The Excellence Project

[Nick Soulis]

Season 2
July



Awards
Batter of the month AL: Goose Goslin (1924 Senators)
Batter of the month NL - Jose Bautista (2012 Blue Jays)
Pitcher of the month AL - Clay Buchholz (2015 Red Sox)
Pitcher of the month NL - Steve Carlton (1983 Phillies)

Injuries
Steve Jeltz (1983 Phillies) - Hamate Bone (2-3 months)
Rudy Pemberton (1995 Tigers) - Knee (3-4 weeks)
Jackie Bradley Jr (2015 Red Sox) - Shoulder (2-3 weeks)

Thirty Game Hit Streak For Jones




American League West

1925 Philadelphia Athletics - A losing month has made the race alot tighter as the 1972 Braves have cut the lead to 3.5 games. Al Simmons has cooled off to .360 but Lefty Grove has remained on point, now with 190 strikeouts and 12 wins. Still the A's need to prepare themselves for a race to the finish.

1972 Atlanta Braves - George Stone went down with an injury and Jimmy Freeman has come into the rotation and looked good. Henry Aaron has hit 30 home runs and 90 RBI already with 2 months to play proving his resolve to lead the club. Phil Niekro needs to be better and if all goes well, the Braves feel they can win it.

1977 Chicago White Sox - Even as they hosted the All Star Game, the Sox managed only 9 wins in the month and are now 15 games back. The offense really fell apart as a .245 team average wont cut it. The Sox were swept in four games in Atlanta, really showing two teams going in opposite directions.

1995 Detroit Tigers - Also winning only 9 games, Sparky Anderson has not been able to get the most out of this team. David Wells continues to pitch well with a 1.06 ERA in his last two starts but Milt Cuyler and Danny Bautista are a combined 4 for 48 as the offense remains in the tank.

American League East

1924 Washington Senators - Finally the favorites are playing like it again as a hot July has taken them back to the top of the division. The month included a sweep of the Braves and more importantly one of the 1987 Phillies. Goose Goslin and Bucky Harris are on fire with Goslin going 20 for 36 with now a .314 average and 87 RBI. A tight pennant race with Boston awaits and the Senators appear ready.

2015 Boston Red Sox - Nineteen wins for Boston as they keep pace with Washington and make it a two team race. David Ortiz had a big month hitting over .400 while Dustin Pedroia is now hitting .351 and is at his very best. Clay Buchholz won pitcher of the month honors as he has turned his season around and now has 15 wins.

1987 Philadelphia Phillies - Sixty wins for the Phillies but that is still keeping them 7 games back. The Phils have yet to prove they can beat the big clubs and that will need to change if a late run is possible. Todd Frohwirth and Steve Bedrosian have established one if not the best pen in the game. Still the offense appears old and unable to sustain itself for the season.

1929 Boston Braves - The Braves unfortunately have been heading in the wrong direction with 7 wins in July. The offense has only gotten worse with George Harper the only bright spot as the first baseman has had a fine year with 19 HR and a .802 OPS. The Braves are 9-30 versus leftys and lead the league in being shutout.

National League East

2002 Los Angeles Dodgers - The Dodgers are fortunate to be in the weakest division in the league. Odalis Perez had a good month and emerged as the need third starter. Shawn Green is up to 24 homers while Adrian Beltre is hitting .320 for the club that leads the league in batting average. Still the club is slow and the defense average, but they may still be enough to win the division.

1942 Cincinnati Reds - A four game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers in LA was part of a broken down month where the Reds now sit 6 games under .500. All is not lost yet for the club but they need to turn the ship around fast. The offense just has shut down and the bottom of the order especially has produced nothing but automatic outs. Eddie Joost is hitting .210 and Damon Phillips is 3 for his last 22.

1912 St. Louis Cardinals - The Cardinals are only seven games back in this division despite their record. Slim Sallee has found his groove as one of the best control pitchers in the game and has won 10 games along with Pol Perritt. Rube Ellis has 74 RBI and Ed Konetchy another 71 for an offense that is a surprising second in scoring runs. The Cards have also stolen 210 bases to lead the league keeping their small ball reputation. Lee Magee has swiped 31 bases.

2012 Toronto Blue Jays - Jose Bautista won batter of the month honors and now has 80 RBI with 23 homers. The Jays are first with 111 home runs but the pitching just cant get things right. Ricky Romero has already lost 18 games and the club has allowed 605 runs and a FIP of 4.57. We have seen however, in this division, anything maybe possible.

National League West

1993 Philadelphia Phillies - The Phillies continue to be a wrecking ball in the West and are looking to end the race sooner then later. Steve Carlton is in a groove and took player of the month honors as he is sitting on 206 strikeouts for the season. Mike Schmidt has 33 home runs and is hoping to land around 50 while Bo Diaz has impressed with 72 RBI. The Phils are experienced and focused on a single goal, and they are making it look easy in the process.

1968 New York Mets - There is no wild card in the process so the Mets would truly need a miracle to make a run at the post season. Nolan Ryan is throwing hard and holds a 2.86 ERA in 17 starts while Tom Seaver threw two shutouts to end the month. Clean Jones is playing in another universe hitting .368 and coming off of a 30 game hitting streak. The Mets are an incredible 40-15 at home and will get the 83 Phillies three times at Shea in August. The Mets are tops in defensive efficiency at .734.

1931 Pittsburgh Pirates - The Bucs are now 17 games under .500 and may well be packing it in but they do have to fight the Americans for last place. The bullpen has been in shambles as Glenn Spencer was lit up for a 9.72 ERA in the month among others. The loss of Larry French hasn't helped the rotation putting the offense under pressure. Adam Comorosky has done his part leading the team with a .305 average but it is the hall of famers like the Waners and Pie Traynor that have been good but not great.

1907 Boston Americans - Last in runs and offense the Americans can pitch themselves to a win here and there. A .669 team OPS is just not good enough at this level and the strains of the modern game seem to have gotten the most of this club. The Americans played .500 baseball in May and look to have a winning month before the season is over.

[Nick Soulis]

Season 2
August



Awards
Batter of the month AL: Mookie Betts (2015 Red Sox)
Batter of the month NL - Frank McCormick (1942 Reds)
Pitcher of the month AL - Francisco Barrios (1977 White Sox)
Pitcher of the month NL - Cy Young (1907 Americans

American League East

1925 Philadelphia Athletics - The Athletics have held their own heading into the final stretch. Their pitching is lead by Rube Walberg and Lefty Grove for a staff that leads in strikeouts with 907. Al Simmons gets all the headlines but Mickey Cochrane is the heart of the club with 20 homers and 78 RBI and outstanding catching. Its the A's division to lose.

