World Baseball League: Following the Sheffield Mountain Hares

[dinosauryoshi]

2061 Banner Ceremonies - and 2060 recap

Around the WBL, the start of a new season means banner ceremonies. Before attention turns fully to 2061, clubs and supporters take a moment to honour what was achieved in 2060: division titles, conference crowns, and for one team, a World Series championship.

These ceremonies are more than a quick pre-game formality. They are a chance for each city to mark its place in league history. New banners go up alongside the old ones, stretching a little more colour and memory across the rafters. In some cities that means another addition to an already crowded wall. In others, it means a first.

The celebrations themselves tend to reflect the clubs and places involved. Some lean into pageantry, with local bands, choirs, drummers or brass sections giving the whole day a civic feel. Others spill out beyond the stadium with food stalls, neighbourhood markets, family activities and supporters arriving early just to be part of the atmosphere. The banner goes up, the crowd looks on, and for a moment the story of 2060 feels fixed in place.

Below is the current divisional and championship record, with this year’s honourees marked in bold. Old team names are in brackets.

TAO

South America Division

1. Lima Cavies (Parakeets): 5 (2043, 2044, 2046, 2056, 2057)
2. Rio de Janeiro Redeemers: 4 (2045, 2047, 2048, 2060)
3. Asuncion Pampas Foxes: 3 (2040, 2049, 2059)
4. La Paz Doves: 2 (2053, 2054)
5. Quito Cinchonas: 2 (2041, 2051)
6. Sao Paolo Gold Sox (Knights): 1 (2058)
7. Porto Alegre Winemakers (est. 2055): 1 (2055)
8. Salvador Toucans: 1 (2052)
9. Cordoba Silversmiths: 1 (2050)
10. Montevideo Sea Lions (Jaguars): 1 (2042)

No wins

- Caracas Macaws
- Medellin Sea Lions (Monkeys)
- Bogota Condors
- Santiago Flamingos
- Buenos Aires Apples
- Brasilia Travelers (est. 2052)
- Manaus Jaguars (est. 2058)
- Porto Velho Heliconias (est. 2060)
- Paramaribo Pufferfish (est. 2059)

Central America & Oceania

1. Port Moresby Manatees: 4 (2040, 2041, 2056, 2057)
2. Havana Cafecitos: 4 (2045, 2046, 2049, 2051)
3. Sydney Koalas: 3 (2044, 2054, 2055)
4. Tegucigalpa Spirits (Savannah): 2 (2047, 2048)
5. San Jose Sloths: 2 (2042, 2043)
6. Guatemala City Ocelots: 1 (2060)
7. Panama City Poets (Golden Frogs): 1 (2059)
8. Santo Domingo Dolphins (est. 2052): 1 (2058)
9. Mexico City Tenochca (Aztecs): 1 (2053)
10. Juarez Cacti: 1 (2052)
11. Melbourne Whales: 1 (2050)

No wins

- San Pedro Sula Fire
- San Salvador Volcanoes
- Guatemala City Armadillos (Quetzals)
- Managua Motmots
- Auckland Kiwis
- San Juan Garitas (est. 2055)
- Perth Fairywrens (est. 2058)
- Port au Prince Revolution (est. 2060)
- Monterrey Dinos (est. 2059)

North America - West

1. Calgary Tartans: 5 (2042, 2053, 2054, 2056, 2058)
2. Salt Lake City Skiers: 3 (2050, 2051, 2060)
3. Honolulu Seahawks: 3 (2052, 2054, 2059)
4. Vancouver Green Sox: 2 (2045, 2049)
5. Albuquerque Pueblos (Chiefs): 2 (2043, 2044)
6. Tijuana Luchadores (Stouts) (est. 2052): 1 (2057)
7. Alaska Moose: 1 (2055)
8. California Waveriders: 1 (2048)
9. Colorado Blue Spruce: 1 (2047)
10. Los Angeles Stars: 1 (2046)
11. Arizona Wrens: 1 (2043)
12. Las Vegas Jacks: 1 (2041)

No wins

- Portland Jackalopes (White Oaks)
- Idaho Owls
- Montana Smokey Bears
- San Diego Stingrays (est. 2055)
- Winnipeg Caribou (est. 2058)
- Seattle Herons (est. 2059)
- Edmonton Hurricanes (est. 2060)

North America - East

1. Miami Swordfish: 4 (2046, 2049, 2052, 2060)
2. Memphis Steamers: 3 (2041, 2058, 2059)
3. New Orleans Jazz: 3 (2042, 2053, 2054)
4. Toronto Gray Jays: 2 (2048, 2055)
5. Quebec Muskies/Montreal Miracles: 2 (2040, 2045)
6. Philadelphia Ruffed Grouse: 1 (2057)
7. Boston Bluebirds (Chickadees): 1 (2056)
8. Atlanta Eagles: 1 (2051)
9. Washington Grays (Presidents): 1 (2050)
10. St Louis Flycatchers: 1 (2047)
11. Nashville Rockabillys (Melodies): 1 (2044)
12. New York Nightlights (Raccoons): 1 (2043)

