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KCRoyals15 · 01-03-2025, 01:38 AM

1978

"'The American Way' is a phrase often used to describe the freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; the ability to manifest one's own direction in life," said April's edition of The Sporting News. "The American Way also gives hope to the down-and-out that better days are ahead and that they are capable of improving their lot in life."

"In that sense, the American Way applies to the United States Baseball Federation in that the one-foot-in, one-foot-out nature of the American Baseball League. While the ABL doesn't quite fit the mold of either a major league or minor league circuit, its status as a purgatory of sorts has nonetheless provided a boost to several clubs."

"This spring, the ABL will play its twenty-fifth season. Of the twelve clubs that took the field in the loop's inaugural 1954 campaign, five of them are currently major-league franchises. A sixth, the Pittsburgh Ironmen, arrived a decade later and after a stay of eleven seasons went right back to the big leagues."

"Of course, those Ironmen, winners of one solitary pennant in their first 64 seasons of fruitless big-league play before slinking to the Americans, have spent nearly all of the last three seasons at the top of the standings, culminating in their first National Championship. They're not alone either, as the Miami Gators (1964), and Brooklyn Dodgers (1970) also won national titles following stays in the ABL."

"That, of course, does not even mention a seventh American Baseball expat, the Hawaii Islanders, an original charter member of the ABL in Vancouver, who flailed for fourteen seasons, gave up, moved to the islands, then began winning, moved to the Pacific Coast League, and won National Championships in 1974 and '75—their second and third big-league seasons."

"More are likely coming. Newark and Salt Lake City appear to have outgrown their current home. New Haven could return to the majors with a better facility. A half-dozen other clubs could be in the running in half a decade. Meanwhile, several of major league clubs are struggling, some for decades—but not the ones who took The American Way."

With rumors of more league shakeup on the horizon, the games went on. In the Northern Conference, the Albany Adirondacks won a franchise-record 99 games to win their first New England League pennant in five years, while the Philadelphia A's finished two games back to make their fifth playoff appearance in a row. The Midwest Association was won by Milwaukee for the ninth time in ten years, as they topped 100 wins for the third year in a row. The Chicago Whales, meanwhile, snapped a 13-year playoff drought by slipping two games ahead of Detroit into second place.

In the postseason, Philadelphia started off with an upset of Milwaukee in seven games, while Albany did not extend Chicago the courtesy of a lengthy stay, sweeping the Whales in four games. The Adirondacks then aced their test against the A's, earning Albany their first Conference Championship in a decade.

In the Southern Conference, the Eastern League had a competitive four-team race that ultimately saw Washington finish first, earning their sixth-straight postseason bid. Norfolk finished two games back, one game ahead of Baltimore to snap a 32-year playoff drought dating back to 1946.

The Western League also saw a pair of postseason drought end. The New Orleans Pelicans had struggled at the gate until moving into the Louisiana Superdome in 1975. The team struggled mightily the first three seasons there, but the finances shored up, and the Pelicans exploited that to win 100 games and the pennant, their first winning season and playoff berth in a dozen years. The Kansas City Blues had gone a franchise-record nine years without a playoff appearance, but finished three games ahead of Pittsburgh to punch their ticket.

The postseason began with New Orleans defeating Norfolk in six games. A pair of tight series followed as Washington downed Kansas City in seven games, then the Senators downed the Pelicans in seven games to lift Washington to their second Conference Championship in five years.

The story in the Pacific Coast League was the San Francisco Seals, who won 130 games, the most by a PCL team in 24 years, finishing well ahead of second-place Seattle. The South was won by Hawaii, who punch their sixth playoff ticket in a row. Los Angeles made a valiant push, improving 32 games to reach .500, but finished three games behind San Diego, who earned their first playoff berth since 1971.

In the first round, Hawaii downed Seattle in a seven-game series, while San Francisco got everything but the kitchen sink from San Diego, but emerged victorious in seven games. The PCL Championship was much less dramatic, as the Seals downed the Isles in five games to earn their second-straight PCL title.

The Texas League saw a very odd trajectory for the Wichita Aeros, who won 90 and 86 games in 1975-76, only to bottom out at 56-106 in '77. The Aeros then improved by a staggering 42 games, winning the North at 97-65, tied for their best record ever. Dallas was the only other North team above .500, winning 96 games to easily take second. The South had El Paso on top for the first time in six years, three games ahead of San Antonio, who boxed out Galveston by a game for the last playoff spot.

