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FuzzyRussianHat · 06-09-2024, 04:19 AM

After a third place finish in 2004, Antananarivo finished first in the AAB Southern Conference standings in 2005. Although the Eagles were the conference champ in 2002 and 2003, this was their first time taking the top spot in the standings. The second playoff spot was incredibly hotly contested. Defending Africa Series champ Dar es Salaam, Luanda, and Durban all finished tied at 95-67. Harare was right in the mix at 93-69 as well.

Tiebreaker games were needed to determine the second playoff team. In the first game, the Landsharks topped the Sabercats, ending Dar es Salaam’s repeat bid. Luanda would lose though to the Deer, giving Durban its first-ever playoff appearance.

The Deer took the top individual awards in the Southern Conference. LF Marley Mubiru became the third player to become a three-time MVP in the African Association of Baseball. The switch-hitting Ugandan had won it in 1998 and 1999 with Luanda. Now 32-years old, Mubiru signed a six-year, $14,640,000 deal with Durban for 2004, but underperformed and had injuries in his debut. He was elite in 2005, leading in runs (128), home runs (57), slugging (.708), OPS (1.115), wRC+ (209), and WAR (10.2). Mubiru also had a .324 average and 129 RBI.

Siyabonga Zongo repeated as Pitcher of the Year in his fifth season for Durban. The 27-year old South African lefty led in strikeouts (294), WAR (7.8), quality starts (24), and FIP- (67). Zongo also had a 19-7 record and 2.86 ERA over 251.1 innings.

Three-time defending Central Conference champ Kinshasa continued its control by taking first at 101-61. It was the fourth straight season and eighth time that the Sun Cats had the top record. They’ve also still made the playoffs in every AAB season, growing the streak to 11 years. Ndjamena (95-67) edged Kigali (94-68) for the number two spot. It is the third time in the playoffs for the Magic, who hadn’t done it since AAB’s first two seasons of 1995-96. After taking second last year, Lubumbashi struggled to sixth at 76-86.

Bujumbura was right at .500, but they had the Central Conference MVP in 1B Luke Tembo. In his fourth season, the Malawian lefty was the leader in runs (113), home runs (61), walks (155), strikeouts (181), OBP (.441), slugging (.682), OPS (1.123), wRC+ (185), and WAR (8.0). Tembo’s 155 walks drawn fell one short of his own world record set the prior year.

Pitcher of the Year went to Ndjamena’s Ivan Craque. A sixth-year righty from Mozambique, Craque led in wins (19-9), complete games (10), and shutouts (4). He added a 3.21 ERA over 241.1 innings with 244 strikeouts and 6.2 WAR. This was the peak for Craque, who had two more decent years with the Magic before eventually suffering a catastrophic rotator cuff tear.

Antananarivo downed Durban 4-1 in the Southern Conference Championship, giving the Eagles their third pennant in four years. Kinshasa made it four straight Central Conference titles as they swept Ndjamena. The Sun Cats earned their ninth appearance in the Africa Series, trying to win their seventh overall title after falling in 2004 to Dar es Salaam.

In both 2002 and 2003, Kinshasa defeated Antananarivo in the Africa Series. Round three in 2005 finally went the Eagles’ way. For back-to-back years, the finale was an intense battle that needed all nine games. Antananarivo prevailed 5-4 over the Sun Cats to earn their first-ever title.

Finals MVP was an unlikely face in 1B Kikuji Nakamura. After a 17-year career in Japan, Nakamura split 2005 between Antananarivo and Stuttgart of the European Second League. He came over in an August trade, as the EBF and AAB would briefly allow trading between its teams in the early part of the 21^st Century. In 13 playoff starts, Nakamura had 13 hits, 5 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 4 RBI.

2005 would also mark the end of Kinshasa’s incredible dynasty run with a 6-3 finals record over AAB’s first 11 seasons. Addis Ababa would soon take over the Central Conference with their own impressive dynasty run. The Sun Cats would have to wait until 2015 for their next conference finals appearance and until 2033 for their next Africa Series appearance. Still, they go down as the dynasty of AAB’s first decade and helped popularize the sport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Other notes: Bujumbura’s Joel Mwasesa had a 14 strikeout, 1 walk no hitter on April 15 against Lubumbashi. This would be the AAB record for Ks in a no-no until 2012. Mohau Sibiya became the first AAB hitter to 500 career home runs. Boubacar Mavinga became the second to 1000 runs scored. Marley Mubiru became the third to 1000 RBI. Mubiru won his seventh Silver Slugger in left field, the first AAB player to win seven.

