I nearly spoke too soon with the gallant East pushing Cleveland all the way before just withering on their run at the very end and the Crawfs almost making a meal of things in the FC American before locking the division down with a few games to spare.
Batting titles to Dave Parker and Cristobal Torriente. The battle for MVP honours this year between Cristo and John Beckwith, who paces the league with 42 home runs, should be a beauty. Leon Durham's 130 RBI are the most this season, as are Jose Reyes' 48 SB.
Barney Morris (23) and Carlos Zambrano (21) are the only 20-game winners for 1983, while Big Z also posts the league's low ERA with 2.44. Pedro Martinez is the King of K with 285, while Jack Miles and Manuel Godinez tie for the most Saves with 38.
No new season records are set this time around.
Eric Chavez is the latest EL player to reach the 400-HR plateau for his career.
The Elite Giants lose Bill Byrd for the remainder in mid-September to shoulder inflammation.
200 career Wins for Louis Dula of the BYs.
The Crawfords will have to navigate the postseason without Juan Pizarro after he stretches an elbow ligament and is done for the year.
On the same day they clinch the FC National, the Cuban Stars West also find out they’ll have to travel the rest of the journey without gun rookie Jose Fernandez, lost for the remainder to a hamstring strain.
Pittsburgh’s Roberto Alomar hits for the cycle against the Red Sox.