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Nick Soulis · 07-15-2025, 12:11 AM

Season 8
National League East

1. 1983 Chicago Cubs
Record: 71-91
Manager: Lee Elia
Ball Park: Wrigley Field
WAR Leader: Lee Smith (4.7)

The 1983 Cubs stand at the dawn of a new era. Ryne Sandberg is emerging as a future star, giving the Wrigley faithful hope that better days are ahead. While they’re not yet the powerhouse they’d become later in the decade, this club has a scrappy edge and flashes of offensive firepower with Bill Buckner and Leon Durham providing pop. The rotation is patchy, but if Sandberg’s glove and bat catch fire and the bats stay hot through the summer, the Cubs could make life miserable for the more disciplined deadball and small-ball teams in the division.

2. 1913 Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 78-71
Manager: Fred Clarke
Ball Park: exhibition Stadium
WAR Leader: Babe Adams (9.4)

Legends don’t fade quietly — the 1913 Pirates enter this tournament with Honus Wagner still manning shortstop in the twilight of his extraordinary career. The Deadball stalwarts play crisp, no-nonsense baseball, relying on contact hitting, bunts, and smart base running. Pitching and defense are their lifeline; they’ll suffocate lineups that depend too much on the long ball. While Wagner may be older, his leadership is ageless, and if he sparks the bats around him, the Pirates’ old-school style might prove surprisingly tough to beat across 162 games.

3. 1926 St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 89-65
Manager: Rogers hornsby
Ball Park: Sportsmans Park
WAR Leader: Les Bell (4.6)

The 1926 Cardinals bring a champion’s swagger to this fight. Fresh off their World Series triumph, this club has a perfect blend of power, speed, and veteran savvy. Rogers Hornsby remains one of the greatest right-handed hitters to ever step in the box, and the pitching staff, led by Grover Cleveland Alexander, can shut down big bats when it matters. What sets them apart is their balanced attack — they can outslug you or small-ball you into submission. If Hornsby gets hot, this division might belong to St. Louis from wire to wire.

4. 1965 Washington Senators
Record: 70-92
Manager: Gil Hodges
Ball Park: DC Stadium
WAR Leader: Pete Richert (4.8)

For the 1965 Senators, this Excellence Project season is about redemption and proving they’re more than just a basement dweller. With Frank Howard swinging a big bat, they’ve got raw power to change games with one swing — but they’ll need more than that to compete with disciplined Pirates and championship-hardened Cardinals. Their pitching is suspect, and defensive lapses could cost them dearly, but if they start to believe in themselves, this club could be the division’s biggest spoiler — and maybe, just maybe, its biggest surprise.

07-15-2025, 12:11 AM	#89
Nick Soulis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 4,258	Season 8 National League East 1. 1983 Chicago Cubs Record: 71-91 Manager: Lee Elia Ball Park: Wrigley Field WAR Leader: Lee Smith (4.7) The 1983 Cubs stand at the dawn of a new era. Ryne Sandberg is emerging as a future star, giving the Wrigley faithful hope that better days are ahead. While they’re not yet the powerhouse they’d become later in the decade, this club has a scrappy edge and flashes of offensive firepower with Bill Buckner and Leon Durham providing pop. The rotation is patchy, but if Sandberg’s glove and bat catch fire and the bats stay hot through the summer, the Cubs could make life miserable for the more disciplined deadball and small-ball teams in the division. 2. 1913 Pittsburgh Pirates Record: 78-71 Manager: Fred Clarke Ball Park: exhibition Stadium WAR Leader: Babe Adams (9.4) Legends don’t fade quietly — the 1913 Pirates enter this tournament with Honus Wagner still manning shortstop in the twilight of his extraordinary career. The Deadball stalwarts play crisp, no-nonsense baseball, relying on contact hitting, bunts, and smart base running. Pitching and defense are their lifeline; they’ll suffocate lineups that depend too much on the long ball. While Wagner may be older, his leadership is ageless, and if he sparks the bats around him, the Pirates’ old-school style might prove surprisingly tough to beat across 162 games. 3. 1926 St. Louis Cardinals Record: 89-65 Manager: Rogers hornsby Ball Park: Sportsmans Park WAR Leader: Les Bell (4.6) The 1926 Cardinals bring a champion’s swagger to this fight. Fresh off their World Series triumph, this club has a perfect blend of power, speed, and veteran savvy. Rogers Hornsby remains one of the greatest right-handed hitters to ever step in the box, and the pitching staff, led by Grover Cleveland Alexander, can shut down big bats when it matters. What sets them apart is their balanced attack — they can outslug you or small-ball you into submission. If Hornsby gets hot, this division might belong to St. Louis from wire to wire. 4. 1965 Washington Senators Record: 70-92 Manager: Gil Hodges Ball Park: DC Stadium WAR Leader: Pete Richert (4.8) For the 1965 Senators, this Excellence Project season is about redemption and proving they’re more than just a basement dweller. With Frank Howard swinging a big bat, they’ve got raw power to change games with one swing — but they’ll need more than that to compete with disciplined Pirates and championship-hardened Cardinals. Their pitching is suspect, and defensive lapses could cost them dearly, but if they start to believe in themselves, this club could be the division’s biggest spoiler — and maybe, just maybe, its biggest surprise.