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FuzzyRussianHat · 04-06-2024, 05:51 AM

Defending AAB Southern Conference champ Johannesburg vastly improved from their solid 98-64 mark the prior year, dominating the field at 110-52. The Jackalopes scored 1003 runs, which is still the AAB single-season record as of 2037. This was also the first time since 1921 in any world league that a team scored 1000+ runs in a season. Cape Town extended its playoff streak to four seasons, taking the second place slot at 91-71. Luanda was their only real competitor, finishing three back at 88-74.

The Landsharks had a shot thanks to Marley Mubiru, who repeated as Southern Conference MVP. The 26-year old Ugandan left fielder was the leader in home runs (58), slugging (.741), OPS (1.173), total bases (391), wRC+ (196), and WAR (9.3). He was also second in the conference in both batting average (.332) and RBI (130). Cape Town’s Adugna Mulugeta won Pitcher of the Year as the 24-year old Ethiopian righty led in ERA (2.30), WHIP (0.97), and FIP- (63). He added 182 strikeouts and 8.0 WAR over 230.2 innings with a 19-8 record. Sadly for Mulugeta, a very promising career was derailed by a torn flexor tendon in late August 1999. He would be out of the game three years later.

Two-time defending Africa Series champion Kinshasa took first in the Central Conference standings for the third time. The Sun Cats went 102-60 and have made the playoffs in all five of AAB’s seasons to date. There was a nine game gap to second place Bujumbura at 93-69, with the Bighorns earning their second playoff berth in three years. Four teams were within seven games of Bujumbura with solid efforts from Brazzaville, Addis Ababa, Ndjamena, and Lubumbashi.

Both top awards in the Central Conference saw historic performances. Brazzaville’s Mohau Sibiya won MVP with one of the finest offensive seasons in AAB history. The 26-year old South African lefty became the new leader in home runs with 69 (nice), runs (143), RBI (142), total bases (413), OPS (1.283) and WAR (13.3). He also led in OBP (.445), slugging (.838), and wRC+ (241). While the accumulation stats would get passed in later high offense era, as of 2037 Sibiya’s WAR amount is still the second-best ever season by an AAB position player and his OPS mark still sits fourth.

Bujumbura’s Henry Kibirige won his second Pitcher of the Year in three seasons and became the first-ever Triple Crown winner in AAB history. The 24-year old righty had a 22-10 record, 2.38 ERA, and 261 strikeouts. Kibirige also was the leader in WAR (9.7), innings pitched (287), quality starts (29), and FIP- (64).

Both conference finals were familiar matchups with the Southern Conference final being a rematch of the prior year and the Central Conference showdown a rematch from two years earlier. Both ended up going all seven games and ending in dramatic fashion. In the South, Johannesburg edged Cape Town with a 2-1 game seven victory in an 11 inning contest. The Central also saw game seven end 2-1 in extras, as Kinshasa walked off on Bujumbura. This gave the Jackalopes their third pennant and the Sun Cats their fourth.

The fifth Africa Series was a rubber match of sorts. Johannesburg had beaten Kinshasa in the inaugural final in 1995, but the Sun Cats earned revenge in 1998. In 1999, Kinshasa took the best-of-nine series 5-3 to win three AAB titles in a row. Finals MVP went to SS Abdulkadir Dahir, who had posted bad offensive stats with good defense during the season. In 14 playoff starts, the 25-year old Somali had 18 hits, 9 runs, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 7 RBI. While briefly a hero, he’d get traded to Antananarivo during spring training next year.

Other notes: Johannesburg’s Jamal Sakar had a .466 on-base percentage. This set the single-season record and as of 2037, has only been passed once. 3B Jayson Vunakece, 1B Tony Pendry, and SS Ian Dube each won their fifth Gold Gloves.

Through the first five seasons of the African Association of Baseball, the league statistics were mixed. The league average ERA was at 4.01, which was the highest of any world league for the decade and above average on the greater historical scale. However, the league’s batting average was around .233, which is on the lower end historically and middle-of-the-road for all leagues in the 1990s. Offensive numbers would increase in AAB for the most part into the 21^st Century.

