The National Pastime: The United States Baseball Federation rises

[KCRoyals15]

2006

for the first 106 years of the United States Baseball Federation, the best young talent entered professional baseball in a rather straightforward fashion: they hit the free agent market and went to the highest bidder.

However, with the highest bidders more and more frequently becoming big-money clubs, the decision was made before the season to institute an amateur draft to level the playing field when it came to amateur talent. The format was very straightforward: all 52 major league teams would be slotted in reverse order of the previous season's finish. With only one minor league club each to work with, the draft would be limited to five rounds.

And so, on June 5, 2006, the historic inaugural amateur draft began, as the Omaha Golden Spikes took pitcher Ray Celia from Luther South High School in Chicago, Illinois with the first-ever USBF draft pick, becoming the first of 260 players to hear their names called.

As for the players already in the major leagues, the draft was instituted in part because of a record seven Eastern Baseball Federation teams with at least 100 wins (and six with 100 or more losses).

In the Northern Conference, all four playoff teams won at least 100 games, with New York winning 107 games to take the New England League, and the Philadelphia A's winning 101 to take second. The Midwest Association saw Chicago win 102 times to edge Montreal by two games, with the Royals taking the other playoff spot.



In the postseason, New York took care of Philadelphia in six games, while Montreal breezed past Chicago in five. For the second year in a row, the Gothams and Royals would meet for a conference title, but this time, Montreal knocked off New York to earn their first-ever Northern Conference Championship.

In the South, three more powerhouses punched playoff tickets, with 108-win Norfolk taking the Eastern League with 104-win Atlanta on their heels. In the Western League, New Orleans ended a string of frustrating third-place finishes by winning 111 games and blasting 20 games past Kansas City, with the Blues at 91-71 being far and away the EBF's weakest playoff team.



The League Finals saw an excellent series in the EL, where Atlanta edged Norfolk in seven games. Meanwhile, New Orleans held serve in a six-game series win over Kansas City. The Pelicans then downed the Peaches in six games to win their first Southern Conference crown since 1992.

In the Pacific Coast League, San Francisco soared to the North Division crown, with Oakland comfortably filing in behind them. After snapping a 44-year playoff drought the previous season, Portland crashed to a last-place finish and the worst record in the league. In the South, Phoenix won their fourth-straight division title, while San Jose finished second for the fourth year in a row.



San Francisco won their first-round series as expected, defeating Oakland in six games. In the South, though, two-time defending champion Phoenix was upset in the Division Series in a five-game series. San Jose moved on to play the Seals, and the Gulls got the job done, defeating San Francisco in six games to earn San Jose's first PCL crown since 1989.

In the Texas League, the Metroplex had it's best year ever as Dallas tied a franchise record with 105 wins and Ft. Worth won 100 games for the first time ever to account for the two North Division playoff spots. In the South, Houston won their second-straight division title, while San Antonio finished second, ending a two-year playoff absence.



In the Texas League playoffs, there was absolutely zero drama in the first round. The much-hyped DFW Duel was a dud as Dallas demolished Fort Worth in a four-game sweep. Houston also dealt San Antonio a four-game sweep in the South. The Lone Star Series, though, was much better. Looking for a repeat, underdog Houston knocked off Dallas in Game 7 at the Ballpark in Arlington, sending the Buffaloes to their second-straight TL title.

Prior to the 2004 season, a long-antiquated custom of seeding the national tournament was abolished. Since the tournament adopted its current structure in 1955, the Northern and Southern Conference champions played each other, while the PCL and Texas League champions squared off.

This was abandoned in favor of seeding the tournament by record, with a 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3 format based off winning percentage. As it so happened, 2004-05 both ended up with semifinal matchups based off the old format, but that would finally not be the case this season.



San Jose's run of upsets continued as the Gulls knocked off top-seed New Orleans in a six-game semifinal series. Meanwhile, Montreal made the most of their first-ever series in the national tournament, sweeping Houston. The Royal run, though, came to an abrupt halt as San Jose turned the tables with a sweep of their own, giving the Gulls their second National Championship and their first in 17 years.



