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Hyderabad had a record-setting season atop the Pakistan League in 1998. The defending league champs set a new PL record and Asian Baseball Federation record with a 113-49 mark. As of 2037, this remains the best record by a team in the PL or its predecessor. The Horned Frogs earned a fifth straight playoff berth and set PL team pitching records with a 1.92 ERA, 915 hits, 345 runs, and 314 earned runs allowed. Those marks, plus a 0.868 team WHIP, all hold as all-time league records. The second place spot went to 87-75 Lahore for their first playoff berth since 1987. The Longhorns were three games ahead of Karachi and six better than Multan. Last year’s wild card Faisalabad fell off a cliff, taking last at 65-97.

Karachi’s Rizwan Qureshi won his third Pakistan League MVP. The 28-year old right fielder led in runs (116), doubles (36), home runs (61), RBI (122), total bases (403), slugging (.691), OPS (1.056), wRC+ (253), and WAR (11.1). Qureshi had two more great seasons, then was traded to Isfahan after the 2000 season. The fan favorite would shock the baseball world though by retiring from the game days later at only age 31 Qureshi would not be eligible for the Hall of Fame with just under nine years of major service, but he finished with 3 MVPs and 5 Silver Sluggers, 1450 hits, 784 runs, 345 doubles, 343 home runs, 845 RBI, a .293/.360/.579 slash, 218 wRC+, and 75.3 WAR. He remained extremely popular throughout the country for years after, but dedicated himself to other pursuits.

Pitcher of the Year went to Hyderabad’s Ahmad Oorzhak, who earned his third straight honor. He led in ERA for the third straight year with a career best 1.27. This was the second lowest by a qualifying pitcher behind Dhofar Ghaffar’s 1.22 in 1989. As of 2037, Oorzhak’s mark is still the third best season. The 25-year old was also the WARlord at 7.6 and had 322 strikeouts over 213 innings with a 17-5 record. Oorzhak pitched one more year with the Horned Frogs, then left for an unremarkable MLB run.



The Turkish League had a fierce battle for the top spot between Bursa and Adana. The Blue Claws ended up with repeat titles, taking it at 103-59. Adana ended five back at 98-64. Reigning Asian Baseball Federation champ Isfahan earned a fourth consecutive Persian League crown. The Imperials were 94-68, topping Tabriz by six games and Tehran by seven.

Adana LF Humayun Kahil won West Asia Association MVP. He was in his fourth year as a starter despite being still only 21 years old. The Pakistani lefty led in RBI (122), total bases (403), OBP (.435), and WAR (11.8). Kahil added 49 home runs, a .352 average, and 200 wRC+. Isfahan’s Yazeed Anwari secured a fourth straight Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first four-time winner in ABF. The 25-year old righty led in ERA (1.95), WHIP (0.85), K/BB (13.4), FIP- (43), and WAR (11.2). Anwari added 361 strikeouts in 240 innings with a 21-6 record.

With their record-setting season, Hyderabad cruised to a sweep of Lahore in the Pakistan League Championship Series. In a West Asia Association Championship rematch, Isfahan again bested Bursa. This time, the Imperials took the series 4-2. This also set up a rematch in the Asian Baseball Federation Championship.



Like the prior season, Hyderabad entered by record as a significant favorite over Isfahan. It was the fourth finals battle between the two, as the Horned Frogs repeated as champs over the Imperials in 1986 and 1987. Also like the prior year though, the Imperials prevailed. Isfahan won the 14^th ABF final in six games, becoming the fourth franchise to repeat as champions. 1B Faramarz Noushzad was finals MVP, as the 29-year old Iranian had 16 hits, 3 runs, 2 doubles, and 9 RBI in 12 playoff starts.



Other notes: Tehran’s Mohammad Kasravi tossed ABF’s eighth perfect game, striking out eight against Bursa on September 10. Hasan Afshin became the first ABF pitcher to 2500 career strikeouts. RF Yakup Gunduz won his eighth Gold Glove, becoming the first eight-time winner at any position.