1972 Atlanta Braves - If the club could get any kind of pitching they would be in a much better spot. The team ERA is around 5 and too many games have been high scoring affairs. Hank Aaron has 40 long ones for a club that has hit 179 already. The Braves will play three against the Athletics at Fulton County Stadium the last week of the season.

1977 Chicago White Sox - A strong month from the White Sox who wo 18 games. Although players will never give up, it is surely too late for the Sox who will try to be spoilers. Steve Stone has imploded in his role as closer and the rotation is being pushed to longer outings on close games. Seven players in the Chicago lineup are up and over 50 RBI's heading into September.

1995 Detroit Tigers - Limping to the final month the Tigers can expect over 100 losses. The offense never came together despite good individual performances by the likes of Bobby Higginson who hit .435 for the month of August. Scott Aldred was torched this month proving that the lack of depth in this rotation is why the Tigers are no where near competitive.

American League West

2015 Boston Red Sox - Boston finished the month up strong and are holding off the Senators by two games. Rick Pocello has a 19-6 record and is making his case for the Cy Young. Jackie Bradley is back in the lineup after injury and had a red hot month along with Xander Bogaerts who is hitting a robust .342 on the season. The Red Sox finish the season with a series in Washington which could be for all the marbles.

1924 Washington Senators - Walter Johnson went 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in the month but the Senators had a losing record in August and are now playing catchup. Goose Goslin has hit 25 of the 88 team home runs and pitchers are choosing to throw around him and no one has really picked up the slack. Building confidence heading down the stretch shouldn't be a problem for a club that has won it all.

1987 Philadelphia Phillies - Refusing to roll over and die, the Phils won 16 games in August and are still six games out with an outside chance to make a late run. Where Mike Maddux learned how to pitch like his brother isnt clear, but the Phillies arms are what has this team 15 games over .500. Milt Thompson has stole 31 bases and the team has 80 total, and John Felske has used any means necessary to score runs. This team has been a good story all season long.

1929 Boston Braves - Things go from bad to worst for the Braves who lost 22 games in the month. The Braves lost 10 games in a row to end the month and are still last in the league in runs scored. No starter has over 6 wins and other then Red Peery who has a 1.98 ERA, the pen has been a house of horrors.

National League East

2002 Los Angeles Dodgers - Eighteen wins in August and the Dodgers have built a little bit of a cushion over the Reds. Hideo Nomo had a strong month and now has lowered his ERA to 3.15. Adrian Beltre has heated up and is up to .304 with 83 RBI's to go with his golden glove. Fianlly a team with a winning record in this division and it would prove that Los Angeles just has too much talent for their rivals.

1942 Cincinnati Reds - The Reds desperately trying to stay in the fight won 16 games in August. Paul Derringer continues to lead a good pitching staff now with 15 wins and a 2.94 ERA. Frank McCormick has 80 RBI and is hitting .313 to pace the offense but there is no real run producer on the roster. The Reds can be comended for staying in it this long, they finish the year with a four game series at Dodger Stadium and they hope to have something to play for.

2012 Toronto Blue Jays - The Jays seem to be in the mood to finish strong. Jose Bautista is up to 96 RBI while Brett Lawrie has had a good year with 31 steals already. The jays pitching continues to be a letdown and with a better set or arms this club could really be in the mix. The Jays starters have an ERA of 5.24 and have lost 50 games including 22 from Ricky Romero.

1912 St. Louis Cardinals - There have been some good stories for the Cards like Lee Magee who is hitting .317 and Rube Ellis who already has 90 RBI. The Cards also stole 263 bases and are on form for an incredible total. The overall results however have not come about and this club can only hope to finish with a nice September. Possum Whitted hit .452 in his last 20 games earning the job at short.

National League West

1983 Philadelphia Phillies Their magic number now sits at eleven as the Phillies prepare for the post season and likely 100 wins. John Denny has won 21 games and Steve Carlton is right behind him. Ron Reed has 37 saves out of the pen but it is the hitting that has really bolstered the club this year. Mike Schmidt has driven in 102 already and is eyeing an MVP while Bob Dernier, Juan Samuel, and Joe Morgan has been great on the bases and scoring runs. Ony Pete Rose seems unhappy, batting only .247.

1968 New York Mets - The pitching staff for the Mets has been something to watch with young arms in Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver combining well with Jerry Koosman. The Mets will likely win 90 games this year but the Phillies just never gave them a chance. Cleon Jones continues his outstanding year and deserves MVP consideration, he had a three homer game this month and is still hitting .354 with 26 steals.

1931 Pittsburgh Pirates - Pittsburgh didnt do very much at all well this season. Their defense has let the pitching down and a lack of confidence for Bill Harris and Larry French has prompted veteran Ray Kremer to make some starts late in the year. Lloyd Waner is the only one hitting over .300 and George grantham hit .375 for the month, but the Pirates never really sustained much of anything in a lost season.

1907 Boston Americans - Cy Young will be well over 300 innings when the season ends and he has lived up to the legend of late with a 2.20 ERA in August. Last in runs the Americans were easy pickings for opposing pitching and a .297 OBP and .669 team totals say it all. The Americans did not represent the deadball era well and will try to save face by finishing strong.

[Nick Soulis]

Final Standings



National League Championship Series



1983 Philadelphia Phillies (112-50) vs 2002 Los Angeles Dodgers (83-79)

It would appear that this series is going to be a mismatch as the 1983 Phillies come off an incredible season winning 112 games and the pressure will be on for them to finish the job. The Phillies dominated the season series winning 13 of 17 games against the Dodgers who are coming off a very tight race to even get to the postseason.

For the Phillies John Denny won 26 games and Steve Carlton struck out 292 batters throwing for over 300 innings. Mike Schmidt is sure to be the MVP with 52 home runs and 134 RBI for the season while Jeff Stone stole 90 bases along with 83 from Bobby Dernier as the club scored 884 runs. Ron Reed had 45 saves for the year and there is really no weakness that can be found in this club that put it all together.

