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Boston’s historic dominance continued through September as the Braves shattered some Major League Baseball team records. Their 114-48 record and +379 run differential obliterated previous high marks en route to the franchise’s second division title (1886). Boston set the new MLB attendance record (507,981) and set National League records for team slugging (.444), runs scored (983), team earned run average (3.18), earned runs allowed (516), BB/9 (2.37), and team WHIP (1.139). Their 604 runs allowed were second-fewest in NL history.

New York set a franchise best at 90-72, but they were a distant second in the NL East behind the Braves. Last year’s division winner Pittsburgh was third at 79-83, although they did set an MLB team record with 379 doubles. Philadelphia at 62-100 had the NL’s worst record and their team .232 batting average was an NL single-season worst.

The NL West race finished closer than most expected considering New Orleans entered September with a seven game lead. Indianapolis swept the Pelicans to start the month and both the Clowns and Louisville made a strong charge. On September 21, New Orleans and the Colonels were tied with Indy only one game back.

The Pelicans split their penultimate series hosting Cincinnati, while Indianapolis lost three of four at Chicago and Louisville dropped three of four at St. Louis. New Orleans entered the final series up two on the Colonels and three on the Clowns. Indy lost three of four in their final series with the Cardinals, ultimately knocking the defending NL champs to third at 87-75.

New Orleans hosted Louisville in the final four game series of the year and took the first two games to clinch their first division title. The Pelicans finished 91-71, while the Colonels won the final two games to finish two back at 89-73. Both teams set franchise bests and it was a big turnaround for New Orleans, as they won only 66 and 59 games in the prior two seasons. Last place Chicago notably allowed 920 runs, a new NL worst.

Leading Boston’s all-time season was LF Mike Tiernan, who ended his historic run as NL Batter of the Month in September with a .387 average, 13 home runs, 29 RBI, and 25 runs scored. The 22-year old lefty re-wrote the record book with easily the best batting season in MLB history. Tiernan had the first-ever Triple Crown season and set new MLB records for runs scored (166), total bases (462), home runs (62), RBI (174), hitting WAR (12.88), slugging (.787), and OPS (1.239).




Tiernan also was the league leader in hits (226), average (.385), OBP (.452), and wRC+ (229). The WAR was the second-best single season among all players, as Charlie Ferguson had 13.1 as a two-way player in 1884. Tiernan shattered the homer record of 52 by Hugh Duffy. In only five seasons, “Silent Mike” has 916 hits, 599 runs, 239 homers, 652 RBI, 1.130 OPS, 204 wRC+, and 45.7 WAR.

NL Pitcher and Rookie of the Month for September was Brooklyn’s George Davies with a 0.60 ERA over 45 innings, 39 strikeouts, and 5-0 record. His historic scoreless innings streak ended on September 4 at 48 innings. Davies set a single-season record with nine shutouts and finished the year as the NL’s Pitching WARlord at 8.2. It’s likely him or Indy’s Pete Meegan as Pitcher of the Year, with the latter leading in ERA (2.39) and wins (25-7). Meegan was second in WAR at 7.9.