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Received word this morning that Carl Yastrzemski will be hanging up his spikes following the 1975 season. Yaz is a sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer. With one day left in the 1975 season Carl's team, the Peoria Chiefs still have a slim chance to nab the final wild card slot. Would be fun to see him get one more crack at the post season.
The new playoff system in place for 1975 is drawing jeers and cheers amongst International League fans. Some feel there are too many teams making the post season now and claim that the race for the post season is watered down because of it. Others love the fact that September has been one meaningful game after another, with as many as eight teams vying for the the four wild card slots. All 4 of the wild card slots have com down to the final day of the season.
Wisconsin won the Northern Division by sweeping the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the final week of the season. The Kernels demise continued as they then fell behind the Dayton Dragons in the standings, allowing the Dragons to clinch the 3rd wild card slot. Cedar Rapids still has a chance for the final wild card slot on the final day of the season.
The Memphis Redirds clinched first place in the Southern Division. Meanwhile, the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Arkansas Travelers nabbed wild card slots 1 and 2. The Hooks finished the season with 89 wins, one game better than the Travelers. Amazing thing is, the Hooks manager sat both Harry Davis and Mark McGwire on the final day of the season. The Hooks still managed to pull out the victory to nail down the top spot in the wild card race.
Bob Gibson nailed down his 20th victory in the final weekend of the season.
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