A few days after the end of the 2005 Southwest League season, the Philadelphia A's purchased the contract of 18-year-old first baseman Aaron Moore, who had a very good first professional season, but nothing out of the ordinary. However, the very next season, he took the Northern Conference by storm, as the 19-year-old slashed .362/.422/.638 with 204 hits, 104 runs, 44 doubles, 35 homers, and 113 RBI, winning the batting title and also taking home very surprising MVP trophy, though he did not win Rookie of the Year.

After his 2005 season ended after just nine starts due to an elbow injury, Chicago ace Adrian Wright was good as new, and he won his second Triple Crown, going 22-4 with a microscopic 1.67 ERA, striking out 259 batters in a conference-high 269.1 innings. He also led the North with 15 complete games and 5 shutouts on his way to his fourth Pitcher of the Year trophy in five major league seasons.

Most other years, New York's 22-year-old rookie Craig Wyse would've been a slam-dunk Pitcher of the Year. He also won 22 games, going 22-3 with a 2.55 ERA and 214 strikeouts in 222.1 innings, though he settled for the Rookie of the Year crown that Moore did not win.

The Southern Conference was also dominated by a rookie, as New Orleans' 23-year-old third baseman Luis Sanchez slashed .351/.413/.615, winning the batting title, leading the South with 221 hits and 128 runs, and also added 40 doubles, 6 triples, 38 home runs, 115 RBI, and 18 steals. For his efforts, he claimed both MVP and Rookie of the Year honors.

A fellow Pelican was best on the hill, but in a different fashion. Marco Garcia was up-and-down in his first nine big-league seasons, but his tenth campaign saw the 32-year-old going 22-6 with a 2.61 ERA over 231.0 innings, leading the South in wins and earning his first Pitcher of the Year trophy.

Kansas City's Rich Gonzalez maintained impressive power numbers into his late 30's, including 41 homers and 145 RBI at 38 years old in 2005. He finally slowed down this year (.243 with 20 homers), but checked off several milestones. After earlier picked up his 2,000th hit and 1,500th RBI, on September 12, Gonzalez swatted his 500th career homer.

Salt Lake City's Joel Boyd had the lowest home run total of his career, but still launched 43 round-trippers, leading the South for the sixth time in his six pro seasons, becoming the first player in major league history to lead his league in homers six years in a row. He has bashed 359 home runs, one shy of averaging 60 per season.

Speaking of home runs, San Jose's Neal Davis was a known power threat even before reaching the majors, thanks to a 60-homer season at Triple-A in 2004. In his second big-league season, he surpassed that, slashing .331/.405/.666 with a PCL-best 62 homers and 157 RBI, adding 238 hits, 147 runs, and 52 doubles to convincingly win Pacific Coast League MVP honors.

On the hill, San Francisco's teenage phenom proved his dominant rookie year was no fluke. After winning Pitcher of the Year at 18 years old, Tim Gassner did so once again at 19, going 21-7 with a league-leading 2.08 ERA, striking out a PCL-best 256 batters in 267.2 innings.

Two years prior, Los Angeles' Robby Gfeller stroked his 3,000th hit, but the 38-year-old added another feather in his cap on April 28, when he blasted his 500th career home run, becoming just the second player in major league history to reach 500 homers and 3,000 hits.

In the Texas League, another young gun also earned a second major award in two years. Tulsa's Jim Prigge once again showed no power and no speed, but slashed .359/.493/.532 to lead the league in batting and on-base percentage for a second year in a row, while adding 193 hits, 105 runs, 54 doubles, 9 triples, 7 homers, 71 RBI, and a league-high 144 walks, earning the 23-year-old his second-straight MVP award.

After winning two Pitcher of the Year awards in Fort Worth, Marco Torres signed a three-year deal with Brooklyn after the 2002 season, but less than two years into that deal he was traded back to the Metroplex...to Dallas. After a strong 2005 campaign, Torres followed that up by going 21-8 with a 3.90 ERA, leading the TL in wins and innings (233.1), while striking out 173 batters, earning his third Pitcher of the Year trophy.

