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KCRoyals15 · 01-15-2025, 04:33 PM

1993

Following the 1992 season, Trey Skipper departed the Cincinnati Buckeyes after a staggering turnaround that saw the franchise break every team record imaginable, increase attendance more than six-fold, and more importantly, bring the Buckeyes back to the major leaguers after nearly four decades away.

In seven years in Cincinnati (Trey's longest stint), his record was a rather modest 600-536 (.528), but that included a 104-loss season to begin his tenure and 88 losses in Cincy's first season back in the majors. However, his other five seasons all included playoff appearances, including two American Baseball League titles and the 1992 Northern Conference Championship.

With the greatest turnaround in major league baseball history complete, Trey headed to Oklahoma to take on his next challenge. Nearly three decades after his father led the team to a Texas League title in his lone season at the helm., Trey would now try to revive the struggling Tulsa Oilers.

The 1993 season in the Northern Conference was marked by the dominance of two teams. First was Manhattan, who won 105 games and finished alone at the top of the New England League for the first time since 1965 and posted their best record since 1950. Eight games back, the Philadelphia A's had their streak of four-straight pennants snapped, but they finished a comfortable second to make the playoffs once again.

The Midwest Association saw a surprise juggernaut emerge. Toronto had finished fourth in consecutive years, but exploded for 110 wins, romping to their first pennant in three years by 21 games over Milwaukee, who held off Buffalo by three games to return to the playoffs.

Despite the presence of two teams winning well over 100 games, neither one escaped the League Finals. Philadelphia dealt Manhattan a six-game upset to end the Yankees' season. Toronto was then vanquished in just five games by Milwaukee. In an unexpected Northern Championship, the Athletics defeated the Black Hawks, giving Philadelphia their second conference title in five years.

Down South, two more 100-win teams dominated the Eastern League, as Jacksonville won 103 games and Baltimore won 100, giving the Suns their second pennant in a row and their sixth-straight playoff berth. After numerous near misses in the last decade (including a game 163 loss last year), Baltimore finally snapped a 16-year playoff drought.

In the Western League, New Orleans won their fourth-straight pennant, while St. Louis and Omaha tied for second at 88-74. Having not even had a winning season in a decade, the Golden Spikes blew a three-game lead with three games to play, then lost a 163rd game, coming heartbreakingly close to their first playoff berth since 1974. Instead, the Browns punched their ticket.

In the postseason, Jacksonville held off Baltimore once more, toppling the Terrapins in six games. In the WL, though, St. Louis dealt an upset, knocking off New Orleans in seven games. The Suns shined bright, though, beating down the Browns in five games to give Jacksonville their first Southern Conference Championship since 1967.

In the Pacific Coast League, San Francisco had won the previous two PCL titles, but topped that this year. The Seals went an unfathomable 148-52, setting a United States Baseball Federation record for wins and winning percentage. The Seals posted the best season by a PCL club since 1920, posted a run differential of +455, and finished 34 games ahead of second-place Oakland. They also set a new USBF record by drawing 3,423,988 fans. It was truly one of the greatest seasons in major league history.

While Oakland claimed the second North playoff spot, San Diego won the South for the third year in a row and extended their record streak of 16-straight playoff appearances. In a weak division, San Jose finished 100-100, 28 games back, but finished second to back into the playoffs.

While the regular season had absolutely zero drama, the playoffs were a different story. San Diego got all they could handle from San Jose, but the Padres prevailed in seven games. Meanwhile, Oakland pulled off one of the greatest upsets in PCL history, slaying the dragon that is San Francisco in seven games. The best team in big-league history would not even play for a title. Oakland would, though, and they would get it, as the Oaks downed the Padres in six games, giving Oakland their second PCL title in four years.

In the Texas League, Trey Skipper dragged Tulsa from the doldrums of three-straight last-place finishes in his first season, going worst-to-first as they tied Wichita for the North Division title. In the South, Austin won their Tl-record seventh-straight division title, edging out Galveston by two games, though the Hurricanes took a playoff spot.

In the Division Finals, Tulsa defeated Wichita in six games, while Austin made very short work of Galveston, sweeping the Hurricanes. The Oilers, though, had the upper hand, taking down the Wranglers in six games to win the Texas League for the first time since 1967.

In a national tournament filled with unexpected champions and longtime non-participants, the Eastern side saw the Philadelphia Athletics (NOR) defeat the Jacksonville Suns (SOU). Meanwhile, out west the Tulsa Oilers (TL) defeat the Oakland Oaks (PCL). With a first-time champion assured, the Tulsa Oilers (TL) defeat the Philadelphia Athletics (NOR), 4-1 to bring their first National Championship back to the Sooner State.

