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FuzzyRussianHat · 03-02-2024, 11:19 AM

It was a two-team race for first in the WAB Western League in 1995. Defending West African Champion Abidjan ended up on top for the fourth consecutive year. At 103-59, it was their fourth straight 100+ win season. Accra gave chase and took second at 99-63 for their first winning season since 1984. It was only the second-ever playoff berth for the Alligators (1976). Cape Verde claimed third place at 85-77 for their first playoff spot in five years. Bamako (81-81) and Freetown (80-82) were the closest competitors for that last playoff spot. Dakar had made the WLCS in the prior five years, but the Dukes dropped to an eighth place 75-87. Dakar wouldn’t post a winning season for the rest of the 1990s.

Leading Accra’s turnaround was 1B Mohamed Din, who won Western League MVP. The 26-year old Mauritanian lefty had been a bench player in the first five years of his career with Abidjan. The Athletes traded him to the Alligators in February for SP Usman John and Din thrived as a starter. He led the WL in hits (204), home runs (57), RBI (146), total bases (414), slugging (.703), OPS (1.093), and wRC+ (205). Din added 8.8 WAR and a .346 average. Pitcher of the Year was Abidjan’s Lin Freire. The 30-year old Bissau-Guinean lefty was in his third season with the Athletes and led in strikeouts (334), K/BB (15.9), FIP- (54), and WAR (9.3). Friere added an 18-4 record over 244 innings with a 2.43 ERA.

Accra outlasted Cape Verde 2-1 in the wild card round, sending the Alligators to their first-ever Western League Championship Series appearance. They gave the perennial powerhouse Abidjan a battle that came down to the final inning of game five. The Athletes would take the clincher 8-7 on a walkoff, becoming the first WAB team to win four pennants in a row. Abidjan has taken the WL crown eight times over WAB’s first 21 seasons.

The Eastern League was top heavy with three squads earning triple digit wins. It became clear they’d take the three playoff spots, but it came down to the final weeks to decide who placed where. Port Harcourt ended up first at 104-58, extending their playoff streak to seven years. It was only the second time the Hillcats had taken first in that stretch. Defending ELCS winner Ibadan was second at 102-60 to extend its playoff to six seasons. Kano joined them by grabbing third at 101-61, snapping a six-year playoff drought for the Condors. Lagos, who had a four-year streak entering the season, finished a distant fourth despite a respectable 89-73 mark.

It was a record setting season for Kano SS Darwin Morris, who claimed repeat Eastern League MVPs. The 23-year old Liberian posted an incredible 15.1 WAR season, blowing by the previous mark of 12.3 by Joseph Ambane in 1978. This remains the WAB single-season WAR mark as of 2037. At the time, it was also the fourth-best season of offensive WAR by any player in any pro league. Morris also set a WAB runs scored record with 142, topping Germain Tchouga’s 136 from the prior year. He also led the league in home runs (53), RBI (135), total bases (401), stolen bases (91), slugging (.693), OPS (1.103), and wRC+ (204). Morris also posted 15.0 ZR and a 1.069 EFF defensively, which would be the best defensive numbers in his storied career.

His Kano teammate Pomeyie Mensah was the EL’s Pitcher of the Year. The 26-year old Ghanaian was the leadear in ERA (2.20), and WHIP (0.96). Mensah added a 17-7 record over 216.2 innings with 297 strikeouts and 6.1 WAR. He also had the best triple slash against him of .189/.253/.303.

Ibadan had home field for the wild card round, but Kano upset them 2-1. It was the seventh Eastern League Championship Series appearance for the Condors, but first in a decade. While Darwin Morris was building a future dynasty for Kano, it wouldn’t begin quite yet. Port Harcourt edged Kano 3-2 in the ELCS, giving the Hillcats their fifth pennant (1980, 82, 89, 90, 95).

In the 21^st West African Championship, it was the second time that Abidjan and Port Harcourt had met in the final. Back in 1982, the Athletes prevailed to take their first-ever overall title. The Hillcats would get revenge and deny the repeat bid, taking the championship 4-2. It was the third overall title for PH, who also won it all in 1980 and 1989. Finals MVP was 1B Theodore Lawal, who posted 15 hits, 11 runs, 6 home runs, and 12 RBI over 11 starts. This performance got the 29-year old Lawal paid, as he’d sign a seven-year, $10,280,000 deal with Kano in the offseason

Other notes: Port Harcourt’s Aitor Zambrano drew 12 walks in the postseason to set a WAB record. Xavi Leko became the second pitcher to 4000 strikeouts. Leko finished the season with 4295, passing Addse Assefa’s 4147 to become the all-time leader. Bijou Kalumbu became the fourth to reach 3500 strikeouts. Germain Tchouga reached 1000 runs, 1000 RBI, and 400 home runs all in 1995. SS Jorginho Fonseca won his seventh Gold Glove.

