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Only one team from the 1987 National Association playoff field made it back in 1988. After missing out last year, Ottawa had the best overall record at 107-55 to win the Northeast Division and earned their seventh playoff appearance in nine years. Defending NA champ Montreal fell to 74-88, while last year’s NACS runner-up Hartford dropped to 84-78. Brooklyn won the East Division at 98-64, ending a seven-year playoff drought. It was also the first time since 1960 that the Dodgers had a first place finish.

Philadelphia was the lone team returning to the playoff field as the Phillies took the first wild card at 93-69. This gave them a third straight playoff appearance. At 90-72, Virginia Beach took the second wild card, topping Chicago by two games. In their seventh season, the Vikings are the first of the 1982 expansion teams to make the NA playoffs. Detroit won the Upper Midwest at 89-73, edging the Cubs by a game and ending a seven-year playoff drought. The Lower Midwest Division went to Indianapolis at 95-67; the Racers first playoff berth since their 1977 NA title. Kansas City, winners of 100 games last year, fell to a non-factor at 78-84.

Detroit 1B Aranha Carlos won the National Association MVP and made history by doing it at age 42. The Brazilian spent his 20s in South America, then moved to MLB as a solid slugger through his 30s. Carlos found the fountain of youth in his second year as a Tiger, posting career highs in runs (119), home runs (45), RBI (122), total bases (378), triple slash (.345/.415/.630), OPS (1.045), wRC+ (213), and WAR (10.1). He also led the NA in runs, RBI, total bases, OBP, slugging, OPS, wRC+, and WAR. Ottawa’s Andy Richter won Pitcher of the Year, leading in wins (25-4), ERA (1.94), innings (301.2), WHIP (0.94), and complete games (20). He added 214 strikeouts and 6.9 WAR.

In the first round of the playoffs, Philadelphia edged Detroit 2-1 and Virginia Beach bested Indianapolis 2-1. The Vikings shocked Ottawa 3-1 in the second round, while Philadelphia outlasted Brooklyn 3-2. This was the first time since 1971 that the Phillies made it to the American Association Championship Series, while it was the first for Virginia Beach. The expansion Viking squad stunned Philadelphia in a seven game classic to earn a trip to the World Series.



Atlanta had the best overall record in the American Association and MLB, setting a franchise record at 110-52. The Aces earned back-to-back Southeast Division titles, finishing 18 games better than Tampa. Phoenix won the Southwest Division at 105-57 for back-to-back titles and their sixth playoff berth of the 1980s. Oakland was second in the division at 94-68, ultimately one game short of the second wild card spot.

In the Northwest Division, Edmonton became one of two from the 1982 expansion teams to win a division title. The Eels were 103-59, outlasting a tough field that had both wild cards. Denver at 98-64 ended a four-year playoff drought, while two-time defending World Series champ Calgary took the second spot at 95-67. The Cheetahs extended their postseason streak to six seasons. Austin was the other expansion team to win a division title, taking the South Central at 86-76. The Amigos were four games better than Houston.

Atlanta 3B Bentley Wade won the American Association MVP. The 33-year old was in his second season with the Aces, having been traded for prospects after a decade with Memphis. Wade had a banner year, leading in hits (221), triples (25), total bases (358), average (.363), and WAR (9.1). Phoenix’s Ben Piccininni won Pitcher of the Year with a 2.53 ERA, 22-8 record, and 239 strikeouts over 277.1 innings with 7.9 WAR. He took the award, although statistically Austin’s Chris Greer had a very notable year with 11.1 WAR, 301 strikeouts, and a 2.72 ERA.

Austin upset Denver 2-1 in the first round, while Edmonton swept Calgary and ended the Cheetahs’ hopes at a three-peat. The Amigos would shock Atlanta 3-1 in round two, while Edmonton ousted Phoenix 3-1. This pitted two 1982 expansion teams into the American Association Championship Series for the first time. It was a seven-game classic with the Eels outlasting the Amigos.



The 88^th World Series was a fascinating matchup between two expansion franchises in Virginia Beach and Edmonton. It took seven seasons for one of these teams to make the playoffs, but no one expected that the seventh year would see two of them playing for the title. The Vikings Cinderella wild card run was capped off with the title in an anticlimactic 4-1 win over the Eels. 38-year old Hao Lan was the World Series MVP, earning the honor 13 years after winning the 1975 China Series MVP. In 19 playoff starts, Lan had 19 hits, 12 runs, 4 doubles, 1 home run, and 8 RBI. Belgian pitcher Nico Lemmens was a big part of the run as well, setting a playoff record with three shutouts. In six starts, Lemmens was 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA over 48.1 innings with 47 strikeouts.



Other notes: Brooklyn’s Billy Macel had a notable season, throwing two no-hitters. He joined Leo Elliott (1974) as the only MLB pitchers to have two in the same season. Memphis pitcher T.J. Urbina set a bad record that still stands as the worst in MLB history, allowing 74 home runs. Mike Lee became the seventh pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts. 3B Christopher Sollinger won his 14^th Gold Glove, a MLB record at any position.