No wins

- Chicago Hoppers (Y's)
- Kansas City Meadowlarks
- Houston Apollos (est. 2052)
- New Jersey Jellyfish (est. 2055)
- Dallas Cosmopolitans (est. 2058)
- St. Paul Charlie Browns (est. 2060)
- Cincinnati Cincies (est. 2059)

EAA

Europe

1. St Petersburg Pelicans: 4 (2042, 2050, 2053, 2054)
2. Paris Black Cats: 3 (2044, 2045, 2057)
3. Budapest Red Squirrels: 3 (2046, 2047, 2049)
4. Bucharest Sounds: 2 (2041, 2060)
5. Rome Legion: 2 (2055, 2056)
6. Vienna Whistlers (Music): 2 (2040, 2048)
7. Madrid Mallards: 1 (2059)
8. Moscow Blizzard: 1 (2058)
9. Warsaw Kings: 1 (2052)
10. London Gentlemen: 1 (2051)
11. Berlin Bears: 1 (2043)

No wins

- Zurich Chocolatiers (Mountaineers)
- Kyiv Terrapins
- Minsk Bison
- Stockholm Orcas (est. 2052)
- Sheffield Mountain Hares (est. 2055)
- Athens Philosphers (est. 2058)
- Lisbon Caravels (est. 2059)
- Milan Tailors (est. 2060)

Africa

1. Kinshasa Leopards: 4 (2048, 2049, 2050, 2059)
2. Abidjan White Elephants: 3 (2045, 2051, 2052)
3. Lagos Moons: 3 (2042, 2043, 2044)
4. Kano Camels: 2 (2056, 2060)
5. Ouagadougou Nomads (est. 2052): 2 (2054, 2055)
6. Cairo Scarabs: 2 (2040, 2041)
7. Dar es Salaam Giraffes: 1 (2058)
8. Addis Ababa Lions: 1 (2057)
9. Yaounde Chimpanzees (Cannons): 1 (2053)
10. Johannesburg Scholars (Springboks): 1 (2047)
11. Antananarivo Lemurs: 1 (2046)

No wins

- Khartoum Rhinos
- Casablanca Corsairs (Gray Wolves)
- Nairobi Lilacs
- Luanda Red Caps
- Nouakchott Sand Sox (est. 2055)
- Cape Town Penguins (est. 2058)
- Harare Hippos (est. 2060)
- Mogadishu Seashells (est. 2059)

West & South-East Asia

1. Bengaluru Bytes: 4 (2043, 2045, 2050, 2053)
2. Istanbul Spice: 3 (2047, 2048, 2060)
3. Dhaka Mammoths: 3 (2042, 2052, 2055)
4. Karachi Seafarers: 2 (2044, 2059)
5. Manila Snakes: 2 (2054, 2058)
6. Yangon Peacocks: 2 (2046, 2049)
7. Mumbai Directors: 2 (2040, 2041)
8. Phnom Penh Jackhammers: 1 (2057)
9. Jakarta Dragons: 1 (2056)
10. Bangkok Tuk-Tuks (Eels): 1 (2051)

No wins

- Tehran Goats (Marbles)
- Baghdad Chukars
- Dubai Dunes (Hyenas)
- Hanoi Mopeds
- Riyadh Falcons (Bedouins) (est. 2052)
- Patna Roosters (est. 2055)
- Ashgabat Akhal-Tekes (est. 2058)
- Jaipur Pink Sox (est. 2059)
- Singapore Shipwrights (moved from Central & East Asia in 2060, where they have 5 wins!)

Central & East Asia

1. Singapore Shipwrights (moved to West & South East Asia in 2060): 5 (2045, 2046, 2048, 2049, 2053)
2. Pyongyang Grasshoppers: 4 (2044, 2047, 2055, 2056)
3. New Taipei City Magpies: 2 (2040, 2051)
4. Hong Kong Kites (Songbirds): 2 (2042, 2043)
5. Kuala Lumpur Tigers: 1 (2060)
6. Hiroshima Express: 1 (2059)
7. Shanghai Peaches: 1 (2058)
8. Tokyo Octopi: 1 (2057)
9. Almaty Blue Sox (Sunrise): 1 (2054)
10. Harbin Icecaps (Shenzhen Peanuts): 1 (2052)
11. Beijing Pandas: 1 (2050)
12. Seoul Crabs: 1 (2041)

No wins

- Kabul Caracals (Bazaars)
- Guangzhou Rams
- Busan Oysters (est. 2052)
- Ulaanbaatar Cavalry (est. 2055)
- Osaka Blossoms (est. 2058)
- Chongqing Hotpots (est. 2059)
- Lanzhou Traders (est. 2060)
- Incheon Saucers (est. 2060)

TAO Championships

Calgary Tartans (2053, 2055, 2058)
Panama City Poets (2059, 2060)
New Orleans Jazz (2040, 2042)
Tijuana Stouts (2057)
Lima Cavies (2056)
Bogota Condors (2054)
Miami Swordfish (2052)
Quito Cinchonas (2051)
Asuncion Pampas Foxes (2050)
Juarez Cacti (2049)
Toronto Gray Jays (2048)
Colorado Blue Spruce (2047)
Kansas City Meadowlarks (2046)
Vancouver Green Sox (2045)
Sydney Koalas (2044)
Sao Paolo Knights (2043)
San Jose Sloths (2041)