The 2002 Dodgers had to win on the last day of the season as they held off a very determined 1942 Reds team. Now the task seems daunting for a team that won only 83 games. Kevin Brown and Odalis Perez combined for 39 wins but the Dodger pen lead by Eric Gagne has been a mixed bag. Shawn Green drove in 104 and the Dodger team defense is among tops in the league. Make no mistake however, if Jim Tracy and LA can pull an upset here, the reaction may be bigger then an LA earthquake.

American League Championship Series



2015 Boston Red Sox (97-65) vs 1925 Philadelphia Athletics (90-72)

Nothing more spicy then a Boston vs Philly battle to win the pennant. The 1925 Athletics are trying to match the feat of the 1928 team that took it all in season 1. Boston however has the better record and the better pedigree having won 10 of 16 vs the A's this season.

Speaking of Boston, they also had a last day scare in their division race but were able to hold off the the champion 1924 Senators on the last day of the season. Rick Porcello and Clay Buchholz pitched better than anyone expected at the top of the rotation while Koji Uehara used his splitter to become the dependable closer for the side. The Red Sox scored 899 runs to league both leagues with young Mookie Betts leading the way with a 155 OPS plus and 6.9 WAR. The no DH rule has really limited David Ortiz but he has the reputation of changing the narrative in the post season.

Connie Mack is a master at planning a gameplan for a post season series. The Athletics muscled their way past the 1972 Brave to win the division with once again Al Simmons leading the way with 34 home runs and a .349 average. Jimmie Foxx hit 15 home runs but is still only 17 years old and getting better everyday. Lefty Grove and Rube Walberg will make it tough on anyone and Grove can really step up in a big series game.

Season 2 Batting Champion



Ralph Garr (1972 Atlanta Braves)
(.361, 228 Hits, 37 doubles)

[Nick Soulis]

Playoff Update Season 2

Red Sox Overwhelm Athletics
Betts And Shaw Lead Boston Rush In 6



After a hard fought opening four games of the series including losing the first two; the 2015 Red Sox woke up in a big way and won the AL pennant disposing of Connie Mack and the 1925 Athletics in six games.

Surprise arm Wade Miley pitched well in both his starts but saved the best for game six where he shut out the A's 2-0 and avoided the tension of a game seven. Boston scored 14 runs in the two opening games with Xander Bogaerts serving up a walk off hit in extras of game one. Boston scored 4 runs late on the A's pen in innings 8 and 9 of game two to take command.

Philadelphia responded well for games 3 and 4 as the Sox helped them with four costly errors in game three. Game four saw Rube Walberg in complete control cruising to a series tying win. However Rick Porcello turned the favor with an excellent outing in game five and Miley then slammed the door in game seven.

Mookie Betts gets the MVP of the series hitting .444 with 5 RBI and six runs. Travis Shaw drove in 8 runs with a 130 OPS+ in the series. Boston did without David Ortiz who only had two at bats. The win now has the Red Sox on the biggest stage, awaiting a battle against a surging Phillies team.

Barely Breaking A Sweat
1983 Phillies Continue Dominance With Win



The 1983 Phillies shocked everyone by losing game one to the 2002 Dodgers fairly handily as many thought an upset could be in the cards. Not even close as Philadelphia won the next four games to stamp their ticket to the season 2 World Series.

Kevin Brown struck out 11 in the opener beating Steve Carlton and giving the Phillies a much needed wakeup call. Mike Schmidt hit a big home run in a tight game two and in game three again Philadelphia used the long ball homering three times in a 4-2 win behind Marty Bystrom. The last two games were dominant as the Phils outscored LA 16-3 as Carlton got his revenge and John Denny ended the series with a quality effort.

Juan Samuel wins the MVP of the series hitting .368 with a .684 SLG and some very good defense at second. Schmidt hit .333 while Phillies pitching was excellent taking away a poor game one. The script is going as planned for this team as they prepare for the World Series, against a 97 win Red Sox team.

[Nick Soulis]

Season 2
World Series



1983 Philadelphia Phillies vs 2015 Boston Red Sox

Phillies Crowned As Worthy Champions
Season 2 Excellence Continues In Post Season

The 1983 Philadelphia Phillies celebrated their championship as the undisputed best team of season 2. Their four game sweep of the 2015 Red Sox was an expected end to a club that did everything right.

Game 1 In Boston
Joe Morgan and Mike Schmidt both hit two run home runs in the 8th inning to overturn a Boston lead. Hanley Ramirez had given the home side the lead in back to back affair but it was the Phillies who finished strongest roughing up Koji Uehera.

Game 2 In Boston
John Denny pitches into the 8th inning and overcomes a 3 RBI game from Mookie Betts as the Phillies take both games in Boston. Juan Samuel goes 4-5 including a home run while Bob Dernier and Kiko Garcia both drive in two. Rick Porcello gets the loss lasting only 4 innings.

Game 3 In Philadelphia
Wade Miley and Marty Bystrom battle in a tight game that remained tied at two going into the late innings. In the 9th Xander Boegarts made an error to allow Juan Samuel to get on base. Samuel manufactured the winning run on his own stealing second and heading to third on a scrafice before he scored the winning run on a wild pitch Uehara who lost jis second game.

Game 4 In Philadelphia
The most dramatic finish of all four games and the hero turned out to be the mighty Mike Schmidt. The teams traded home runs as Schmidt hit two of them and both sides were tied at 6 going into the 9th. Brock Holt singled in two runs for Boston and it looked as if they would avoid the sweep. In the bottom of the ninth the Phillies loaded the bases with 2 outs before Schmidt cleared the bases with a double and walked off the game and the series Schmidt had 7 RBI in the final game.