03-02-2024, 11:19 AM	#1024
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,273	1995 in WAB It was a two-team race for first in the WAB Western League in 1995. Defending West African Champion Abidjan ended up on top for the fourth consecutive year. At 103-59, it was their fourth straight 100+ win season. Accra gave chase and took second at 99-63 for their first winning season since 1984. It was only the second-ever playoff berth for the Alligators (1976). Cape Verde claimed third place at 85-77 for their first playoff spot in five years. Bamako (81-81) and Freetown (80-82) were the closest competitors for that last playoff spot. Dakar had made the WLCS in the prior five years, but the Dukes dropped to an eighth place 75-87. Dakar wouldn’t post a winning season for the rest of the 1990s. Leading Accra’s turnaround was 1B Mohamed Din, who won Western League MVP. The 26-year old Mauritanian lefty had been a bench player in the first five years of his career with Abidjan. The Athletes traded him to the Alligators in February for SP Usman John and Din thrived as a starter. He led the WL in hits (204), home runs (57), RBI (146), total bases (414), slugging (.703), OPS (1.093), and wRC+ (205). Din added 8.8 WAR and a .346 average. Pitcher of the Year was Abidjan’s Lin Freire. The 30-year old Bissau-Guinean lefty was in his third season with the Athletes and led in strikeouts (334), K/BB (15.9), FIP- (54), and WAR (9.3). Friere added an 18-4 record over 244 innings with a 2.43 ERA. Accra outlasted Cape Verde 2-1 in the wild card round, sending the Alligators to their first-ever Western League Championship Series appearance. They gave the perennial powerhouse Abidjan a battle that came down to the final inning of game five. The Athletes would take the clincher 8-7 on a walkoff, becoming the first WAB team to win four pennants in a row. Abidjan has taken the WL crown eight times over WAB’s first 21 seasons. The Eastern League was top heavy with three squads earning triple digit wins. It became clear they’d take the three playoff spots, but it came down to the final weeks to decide who placed where. Port Harcourt ended up first at 104-58, extending their playoff streak to seven years. It was only the second time the Hillcats had taken first in that stretch. Defending ELCS winner Ibadan was second at 102-60 to extend its playoff to six seasons. Kano joined them by grabbing third at 101-61, snapping a six-year playoff drought for the Condors. Lagos, who had a four-year streak entering the season, finished a distant fourth despite a respectable 89-73 mark. It was a record setting season for Kano SS Darwin Morris, who claimed repeat Eastern League MVPs. The 23-year old Liberian posted an incredible 15.1 WAR season, blowing by the previous mark of 12.3 by Joseph Ambane in 1978. This remains the WAB single-season WAR mark as of 2037. At the time, it was also the fourth-best season of offensive WAR by any player in any pro league. Morris also set a WAB runs scored record with 142, topping Germain Tchouga’s 136 from the prior year. He also led the league in home runs (53), RBI (135), total bases (401), stolen bases (91), slugging (.693), OPS (1.103), and wRC+ (204). Morris also posted 15.0 ZR and a 1.069 EFF defensively, which would be the best defensive numbers in his storied career. His Kano teammate Pomeyie Mensah was the EL’s Pitcher of the Year. The 26-year old Ghanaian was the leadear in ERA (2.20), and WHIP (0.96). Mensah added a 17-7 record over 216.2 innings with 297 strikeouts and 6.1 WAR. He also had the best triple slash against him of .189/.253/.303. Ibadan had home field for the wild card round, but Kano upset them 2-1. It was the seventh Eastern League Championship Series appearance for the Condors, but first in a decade. While Darwin Morris was building a future dynasty for Kano, it wouldn’t begin quite yet. Port Harcourt edged Kano 3-2 in the ELCS, giving the Hillcats their fifth pennant (1980, 82, 89, 90, 95). In the 21^st West African Championship, it was the second time that Abidjan and Port Harcourt had met in the final. Back in 1982, the Athletes prevailed to take their first-ever overall title. The Hillcats would get revenge and deny the repeat bid, taking the championship 4-2. It was the third overall title for PH, who also won it all in 1980 and 1989. Finals MVP was 1B Theodore Lawal, who posted 15 hits, 11 runs, 6 home runs, and 12 RBI over 11 starts. This performance got the 29-year old Lawal paid, as he’d sign a seven-year, $10,280,000 deal with Kano in the offseason Other notes: Port Harcourt’s Aitor Zambrano drew 12 walks in the postseason to set a WAB record. Xavi Leko became the second pitcher to 4000 strikeouts. Leko finished the season with 4295, passing Addse Assefa’s 4147 to become the all-time leader. Bijou Kalumbu became the fourth to reach 3500 strikeouts. Germain Tchouga reached 1000 runs, 1000 RBI, and 400 home runs all in 1995. SS Jorginho Fonseca won his seventh Gold Glove. __________________ 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)