EAA Championships

Kano Camels (2056, 2060)
Yaounde Cannons (2053, 2054)
St Petersburg Pelicans (2042, 2050)
Vienna Music (2048, 2049)
London Gentlemen (2059)
Shanghai Peaches (2058)
Kabul Caracals (2057)
Johannesburg Springboks (2055)
Shenzhen Peanuts (2052)
Dhaka Mammoths (2051)
New Taipei City Magpies (2047)
Madrid Mallards (2046)
Pyongyang Grasshoppers (2045)
Antananarivo Lemurs (2044)
Manila Snakes (2043)
Rome Legion (2041)
Addis Ababa Lions (2040)

World Series Titles

1. Calgary Tartans: 2 (2055, 2058)
2. Yaounde Cannons: 2 (2053, 2054)
3. New Orleans Jazz: 2 (2040, 2042)
4. Panama City Poets (2060)
5. London Gentlemen (2059)
6. Tijuana Stouts (2057)
7. Kano Camels (2056)
8. Miami Swordfish (2052)
9. Quito Cinchonas (2051)
10. Asuncion Pampas Foxes (2050)
11. Juarez Cacti (2049)
12. Vienna Whistlers (2048)
13. Colorado Blue Spruce (2047)
14. Kansas City Meadowlarks (2046)
15. Pyongyang Grasshoppers (2045)
16. Antananarivo Lemurs (2044)
17. Sao Paolo Knights (2043)
18. San Jose Sloths (2041)

How 2060 Fits Into the Bigger Picture

The 2060 season felt like a year of returning powers, a couple of meaningful fresh breakthroughs, and a championship that nudged one club into a new historical tier.

At division level, only two clubs were first-time winners. Guatemala City Ocelots broke through in Central America & Oceania, and Kuala Lumpur Tigers did the same in Central & East Asia. That is a modest number, but it says something about where the league now stands. Most divisions have developed a real historical pecking order, and it is becoming harder for brand-new names to force their way in.

The rest of the divisional picture was mostly about repeat winners or long-awaited returns. Rio de Janeiro Redeemers won South America for the fourth time, but it was their first since 2048, so it felt like a revival rather than a routine defence. Salt Lake City Skiers returned in North America - West for their third division title and first since 2051. Miami Swordfish did much the same in North America - East, taking a fourth crown and their first since 2052. In Europe, Bucharest Sounds claimed their second title, but because their first came all the way back in 2041, this was one of the clearest “back at last” stories anywhere in the WBL.

A few clubs also strengthened their place in the league’s middle-to-upper historical tier. Kano Camels won Africa for a second time, adding 2060 to their 2056 banner, and then went further by winning the EAA championship again. Istanbul Spice collected a third West & South-East Asia title, their first since 2048, which reinforces them as one of the division’s long-term top performers. Rio, Salt Lake City, Miami, Bucharest, Kano, and Istanbul all came out of 2060 looking more impressive in the record books than they did before the season began.

The biggest story, though, sits above the divisional races. Panama City Poets followed their 2059 breakthrough by winning the TAO championship again in 2060 and then claiming their first World Series title. That changes the tone of their recent rise. They are no longer simply a club that had a great year. Back-to-back TAO pennants already set them apart, and the 2060 title turns them into a franchise with a proper place in WBL history.

On the other side, Kano Camels also used 2060 to raise their profile. Their second EAA championship confirmed them as one of the conference’s defining clubs of the modern period. They did not finish the job in the World Series, but another pennant means their 2056 title run now looks part of a broader era rather than a single spike.

The top of the divisional honour boards still belongs to a small group. The five-win clubs remain Lima Cavies, Calgary Tartans, and the Singapore Shipwrights (all in their previous Central & East Asia division). Just behind them sits a strong four-win tier including Rio de Janeiro, Port Moresby, Havana, Miami, St Petersburg, Kinshasa, Bengaluru, and Pyongyang. The 2060 season did not overturn that order, but it did deepen it by making the chasing group more crowded and more credible.

There are still plenty of waiting games in the background. Among non-expansion teams still without a division title in particular. In TAO that includes Caracas Macaws, Bogota Condors, Santiago Flamingos, Buenos Aires Apples, San Pedro Sula Fire, San Salvador Volcanoes, Managua Motmots, Auckland Kiwis, Portland Jackalopes, Idaho Owls, Montana Smokey Bears, Chicago Hoppers, and Kansas City Meadowlarks. In EAA, long-standing titleless clubs include Kyiv Terrapins, Minsk Bison, Khartoum Rhinos, Nairobi Lilacs, Luanda Red Caps, Tehran Goats, Baghdad Chukars, Hanoi Mopeds, Kabul Caracals, and Guangzhou Rams. A few of those names feel especially ripe for future banner-ceremony posts of their own.