[FuzzyRussianHat]

The Oceania Baseball Association had originally been set up with a universal designated hitter. However, after the 1980 season, the Pacific League had removed it while the Australasia League had kept it. For the 1995 season, the PL opted to return to having the DH. Both leagues would still use the DH as of 2037.



Perth’s bid to three-peat as Oceania Champions was thwarted by Christchurch. The Chinooks took the Australasia League title at 98-64, besting the Penguins by four games. Christchurch secured its seventh AL pennant (1963, 80, 83, 85, 88, 92, 95). This is tied with Perth for the most Australasia League titles. Unlike the Penguins, the Chinooks had struggled in the Oceania Championship. Since winning it all in 1963, they’ve lost five straight.

Gold Coast was fourth in the standings, but had the AL’s MVP in SS Woody Bolling. The 26-year old won the batting average title at .331 and led in wRC+ (170), and WAR (9.0). He added 167 hits and 20 home runs in 126 games, having missed six weeks to a hamstring strain. Pitcher of the Year was Christchurch veteran Jonah Lois. The 36-year old righty nicknamed “Boss” had the best year of a steady career, leading the AL in ERA (2.11), WHIP (0.83), and WAR (9.6). Lois added an 18-10 record over 319.2 innings and 295 strikeouts.



After finishing second thrice in the last four years, Honolulu was back atop the Pacific League in 1995. The Honu had an impressive 105-57 mark for a record 12^th PL pennant. Since 1981, they’ve finished first first ten times, most recently in 1993. Samoa was second at 94-68, posting their first winning season since 1990. Defending PL champ Guam fell to third at 91-71.

Honolulu slugger Vavao Brighouse earned his sixth Pacific League MVP with more record-setting power. The 32-year old Samoan lefty tied his own single-season home run record from 1988 with 69 dingers. It was his sixth season with 60+ homers and ninth team leading the league. Brighouse also shattered his own single season RBI mark of 139 from 1992, knocking in 161 runners. 69 HR and 161 RBI are still OBA’s all-time bests as of 2037. The 6’8’’ powerhouse also led in total bases (386) and slugging (.666) and added 7.6 WAR.

His Honolulu teammates also took the top pitching honors. Zeke Decker became a first-time Pitcher of the Year winner after leaving Guam in the offseason and signing a five-year, $9,420,000 deal with the Honu. Decker led in wins (26-7), ERA (2.19), WHIP (0.86), K/BB (10.2), quality starts (32), shutouts (5), FIP- (63), and WAR (10.5). He also had 348 strikeouts in 324.2 innings. Meanwhile, Garnet Wallace became a four-time Reliever of the Year winner; the second OBA pitcher to do so. The 29-year old American had 40 saves, a 1.38 ERA, and 122 strikeouts in 91 innings.



In the 36^th Oceania Championship, it was Honolulu and Christchurch facing off for the 4th time for the title. The Chinooks’ lone title came at the expense of the Honu in 1963. Honolulu got revenge with wins in 1983 and 1988. The 1995 showdown saw the Honu prevail in six games, making them 8-4 all-time in the championship and dropping the Chinooks to 1-6. 3B Harri Russell was the MVP, posting 10 hits, 3 runs, and 3 doubles in the series. It was Honolulu’s first title since the prime of the dynasty (1982, 83, 84, 86, 88, 89, 90, 95).



Other notes: Rookie Harrison Bussie was used in an experimental opener role and broke the OBA record for games started by a pitcher with 66. Graham Chapman and Quentin Basa became the fifth and sixth OBA batters to 500 career home runs. Basa also became the fifth to 2500 hits. Basa, Chapman, and Brighouse each won their seventh Silver Sluggers. Jonah Lois was the ninth pitcher to reach 3500 strikeouts. CF Thomas Ollivier won his seventh Gold Glove. Port Moresby as a team had 463 stolen bases, which remains the PL’s single-season record as of 2037.