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FuzzyRussianHat · 12-21-2023, 05:45 AM

The strength in the National Association in 1986 was concentrated in the east. Northeast Division champ Ottawa and East Division champ Baltimore shared the NA’s best record at 101-61. Both teams extended their postseason streaks to five seasons, while the Orioles were division champs each of those seasons. Montreal was only two games back on the Elks, earning the first wild card at 99-63. The Maples earned their fifth playoff appearance of the 1980s. Philadelphia was four behind Baltimore at 97-65 and earned the second wild card. Hartford was the only other team in the mix, falling four short of the wild card. Toronto, last year’s National Association champ, dropped from 104 wins to 85.

In the Lower Midwest Division, Louisville was 92-70 to secure a fifth consecutive division title. Kansas City (86-76) gave them a run, but faded late. In the Upper Midwest, Omaha (91-71) bounced back from a losing season and grabbed a second division title in four years. Chicago, World Series champs two seasons prior, finished second at 87-75. The Cubs and Cougars were both well short of the wild card spots though.

National Association MVP went to Montreal 1B Ben Kelly, who was a massive international signing for the Maples. After winning three MVPs with EBF’s Dublin, Kelly signed a five-year, $7,000,000 deal with the Maples starting in 1986. The 29-year old Englishman delivered, joining a very small group with MVPs in multiple leagues. Kelly led the NA with 46 home runs, 124 RBI, 358 total bases, and a .587 slugging percentage. He added 7.8 WAR and a .295 average.

Kansas City’s Ethan Brazille exploded for Pitcher of the Year honors, falling two strikeouts short of a Triple Crown. The 26-year old righty had a 20-12 record, 2.25 ERA, and 302 strikeouts over 264 innings. He led in WHIP (0.88), K/BB (12.1), FIP- (46), and WAR (11.6), posting to that point the fifth-best MLB pitching season by WAR. A torn rotator cuff the next season and other major injuries down the line saw Brazille fall into relative obscurity soon after; but his 1986 goes down as one of MLB’s finest seasons.

Omaha used home field advantage to edge Montreal 2-1 in the first round, while wild card Philadelphia picked up a sweep at Louisville. Ottawa outlasted a fierce challenge in five from the Phillies, sending the Elks to the National Association Championship Series for the second time in four years. The Hawks would stun Baltimore 3-2 to give Omaha its first NACS appearance since 1974. The Hawks hoped the magic would continue and deliver their first-ever pennant, but they ran out of gas. Ottawa won 4-1 in the NACS to earn a second World Series trip in four years. It was the 10^th title for the Elks, which passes Philadelphia for the most pennants by any National Association team.

The American Association’s Southeast Division hadn’t had a wild card team in the first four years post-expansion, but it had both in 1986. Tampa and Jacksonville tied for the division title at 97-65; the best mark in the entire AA, while Charlotte was one back at 96-66. The tiebreaker game gave the Thunderbirds the title for the fourth time in five years. The Gators bounced back from a 67-win 1985 for their second playoff berth in three years, while the Canaries snapped an eight year playoff drought.

The other divisional races were tight as well. Calgary won the Northwest Division at 96-66 for a fourth straight playoff appearance. Vancouver finished 94-68 and Denver was 93-69, putting both teams just short of the division and a wild card. In the Southwest, San Diego squeaked out back-to-back division wins at 93-69. Defending World Series champion Phoenix fell one game short and San Francisco was two shy. Houston claimed the South Central Division by one game at 90-72, edging out Oklahoma City. The Hornets got their third division title in four seasons.

Miami’s Armand Whipple won back-to-back American Association MVPs. The 29-year old third baseman led in home runs (51), runs scored (114), total bases (360), slugging (.624), OPS (.993), and wRC+ (165). He added 120 RBI and 7.9 WAR.

Austin third-year lefty Chris Greer won Pitcher of the Year and managed to be even more impressive than his National Association counterpart. The 24-year old was one win short of a Triple Crown with a 21-10 record, 1.96 ERA, and 292 strikeouts. Greer posted 11.9 WAR, setting a new MLB all-time single season mark for a pitcher. This would only get topped five times in the next 50 years. Greer also led in innings pitched (302.2), quality starts (31), and FIP- (56).

In the first round of the playoffs, Charlotte got the road upset 2-1 over San Diego and Houston swept Jacksonville. Calgary survived in five over the Hornets, while the Canaries stunned Tampa 3-1. This gave Charlotte their first American Association Championship Series appearance since 1963, while it was the third in four years for the Cheetahs. Calgary claimed the pennant in six over the Canaries, earning their second title in four years and fifth pennant overall.

The 86^th World Series was a rematch of the 83^rd, which had Ottawa defeat Calgary in a seven game classic. The Elks also defeated the Cheetahs in the 1940 World Series. Calgary finally got the better of Ottawa in 1986 and won their first-ever MLB ring, taking the series 4-2. 3B Brody Olson was the World Series MVP, posting 27 hits, 12 runs, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, and 7 RBI in 17 playoff starts. The Cheetahs are the first team to be a first-time World Series winner since Dallas in 1977.

Other notes: There wasn’t a single no-hitter in 1986, which is the first season without a MLB no-no since 1961. 3B Christopher Sollinger won his 12^th Gold Glove.