On Hall of Fame weekend, the Eastern Baseball Federation had no inductees, but the Pacific Coast League inducted a two-time Pitcher of the Year with 266 career wins:

SP Chad Grauerholz (1988-05), 78.0%

Meanwhile, the Texas League welcomed one of the best relievers in league history and a seven-time All-Star starter:

RP Chris Nicolette (1981-96), 76.5%
SP Chris Diaz (1983-94), 75.0%

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In the American Baseball League, the East saw Richmond at the top, one game ahead of Syracuse. Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham took the last two spots, with R-D edging out Ottawa by two games. In a very top-heavy West, Anaheim won 108 games and Memphis earned a club-record 103 wins, while 82-80 Las Vegas was third and 75-87 Minneapolis limped into the playoffs one game ahead of Tucson.

Come postseason time, the East saw a huge first-round upset, as 81-81 Raleigh-Durham bounced Richmond in seven games, while Syracuse ousted Charlotte. Anaheim took care of Minneapolis in six games, while Memphis held off a Las Vegas upset bid in a seven-game triumph. The semifinals saw another R-D upset, as the Tar Heels knocked off Syracuse in five games. Anaheim then overwhelmed Memphis in a four-game sweep. For the fourth year in a row, Anaheim reached the American Baseball Cup Finals, but for the third time, the Eastern rep took home the cup, as Raleigh-Durham said goodbye to the Amigos in seven games, pulling off the biggest upset of all to give the .500 squad their first American Baseball Cup.

In the East, Richmond catcher Chris Hanson earned a second-straight MVP trophy, slashing .308/.434/.505 with 147 hits, 87 runs, 36 doubles, 18 homers, 78 RBI and an East-high 107 walks to earn the trophy. A quality starter for several years in New Orleans, 35-year-old Adam Newberry ended up in the ABL and in his first year there, he went 24-6 with a 2.33 ERA, leading the ABL in both and also topping the East with 267.0 innings, earning Pitcher of the Year honors.

In the West, it was a clean sweep for Memphis right-hander Joe Rikard. The 22-year-old went 22-10 with a 2.74 ERA, striking out 202 over 289.1 innings and completing an unfathomable 28 out of his 33 starts, earning Rookie of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and MVP for his throwback effort.

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Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Savannah Cardinals, 110-44, defeats Knoxville
Colonial League: Pawtucket Patriots, 91-49, defeats Reading
River Valley League: Toledo Mud Hens, 92-48, defeats Charleston (WV)
Rocky Mountain League: Butte Copper Kings, 64-56, defeats Cheyenne
Coastal League: Johnson City Smokies, 107-47, defeats Greenville (SC)
Northern League: Thunder Bay Timberjacks, 97-43, defeats La Crosse
Southwest League: Long Beach Earthquakes, 89-51, defeats Santa Barbara
Southern Association: Springfield Ozarks, 82-58, defeats Biloxi
Northwest League: Eugene Gems, 82-72, defeats Yakima
Can-Am League: Utica Blue Sox, 73-53, defeats Quebec
Mid-Atlantic League: Worcester Tornadoes, 86-54, defeats Altoona
Lone Star League: Lubbock Hubbers, 94-46, defeats Rio Grande
Great Plains League: Des Moines Demons, 91-49, defeats Peoria (5th straight)
Florida Coast League: Pensacola Pelicans, 75-65, defeats Fort Lauderdale
Heartland League: Sioux Falls Canaries, 75-65, defeats Youngstown
Atlantic Coast League: Wilmington (NC) Waves, 77-43, defeats Lynchburg
North American League: Saskatoon Rivermen, 94-46, defeats Colorado Springs
North Atlantic League: Fredericton Canucks, 55-57, defeats Burlington

The most notable event in the minors this year was actually an individual effort in Idaho Falls, where 21-year-old Matt Nichols laid waste to the Northwest League with one of the greatest minor league seasons of all-time. Nichols slashed .394/.461/.882 with 220 hits, 147 runs, an all-time professional baseball record 76 home runs, 188 RBI and 493 total bases, all of which led the league. Curiously, this all came after he began the season in the majors and hit .337 with 7 homers in 24 games...just to get sent down when the minor league season began.