CHAMPIONS SEASON 2
1983 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

[Nick Soulis]

Awards

Most Valuable Player



Cy Young Award



Leaders

Batting Average - Ralph Garr (72ATL) - .361
Home Runs - Mike Schmidt (83PHI) - 52
RBI - Hank Aaron (72ATL) - 140
OPS - Mike Schmidt (83PHI) - 1.050
SB - Jeff Stone (83PHI) - 90
WAR Leader - Al Simmons (25PHA) - 9.6
Batting Streak - Cleon Jones (68NYM) - 30
Wins - John Denny (83PHI) - 26
ERA - Bruce Ruffin (87PHI) - 2.45
Strike Outs - Johnny VanDermeer (42CIN) - 316
Saves - Ron Reed (83PHI) - 45

Accomplishments

8/14 - Cleon Jones (68MYM) - 6 hit game
4/27 - Steve Carlton (83PHI) - 16 K
4/22 - Luis Aguayo (87PHI) - Cycle
6/14 - Gee Walker (42CIN) - Cycle
5/20 - Larry French (31PIT) - No hitter


Best Games

Earl Williams (72ATL) - 4-4, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R
Les Bell (29BOS) - 5-5, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R
Frank Welch (25PHA) - 4-4, 4 R, 6 RBI, 3 HR
Mike Schmidt (83PHI) - 3-3, 3HR, 5 RBI, 3 R

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3

American League

Eastern Division


1. 2003 Boston Red Sox
Record: 95-67
Finish: Lost in ALCS
Manager: Grady Little
Ball Park: Fenway Park


2. 1991 St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 84-78
Finish: 2nd in NL East
Manager: Joe Torre
Ball Park: Busch Stadium


3. 1971 Atlanta Braves
Record: 82-80
Finish: 3rd in NL West
Manager: Lum Harris
Ball Park: Fulton County Stadium


4. 2018 Chicago White Sox
Record: 62-100
Finish: 4th in AL Central
Manager: Ricky Renteria

Western Division


1. 1999 Cleveland Indians
Record: 97-65
Finish: Lost in ALDS
Manager: Mike Hargrove
Ball Park: Jacobs Field


2. 1985 Baltimore Orioles
Record: 83-78
Finish: 4th in AL East
Manager: Joe Altobelli
Ball Park: Memorial Stadium


3. 1982 New York Yankees
Record: 79-83
Finish: 5th in AL East
Manager: Gene Michael
Ball Park: Yankee Stadium


4. 2014 Texas Rangers
Record: 67-95
Finish: 5th in AL East
Manager:Ron Washington
Ball Park: Globe Like Park

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3

National League

Eastern Division


1. 1988 New York Mets
Record: 100-62
Finish: Lost in NLCS
Manager: Davey Johnson
Ball Park: Shea Stadium


2. 1973 San Francisco Giants
Record: 88-74
Finish: 3rd in NL West
Manager: Charlie Fox
Ball Park: Candlestick Park


3. 1914 Brooklyn Robins
Record: 75-79
Finish: 5th In NL
Manager: Wilbert Robinson
Ball Park: Ebbets Field


4. 1962 Chicago Cubs
Record: 59-103
Finish: 9th in NL
Manager: Charlie Metro
Ball Park: Wrigley Field

Western Division


1. 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 93-56
Finish: 2nd in NL
Manager: Fred Clarke
Ball Park: Forbes Field


2. 1978 Baltimore Orioles
Record: 90-71
Finish: 4th iin AL East
Manager: Earl Weaver
Ball Park: Memorial Stadium


3. 1999 St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 75-86
Finish: 4th in NL Central
Manager: Tony LaRussa
Ball Park: Busch Stadium


4. 1940 St. Louis Browns
Record: 67-87
Finish: 6th in AL
Manager: Fred Haney
Ball Park: Sportsmans Park

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3
April



Awards
Batter of the month AL: Manny Ramirez (1999 Indians)
Batter of the month NL - Owen Wilson (1912 Pirates)
Pitcher of the month AL - Bartolo Colon (1999 Indians)
Pitcher of the month NL - Raliegh Aitchison (1914 Robins)

Injuries
Kiko Garcia (1978 Orioles) - Rib Cage (2-3 Weeks)
Don Cardwell (1962 Cubs) - Hamstring (4 weeks)

Team Notes

American League East

1991 St. Louis Cardinals - A good start for the Cards and Joe Torre. Joe Deleon is 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA and the veteran Lee Smith already has 8 saves. Jose Oquendo leads the offense with a .312 average.

2018 Chicago White Sox - The Sox are three games under .500 but good enough for second place. Tim Anderson has stole 7 bases and is hitting .388 as he has carried the offense while Joakim Soria has been dominate in the pen with 7 saves and a 1.17 ERA. The Sox have won the close ones.

1971 Atlanta Braves - The Braves have not looked good as Henry Aaron carries a .194 average in April. The pitching has been worse with Phil Niekro the only dependable arm. The club cant afford not to hit for power, as they are slow on the bases.

2003 Boston Red Sox - They were suppose to compete but a pitiful April has changed the narrative. The team has scored only 81 runs and hs hit just 12 home runs. The pithing has been decent but the lack of hitting has been quite a shock.

American League West

1999 Cleveland Indians - The bats are as hot as everyone expected even in April. Manny Ramirez and Roberto Alomar are hammers in the middle of the order while Dave Burba is 5-0 and Bartolo Colon won pitcher of the month honors.

1985 Baltimore Orioles - Despite an 0-6 record for starter Storm Davis, the Orioles found a way to win 15 games in April. Mike Boddicker is 5-1 with a 1.87 ERA and Eddie Murray has hit .320 with 17 RBI. Going to be tough to keep up with the Indians.

1982 New York Yankees - Ken Griffey is pacing the offense in New York hitting .335 with 17 RBI. On the opposite end Dave Winfield is hitting .095 in an incredible slump to start the year.

2014 Texas Rangers - Shin Soo Choo has started off hot hitting .344 and always on base. Adrian Beltre has also been good in support but it has been the Texas pitching that has faltered early.

National League East

1988 New York Mets - Sid Fernandez and Doc Gooden are 8-1 between them while David Cone has a 2.74 ERA. The Mets won their first seven games out of the gate but cooled to see Brooklyn match them in the standings.

1914 Brooklyn Dodgers - A very nice story early in Brooklyn. Raleigh Aitchinson is 7-0 and was pitcher of the month with a 2.17 ERA while Nap Rucker is right there with him at 2.10. Zack Wheat and Jack Dalton has the offense humming and the club is 15-4 at Ebbetts Field.

1973 San Francisco Giants - Bobby Bonds has shown off his five tools at the top of the order with 14 RBI and 8 steals. The rest of the offense however has been plain bad and Tom Bradley leads a rotation that hasnt been good.

1962 Chicago Cubs - Chicago started the month 1-14 but played better ball of late including a sweep of the 1971 Braves. The Don Cardwell injury is a tough one while Ron Santo drove in 24 runs for the month. The Cubs defense has been worse in the league.

National League West

1912 Pittsburgh Pirates - Honus Wagner hit .414 for the month with 27 RBI as Pittsburgh has the best record in the league. Hank Robinson and Wilbur Cooper have yet to lose a start and a 5.5 lead in the division could mean a long summer for other clubs.