Both second-place teams got the job done in convincing fashion once October rolled around, as San Antonio swept El Paso, then Dallas ended Wichita's dream season with a five-game victory. The Lone Stars then took the Lone Star Series in six games, repeating as TL champs.

In a national tournament of three familiar customers and an upstart, things got started as the Washington Senators (SOU) defeat the Albany Adirondacks (NOR), while the San Francisco Seals (PCL) defeat the Dallas Lone Stars (TL). In the final, it was all Seals, as the
San Francisco Seals (PCL) defeat the Washington Senators (SOU), 4-0, with San Francisco earning their fifth National Championship, but their first since 1948.

Another year, another Mark Oxford Northern Conference MVP, as the Milwaukee shortstop amazingly won his eighth one in a row. This time, he slashed .323/.373/.503 with 199 hits, 100 runs, 25 doubles, 7 triples, 24 homers, 9 RBI, and 47 steals, winning a Great Glove to go on top of it.

At the front of the rotation leading Albany's resurgence was 32-year-old Justin Kittinger. In his fourth season after being acquired from San Francisco, the righty went 20-8 with a 2.14 ERA, leading the North in ERA and striking out 153 in 244.1 innings.

One year after his 500th home run, 42-year-old Philadelphia Quakers outfielder Tom Clark stroked his 3,000th hit on August 31, becoming the first (and so far, only) player to reach both of those benchmarks in a career.

Norfolk's revival was led by third-year outfielder Ethan Kearse. The 26-year-old slashed .346/.408/.604 with 196 hits, 97 runs, 33 doubles, 35 homers, and 104 RBI, earning the Southern Conference MVP nod.

There was little surprise on the pitching side, where Washington's Alan Church won his third Pitcher of the Year in four years and his second in a row. This time it was with a Triple Crown, as the 28-year-old went 22-10 with a 2.58 ERA and 248 strikeouts, while also leading the South with 276.0 innings, and 36 starts to earn the trophy.

In the PCL, Hawaii's Brad Duty had a historic season in 1977 without an MVP, but followed it up with another one. The 33-year-old blasted 61 homers, the third 60-homer season in USBF history. All told, he slashed .286/.356/.612 with the 61 round-trippers and 141 RBI, leading the PCL in homers and RBI for the fifth year in a row, earning his third MVP.

On the mound, 24-year-old San Francisco rookie Chris Carroll shined, going 21-9 with a 2.45 ERA, striking out 177 in 308.0 innings to earn Pitcher of the Year honors for the National Champions.

Seattle's Dave Heying may have been the best pitcher of the 70's to not win a Pitcher of the Year trophy, making nine All-Star teams and winning 251 games for the Rainiers, but no POTY awards. However, in the midst of another fine season (21-14, 2.82 ERA), Heying fired the eighth perfect game in PCL history, retiring all 27 Los Angeles Angels on July 15, striking out 12 in a 101-pitch masterpiece, which is still the most recent perfect game in the PCL.

Another Rainier, Joseph Miller, reached the end of the line. Playing the final game of his 17 big-league seasons at 42 years old, Miller slugged 13 games in his final campaign, finishing his career with 677 longballs, the all-time United States Baseball Federation record...as well as a record 2,750 strikeouts.

In the Texas League, El Paso's Daniel Alcaraz led the charge for El Paso's division title, slashing .309/.389/.551 with 184 hits, 97 runs, 28 doubles, 15 triples, 29 homers, 117 RBI, and 19 steals. That was enough for the 29-year-old to earn his second MVP in four years.

For the second time in three years, Dallas' Brian Belk was best on the bump, earning Pitcher of the Year after going 18-10 with a 2.78 ERA, logging 271.2 innings and 16 complete games to earn the hardware.

Oklahoma City's Roy Hendricks suffered a debilitating shoulder injury in early June, but before then, the right-hander fanned his 3,000th career batter on April 19, becoming the second pitcher in Texas League history to reach that mark.