[KCRoyals15]

2007

After Montreal's run to a national runner-up finish, Trey Skipper's work north of the border was complete. In four years, he had shattered franchise records, ended the longest playoff drought in professional baseball history, and turned an doormat into a dominant force. Furthermore, the Royals would finally be leaving the woefully inadequate "Big Owe," Olympic Stadium, in favor of brand-new, state-of-the-art Parc Labatt.

At 69 years old, Trey elected to hang it up, ending the third generation of the baseball family dynasty with a record of 3,304-2,732 (.547) over 37 seasons with 26 playoff appearances and 15 league/conference championships, with a 2,070-1,696 (.550) mark at the major league level with seven league/conference titles and a pair of National Championships.

And so, Skipper IV took the reins, but as his predecessors did, he would begin his career with a rebuilding job. In this case, he would begin his managerial career with a franchise coming off a 60-102 season, their sixth-straight 100-loss campaign.

Yep, Skipper IV's reign would begin at the helm of the Omaha Golden Spikes, who owned one playoff appearance in the previous 33 seasons and had just five winning seasons in that time frame; four of which came from 1993-96. He would also be hamstrung with Rosenblatt Stadium, the historic College World Series venue that was beloved, but also was nearly 60 years old and too small and outdated for major league baseball.

What a place to start your career.

After a healthy amount of juggernauts ran roughshod in 2006, many teams returned to more normal records this season, though a few clear powerhouses were still out there.

In the Northern Conference, it was once again New York and Philly making the playoffs out of the New England League, though it was the Quakers joining the Gothams in the postseason. New York made their tenth-straight postseason appearance and drew 4,152,805 fans to Shea Stadium. The Quakers, meanwhile made their fourth appearance in five years (their crosstown rivals, the Athletics, made it the other season). The Midwest Association saw Montreal and Chicago make the postseason for the third year in a row, with the Royals in first by a game. The Whales were making their sixth-straight postseason appearance.



Once October hit, the two pennant winners took care of business. New York defeated Philadelphia in six games, while Montreal swept Chicago. The Gothams and Royals, both 98-64 in the regular season, proved to be about as even as could be, with New York finally emerging triumphant in game seven for their second Conference Championship in three years.

In the Southern Conference, Atlanta and Jacksonville ran away to tie for first in the Eastern League at 97-65, both 13 games clear of the competition. For the Peaches it was their fifth-straight playoff berth, while the Suns made the playoffs for the first time in eight years after a pair of close calls the last two years. The Western League was dominated by New Orleans, who won 110 games (after 111 wins the previous year) and finished 23 games ahead of Kansas City, who finished second (and in the playoffs) for the fourth year in a row.



In October, the two League Finals were very indicative of the regular-season races. Atlanta and Jacksonville finished in a dead heat and their playoff series went the distance, with the Suns winning the decisive seventh game. Meanwhile, New Orleans left KC in the dust and the playoffs were no different, as the Pelicans swept the Blues. However, the Southern Championship was a dandy, but in the end, New Orleans repeated as Southern champions, winning game seven at the Shrine on Airline to take home their second-straight conference title.

In the Pacific Coast League it was the familiar subjects at the top of both standings. For the eighth year in a row, the San Francisco Seals won the North, while Oakland finished second for a second-straight year. In the South, San Jose won a franchise-record 133 games and drew a national-record 4,169,698 fans to Los Gatos Ballpark. The Gulls made their seventh-straight playoff trip, while Phoenix finished second, earning their 11th-straight trip to the postseason.



In the postseason, San Francisco dominated their cross-bay rivals, sweeping Oakland in the North Division Finals. In the South, Phoenix dealt an upset to San Jose in six games. In the PCL Finals, the Seals and Firebirds went the distance, with San Francisco winning game seven to earn their first PCL title in nine years.