In the Northern Conference, Buffalo catcher Nick Barnhart enjoyed a breakout season. The 23-year-old slashed .278/.374/.618 and in just 125 games ripped 26 doubles and a conference-leading 45 homers and 120 RBI, becoming the first catcher in major league history to win MVP.

For the third year in a row, Manhattan's Freddy Perez was king of the hill, going 17-7 with a 3.33 ERA and leading the North with 188 strikeouts in 240.2 innings, taking home Pitcher of the Year once again.

St. Louis' playoff run was fueled in large part by outfielder Vinny Munoz. The 26-year-old won the Southern Conference batting title, slashing .30/.400/.538 with 189 hits, 100 runs, a conference-high 51 doubles, 7 triples, 18 homers, 98 RBI, and earning his only Great Glove. That was enough to give Munoz the MVP, the only one he's won, but he's posted an excellent career since then.

On the mound, New Orleans' Pat Girdler won 23 games as a rookie in 1991, then two years later nearly repeated the feat. He went 21-8 with a conference-low 2.40 ERA, striking out 151 in 232.2 innings and earning Pitcher of the Year honors, the only one of his 12 big-league seasons.

The first catcher to win a major-league MVP was this season and so was the second. San Francisco catcher Victor Bracho was named best in the Pacific Coast League. The 25-year-old slashed .324/.412/.573 with 202 hits, 134 runs, 37 doubles, 36 homers, and 148 RBI to take home the hardware, a breakout season in what so far has been a stellar career.

A San Diego lefty also had a breakout season this year. Padres lefty Jody Hintz debuted as a 27-year-old rookie and wasted no time, going 22-10 with a 2.70 ERA, leading the PCL with 240 strikeouts, 316.2 innings, and eight complete games, earning Pitcher of the Year in his debut season.

League champion Tulsa swept the Texas League awards, starting off with Jon Gonzalez, who Trey Skipper pried from Ft. Worth in an offseason trade. The 1991 TL MVP, Gonzalez became the first Texas Leaguer to win MVPs for multiple teams, slashing .330/.411/.518 with 174 hits, 108 runs, 32 doubles, 19 homers, 99 RBI, and 38 steals to take home his second trophy.

On the mound, Nate Ayan was also an offseason addition, having been acquired from Sacramento following a couple down seasons. Ayan rebound, though, going 17-8 with a 3.13 ERA with 161 strikeouts in 241.1 innings to win Pitcher of the Year.

The Eastern Baseball Federation inducted an ace with nearly 300 wins, a third-baseman with over 3,100 hits, and a durable long-lasting shortstop into the Hall of Fame:

SP Danny Cisneros (1969-87), 99.3%
3B Dave Crimmins (1969-87), 98.5%
SS Elias Saenz (1961-80), 80.8%

---

The American Baseball League saw one of the closest—and mediocre—races in baseball history. The East Division was won by Birmingham at 81-81. Last place Indianapolis was 74-88. In between, all eight teams were bunched together, with Syracuse (80-82), Memphis (79-83), and Richmond (78-84) all earning playoff spots with losing records. For the Memphis Kings, it was their first berth in their third year of play. The West was much more cut and dry, with Chicago winning 102 games and Minneapolis, Vancouver, and Denver all earning playoff spots behind them, all with at least 87 wins.

In the postseason, Richmond and Syracuse won first-round series in the East, while Chicago took care of Denver and Minneapolis disposed of Vancouver, both in six games. Both semifinals went seven games, with Richmond taking down Syracuse and Minneapolis upsetting Chicago. The Millers then took care of business, downing the Giants in five games to win their second American Baseball Cup in three years.

In the East, Birmingham rookie Eddie Morgan had an outstanding debut season, slashing .315/.404/.432, winning the East batting title, stroking 181 hits, scoring an East-leading 113 runs, with 22 doubles, 13 homers, and 60 RBI, and setting a new ABL record with 99 stolen bases to win MVP and Rookie of the Year. After being released by five teams before his 22nd brithday, Israel Aleman was signed by Birmingham, and in his first year with the Barons he went 20-10 with a 2.74 ERA, leading the East in wins and striking out 148 in 238.0 innings, a true outlier season that earned him Pitcher of the Year, as he never came close to repeating that season.