1978 Baltimore Orioles - Eddie Murray had a hard month finishing 2 for 21 and the Birds hit just .229 as a club. Jim Palmer and Dennis Martinez have kept the club afloat and it is the pitching overall that should allow this club to compete.

1940 St. Louis Browns - A winning month for the Browns with closer Bill Trotter saving 8 games and looking sharp for what has been a weak pen. Harlond Clift hit .303 with 3 HR while Chat Laabs hit 5 with 18 RBI. An Encouraging start for St. Louis.

1999 St. Louis Cardinals - The offense hasnt hit and the pitching did not pick up the pace for the 11 win Cardinals. Darren OLiver and Rick Ankiel bot have ERA's under 2 but St. Louis started 1-9 on the road.

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3
May



Awards
Batter of the month AL: Fred Lynn (1985 Orioles)
Batter of the month NL - Honus Wagner (1912 Pirates)
Pitcher of the month AL - Pedro Martinez (2003 Red Sox)
Pitcher of the month NL - Dennis Martinez (1978 Orioles)

Injuries
Rick Ankiel (1999 Cardinals) - Elbow (Out for Season)
Howard Johnson (1988 Mets) - Broken Hand (4-5 weeks)
Steve Barber (1971 Braves) - Nerve entrapment (8 weeks)

American League East

1991 St. Louis Cardinals - Issues in the bullpen and issues with ahe in general concerns the Cardinals but they still hold a healthy lead in the division going into the summer. A really impressive job by Joe Torre.

2003 Boston Red Sox - Pedro Martinez has found his form and won pitcher of the month with a 2.66 ERA. The Sox are still last in runs but Nomar Garciaparra is hitting .325 and at the height of his game.

1971 Atlanta Braves - Dusty Baker is hot hitting .447 in his last 10 and the Braves rebounded from a terrible April. Last in stolen bases and last in strikeouts, Bobby Cox will have to really earn his take if the club is to get back in the race.

2018 Chicago White Sox - Reality hit the Sox hard with 8 wins in May and a comedy of errors on defense. Michael Kopech leads a rotation that is sinking fast while Tim Anderson tries to hold the lineup together still hitting a robust .312.

American League West

1999 Cleveland Indians - Roberto Alomar wears his gold glove for a reason and he is also hitting .335 in a lineup that has been scorching hot. Bartolo Colon is 6-3 and Charles Nagy has a 2.68 ERA but the division remains a tight one.

1985 Baltimore Orioles - Earl Weaver has his team believing they can overtake Cleveland. Fred Lynn at 33 years old won batter of the month while Eddie Murray is hitting .440 in the last two weeks. Mike Boddicker and Mike Flanagan lead a strong rotation while Don Aase has found his form with 16 saves as surprise closer.

1982 New York Yankees - It has been pitching that has kept the Yanks somewhat afloat as Rudy May holds an ERA of 2.12 and Shane Rawley has been even better. Dave Winfield still hitting .156 as the offense is last in average but has managed 50 steals through Willie Randolph and Jerry Mumphrey.

2014 Texas Rangers - Rougned Odor ended the month hitting just 3 for 20 while Yu Darvish hasn't been himself with a 4.56 ERA and only 68K in 11 starts. In a tough division the Rangers need a big June to build confidence.

National League East

1914 Brooklyn Robins -The talk of season 3, the Robins continue to hold off the Mets in what has been a dream start in Flatbush. The Robins are hitting an even .300 as a team, way above everyone else and starter Raleigh Aitchinson is having a dream season sitting at 10-2.

1988 New York Mets - The Mets lost 2 of 3 in Brooklyn and to their own worry they seem to have a fight on their hands. Keith Hernandez is hitting .406 in limited time but both Greg Jeffries and Howard Johnson are out with injuries. The pitching has not been as strong as expected.

1972 San Francisco Giants - A very nice turnaround in May for the Giants after an 8 win April. Bobby Bonds has heated up now hitting .322 with 40 RBI. However somehow, 35 year old Juan Marichal hasnt worked out as a closer.

1962 Chicago Cubs - The Cubs just can generate much offense to compete as they have compiled only 2.8 in WAR. The Cubs are also first in errors and are 6-21 away from Wrigley Field.

National League West

1912 Pittsburgh Pirates - He is hitting .441 and it is June 1st, Honus Wagner is the story of Season 3 and the Bucs hold a 44-12 record and a 14 game lead in a division that seems already done. Hank Robinson is 10-0 as a starter and we all await just how great this team can be.

1978 Baltimore Orioles - Too bad there is no Wild Card to hope for, the Orioles are fading fast behind the Pirates. A smart, well coached club that leans of pitching as Dennis Martinez won the pitcher of the month and the team ERA is 3.28.

1999 St. Louis Cardinals - A tough blow for Rick Ankiel who will miss the entire season and now the rotation is as thin as paper. mark McGwire has just 13 home runs to the surprise of many while the club average of .238 is not getting the job done.

1940 St. Louis Browns - Only seven wins in May as the Browns seem to be in for a long hot summer. Johnny Niggeling really the only dependable arm as the 5.35 team ERA is worst in the league.

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3
June



Awards
Batter of the month AL: Henry Aaron (1971 Braves)
Batter of the month NL - Honus Wagner (1912 Pirates)
Pitcher of the month AL - Yu Darvish (2104 Rangers)
Pitcher of the month NL - Babe Adams (1912 Pirates)

Injuries
Leury Garcia - (2014 White Sox) - Eye surgery (7 weeks)

American League East

1991 St. Louis Cardinals - Consistency is the name of the game for the Cards who hold their 6 game lead. Lee Smith has 22 saves and Todd Worrell acts as a perfect setup man making the Cards tough to beat in the close ones.

1971 Atlanta Braves - Hank Aaron put together a big month and now has 21 home runs and 54 RBI including three in one game. Cecil Upshaw is the new closer and the Braves feel they are squarely still in the race but they are still two games under .500.

2003 Boston Red Sox - Pedro Martinez and Bronson Arroyo have been very good but the Red Sox offense has not. Manny Ramirez is average at best in the middle of the order with only 30 RBI going into July while David Ortiz has only seen 50 atbats hurt by the no DH rule.

2018 Chicago White Sox - Lucas Giolito has a 1.10 ERA over his last three starts and the Sox pen has been quite good headed by Joakim Soria's 19 saves. The Sox offense however is last in the league even as Avisail Garcia has driven in 50 runs.

