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After a third place finish in 2006, the 2005 African Association of Baseball champion Antananarivo finished first in the Southern Conference standings at 100-62. This was the fourth playoff berth in six years for the Eagles. Reigning AAB champ Durban placed second at 93-69, earning a third straight playoff berth. Close behind but just short of the playoffs were Cape Town (90-72) and Luanda (87-75). It was a big bounce back for the Cowboys, as they hadn’t won more than 70 games in the 2000s.

CF Mohau Sibiya became the first-ever four time MVP in AAB history. It was his first MVP in the Southern Conference and with Antananarivo, having joined the Eagles in 2004. Sibiya had won two MVPs with Brazzaville and one with Kinshasa previously.

The 34-year old South African led in runs (121), home runs (59), RBI (130), walks (88), and WAR (9.0). Sibiya added a .260/.369/.672 slash and 171 wRC+. He had been strong since signing with the Eagles, but had missed parts of the prior two years to injury. Sibiya made history in 2007 as the first AAB slugger to 600 career home runs.

Maputo’s Valentine Hategekimana was the Pitcher of the Year. The 25-year old Rwandan led in ERA (2.99), quality starts (23), and WAR (6.5). Hategekimana added a 12-10 record and 244 strikeouts in 222.2 innings. Also of note, Luanda’s Mulumba Mwamba became a three-time Reliever of the Year winner.



Defending Central Conference champ Addis Ababa took the top spot again by replicating their 97-65 record. They edged Bujumbura by one game for first. The 96-66 Bighorns ended a seven-year playoff drought. Ndjamena, who had been second in back-to-back seasons, was a distant third place at 87-75.

Central Conference MVP went to Bujumbura 1B Luke Tembo. It was the second time taking the top award for the 26-year old Malawian lefty. Tembo led in runs (119), homers (64), RBI (134), walks (138), OBP (.446), slugging (.711), OPS (1.157), wRC+ (192), and WAR (8.2).

Rajab Hamadi made history as both the first AAB closer to win Reliever of the Year five teams and only the second reliever to win Pitcher of the Year. The 32-year old Tanzanian righty was with his fifth team in five years, spending 2007 with Addis Ababa. It was perhaps Hamadi’s finest season with an 0.81 ERA over 89.1 innings, 39 saves, 150 strikeouts, 512 ERA+, and 5.4 WAR.

As of 2037, Hamadi’s 0.81 ERA is the lowest in AAB history for a ROTY winner. He also became the first AAB pitcher to reach 400 career saves. Hamadi had a decent 2008, then bounced around with middling results after that in middle relief. However, his 444 career saves remains AAB’s all-time best as of 2037.

In a rematch of the 2005 Southern Conference Championship, #2 seed Durban knocked off Antananarivo 4-2. With that, the Deer earned back-to-back pennants from the wild card slot. In the Central Conference Championship Addis Ababa repeated by besting Bujumbura 4-1.



The 13^th Africa Series was a rematch between Durban and Addis Ababa. The Deer had swept the Brahmas in 2006 and won again in 2007, although this time it was in a nine game classic. The 2007 final joined 2000 as the only Africa Series’ to go 5-4 to date. With their second title, Durban joined Kinshasa as the only franchises with multiple rings and as the only teams to repeat as champ.

RF Gomez Rosa was finals MVP, a Mexican lefty in his third season in Africa after starting in Guadalajara. In 14 playoff starts, Rosa had 19 hits, 13 runs, 2 doubles, 6 home runs, and 12 RBI. This was the peak for Durban, who wouldn’t be back in the final in the next 30 years. For Addis Ababa, their own dynasty run would soon begin with the Deer out of their way.



Other notes: Felix Chaula and Gabriel Rakotomamonjy became the fifth and sixth to reach 1000 career RBI. The four-time MVP Chaula spent 2007 with Durban, his lone season with the Deer. He would end up captaining Addis Ababa in the next six seasons. Chaula won his seventh Silver Slugger in 2007. Joel Mwasesa became the first AAB pitcher to 3000 career strikeouts. Abba Abdul became the second to reach 300 saves.