Normally the most tame of the four major leagues, the Texas League in fact had the most dominant teams, with three 100-win squads. For the second year in a row, both DFW teams won over 100 games, with Dallas winning a franchise-record 109 games and Fort Worth earning a franchise-record 104 wins. In the South, Houston won 101 games and their third-straight division title. Meanwhile, Galveston emerged from the worst malaise in franchise history to post their first winning season in 13 years and earn their first playoff berth since 1993, finishing in second.



For a second-straight year, the North Division Series was highly anticipated, but once more, Dallas came out on top, defeating Fort Worth in game seven at the Ballpark in Arlington. The South saw no drama, as Houston swept rival Galveston in four games. The Lone Star Series was similarly non-dramatic, as the Lone Stars breezed past the Buffaloes in five games to win their first Texas League title in seven years.



The national tournament featured no major surprises in terms of participants, nor in results. New Orleans took down San Francisco in six games, while New York handled Dallas in five games. The Finals would feature one team looking for their first title and the other waiting for their first championship since the Great Depression. In an anticlimactic series, the Gothams swept the Pelicans, earning New York their fifth National Championship, but their first since 1935, ending a 72-year title drought that broke a record for longest span between national titles.



In the Northern Conference, a second-year infielder broke out, as 24-year-old Detroit third baseman Jesus Salazar slashed .305/.368/.601 with 185 hits, 114 runs, 44 doubles, a conference-leading 44 homers, and 141 RBI. For his efforts, he earned his first MVP award.

On the mound, it was another award for the top arm in the league. Chicago's Adrian Wright missed his third Triple Crown by 0.01 ERA point, going 20-3 with a 2.70 ERA, also leading the North in strikeouts (239), innings (253.1), complete games (7), and shutouts (3). Wright earned his fifth Pitcher of the Year in his six-year career and his second in a row.

In the Southern Conference, New Orleans catcher Bryan Mitchell provided a glimpse in 2006 by hitting .366 with 7 homers in 175 at-bats as a 21-year-old rookie. In his first full season the following year, Mitchell slashed .363/.417/.589, winning the batting title and also leading the conference with 120 runs, ripping 203 hits, 32 doubles, 30 homers, and driving in 93 runs to earn his first MVP in unanimous fashion.

His batterymate also earned accolades in a unanimous vote, as 33-year-old Marco Garcia continued his late-career bloom, going 19-4 with a conference-leading 2.75 ERA over 232.1 innings, picking up his second Pitcher of the Year in a row.

Omaha make a splash by finding the cash to sign home run extraordinaire Joel Boyd, who only played in 96 games in his first year at Rosenblatt, but still managed to lead the conference with 41 homers, earning his seventh home run crown in seven seasons, blasting an even 400 round-trippers in that time frame.

In the Pacific Coast League, San Jose's Neal Davis had a very hard act to follow after his 62-homer seasons in 2006, but he nearly matched it. The 25-year-old slashed .341/.416/.663 with 245 hits, a league-high 153 runs, 48 doubles, and a league-leading 60 homers and 174 RBI. For his efforts he earned his second-straight MVP award.

On the mound, Phoenix ace Jordan Radcliffe had been of the PCL's top arms the past few years, but finally broke through for his first PCL Pitcher of the Year trophy. The 26-year-old went 24-12 with a 2.48 ERA, leading the PCL in wins and ERA, while striking out 228 batters and working a league-high 297.0 innings in his award-winning campaign.

In the midst of his third-straight 40-homer season to begin his career, Hawaii first baseman Steve Dougan made history on June 9, when he bludgeoned San Jose for a quartet of round-trippers, becoming the fourth PCL hitter and the 11th player in major league history ot swt four home runs in a single game.

In the Texas League, Austin second baseman Matt Thoms was already a two-time MVP in the Northern Conference. Since being traded to Austin midway through the 2003 season, he had struggled to stay on the field, but finally did enough in 2007, slashing .325/.444/.617 with 161 hits, 101 runs, 30 doubles, 37 homers, 99 RBI, and 15 steals, while adding a Great Glove honor. He took home his third MVP, though his selection was controversial, as Tulsa's Henry Bowen had slashed .347/.428/.613 with 213 hits, 38 homers and 166 RBI, coming just two homers shy of a Triple Crown, though he settled for his second runner-up finish in three years.