American League West

1985 Baltimore Orioles - The Orioles leap frog the Indians as their pitching staff lead by Mike Flanagan keeps getting better. The birds are 28-13 at home and took 2 out of three from Cleveland in front of a full house.

1999 Cleveland Indians - Mike Hargrove is trying to get creative in keeping his team playing its best. Thirty four year old Dwight Gooden was added to the rotation and Manny Ramirez is getting work at first base while a struggling Jim Thome, who is hitting .189 tries to find his groove.

2014 Texas Rangers - Yu Darvish has 11 wins and won pitcher of the month honors. Ranger pitching overall has been good with Colby Lewis and Derek Holland living off quality starts. The Rangers are only 4 games lout and hope is blooming in Texas.

1982 New York Yankees - The boo birds have come out in the Bronx even as this club isnt completely out of it. Rudy May and Dave Righetti has kept the opposing bats cool and Goose Gossage has 17 saves but a .681 team OPS is not justifying the big names like Winfield, Nettles, and Griffey.

National League East

1914 Brooklyn Robins - A four game series at Shea stadium will be crucial this month as the Robins continue to frustrate the Mets. Red Smith is hitting .361 with 61 RBI and the team is batting .296 to lead the league. The Robins has also stole 139 bases lead by the 24 from Zack Wheat.

1988 New York Mets - Sometimes this game can be funny and the Mets are trying to find their form quickly. Unfortunately both ace Dwight Gooden and closer Randy Myers have struggled badly but the depth is there and the Mets are still expected to finish tops. No one in the lineup is hitting over .275.

1973 San Francisco Giants - Not quite ready to compete, the Giants had another down month. The Giants have only hit 50 home runs as Willie McCovey has not been the answer with 6 HR and too many outs in the middle of the order. The entire pitching side has also been underwhelming.

1962 Chicago Cubs - Ernie Banks is hitting .228 and even Billy Williams just .271 as Chicago is last in runs. It looks as if the Cubbies will spend the remainder of the season as spoilers in a tight division.

National League West

1912 Pittsburgh Pirates - An actual losing month for the Bucs but not much changed in the standings. Honus Wagner is still hitting .413 and Owen Wilson now has 75 RBI. Babe Adams sits at 14-5 and it was only expected for this club to pull off the gas just a bit.

1978 Baltimore Orioles - The leaders have a losing month but the Orioles made no ground up. Eddie Murray still isnt at the Mendoza line while the team has only 25 stolen bases. Tim Sotddard has been poor in the pen with a 8.10 ERA in June.

1999 St. Louis Cardinals - JD Drew was red hot to close out the month and Mark McGwire has bashed out 19 home runs but the Cards are 16 games out. A .237 team average and the worst baserunning in the league is really UnCardinal like.

1940 St. Louis Browns - They have made the least amount of errors in the league and they did manage to win 10 games as the Browns will play for pride the rest of the way.

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3
All Star Edition

Its Hammer Time
Aaron Bashes 25 Home Runs In Showcase Derby

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3
July



Awards
Batter of the month AL: Earl Williams (1971 Braves)
Batter of the month NL - Bobby Bonds (1973 Giants)
Pitcher of the month AL - Martin Perez (2014 Rangers)
Pitcher of the month NL - David Cone (1988 Mets)

Injuries
Rudy May - (1982 Yankees) - Elbow (Season ending)
Omar Olivares (1991 Cardinals) - Elbow (Season ending)

American League East

1991 St. Louis Cardinals - Omar Olivares was lost for the season and all of a sudden the division got a lot tighter with Boston making a run. Felix Jose is having a hack of a season hitting .335 but the Cardinals arms really have to dig deep.

2003 Boston Red Sox - A 20 win month has put the Red Sox into high gear, finally putting their talent together. Bronson Arroyo had a big month while Alan Embree leads a strong pen that includes a Bob Howry and Mike Timlin.

1971 Atlanta Braves - Steady at about .500 the Braves cant be considered dead yet. Three players with over 20 home runs and Earl Williams wins player of the month honors as he went .435 with 4 home runs in July.

2018 Chicago White Sox - Michael Kopech leads the club in innings pitched and Lucas Giolito leads in wins as the pitching has been decent for Chicago. The bats remain cold and for that reason Chicago will play spoiler in a tough division.

American League West

1985 Baltimore Orioles - Don Aase has been lights out as maybe the best closer in the league with 34 saves already and the Orioles try and begin the second half strong. Cal Ripken leads the team with 61 RBI with Fred Lynn right behind him with 60.

1999 Cleveland Indians - The tribe fell out of first this month but are still well in the fight. Omar Vizquel and Roberto Alomar are a showcase defensively but the bats have cooled a bit as David Justice and Travis Fryman need to get back on track. Kenny Lofton has 29 steals.

2014 Texas Rangers - Quite the story, the Rangers are hanging tight and could be a factor. Martin Perez has complimented Yu Darvish as the two have combined for 25 wins. The power lacks with only 76 home runs as a club this season.

1982 New York Yankees - Rudy May was lost for the season and also the Yankees season is starting to look lost. Oscar Gamble has been the only steady force in the offense with 23 home runs and 66 RBI. The team average remains last in the AL at .246.

National League East

1988 New York Mets - The Mets grew angry this month and bolted back into first thanks to a three game sweeps of the Robins at Shea. David Cone has taken over as the ace with a 2.99 ERA and 81 K in 77 IP for the month.

1914 Brooklyn Robins - Their first losing month and a real test for Will Robinson and his club as they fall from the perch. Jeff Pfeffer didnt look good in his role as closer and starters are starting to be pushed. Red smith is up to 83 RBI as the offense remains the clubs calling card.

1973 San Francisco Giants - Bobby Bonds was player of the month showcasing skills all over the field. The team is last in the game in home runs and slugging and they are just 19-36 away from Candlestick.

1962 Chicago Cubs - Another nine win month for Chicago who will be on pace to lose 100 games. Chicago is last in batting WAR and team OPS while the team ERA is 4.84. Chicago isn't doing much of anything well right now and teams want them on their schedule.

National League West

1912 Pittsburgh Pirates - The Pirates look like they will win this division from start to finish. Honus Wagner is still flirting with .400 at .391 and keep in mind he is 38 years old. Hank Robinson is 15-2 with a 2.42 ERA in an award worthy campaign.