12-21-2023, 05:45 AM	#806
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,031	1986 in MLB The strength in the National Association in 1986 was concentrated in the east. Northeast Division champ Ottawa and East Division champ Baltimore shared the NA’s best record at 101-61. Both teams extended their postseason streaks to five seasons, while the Orioles were division champs each of those seasons. Montreal was only two games back on the Elks, earning the first wild card at 99-63. The Maples earned their fifth playoff appearance of the 1980s. Philadelphia was four behind Baltimore at 97-65 and earned the second wild card. Hartford was the only other team in the mix, falling four short of the wild card. Toronto, last year’s National Association champ, dropped from 104 wins to 85. In the Lower Midwest Division, Louisville was 92-70 to secure a fifth consecutive division title. Kansas City (86-76) gave them a run, but faded late. In the Upper Midwest, Omaha (91-71) bounced back from a losing season and grabbed a second division title in four years. Chicago, World Series champs two seasons prior, finished second at 87-75. The Cubs and Cougars were both well short of the wild card spots though. National Association MVP went to Montreal 1B Ben Kelly, who was a massive international signing for the Maples. After winning three MVPs with EBF’s Dublin, Kelly signed a five-year, $7,000,000 deal with the Maples starting in 1986. The 29-year old Englishman delivered, joining a very small group with MVPs in multiple leagues. Kelly led the NA with 46 home runs, 124 RBI, 358 total bases, and a .587 slugging percentage. He added 7.8 WAR and a .295 average. Kansas City’s Ethan Brazille exploded for Pitcher of the Year honors, falling two strikeouts short of a Triple Crown. The 26-year old righty had a 20-12 record, 2.25 ERA, and 302 strikeouts over 264 innings. He led in WHIP (0.88), K/BB (12.1), FIP- (46), and WAR (11.6), posting to that point the fifth-best MLB pitching season by WAR. A torn rotator cuff the next season and other major injuries down the line saw Brazille fall into relative obscurity soon after; but his 1986 goes down as one of MLB’s finest seasons. Omaha used home field advantage to edge Montreal 2-1 in the first round, while wild card Philadelphia picked up a sweep at Louisville. Ottawa outlasted a fierce challenge in five from the Phillies, sending the Elks to the National Association Championship Series for the second time in four years. The Hawks would stun Baltimore 3-2 to give Omaha its first NACS appearance since 1974. The Hawks hoped the magic would continue and deliver their first-ever pennant, but they ran out of gas. Ottawa won 4-1 in the NACS to earn a second World Series trip in four years. It was the 10^th title for the Elks, which passes Philadelphia for the most pennants by any National Association team. The American Association’s Southeast Division hadn’t had a wild card team in the first four years post-expansion, but it had both in 1986. Tampa and Jacksonville tied for the division title at 97-65; the best mark in the entire AA, while Charlotte was one back at 96-66. The tiebreaker game gave the Thunderbirds the title for the fourth time in five years. The Gators bounced back from a 67-win 1985 for their second playoff berth in three years, while the Canaries snapped an eight year playoff drought. The other divisional races were tight as well. Calgary won the Northwest Division at 96-66 for a fourth straight playoff appearance. Vancouver finished 94-68 and Denver was 93-69, putting both teams just short of the division and a wild card. In the Southwest, San Diego squeaked out back-to-back division wins at 93-69. Defending World Series champion Phoenix fell one game short and San Francisco was two shy. Houston claimed the South Central Division by one game at 90-72, edging out Oklahoma City. The Hornets got their third division title in four seasons. Miami’s Armand Whipple won back-to-back American Association MVPs. The 29-year old third baseman led in home runs (51), runs scored (114), total bases (360), slugging (.624), OPS (.993), and wRC+ (165). He added 120 RBI and 7.9 WAR. Austin third-year lefty Chris Greer won Pitcher of the Year and managed to be even more impressive than his National Association counterpart. The 24-year old was one win short of a Triple Crown with a 21-10 record, 1.96 ERA, and 292 strikeouts. Greer posted 11.9 WAR, setting a new MLB all-time single season mark for a pitcher. This would only get topped five times in the next 50 years. Greer also led in innings pitched (302.2), quality starts (31), and FIP- (56). In the first round of the playoffs, Charlotte got the road upset 2-1 over San Diego and Houston swept Jacksonville. Calgary survived in five over the Hornets, while the Canaries stunned Tampa 3-1. This gave Charlotte their first American Association Championship Series appearance since 1963, while it was the third in four years for the Cheetahs. Calgary claimed the pennant in six over the Canaries, earning their second title in four years and fifth pennant overall. The 86^th World Series was a rematch of the 83^rd, which had Ottawa defeat Calgary in a seven game classic. The Elks also defeated the Cheetahs in the 1940 World Series. Calgary finally got the better of Ottawa in 1986 and won their first-ever MLB ring, taking the series 4-2. 3B Brody Olson was the World Series MVP, posting 27 hits, 12 runs, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, and 7 RBI in 17 playoff starts. The Cheetahs are the first team to be a first-time World Series winner since Dallas in 1977. Other notes: There wasn’t a single no-hitter in 1986, which is the first season without a MLB no-no since 1961. 3B Christopher Sollinger won his 12^th Gold Glove. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)