04-06-2024, 05:51 AM	#1128
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,807	1999 in AAB Defending AAB Southern Conference champ Johannesburg vastly improved from their solid 98-64 mark the prior year, dominating the field at 110-52. The Jackalopes scored 1003 runs, which is still the AAB single-season record as of 2037. This was also the first time since 1921 in any world league that a team scored 1000+ runs in a season. Cape Town extended its playoff streak to four seasons, taking the second place slot at 91-71. Luanda was their only real competitor, finishing three back at 88-74. The Landsharks had a shot thanks to Marley Mubiru, who repeated as Southern Conference MVP. The 26-year old Ugandan left fielder was the leader in home runs (58), slugging (.741), OPS (1.173), total bases (391), wRC+ (196), and WAR (9.3). He was also second in the conference in both batting average (.332) and RBI (130). Cape Town’s Adugna Mulugeta won Pitcher of the Year as the 24-year old Ethiopian righty led in ERA (2.30), WHIP (0.97), and FIP- (63). He added 182 strikeouts and 8.0 WAR over 230.2 innings with a 19-8 record. Sadly for Mulugeta, a very promising career was derailed by a torn flexor tendon in late August 1999. He would be out of the game three years later. Two-time defending Africa Series champion Kinshasa took first in the Central Conference standings for the third time. The Sun Cats went 102-60 and have made the playoffs in all five of AAB’s seasons to date. There was a nine game gap to second place Bujumbura at 93-69, with the Bighorns earning their second playoff berth in three years. Four teams were within seven games of Bujumbura with solid efforts from Brazzaville, Addis Ababa, Ndjamena, and Lubumbashi. Both top awards in the Central Conference saw historic performances. Brazzaville’s Mohau Sibiya won MVP with one of the finest offensive seasons in AAB history. The 26-year old South African lefty became the new leader in home runs with 69 (nice), runs (143), RBI (142), total bases (413), OPS (1.283) and WAR (13.3). He also led in OBP (.445), slugging (.838), and wRC+ (241). While the accumulation stats would get passed in later high offense era, as of 2037 Sibiya’s WAR amount is still the second-best ever season by an AAB position player and his OPS mark still sits fourth. Bujumbura’s Henry Kibirige won his second Pitcher of the Year in three seasons and became the first-ever Triple Crown winner in AAB history. The 24-year old righty had a 22-10 record, 2.38 ERA, and 261 strikeouts. Kibirige also was the leader in WAR (9.7), innings pitched (287), quality starts (29), and FIP- (64). Both conference finals were familiar matchups with the Southern Conference final being a rematch of the prior year and the Central Conference showdown a rematch from two years earlier. Both ended up going all seven games and ending in dramatic fashion. In the South, Johannesburg edged Cape Town with a 2-1 game seven victory in an 11 inning contest. The Central also saw game seven end 2-1 in extras, as Kinshasa walked off on Bujumbura. This gave the Jackalopes their third pennant and the Sun Cats their fourth. The fifth Africa Series was a rubber match of sorts. Johannesburg had beaten Kinshasa in the inaugural final in 1995, but the Sun Cats earned revenge in 1998. In 1999, Kinshasa took the best-of-nine series 5-3 to win three AAB titles in a row. Finals MVP went to SS Abdulkadir Dahir, who had posted bad offensive stats with good defense during the season. In 14 playoff starts, the 25-year old Somali had 18 hits, 9 runs, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 7 RBI. While briefly a hero, he’d get traded to Antananarivo during spring training next year. Other notes: Johannesburg’s Jamal Sakar had a .466 on-base percentage. This set the single-season record and as of 2037, has only been passed once. 3B Jayson Vunakece, 1B Tony Pendry, and SS Ian Dube each won their fifth Gold Gloves. Through the first five seasons of the African Association of Baseball, the league statistics were mixed. The league average ERA was at 4.01, which was the highest of any world league for the decade and above average on the greater historical scale. However, the league’s batting average was around .233, which is on the lower end historically and middle-of-the-road for all leagues in the 1990s. Offensive numbers would increase in AAB for the most part into the 21^st Century. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)