For the third year in a row, Minneapolis' Dave Koch won West MVP, slashing .339/.410/.501 (all best in the ABL) to win his third-straight batting title, also leading in hits (201), runs (102), and stolen bases (64), while ripping 34 doubles, 10 triples, 14 homers, and driving in 95 runs. Five years after his first one, Denver's Jim Puricelli won his second Pitcher of the Year award and second ABL Triple Crown, going 21-11 with a 2.68 ERA and 187 strikeouts, all best in the league, over 279.0 innings, also a league-high, logging 15 complete games.

---

Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Lexington Thoroughbreds, 96-58, defeats Baton Rouge (2nd straight)
Colonial League: Reading Keystones, 83-58, defeats Scranton-Wilkes Barre
River Valley League: Erie Sailors, 87-53, defeats Charleston (WV)
Rocky Mountain League: Ft. Collins Grizzlies, 69-57, defeats Butte
Coastal League: Wilmington (DE) Blue Rocks, 93-61, defeats Charlotte (2nd straight)
Northern League: St. Paul Saints, 92-48, defeats La Crosse
Southwest League: Bakersfield Conquistadors, 90-64, defeats Santa Barbara (3rd straight)
Southern Association: Joplin Jaspers, 78-62, defeats Little Rock
Northwest League: Eugene Gems, 80-74, defeats Reno
Can-Am League: Waterbury Pipers, 70-57, defeats Portland
Mid-Atlantic League: Altoona Engineers, 80-60, defeats Asheville
Lone Star League: Tyler Roughnecks, 77-64, defeats San Angelo
Great Plains League: St. Joseph Snakes, 84-56, defeats Salina
Florida Coast League: Huntsville Stars, 84-56, defeats Columbus
Big Sky League: Idaho Falls Fireballs, 77-55, defeats Calgary
Heartland League: Cedar Rapids Reds, 76-64, defeats Madison
Atlantic Coast League: Petersburg Generals, 70-50, defeats Wilmington (NC)

The Rocky Mountain League featured an insanely-close five-team race. Ft. Collins finished first at 69-57, while Butte and Billings finished at 68-58 and Colorado Springs and Great Falls were 67-59, leaving five teams within two games. Butte beat Billings in a one-game playoff for the second playoff spot, though Ft. Collins won the playoff series. Fittingly for such a close league, the series went the full seven games.

