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FuzzyRussianHat · 10-25-2023, 06:28 PM

Kharkiv had the top record in EPB’s European League in 1980, ending a five-year playoff drought. The Killer Bees were 103-59 atop a powerful South Division that had the league’s top four records. Two time defending league champ Kyiv was 94-68 to earn the first wild card. Both Prague and Bucharest were one behind at 93-69, forcing a one-game playoff for the second wild card. The Pilots prevailed for their third playoff berth in four years, while the Broncos drought extended to 19 seasons. In a tight North Division, Warsaw was first at 89-73 for their first division title since the inaugural 1950 season. St. Petersburg was one short at 88-74 with Moscow 84-78. Of note, Minsk was 76-86 for their first losing season in EPB’s 26 year history to date.

St. Petersburg LF Filip Strasburger claimed European League MVP. The 25-year old from Poland was the home run leader (51) with the best OPS (.905) and wRC+ (183), adding 7.8 WAR and 90 RBI. Kyiv’s Ihor Polvaliy won his fourth Pitcher of the Year. The 29-year old Belarusian lefty led in wins at 23-9 and had a 2.22 ERA over 288.1 innings with 303 strikeouts and 9.2 WAR.

In the first round of the EL playoffs, Kharkiv topped Prague 3-1 and Warsaw bested Kyiv 3-1. In the European League Championship Series, the Killer Bees cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Wildcats. This gives Kharkiv its second EL title (1973) and gives the EL title to a Ukrainian team for the third consecutive season.

Defending Soviet Series champ Asgabat had the top mark in EPB’s Asian League at 102-60 in 1980. This won the Alphas the South Division by eight games over 94-68 Bishkek and ten over 92-70 Baku. The Black Sox and Blackbirds were the wild cards with only 90-72 Omsk in contention. This snapped an 11-year playoff drought for Bishkek and give Baku back-to-back wild cards. Irkutsk firmly won the North Division at 100-62 for a fifth playoff spot in six years for the Ice Cats.

Asgabat 1B Bartlomiej Tarka won his third Asian League MVP in four years. He led the AL in runs (107), hits (216), total bases (347), stolen bases (83), average (.355), OBP (.385), OPS (.955), wRC+ (188), and WAR (9.4). It was his fifth straight season leading in hits and his fourth batting title. Ufa’s Maksim Ekstrem won back-to-back Pitcher of the Year awards. The 30-year old St. Petersburg native was the WARlord (9.9) and leader in WHIP (0.79). He added a 15-14 record, 1.77 ERA, and 323 strikeouts over 274 innings.

Asgabat cruised to a first round sweep of Baku, while Bishkek upset Irkutsk 3-1. The Asian League Championship Series was a seven game classic with the Black Sox denying the Alphas’ repeat bid. It was the fourth AL title for Bishkek and first since their mid 60s dynasty.

In the 26^th Soviet Series, Kharkiv bested Bishkek 4-2 to give the Killer Bees their first EPB title. LF Ihor Tarasenko was the finals MVP, posting 22 hits, 5 runs, and 7 RBI in 15 playoff starts.

Other notes: Asgabat’s Maksim Shantanov had a 31-game hit streak, passing the old Eurasian Professional Baseball record by one. He’d hold the longest hit streak until 2006. Daurenbek Zeynalov and Ioakim Konstantin became the fifth and sixth EPB batters to 2500 career hits. SS Nazar Gogunov and CF Andrei Yevdokimov both became ten time Gold Glove winners.

10-25-2023, 06:28 PM	#664
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,164	1980 in EPB Kharkiv had the top record in EPB’s European League in 1980, ending a five-year playoff drought. The Killer Bees were 103-59 atop a powerful South Division that had the league’s top four records. Two time defending league champ Kyiv was 94-68 to earn the first wild card. Both Prague and Bucharest were one behind at 93-69, forcing a one-game playoff for the second wild card. The Pilots prevailed for their third playoff berth in four years, while the Broncos drought extended to 19 seasons. In a tight North Division, Warsaw was first at 89-73 for their first division title since the inaugural 1950 season. St. Petersburg was one short at 88-74 with Moscow 84-78. Of note, Minsk was 76-86 for their first losing season in EPB’s 26 year history to date. St. Petersburg LF Filip Strasburger claimed European League MVP. The 25-year old from Poland was the home run leader (51) with the best OPS (.905) and wRC+ (183), adding 7.8 WAR and 90 RBI. Kyiv’s Ihor Polvaliy won his fourth Pitcher of the Year. The 29-year old Belarusian lefty led in wins at 23-9 and had a 2.22 ERA over 288.1 innings with 303 strikeouts and 9.2 WAR. In the first round of the EL playoffs, Kharkiv topped Prague 3-1 and Warsaw bested Kyiv 3-1. In the European League Championship Series, the Killer Bees cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Wildcats. This gives Kharkiv its second EL title (1973) and gives the EL title to a Ukrainian team for the third consecutive season. Defending Soviet Series champ Asgabat had the top mark in EPB’s Asian League at 102-60 in 1980. This won the Alphas the South Division by eight games over 94-68 Bishkek and ten over 92-70 Baku. The Black Sox and Blackbirds were the wild cards with only 90-72 Omsk in contention. This snapped an 11-year playoff drought for Bishkek and give Baku back-to-back wild cards. Irkutsk firmly won the North Division at 100-62 for a fifth playoff spot in six years for the Ice Cats. Asgabat 1B Bartlomiej Tarka won his third Asian League MVP in four years. He led the AL in runs (107), hits (216), total bases (347), stolen bases (83), average (.355), OBP (.385), OPS (.955), wRC+ (188), and WAR (9.4). It was his fifth straight season leading in hits and his fourth batting title. Ufa’s Maksim Ekstrem won back-to-back Pitcher of the Year awards. The 30-year old St. Petersburg native was the WARlord (9.9) and leader in WHIP (0.79). He added a 15-14 record, 1.77 ERA, and 323 strikeouts over 274 innings. Asgabat cruised to a first round sweep of Baku, while Bishkek upset Irkutsk 3-1. The Asian League Championship Series was a seven game classic with the Black Sox denying the Alphas’ repeat bid. It was the fourth AL title for Bishkek and first since their mid 60s dynasty. In the 26^th Soviet Series, Kharkiv bested Bishkek 4-2 to give the Killer Bees their first EPB title. LF Ihor Tarasenko was the finals MVP, posting 22 hits, 5 runs, and 7 RBI in 15 playoff starts. Other notes: Asgabat’s Maksim Shantanov had a 31-game hit streak, passing the old Eurasian Professional Baseball record by one. He’d hold the longest hit streak until 2006. Daurenbek Zeynalov and Ioakim Konstantin became the fifth and sixth EPB batters to 2500 career hits. SS Nazar Gogunov and CF Andrei Yevdokimov both became ten time Gold Glove winners. __________________ 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)