There was no such controversy on the mound, where Dallas' Marco Torres won his fourth Pitcher of the Year and second in a row. The 33-year-old went 21-9 with a 3.13 ERA, leading the TL in both marks and also striking out 164 in a league-high 230.1 innings as he earned his trophy in a unanimous vote.

In the Hall of Fame voting, the Eastern Baseball Federation inducted a man with the fifth-most major league homers and the most decorated reliever in history to the Hall, both sailing in on the first ballot:

1B Mario Zuniga (1983-02), 98.4%
RP J.R. McCormick (1987-06), 97.5%

The Pacific Coast League, meanwhile, inducted a slugging first baseman with over 2,500 hits and nearly 450 homers:

1B Brian Fredericks (1982-01), 76.5%

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In the American Baseball League, Raleigh-Durham built off their first ABL to win their first-ever East Division title, with Charlotte and Richmond tied for second six games back and Ottawa filing into fourth. In the West, Anaheim earned their tenth-straight playoff berth and won 100 games for the fifth year in a row. Spokane went from 92 losses to 97 wins, finishing second, with Las Vegas third. Nashville and Memphis each finished 81-81, with the Vols winning a 163rd game to win the battle for Tennessee and with it, the final playoff spot.

Three of the four first-round series went the distance, with Raleigh-Durham surviving an upset bid from Ottawa and Richmond edging Charlotte. Meanwhile, Las Vegas clipped Spokane, while Anaheim had the one easy series, a sweep of Nashville. The semifinals featured upsets on both sides, as Richmond knocked out Raleigh-Durham in six games and Las Vegas annihilated Anaheim in five. The Giants then lived up to their name, gashing the Gamblers in a four-game sweep to lift Richmond to their first American Baseball Cup in their 32 years in the ABL.

In the East, 19-year-old Tampa Bay phenom Hyun-Woo Kim had a massive sophomore season, slashed .361/.425/.652 with 214 hits, 114 runs, 60 doubles, 36 homers, and 99 RBI, leading the league in batting, hits, and doubles, winning MVP with ease. Richmond righty Joel Johnston, just 21 years old, went 19-10 with a 3.47 ERA, leading the East in wins and striking out 223 over 254.0 innings to earn Pitcher of the Year.

In the West, Spokane's Alejandro Zavala won MVP in 2003 and had played at an MVP-caliber level ever since, but the 27-year-old finally won his second trophy in 2007, slashing .293/.405/.528 with 161 hits, a league-high 121 runs, 34 doubles, 7 triples, 27 homers, and 97 RBI. Similarly, Anaheim's Ed De Soto had pitched at a high level over his first three seasons, but the 24-year-old finally earned the hardware in his fourth campaign, going 17-8 with a 3.25 ERA with 202 strikeouts in 235.1 innings to win Pitcher of the Year.

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Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Savannah Cardinals, 118-36, defeats Chattanooga
Colonial League: Binghamton Big Cats, 87-53, defeats Pittsfield
River Valley League: Toledo Mud Hens, 86-54, defeats Charleston (WV) (2nd straight)
Rocky Mountain League: Helena Capitals, 76-44, defeats Grand Junction
Coastal League: Johnson City Smokies, 92-63, defeats Greenville (SC) (2nd straight)
Northern League: Winnipeg Goldeyes, 93-47, defeats La Crosse
Southwest League: Long Beach Earthquakes, 77-63, defeats Stockton (2nd straight)
Southern Association: Springfield Ozarks, 81-59, defeats Little Rock (2nd straight)
Northwest League: Pocatello Gatekeepers, 94-60, defeats Yakima
Can-Am League: Hamilton Steelcats, 69-57, defeats Springfield
Mid-Atlantic League: Lancaster Barnstormers, 84-56, defeats Frederick
Lone Star League: Tyler Roughnecks, 91-49, defeats Rio Grande
Great Plains League: South Bend Silver Hawks, 83-57, defeats Des Moines
Florida Coast League: Fort Lauderdale Flamingos, 82-58, defeat St. Petersburg
Heartland League: Lansing Speedwagons, 79-61, defeats Sioux Falls
Atlantic Coast League: Myrtle Beach Rainbows, 65-55, defeats Lynchburg
North American League: Calgary Cannons, 83-57, defeats Ft. Collins
North Atlantic League: Burlington Lakers, 61-51, defeats Fredericton