01-15-2025, 04:33 PM	#105
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	Oil Boom 1993 Following the 1992 season, Trey Skipper departed the Cincinnati Buckeyes after a staggering turnaround that saw the franchise break every team record imaginable, increase attendance more than six-fold, and more importantly, bring the Buckeyes back to the major leaguers after nearly four decades away. In seven years in Cincinnati (Trey's longest stint), his record was a rather modest 600-536 (.528), but that included a 104-loss season to begin his tenure and 88 losses in Cincy's first season back in the majors. However, his other five seasons all included playoff appearances, including two American Baseball League titles and the 1992 Northern Conference Championship. With the greatest turnaround in major league baseball history complete, Trey headed to Oklahoma to take on his next challenge. Nearly three decades after his father led the team to a Texas League title in his lone season at the helm., Trey would now try to revive the struggling Tulsa Oilers. The 1993 season in the Northern Conference was marked by the dominance of two teams. First was Manhattan, who won 105 games and finished alone at the top of the New England League for the first time since 1965 and posted their best record since 1950. Eight games back, the Philadelphia A's had their streak of four-straight pennants snapped, but they finished a comfortable second to make the playoffs once again. The Midwest Association saw a surprise juggernaut emerge. Toronto had finished fourth in consecutive years, but exploded for 110 wins, romping to their first pennant in three years by 21 games over Milwaukee, who held off Buffalo by three games to return to the playoffs. Despite the presence of two teams winning well over 100 games, neither one escaped the League Finals. Philadelphia dealt Manhattan a six-game upset to end the Yankees' season. Toronto was then vanquished in just five games by Milwaukee. In an unexpected Northern Championship, the Athletics defeated the Black Hawks, giving Philadelphia their second conference title in five years. Down South, two more 100-win teams dominated the Eastern League, as Jacksonville won 103 games and Baltimore won 100, giving the Suns their second pennant in a row and their sixth-straight playoff berth. After numerous near misses in the last decade (including a game 163 loss last year), Baltimore finally snapped a 16-year playoff drought. In the Western League, New Orleans won their fourth-straight pennant, while St. Louis and Omaha tied for second at 88-74. Having not even had a winning season in a decade, the Golden Spikes blew a three-game lead with three games to play, then lost a 163rd game, coming heartbreakingly close to their first playoff berth since 1974. Instead, the Browns punched their ticket. In the postseason, Jacksonville held off Baltimore once more, toppling the Terrapins in six games. In the WL, though, St. Louis dealt an upset, knocking off New Orleans in seven games. The Suns shined bright, though, beating down the Browns in five games to give Jacksonville their first Southern Conference Championship since 1967. In the Pacific Coast League, San Francisco had won the previous two PCL titles, but topped that this year. The Seals went an unfathomable 148-52, setting a United States Baseball Federation record for wins and winning percentage. The Seals posted the best season by a PCL club since 1920, posted a run differential of +455, and finished 34 games ahead of second-place Oakland. They also set a new USBF record by drawing 3,423,988 fans. It was truly one of the greatest seasons in major league history. While Oakland claimed the second North playoff spot, San Diego won the South for the third year in a row and extended their record streak of 16-straight playoff appearances. In a weak division, San Jose finished 100-100, 28 games back, but finished second to back into the playoffs. While the regular season had absolutely zero drama, the playoffs were a different story. San Diego got all they could handle from San Jose, but the Padres prevailed in seven games. Meanwhile, Oakland pulled off one of the greatest upsets in PCL history, slaying the dragon that is San Francisco in seven games. The best team in big-league history would not even play for a title. Oakland would, though, and they would get it, as the Oaks downed the Padres in six games, giving Oakland their second PCL title in four years. In the Texas League, Trey Skipper dragged Tulsa from the doldrums of three-straight last-place finishes in his first season, going worst-to-first as they tied Wichita for the North Division title. In the South, Austin won their Tl-record seventh-straight division title, edging out Galveston by two games, though the Hurricanes took a playoff spot. In the Division Finals, Tulsa defeated Wichita in six games, while Austin made very short work of Galveston, sweeping the Hurricanes. The Oilers, though, had the upper hand, taking down the Wranglers in six games to win the Texas League for the first time since 1967. In a national tournament filled with unexpected champions and longtime non-participants, the Eastern side saw the Philadelphia Athletics (NOR) defeat the Jacksonville Suns (SOU). Meanwhile, out west the Tulsa Oilers (TL) defeat the Oakland Oaks (PCL). With a first-time champion assured, the *Tulsa Oilers (TL) defeat the Philadelphia Athletics (NOR), 4-1* to bring their first National Championship back to the Sooner State. In the Northern Conference, Buffalo catcher Nick Barnhart enjoyed a breakout season. The 23-year-old slashed .278/.374/.618 and in just 125 games ripped 26 doubles and a conference-leading 45 homers and 120 RBI, becoming the first catcher in major league history to win MVP. For the third year in a row, Manhattan's Freddy Perez was king of the hill, going 17-7 with a 3.33 ERA and leading the North with 188 strikeouts in 240.2 innings, taking home Pitcher of