1978 Baltimore Orioles - In the worst division possible, the Orioles have been brave and remain with a winning record. Mike Flanagan Starting pitching has been good but the pen has not as Tippy Martinez has had an up and down year. Ken Singleton leads the team with 17 HR and 66 RBI.

1999 St. Louis Cardinals - The Cards keep heading in the wrong direction winning just 9 games in July. They are 21-41 away from home and with their talent really have no excuse. Big Mac McGwire has 26 home runs well behind the pace one would expect from him at this points.

1940 St. Louis Browns - Fighting to avoid the wort record in the league with the 1962 Cubs, the Browns are looking a bit better. Pitching has always been the issue with the likes of Emil Bildilli in the rotation with a 8.75 ERA and a 3-16 record. Depth has obviously been the issue.

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3
August



Awards
Batter of the month AL: Nomar Garicaparra (2003 Red Sox)
Batter of the month NL - Johnny Lucadello (1940 Browns)
Pitcher of the month AL - Pedro Martinez (2003 Red Sox)
Pitcher of the month NL - Babe Adams (1912 Pirates)

The Pennant Chase

American League West
Thanks to some star performances in August by Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez, the 2003 Red Sox are up two games going into the final month of the season. The 1991 Cardinals lost 19 games thi month and have seen their bullpen implode. Only 3.5 games back remain the 1971 Braves who are being lead by Henry Aaron who leads the league with 35 home runs and a .568 SLG. The division will surely go down to the final week of the seasons when all three teams play each other and the Cardinals close out with 4 games in Boston.

American League West
The two teams have been battling it out for what has seemed to be the entire season. back and forth the 1999 Indians and the 1985 Orioles have gone. The enter the final month with exact records and all to play for in September. Bartolo Colon has been spot on supporting a strong Cleveland offence with 16 wins already while Manny Ramirez is up to 90 RBI. Mike Boddicker has 17 wins and a no no to his name while Steady Eddie Murray is up to .313 at the plate. Still with a real chance are the 2014 Rangers who sit 4.5 games out for first and could still be the biggest factor of them all.

National League East
The 1914 Robins have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are for real. The Robins bounced back in August winning 20 games including an emotional three game sweep of the 1998 Mets at Ebbets Field. Everyone on the other hand seems to be rooting against the Mets who endured a six game losing streak and are now on the outside looking in. The finish will be dramatic indeed with the two teams meeting for four games at Shea to end the season. What a story the 1914 Dodgers have been. Do the Mets have the resolve to come back?

National League West
Heading into September with a magic number of 4 and 91 wins already, the 1912 Pirates have been preparing for the postseason for a while now. Still winning over 100 games will mean alot to them as they have become the clear favorites in season 3. Honus Wagner has a 10.7 WAR with a month to play while Babe Adams was the best pitcher of all in August and has a 23-6 record with at least 5 more starts to be made. It has been quite the season at the new Forbes Field, staying healthy and fresh for the playoffs will be the biggest stress point for Frank Clarke in the final month.

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3
Final Standings



American League Championship Series



2003 Boston Red Sox (90-72) vs 1999 Cleveland Indians (87-75)

The 1999 Cleveland Indians let their offense do the talking all season long and in the end won the AL West going away. The 87 wins may not be all the impressive but their ability to get on base and score runs is. Manny Ramirez drove in 106 runs while Kenny Lofton stole 41 bases and scored 103 times. Bartolo Colon won 18 games and a pen by committee worked as the Indians now look for greater glory. The 2003 Red Sox were lead by pitching triple crown winner Pedro Martinez for the season but Pedro will miss the playoffs with a bad back, putting the pressure on Boston to cover for him. Boston went 18-8 in September and are playing determined baseball as super star Nomar Garciaparra, who hit .324, joins Manny Ramirez in the middle of a good lineup. The Sox let up the fewest runs in the league, but Tim Wakefield and Bronson Arroyo will have their work cut out for them in the series against the Indians.

National League Championship Series



1912 Pittsburgh Pirates (111-51) vs 1988 New York Mets (98-64)

The 1988 Mets finished the fight in the NL East defeating the 1914 Robins three out of four in the final series of the season and the month saw them win 13 games in a row and a record of 20-6. Dwight Gooden and David Cone are as good a duo as one can find while Darryl Strawberry hit 31 home runs and drove in 96 for an offence that finished first in home runs. The Pirates won 111 games and haven't played an important game since June. They won their division by 34 games and had a plus run differential of 283. Honus Wagner hit .361 while Babe Adams won 26 games. Pittsburgh went 11-5 against the Mets in the regular season and will be the all out favorites to win the pennant.

Batting Champion



Honus Wagner
(.361, 211 H)

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3
Playoffs

American League Championship Series

Red Sox Dominate Tribe
A Four Game Sweep For Boston Behind Big Offense



Many would have thought that it would be the 1999 Indians offense that made its mark in the ALCS. It was quite the opposite however as the 2003 Boston Red Sox lead by MVP Nomar Garciaparra made it look easy in a four game winning sweep.

Nomar hit .500 and took home MVP honors driving in 5 runs while Trot Nixon drove in seven in the four games. Boston scored 34 runs including 11 in the opening game and the Red Sox made sure that they would not feel the loss of ace Pedro Martinez.

Bartolo Colon was hammered in the opening game and incredibly the likes of Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez hit zero home runs in the four games. It really just didn't seem like the Indians were in this series at any point in time. The excitement is palpable now as the Sox look for ultimate glory in the World Series.

National League Championship Series

Pirates Fight Back To Break Mets Hearts
Pittsburgh Takes Final Three Games To Win Pennant



In a highly anticipated series of two generational clubs from different eras, the best of seven series did not disappoint. The Mets were the favorites before the season started but by the end of the campaign, it was the Pirates who dominated the league with 111 regular season wins.

The Mets were tired of being overlooked and won the first two games of the series in Pittsburgh stunning the favorites. Doc Gooden beat Babe Adams in game one and Randy Myers closed the door on a tight game two. The Mets felt great heading back east.

Wilbur Cooper got the Pirates back on track in game three but the Mets bounced back with a game four win with Darryl Strawberry hitting a crucial home run, his second of the series. Now one win away, New York looked to close it out at home but a convincing 9-4 win for the visitors sent the series back to Pittsburgh.