One player went into the Hall of Fame, and it came from the Pacific Coast League:

1B John DeNoia (1952-68), 84.3%

---

The American Baseball League did not feature as many dominant (or really bad) teams as it often does, though Newark won 100 games. Spokane and the Chicago Cyclones took the other two divisions, with the Cyclones fending off two teams to reach the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. In their third year in the ABL, Richmond earned the wild card. Spokane started off the postseason with six-game series win over Chicago, while Newark bounced Richmond in five games. The Eagles then slipped past the Indians in seven games for their second-straight American Baseball Cup.

Newark's Mike Boettner cleaned up on the awards front in surprising fashion. A journeyman who went 193-215 in 22 professional seasons, Boettner out of nowhere went 20-9 with a 1.99 ERA in 280.0 innings at 36 years old, leading the ABL in wins and ERA. In a year win no clear-cut stars, Boettner won both Pitcher of the Year and MVP, the only major awards of his entire career.

---

Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Chattanooga Lookouts, 88-66, defeats Baton Rouge
Colonial League: Pittsfield Colonials, 97-43, defeats Worcester (2nd straight)
River Valley League: St. Joseph Snakes, 88-52, defeats Evansville (2nd straight)
Rocky Mountain League: Ft. Collins Grizzlies, 78-48, defeats Butte
Coastal League: Augusta Rebels, 102-52, defeats Savannah (2nd straight)
Northern League: Fargo-Moorhead Indians, 97-43, defeats La Crosse (4th straight)
Great Lakes League: Rochester Red Wings, 89-51, defeats Youngstown
Southwest League: Long Beach Earthquakes, 85-69, defeats Albuquerque
Southern Association: Corpus Christi Gunslingers, 76-64, defeats Beaumont (2nd straight)
Northwest League: Reno High Rollers, 94-60, defeats Bellingham
Can-Am League: Ottawa Capitals, 73-53, defeats Utica
Mid-Atlantic League: Asheville Tourists, 80-60, defeats Altoona
Lone Star League: Rio Grande White Wings, 75-65, defeats Laredo
Great Plains League: Madison Black Wolves, 79-61, defeats St. Paul
Florida Coast League: Pensacola Privateers, 77-63, defeats Huntsville
Big Sky League: Calgary Cannons, 75-57, defeats Missoula (3rd straight)