Matt Nichols made considerable news in 2006 for terrorizing the Northwest League for a professional baseball-record 76 homers. For whatever reason, he did not stick in the majors again, (despite hitting .324 with 12 homers in 68 games for Oakland), so he went back to Idaho Falls for 112 games in 2007, hitting .393 with 45 homers and 125 RBI to win the NWL Triple Crown (and MVP) for a second straight year.

[KCRoyals15]

2008

Two years after the institution of the amateur draft, the United States Baseball Federation made a slight change, re-ordering the draft to focus solely on team winning percentage, without consideration for postseason finish.

Otherwise, it was business as usual for a Federation that was seeing record profits amidst a large uptick in television money. In the earlier part of the decade, many weaker clubs were approaching a state of crisis due to rising salaries, but this had mostly been assuaged in the past couple years.

In the Northern Conference, the defending National Champions, the New York Gothams, continued their rampage through the Eastern League, winning their fourth-straight pennant and their 11th-straight playoff appearance by winning 111 games. The only race in the EL was for second, but it was a doozy, as four teams were in legitimate contention into the final week, finishing four games apart, with the Philadelphia A's edging out Manhattan by a game for the final playoff spot.

The Midwest Association also saw several teams in playoff contention and also had a race go down to the final day. Montreal nudged out Chicago to earn their fourth-straight playoff trip, while a race between Chicago and Cleveland went down to the wire, though the Whales finished a game out in front of the Spiders to earn their seventh-consecutive playoff berth, though Toronto was also just three back of Chicago.



In the League Finals, the two league winners moved on, with New York knocking off Philadelphia in six games, while Montreal and Chicago battled tooth-and-nail for seven games, with the Royals emerging on top. Montreal was against locked in a seven-game tussle in the Northern Championship, but the Gothams won the deciding game at Shea Stadium, giving New York their third conference title in four years.

The big story in the Southern Conference was that of the Norfolk Admirals, who spent all summer on a collision course with history. The Admirals entered the final weekend of the season with a chance to tie or surpass Milwaukee's Eastern Baseball Federation record of 119 wins set in 1973, but Norfolk lost two of three to bottom-dwelling Orlando to end the season, settling for a still-remarkable 118-44 record. The Admirals posted a +415 run differential and allowed 133 fewer runs than any other team, while also boasting the second highest-scoring offense in the conference. If the Top-10 All-Time Teams list were re-drafted, chances are this squad would be on it.

Outside of the Hampton Roads region, Atlanta won 102 games to finish a distant, comfortable second, their sixth-straight playoff appearance. In the Western League, New Orleans led the country in scoring and won 106 games to cruise to their third-straight WL crown. Meanwhile, the Omaha Golden Spikes emerged from a crowded four-team jumble over the final weeks to finish second, earning their first playoff spot since 1994.

On the flip side, the Denver Bears, who had never contended since re-emerging on the major league scene over a decade ago, posted a ghastly 6.81 team ERA and allowed over 1,100 runs on their way to a 44-118 finish.



All eyes were on Norfolk once the postseason got underway, and the Admirals took care of business in the League Finals, defeating Atlanta in five games. Meanwhile, Omaha dealt New Orleans an upset, overpowering the Pelicans in six games. The Golden Spikes, though, could not keep their surprise run going, as Norfolk ousted Omaha in six games to win their second Conference Championship in four seasons.

The Pacific Coast League featured a wild race in the North Division, where four teams were in the playoff hunt till the final weekend. Sacramento was just 106-94, but won the division for the first time in nine years and reached the postseason for the first time in five seasons. Meanwhile, Portland was the beneficiary of two improbable strokes of good luck: Oakland lost their final nine games and San Francisco lost their final four, while the Beavers finished 7-2, including a four-game sweep to end the season, finishing with their first winning season in nine years and improbably sneaking into the playoffs. The South was less dramatic, with Phoenix finishing first and making their 12th-straight playoff trip, while San Jose snagged second and their eighth-straight trip to the postseason.