the Year once again. St. Louis' playoff run was fueled in large part by outfielder Vinny Munoz. The 26-year-old won the Southern Conference batting title, slashing .30/.400/.538 with 189 hits, 100 runs, a conference-high 51 doubles, 7 triples, 18 homers, 98 RBI, and earning his only Great Glove. That was enough to give Munoz the MVP, the only one he's won, but he's posted an excellent career since then. On the mound, New Orleans' Pat Girdler won 23 games as a rookie in 1991, then two years later nearly repeated the feat. He went 21-8 with a conference-low 2.40 ERA, striking out 151 in 232.2 innings and earning Pitcher of the Year honors, the only one of his 12 big-league seasons. The first catcher to win a major-league MVP was this season and so was the second. San Francisco catcher Victor Bracho was named best in the Pacific Coast League. The 25-year-old slashed .324/.412/.573 with 202 hits, 134 runs, 37 doubles, 36 homers, and 148 RBI to take home the hardware, a breakout season in what so far has been a stellar career. A San Diego lefty also had a breakout season this year. Padres lefty Jody Hintz debuted as a 27-year-old rookie and wasted no time, going 22-10 with a 2.70 ERA, leading the PCL with 240 strikeouts, 316.2 innings, and eight complete games, earning Pitcher of the Year in his debut season. League champion Tulsa swept the Texas League awards, starting off with Jon Gonzalez, who Trey Skipper pried from Ft. Worth in an offseason trade. The 1991 TL MVP, Gonzalez became the first Texas Leaguer to win MVPs for multiple teams, slashing .330/.411/.518 with 174 hits, 108 runs, 32 doubles, 19 homers, 99 RBI, and 38 steals to take home his second trophy. On the mound, Nate Ayan was also an offseason addition, having been acquired from Sacramento following a couple down seasons. Ayan rebound, though, going 17-8 with a 3.13 ERA with 161 strikeouts in 241.1 innings to win Pitcher of the Year. The Eastern Baseball Federation inducted an ace with nearly 300 wins, a third-baseman with over 3,100 hits, and a durable long-lasting shortstop into the Hall of Fame: SP Danny Cisneros (1969-87), 99.3% 3B Dave Crimmins (1969-87), 98.5% SS Elias Saenz (1961-80), 80.8% --- The American Baseball League saw one of the closest—and mediocre—races in baseball history. The East Division was won by Birmingham at 81-81. Last place Indianapolis was 74-88. In between, all eight teams were bunched together, with Syracuse (80-82), Memphis (79-83), and Richmond (78-84) all earning playoff spots with losing records. For the Memphis Kings, it was their first berth in their third year of play. The West was much more cut and dry, with Chicago winning 102 games and Minneapolis, Vancouver, and Denver all earning playoff spots behind them, all with at least 87 wins. In the postseason, Richmond and Syracuse won first-round series in the East, while Chicago took care of Denver and Minneapolis disposed of Vancouver, both in six games. Both semifinals went seven games, with Richmond taking down Syracuse and Minneapolis upsetting Chicago. The Millers then took care of business, downing the Giants in five games to win their second American Baseball Cup in three years. In the East, Birmingham rookie Eddie Morgan had an outstanding debut season, slashing .315/.404/.432, winning the East batting title, stroking 181 hits, scoring an East-leading 113 runs, with 22 doubles, 13 homers, and 60 RBI, and setting a new ABL record with 99 stolen bases to win MVP and Rookie of the Year. After being released by five teams before his 22nd brithday, Israel Aleman was signed by Birmingham, and in his first year with the Barons he went 20-10 with a 2.74 ERA, leading the East in wins and striking out 148 in 238.0 innings, a true outlier season that earned him Pitcher of the Year, as he never came close to repeating that season. For the third year in a row, Minneapolis' Dave Koch won West MVP, slashing .339/.410/.501 (all best in the ABL) to win his third-straight batting title, also leading in hits (201), runs (102), and stolen bases (64), while ripping 34 doubles, 10 triples, 14 homers, and driving in 95 runs. Five years after his first one, Denver's Jim Puricelli won his second Pitcher of the Year award and second ABL Triple Crown, going 21-11 with a 2.68 ERA and 187 strikeouts, all best in the league, over 279.0 innings, also a league-high, logging 15 complete games. --- Minor League Champions Southeastern League: Lexington Thoroughbreds, 96-58, defeats Baton Rouge (2nd straight) Colonial League: Reading Keystones, 83-58, defeats Scranton-Wilkes Barre River Valley League: Erie Sailors, 87-53, defeats Charleston (WV) Rocky Mountain League: Ft. Collins Grizzlies, 69-57, defeats Butte Coastal League: Wilmington (DE) Blue Rocks, 93-61, defeats Charlotte (2nd straight) Northern League: St. Paul Saints, 92-48, defeats La Crosse Southwest League: Bakersfield Conquistadors, 90-64, defeats Santa Barbara (3rd straight) Southern Association: Joplin Jaspers, 78-62, defeats Little Rock Northwest League: Eugene Gems, 80-74, defeats Reno Can-Am League: Waterbury Pipers, 70-57, defeats Portland Mid-Atlantic League: Altoona Engineers, 80-60, defeats Asheville Lone Star League: Tyler Roughnecks, 77-64, defeats San Angelo Great Plains League: St. Joseph Snakes, 84-56, defeats Salina Florida Coast League: Huntsville Stars, 84-56, defeats Columbus Big Sky League: Idaho Falls Fireballs, 77-55, defeats Calgary Heartland League: Cedar Rapids Reds, 76-64, defeats Madison Atlantic Coast League: Petersburg Generals, 70-50, defeats Wilmington (NC) The Rocky Mountain League featured an insanely-close five-team race. Ft. Collins finished first at 69-57, while Butte and Billings finished at 68-58 and Colorado Springs and Great Falls were 67-59, leaving five teams within two games. Butte beat Billings in a one-game playoff for the second playoff spot, though Ft. Collins won the playoff series. Fittingly for such a close league, the series went the full seven games.