1913
While strong teams and dynasties were a theme of 1912, the following season saw parity and drama reign supreme, with only one team winning over 93 games (Jersey City at 96), four different league winners this season, three
very tight races, and two tiebreaker games.
While Jersey City won the Eastern League by five games, Rochester's franchise-record 93 wins allowed them to win the New England League for the first time in 11 years. The Cleveland Buckeyes, meanwhile, won the Midwest Association for the first time, though they needed to win a one-game playoff with Indianapolis. The Chicago Whales were only two games further back.
That all pales in comparison to the Western League. Denver and Omaha were 88-68, Minneapolis and St. Paul 87-67. Four teams were within ONE game. Fifth-place Kansas City (in the second division for the first time since 1900) was only three games back. In the end, Denver knocked off Omaha in Game 157 to secure the Bears' first Western League crown.
For once, the playoffs lived up to the drama of the regular season. Denver took care of Jersey City in six games, upsetting the top seed. Cleveland meanwhile, edged Rochester in a seven-game nailbiter. The Buckeyes then pulled the trick again, winning
another seven-game set to defeat the Denver Bears for the Buckeyes' first National Championship.
For the third time in four years, Buffalo shortstop
Le-Song Si earned MVP honors, slashing .348/.421/.514, leading the USBF with a .935 OPS, and stroking a career-high 208 hits, while driving in 86 runs. Though just 32, Si's legs were already going (just 15 steals) and as it turned out, this award would signal the end of his run as arguably the top overall player in the USBF. He remained a very good everyday player for another five years, but started missing time and wasn't as dominant as his first six seasons...
Amazingly, Milwaukee hurler
Justin Rodrigues also won Pitcher of the Year for the third time in four years, lining up with Si's honors each time. Rodriguez logged a 1.58 ERA, leading the USBF, while striking out 208 batters over 347.2 innings.
Also on the mound, history unfolded once more for
Steve Law. The New Haven right-hander retired all 27 Newark Eagles on May 24 in a 6-strikeout, 93-pitch masterpiece. Not only did this make him the first USBF pitcher to spin multiple no-hitters, both of them were perfect games. He is still the only major league pitcher with two perfect games.
Minor League Champions
Pacific Coast League: San Francisco Seals, 151-49
Southeastern League: Chattanooga Lookouts, 91-49
Colonial League: Reading Keystones, 80-46, defeats Albany (3rd straight)
Texas League: El Paso Texans, 70-57, defeats Houston
River Valley League: Peoria Distillers, 85-55, defeats Fort Wayne
Rocky Mountain League: Salt Lake City Bees, 77-49 defeats Ogden
Coastal League: Charlotte Hornets, 91-49, defeats Mobile
After 13 years of domination by New Orleans (eight titles) and Atlanta (five), the Chattanooga Lookouts finally became the third franchise to win a Southeastern League title. Incredibly, the Lookouts pulled off the task in just their second year in operation.
The PCL once more struggled with a staggering amount of disparity. Three teams won at least 142 games (.710 winning percentage), while two teams lost over 157 games (a third lost 131 games). Last place Portland went an unfathomable 28-172 and finished
123 games out of first place (run differential: -710).