01-03-2025, 01:38 AM	#88
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	Signed, Seals, and Delivered 1978 "'The American Way' is a phrase often used to describe the freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; the ability to manifest one's own direction in life," said April's edition of The Sporting News. "The American Way also gives hope to the down-and-out that better days are ahead and that they are capable of improving their lot in life." "In that sense, the American Way applies to the United States Baseball Federation in that the one-foot-in, one-foot-out nature of the American Baseball League. While the ABL doesn't quite fit the mold of either a major league or minor league circuit, its status as a purgatory of sorts has nonetheless provided a boost to several clubs." "This spring, the ABL will play its twenty-fifth season. Of the twelve clubs that took the field in the loop's inaugural 1954 campaign, five of them are currently major-league franchises. A sixth, the Pittsburgh Ironmen, arrived a decade later and after a stay of eleven seasons went right back to the big leagues." "Of course, those Ironmen, winners of one solitary pennant in their first 64 seasons of fruitless big-league play before slinking to the Americans, have spent nearly all of the last three seasons at the top of the standings, culminating in their first National Championship. They're not alone either, as the Miami Gators (1964), and Brooklyn Dodgers (1970) also won national titles following stays in the ABL." "That, of course, does not even mention a seventh American Baseball expat, the Hawaii Islanders, an original charter member of the ABL in Vancouver, who flailed for fourteen seasons, gave up, moved to the islands, then began winning, moved to the Pacific Coast League, and won National Championships in 1974 and '75—their second and third big-league seasons." "More are likely coming. Newark and Salt Lake City appear to have outgrown their current home. New Haven could return to the majors with a better facility. A half-dozen other clubs could be in the running in half a decade. Meanwhile, several of major league clubs are struggling, some for decades—but not the ones who took The American Way." With rumors of more league shakeup on the horizon, the games went on. In the Northern Conference, the Albany Adirondacks won a franchise-record 99 games to win their first New England League pennant in five years, while the Philadelphia A's finished two games back to make their fifth playoff appearance in a row. The Midwest Association was won by Milwaukee for the ninth time in ten years, as they topped 100 wins for the third year in a row. The Chicago Whales, meanwhile, snapped a 13-year playoff drought by slipping two games ahead of Detroit into second place. In the postseason, Philadelphia started off with an upset of Milwaukee in seven games, while Albany did not extend Chicago the courtesy of a lengthy stay, sweeping the Whales in four games. The Adirondacks then aced their test against the A's, earning Albany their first Conference Championship in a decade. In the Southern Conference, the Eastern League had a competitive four-team race that ultimately saw Washington finish first, earning their sixth-straight postseason bid. Norfolk finished two games back, one game ahead of Baltimore to snap a 32-year playoff drought dating back to 1946. The Western League also saw a pair of postseason drought end. The New Orleans Pelicans had struggled at the gate until moving into the Louisiana Superdome in 1975. The team struggled mightily the first three seasons there, but the finances shored up, and the Pelicans exploited that to win 100 games and the pennant, their first winning season and playoff berth in a dozen years. The Kansas City Blues had gone a franchise-record nine years without a playoff appearance, but finished three games ahead of Pittsburgh to punch their ticket. The postseason began with New Orleans defeating Norfolk in six games. A pair of tight series followed as Washington downed Kansas City in seven games, then the Senators downed the Pelicans in seven games to lift Washington to their second Conference Championship in five years. The story in the Pacific Coast League was the San Francisco Seals, who won 130 games, the most by a PCL team in 24 years, finishing well ahead of second-place Seattle. The South was won by Hawaii, who punch their sixth playoff ticket in a row. Los Angeles made a valiant push, improving 32 games to reach .500, but finished three games behind San Diego, who earned their first playoff berth since 1971. In the first round, Hawaii downed Seattle in a seven-game series, while San Francisco got everything but the kitchen sink from San Diego, but emerged victorious in seven games. The PCL Championship was much less dramatic, as the Seals downed the Isles in five games to earn their second-straight PCL title. The Texas League saw a very odd trajectory for the Wichita Aeros, who won 90 and 86 games in 1975-76, only to bottom out at 56-106 in '77. The Aeros then improved by a staggering 42 games, winning the North at 97-65, tied for their best record ever. Dallas was the only other North team above .500, winning 96 games to easily take second. The South had El Paso on top for the first time in six years, three games ahead of San Antonio, who boxed out Galveston by a game for the last playoff spot. Both second-place teams got the job done in convincing fashion once October rolled around, as San Antonio swept El Paso, then Dallas ended Wichita's dream season with a five-game victory. The Lone Stars then took the Lone Star Series in six games, repeating as TL champs. In a national tournament of three familiar customers and an upstart, things got started as the Washington Senators (SOU) defeat the Albany Adirondacks (NOR), while the San Francisco