior, but they have gone 1-5.

The best record in the American Association went to Houston at 103-59, winning their third Southern League title in four years. Oklahoma City had a historic turnaround from 66 wins to 101-61, the most wins in franchise history. This gave the Outlaws their first playoff berth since 1963 with the first wild card. Defending AA champ Las Vegas won the Western League for a third consecutive season. They’ve made the playoffs four consecutive seasons, which is now the longest active streak after Louisville just missed out.

Dallas was third in the SL at 98-64, giving them the second wild card and their fourth playoff appearance in five years. Portland (97-65) placed second in the WL to earn back-to-back wild cards. Los Angeles at 91-71 edged out Seattle by one game for the final playoff spot. For the Angels, it is their first appearance since the 1974 World Series win.

Winning back-to-back American Association MVPs was San Francisco DH Joziah Perry. The 25-year old lefty was the leader in runs (125), hits (211), home runs (56), total bases (439), slugging (.708), OPS (1.123), wRC+ (190), and WAR (9.2), adding 130 RBI and a .340 average. Las Vegas ace Jonah Mors was Pitcher of the Year, also earning back-to-back honors. He had a 2.80 ERA and 19-10 record over 267 innings with 237 strikeouts and 7.0 WAR.

Both wild card round series’ ended in sweeps with Dallas over Portland and Oklahoma City over Los Angeles. Just like their counterpart, both league champs advanced to the American Association Championship Series. Houston defeated Dallas 3-1 and Las Vegas survived Oklahoma City 3-2. For the third time in four years, the AACS was Vipers versus Hornets. Just like in 1978 and 1976, it was Las Vegas who came out on top. LV took the series 4-1 for the franchise’s third AA title in four years and fourth ring overall.

In the 79^th World Series, Las Vegas defeated Montreal 4-1 to give the Vipers their third MLB title (1959, 1976, 1979). Fourth-year LF Jeffrey Maschmann was finals MVP with 20 hits, 9 runs, 4 doubles, 3 home runs, and 11 RBI in 15 playoff starts.

Other notes: Sawyer Williams crossed both 1500 runs scored and 1500 RBI. He’s the 78^th MLB batter to the former and 77^th to the latter. Pitcher Wayne Mitz won his ninth Gold Glove. For the 1970s, the National Association’s league batting average was around .253 and ERA was 3.64. For the American Association, the average was .263 and ERA was 4.04. In the grand historical context, this put the NA around average offensive numbers and the AA at above average, although the AA had the highest offense of any pro league in the 1970s. Both would see a gradual decline in the next few decades, although the American Association’s ERA would remain at or near the highest until the explosion of offense in the African Leagues from the 2000s onward.

10-17-2023, 06:26 PM	#648
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,408	1979 in MLB Chicago won the Midwest League at 102-60 for the National Association’s best record. Although the Cubs had gotten to the NACS last year, this is their first ML title since 1969. Kansas City was second at 96-66, easily grabbing the first wild card. The Cougars have now earned six playoff berths in the last seven seasons. In the Eastern League, Montreal was first at 96-66 to snap a four-year playoff drought. For the remaining three wild cards, the spots ultimately went to Detroit (92-7), Cincinnati (91-71), and Boston (90-72). Defending World Series champ Louisville (88-74) just fell short, as did Brooklyn (87-75), Toronto (85-77), Philadelphia (85-77), Washington (85-77), and Baltimore (84-78). The Tigers are back in the playoffs after missing the prior two years. The Reds and Red Sox both secured a third berth in four years. Chicago CF Janus Garcia followed up his 1978 Rookie of the Year with the 1979 National Association MVP. He pulled it off despite only playing 119 games due to injuries, but still managed to lead the NA in slugging (.595), and OPS (.977), adding 8.3 WAR and 26 home runs. The Cubs also had Pitcher of the Year from Gilbert Macias. The 29-year old Salvadoran was in his second year in the Windy City after beginning his career in CABA’s Nicaragua. Macias was the leader in ERA (2.28), wins (23-4), K/BB (6.5), FIP- (67), and WAR (8.1), adding 208 strikeouts in 261 innings. In the first round of the playoffs, Cincinnati swept Detroit and Kansas City bested Boston 2-1. Chicago downed the Reds 3-1 and Montreal defeated Kansas City 3-1 to send both league champs to the National Association Championship Series. It was the third NACS berth in five years for the Cubs and the third of the decade for the Maples, who won in 1972 and 1973. Montreal won the series 4-2 for their seventh National Association title. The Cubs have gotten to the NACS six times since 1964 after no appearances prior, but they have gone 1-5. The best record in the American Association went to Houston at 103-59, winning their third Southern League title in four years. Oklahoma City had a historic turnaround from 66 wins to 101-61, the most wins in franchise history. This gave the Outlaws their first playoff berth since 1963 with the first wild card. Defending AA champ Las Vegas won the Western League for a third consecutive season. They’ve made the playoffs four consecutive seasons, which is now the longest active streak after Louisville just missed out. Dallas was third in the SL at 98-64, giving them the second wild card and their fourth playoff appearance in five years. Portland (97-65) placed second in the WL to earn back-to-back wild cards. Los Angeles at 91-71 edged out Seattle by one game for the final playoff spot. For the Angels, it is their first appearance since the 1974 World Series win. Winning back-to-back American Association MVPs was San Francisco DH Joziah Perry. The 25-year old lefty was the leader in runs (125), hits (211), home runs (56), total bases (439), slugging (.708), OPS (1.123), wRC+ (190), and WAR (9.2), adding 130 RBI and a .340 average. Las Vegas ace Jonah Mors was Pitcher of the Year, also earning back-to-back honors. He had a 2.80 ERA and 19-10 record over 267 innings with 237 strikeouts and 7.0 WAR. Both wild card round series’ ended in sweeps with Dallas over Portland and Oklahoma City over Los Angeles. Just like their counterpart, both league champs advanced to the American Association Championship Series. Houston defeated Dallas 3-1 and Las Vegas survived Oklahoma City 3-2. For the third time in four years, the AACS was Vipers versus Hornets. Just like in 1978 and 1976, it was Las Vegas who came out on top. LV took the series 4-1 for the franchise’s third AA title in four years and fourth ring overall. In the 79^th World Series, Las Vegas defeated Montreal 4-1 to give the Vipers their third MLB title (1959, 1976, 1979). Fourth-year LF Jeffrey Maschmann was finals MVP with 20 hits, 9 runs, 4 doubles, 3 home runs, and 11 RBI in 15 playoff starts. Other notes: Sawyer Williams crossed both 1500 runs scored and 1500 RBI. He’s the 78^th MLB batter to the former and 77^th to the latter. Pitcher Wayne Mitz won his ninth Gold Glove. For the 1970s, the National Association’s league batting average was around .253 and ERA was 3.64. For the American Association, the average was .263 and ERA was 4.04. In the grand historical context, this put the NA around average offensive numbers and the AA at above average, although the AA had the highest offense of any pro league in the 1970s. Both would see a gradual decline in the next few decades, although the American Association’s ERA would remain at or near the highest until the explosion of offense in the African Leagues from the 2000s onward. __________________ 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)