Cooper did it again in game six allowing four hits and only one run to beat David Cone in a classic 2-1 games. Game number seven was the only manner to decide this series but there was a feeling in the air that the Pirates would indeed find a way. Down 2-0 in the sixth against Gooden, the Bucs scored four times as pinch hitter Mike 'Turkey' Donlin hit a three run home run to put the home team up for good. Howie Camitz secured his fourth save of the series and just like that the Mets were out.

The storybook season for Pittsburgh continues, and one more obstacle of the 2003 Boston Red Sox remains.

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3
World Series



Sox No Match For Destined Pirates
Pittsburgh End Storybook Season With Title

The team with the best record for the entirety of season three upped their game in the playoffs and made the World Series a no contest culminating their season into ultimate success. The MVP of the series was George Gibson who was flawless behind the plate and hit a robust .444. A recap of the series:

Game 1 In Pittsburgh
A four run 4th inning was more then enough as the Pirates opened the series behind a dominant pitching effort by Hank Robinson. Robinson went 8 innings allowing just three hits and one run as he kept the Red Sox off balance all afternoon working well with George Gibson. The tone was set with this game one win.

Game 2 In Pittsburgh
Another four run inning, this time in the 6th, brings the Pirates back from a deficit. Tommy Leach adds a run scoring triple as Tim Wakefield couldnt hold the lead. Wilbur Cooper was good enough but it took Howie Camitz to close the door on the Red Sox in the ninth, it si Camitz's sixth save of the post season.

Game 3 In Boston
Nomar Garicaparra and Manny Ramirez both go yard as Boston makes it a great homecoming to get themselves back in the series. Derek Lowe out performs Babe Adams as the Pirates leave 10 men on base and couldn't find the big hit. Nomar went 3-4 and Jason Varitek scored two runs in the win.

Game 4 In Boston
The most crucial game of the series. Boston held a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning behind Bronson Arroyo and could smell a tie in the series. However a George Gibson double broke the tie and a Jim Viox single gave the Pirates the lead showing the Bucs resolve. Camitz closed out yet another one late as Boston had their hearts broken in a game they really needed.

Game 5 In Boston
Bobby Byrne hit a two run home run off of Tim Wakefield and the Pirates opened up a 4-0 lead early giving starter Wilbur Cooper all the support he would need. Cooper cruised through seven innings allowing no runs and striking out six. A late Boston rally would make it interesting but in the end the Pirates closed things out and were deserved champions in a season they truly can be proud of.

Champions Season 3
1912 Pittsburgh Pirates

[Nick Soulis]

Season 3 Recap

Awards

Most Valuable Player



Cy Young Award



League Leaders



Accomplishments

6/26 - Joe Grace (1940 Browns) - 6 RBI
6/2 - Bartolo Colon (1999 Indians) - 15 K in one start
5/12 - Shane Rawley (1982 Yankees) - No Hitter
7/20 - Mike Boddicker (1985 Orioles) - No Hitter

Best Game Performances

7/3 - Jeremy Giambi (2003 Red Sox) 5-5, 2 HR, 3 R, 8 RBI vs 71 Braves
6/26 - Joe Grace (1940 Browns) 4-4, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R
6/23 - Joe Grace (1940 Browns) 4-5, 5 RBI, 3 HR, 4 R
6/25 - JD Drew (1999 Cardinals) 3-4, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R
8/30 - Wilbur Cooper (1912 Pirates) CG, 3 H, 0 ER, 13 K

[Nick Soulis]

Season 4

American League East



1. 1975 Kansas City Royals
Record: 91-71
Finish: 2nd in AL West
Manager: Jack McKeon
Ball Park: Royals Stadium
WAR Leader: John Mayberry



2. 1969 Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 88-74
Finish: 3rd in NL East
Manager: Larry Shepard
Ball Park: Forbes Field
WAR Leader: Roberto Clemente



3. 1999 Chicago White Sox
Record: 75-86
Finish: 2nd in AL West
Manager: Jerry Manuel
Ball Park: New Comiskey Park
WAR Leader: Magglio Orodnez



4. 1985 Texas Rangers
Record: 62-99
Finish: 7th in AL West
Manager: Bobby Valentine
Ball Park: Arlington Stadium
WAR Leader: Charlie Hough

American League West



1. 1919 Chicago White Sox
Record: 88-52
Finish: Lost in WS
Manager: Kid Gleason
Ball Park: Comiskey Park
WAR Leader: Eddie Cicotte



2. 1985 Montreal Expos
Record: 84-77
Finish: 3rd in NL East
Manager: Buck Rodgers
Ball Park: Olympic Stadium
WAR Leader: Tim Raines



3. 2013 Arizona Diamondbacks
Record: 81-81
Finish: 2nd in NL West
Manager: Kirk Gibson
Ball Park: Chase Field
WAR Leader: Paul Goldschmidt



4. 2002 San Diego Padres
Record: 66-96
Finish: 5th in NL West
Manager: Bruce Bochy
Ball Park: Qualcomm Stadium
WAR Leader: Ryan Klesko

[Nick Soulis]

Season 4

National League East



1. 2015 Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 98-64
Finish: Lost in Wild Card
Manager: Clint Hurdle
Ball Park: PNC Park
WAR Leader: Starlin Marte (5.0)



2. 2008 Houston Astros
Record: 86-75
Finish: 3rd in NL Central
Manager: Cecil Cooper
Ball Park: Minute Maid Park
WAR Leader: Lance Berkman (6.9)



3. 2018 New York Mets
Record: 77-85
Finish: 4th in NL East
Manager: Mickey Callaway
WAR Leader: Jacob DeGrom (9.9)



4. 1954 Detroit Tigers
Record: 66-86
Finish: 6th in AL
Manager: Fred Hutchinson
Ball Park: Briggs Stadium
WAR Leader: Steve Gromek (6.0)

National League West



1. 1924 New York Giants
Record: 93-60
Finish: Lost in WS
Manager: John McGraw
Ball Park: Polo Grounds
WAR Leader: Frankie Frisch (7.5)



2. 1914 St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 81-72
Finish: 3rd iN NL
Manager: Miller Huggins
Ball Park: Robinson Field
WAR Leader: Slim Sallee (5.9)



3. 1944 Chicago Cubs
Record: 75-79
Finish: 4th in NL
Manager: Charlie Grimm
Ball Park: Wrigley Field
WAR Leader: Bill Nicholson (6.1)



4. 2021 Arizona Diamondbacks
Record: 52-110
Finish: 5th in NL West
Manager: Torey Lovullo
Ball Park: Chase Field
WAR Leader: Zac Gallen (2.3)