06-09-2024, 04:19 AM	#1320
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,406	2005 in AAB After a third place finish in 2004, Antananarivo finished first in the AAB Southern Conference standings in 2005. Although the Eagles were the conference champ in 2002 and 2003, this was their first time taking the top spot in the standings. The second playoff spot was incredibly hotly contested. Defending Africa Series champ Dar es Salaam, Luanda, and Durban all finished tied at 95-67. Harare was right in the mix at 93-69 as well. Tiebreaker games were needed to determine the second playoff team. In the first game, the Landsharks topped the Sabercats, ending Dar es Salaam’s repeat bid. Luanda would lose though to the Deer, giving Durban its first-ever playoff appearance. The Deer took the top individual awards in the Southern Conference. LF Marley Mubiru became the third player to become a three-time MVP in the African Association of Baseball. The switch-hitting Ugandan had won it in 1998 and 1999 with Luanda. Now 32-years old, Mubiru signed a six-year, $14,640,000 deal with Durban for 2004, but underperformed and had injuries in his debut. He was elite in 2005, leading in runs (128), home runs (57), slugging (.708), OPS (1.115), wRC+ (209), and WAR (10.2). Mubiru also had a .324 average and 129 RBI. Siyabonga Zongo repeated as Pitcher of the Year in his fifth season for Durban. The 27-year old South African lefty led in strikeouts (294), WAR (7.8), quality starts (24), and FIP- (67). Zongo also had a 19-7 record and 2.86 ERA over 251.1 innings. Three-time defending Central Conference champ Kinshasa continued its control by taking first at 101-61. It was the fourth straight season and eighth time that the Sun Cats had the top record. They’ve also still made the playoffs in every AAB season, growing the streak to 11 years. Ndjamena (95-67) edged Kigali (94-68) for the number two spot. It is the third time in the playoffs for the Magic, who hadn’t done it since AAB’s first two seasons of 1995-96. After taking second last year, Lubumbashi struggled to sixth at 76-86. Bujumbura was right at .500, but they had the Central Conference MVP in 1B Luke Tembo. In his fourth season, the Malawian lefty was the leader in runs (113), home runs (61), walks (155), strikeouts (181), OBP (.441), slugging (.682), OPS (1.123), wRC+ (185), and WAR (8.0). Tembo’s 155 walks drawn fell one short of his own world record set the prior year. Pitcher of the Year went to Ndjamena’s Ivan Craque. A sixth-year righty from Mozambique, Craque led in wins (19-9), complete games (10), and shutouts (4). He added a 3.21 ERA over 241.1 innings with 244 strikeouts and 6.2 WAR. This was the peak for Craque, who had two more decent years with the Magic before eventually suffering a catastrophic rotator cuff tear. Antananarivo downed Durban 4-1 in the Southern Conference Championship, giving the Eagles their third pennant in four years. Kinshasa made it four straight Central Conference titles as they swept Ndjamena. The Sun Cats earned their ninth appearance in the Africa Series, trying to win their seventh overall title after falling in 2004 to Dar es Salaam. In both 2002 and 2003, Kinshasa defeated Antananarivo in the Africa Series. Round three in 2005 finally went the Eagles’ way. For back-to-back years, the finale was an intense battle that needed all nine games. Antananarivo prevailed 5-4 over the Sun Cats to earn their first-ever title. Finals MVP was an unlikely face in 1B Kikuji Nakamura. After a 17-year career in Japan, Nakamura split 2005 between Antananarivo and Stuttgart of the European Second League. He came over in an August trade, as the EBF and AAB would briefly allow trading between its teams in the early part of the 21^st Century. In 13 playoff starts, Nakamura had 13 hits, 5 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 4 RBI. 2005 would also mark the end of Kinshasa’s incredible dynasty run with a 6-3 finals record over AAB’s first 11 seasons. Addis Ababa would soon take over the Central Conference with their own impressive dynasty run. The Sun Cats would have to wait until 2015 for their next conference finals appearance and until 2033 for their next Africa Series appearance. Still, they go down as the dynasty of AAB’s first decade and helped popularize the sport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Other notes: Bujumbura’s Joel Mwasesa had a 14 strikeout, 1 walk no hitter on April 15 against Lubumbashi. This would be the AAB record for Ks in a no-no until 2012. Mohau Sibiya became the first AAB hitter to 500 career home runs. Boubacar Mavinga became the second to 1000 runs scored. Marley Mubiru became the third to 1000 RBI. Mubiru won his seventh Silver Slugger in left field, the first AAB player to win seven. __________________ 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)