June 1891 - End of Season Report
England - The Baseball League
It was a tough battle between two even rivals. On June 26th, Blackburn defeated Burnley 2-1 while the Wolves lost 3-4 at the hands of Stoke, extending a losing streak that would last 8 games. In the end, this was all that was needed for Blackburn to seize the lead and never look back. A 4-1-1 record against Wolverhampton and a run differential of +146 also make
Blackburn Rovers the 1891 Baseball League Champions! It is their first championship in the league's short history. Lefty Brad Burrows was the best pitcher on the team after having a 16-8 record, 2.75 ERA, 1.34 WHIP with 98 strikeouts and 121 walks. On the other side of the ball, LF Darren Hartshorn was the best player for the Rovers, hitting .289/.390/.430 with 11 doubles, 6 triples, 6 homers and 39 runs driven in.
Player of the Year
There was a change in thought, were field players are seemed more deserving of PotY awards, unless pitchers have truly outstanding seasons. With that said, the 1891 PotY winner is: SS Aidan Hunter - Derby
Season: .309/.400/.455, 12 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 44 RBI, 1 SB, 17.1 ZR (SS), 5.7 WAR
Pitcher of the Year
LHP Everton Hanson - Burnley - 3rd time
Season: 13-7, 228.2 IP, 2.24 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 84 K, 56 BB, 2.49 FIP, 6.1 WAR
Young Player of the Year
SS William Hogarth - Preston
Season: .241/.288/.310, 5 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 24 RBI, 1 SB, 11.6 ZR (SS), 1.9 WAR
Team of the Year
C Jamie Smullen - Derby - 1st, .253/.340/.308, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 20 RBI
1B Aaron Watkins - Blackburn - 1st, .330/.447/.448, 12 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 49 RBI
2B Gary Collins - Burnley - 1st, .265/.331/.332, 7 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 19 RBI
3B Liam Mack - Aston Villa - 1st, .331/.372/.451, 10 2B, 5 3B, 5 HR, 49 RBI
SS Aidan Hunter - Derby - 1st, .309/.400/.455, 12 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 44 RBI
LF Darren Hartshorn - Blackburn - 3rd, .289/.390/.430, 11 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 39 RBI
CF Lee Patterson - Wolves - 1st, .290/.386/.438, 9 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR, 40 RBI
RF Riley Creamer - Stoke - 1st, .306/.345/.492, 23 2B, 14 3B, 2 HR, 45 RBI
DH Carlton Deacon - Preston - 2nd, .346/.415/.450, 11 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 41 RBI
Scotland - Scottish Baseball League
Dumbarton held onto their lead, going 8-6-1 in June to St. Mirren's 6-7-2 to win their first league! 22 year old James McDonald was the best pitcher on the Sons' squad, going 12-8 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. McDonals struck out 57 batters and walker 54 in 189 innings. RF Thomas Barrett was the best hitter on the team, slashing .369/.476/.533 with 11 2B, 13 3B, 1 HR, 20 RBI, setting a world record with 89 stolen bases.
Player of the Year
RF Thomas Barrett - Dumbarton - 1st
Season: .369/.476/.533, 11 2B, 13 3B, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 89 SB, 6.0 ZR (RF), 6.7 WAR
Ireland - Irish League
Also as mentioned above, Distillery hung onto their lead by winning their series against Milltown 2-1. It's their first title!
Player of the Year
LHP Brock Adams - Linfield - 1st
Season: 11-5, 165.1 IP, 1.47 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 77 K, 25 BB, 1.95 FIP, 5.8 WAR
Young Player of the Year
1B Calum Rankin - Glentoran
Season: .268/.363/.380, 8 2B, 6 3B, 1 HR, 35 RBI, 4 SB, 3.3 ZR (1B), 1.6 WAR
Team of the Year
C Jack Murray - Linfield - 1st, .273/.376/.430, 8 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI
1B Calum Rankin - Glentoran - 1st, .268/.363/.380, 8 2B, 6 3B, 1 HR, 35 RBI
2B Trevor Murphy - Linfield - 1st, .262/.354/.366, 10 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 32 RBI
3B Jackie Curtis - Ligoniel - 1st, .310/.400/.452, 3 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 19 RBI
SS Keane Hobbs - Distillery - 1st, .284/.371/.358, 7 2B, 4 3B, 27 RBI
LF Alfie Lawlor - Lancashire - 1st, .290/.398/.395, 7 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI
CF Corcoran Spear - Distillery - 1st, .308/.361/.462, 12 2B, 9 3B, 2 HR, 28 RBI
RF Bernard Saxton - Distillery - 1st, .305/.395/.395, 13 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 31 RBI
DH Sammy Carroll - Distillery - 1st, .230/.332/.335, 7 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI
England - The Baseball Alliance
Lincoln win the last season of the Baseball Alliance as an independent league.