Seals (PCL) defeat the Dallas Lone Stars (TL). In the final, it was all Seals, as the *San Francisco Seals (PCL) defeat the Washington Senators (SOU), 4-0, with San Francisco earning their fifth National Championship, but their first since 1948. Another year, another Mark Oxford* Northern Conference MVP, as the Milwaukee shortstop amazingly won his eighth one in a row. This time, he slashed .323/.373/.503 with 199 hits, 100 runs, 25 doubles, 7 triples, 24 homers, 9 RBI, and 47 steals, winning a Great Glove to go on top of it. At the front of the rotation leading Albany's resurgence was 32-year-old Justin Kittinger. In his fourth season after being acquired from San Francisco, the righty went 20-8 with a 2.14 ERA, leading the North in ERA and striking out 153 in 244.1 innings. One year after his 500th home run, 42-year-old Philadelphia Quakers outfielder Tom Clark stroked his 3,000th hit on August 31, becoming the first (and so far, only) player to reach both of those benchmarks in a career. Norfolk's revival was led by third-year outfielder Ethan Kearse. The 26-year-old slashed .346/.408/.604 with 196 hits, 97 runs, 33 doubles, 35 homers, and 104 RBI, earning the Southern Conference MVP nod. There was little surprise on the pitching side, where Washington's Alan Church won his third Pitcher of the Year in four years and his second in a row. This time it was with a Triple Crown, as the 28-year-old went 22-10 with a 2.58 ERA and 248 strikeouts, while also leading the South with 276.0 innings, and 36 starts to earn the trophy. In the PCL, Hawaii's Brad Duty had a historic season in 1977 without an MVP, but followed it up with another one. The 33-year-old blasted 61 homers, the third 60-homer season in USBF history. All told, he slashed .286/.356/.612 with the 61 round-trippers and 141 RBI, leading the PCL in homers and RBI for the fifth year in a row, earning his third MVP. On the mound, 24-year-old San Francisco rookie Chris Carroll shined, going 21-9 with a 2.45 ERA, striking out 177 in 308.0 innings to earn Pitcher of the Year honors for the National Champions. Seattle's Dave Heying may have been the best pitcher of the 70's to not win a Pitcher of the Year trophy, making nine All-Star teams and winning 251 games for the Rainiers, but no POTY awards. However, in the midst of another fine season (21-14, 2.82 ERA), Heying fired the eighth perfect game in PCL history, retiring all 27 Los Angeles Angels on July 15, striking out 12 in a 101-pitch masterpiece, which is still the most recent perfect game in the PCL. Another Rainier, Joseph Miller, reached the end of the line. Playing the final game of his 17 big-league seasons at 42 years old, Miller slugged 13 games in his final campaign, finishing his career with 677 longballs, the all-time United States Baseball Federation record...as well as a record 2,750 strikeouts. In the Texas League, El Paso's Daniel Alcaraz led the charge for El Paso's division title, slashing .309/.389/.551 with 184 hits, 97 runs, 28 doubles, 15 triples, 29 homers, 117 RBI, and 19 steals. That was enough for the 29-year-old to earn his second MVP in four years. For the second time in three years, Dallas' Brian Belk was best on the bump, earning Pitcher of the Year after going 18-10 with a 2.78 ERA, logging 271.2 innings and 16 complete games to earn the hardware. Oklahoma City's Roy Hendricks suffered a debilitating shoulder injury in early June, but before then, the right-hander fanned his 3,000th career batter on April 19, becoming the second pitcher in Texas League history to reach that mark. One player went into the Hall of Fame, and it came from the Pacific Coast League: 1B John DeNoia (1952-68), 84.3% --- The American Baseball League did not feature as many dominant (or really bad) teams as it often does, though Newark won 100 games. Spokane and the Chicago Cyclones took the other two divisions, with the Cyclones fending off two teams to reach the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. In their third year in the ABL, Richmond earned the wild card. Spokane started off the postseason with six-game series win over Chicago, while Newark bounced Richmond in five games. The Eagles then slipped past the Indians in seven games for their second-straight American Baseball Cup. Newark's Mike Boettner cleaned up on the awards front in surprising fashion. A journeyman who went 193-215 in 22 professional seasons, Boettner out of nowhere went 20-9 with a 1.99 ERA in 280.0 innings at 36 years old, leading the ABL in wins and ERA. In a year win no clear-cut stars, Boettner won both Pitcher of the Year and MVP, the only major awards of his entire career. --- Minor League Champions Southeastern League: Chattanooga Lookouts, 88-66, defeats Baton Rouge Colonial League: Pittsfield Colonials, 97-43, defeats Worcester (2nd straight) River Valley League: St. Joseph Snakes, 88-52, defeats Evansville (2nd straight) Rocky Mountain League: Ft. Collins Grizzlies, 78-48, defeats Butte Coastal League: Augusta Rebels, 102-52, defeats Savannah (2nd straight) Northern League: Fargo-Moorhead Indians, 97-43, defeats La Crosse (4th straight) Great Lakes League: Rochester Red Wings, 89-51, defeats Youngstown Southwest League: Long Beach Earthquakes, 85-69, defeats Albuquerque Southern Association: Corpus Christi Gunslingers, 76-64, defeats Beaumont (2nd straight) Northwest League: Reno High Rollers, 94-60, defeats Bellingham Can-Am League: Ottawa Capitals, 73-53, defeats Utica Mid-Atlantic League: Asheville Tourists, 80-60, defeats Altoona Lone Star League: Rio Grande White Wings, 75-65, defeats Laredo Great Plains League: Madison Black Wolves, 79-61, defeats St. Paul Florida Coast League: Pensacola Privateers, 77-63, defeats Huntsville Big Sky League: Calgary Cannons, 75-57, defeats Missoula (3rd straight) Last edited by KCRoyals15; 01-03-2025 at 01:41 AM.