In the Division Series, the North series was indicative of the regular season, with the series going the distance. In the end, Sacramento protected their home turf against Portland, winning game seven at ARCO Park. Meanwhile, San Jose, who finished three games behind Phoenix in the regular season, was three games better than them in the first round, winning a five-game set. The Gulls stayed hot through the Finals, sending Sacramento home with another five-game victory to lift San Jose to their second PCL crown in three years.

In the Texas League, the Dallas Lone Stars continued to be the class of the league, winning 109 games for a second year in a row and making their sixth-straight trip to the playoffs. After a couple Octobers at home, Tulsa returned to the playoffs, winning 99 games. In the South, Houston also won 99 games to cruise to a division crown (their fourth in a row), while San Antonio breezed into second to claim the last playoff spot.



The divisional round had little intrigue as the favorites won handily: Dallas dismantled Tulsa in a four-game sweep, and Houston swamped San Antonio in a five-game triumph. The Lone Star Series, though, saw an upset, as the Buffs downed the Lone Stars in six games, with Houston claiming their third TL title in four years.



In the national semifinals, a San Jose team that won 6 fewer games than Norfolk, but had 44 more losses, squared off as heavy underdogs. However, the Gulls slayed Goliath, trouncing the Admirals in a decisive five-game series. New York, meanwhile, bounced Houston in a much less surprising five-game series. San Jose slayed one giant, but they couldn't slay a second, as the Gothams, who had gone 72 years between titles, only had to wait a year this time, winning their second-straight National Championship and their sixth all-time.



With a National Championship team, it wasn't too surprising that the New York Gothams swept the two primary Northern Conference awards. Gothams centerfielder Greg Batchelor slashed .316/.421/.572 with 177 hits, a North-leading 135 runs, 43 doubles, and a career-high 35 homers and 121 RBI, earning him his second MVP trophy.

On the mound, 24-year-old New York righty Craig Wyse had posted seasons worthy of a Pitcher of the Year award in his first two seasons, only to be blocked by Chicago's Adrian Wright both times. This year, he finally got over the hump...halfway. As it turned out, Wyse and Wright tied atop of the POTY voting, meaning a trophy for each. Wyse went 22-2 with a 2.23 ERA (both North bests) and 183 strikeouts in 230.0 innings. Wright was 21-7 with a 2.75 ERA and also led the North with 240 strikeouts, 258.2 innings, 9 complete games, and 3 shutouts. With such a tough choice. Wright and Wyse were 1-2 on every ballot; each pitcher earned eight first-place votes and eight second-place votes. For Wyse, it was his first POTY, for Wright he won his sixth award in his seven-season career.

In the Southern Conference, it was appropriately a member of New Orleans' top-ranked offense who won MVP, though an unexpected member. 20-year-old Danny Vega, in his first full big-league season, slashed .323/.391/.565 with 188 hits, 126 runs, 27 doubles, 9 triples, 32 homers, and 110 RBI in his award-winning campaign.

Norfolk's 23-year-old ace Bryan Kohler finished a close second in MVP voting, but was a unanimous Pitcher of the Year. Bouncing back from a sophomore slump in 2007, the third-year pro went 26-4 with a 2.45 ERA (both conference bests) with 185 strikeouts in 231.0 innings. Kohler's 26 wins were the most by a non-PCL pitcher since 1959.

In the Pacific Coast League, San Francisco's Jordan Brewer returned to the top of the podium for the third time in his career. A repeat winner in 2004-05, the 29-year-old slashed .340/.434/.631 with 211 hits, 124 runs, 57 doubles, 6 triples, 37 home runs, 129 RBI, and 64 stolen bases to take his third MVP trophy.

For the second year in a row, a Phoenix fireballer earned his first Pitcher of the Year trophy. This time, it was 24-year-old righty Matt Simeroth, who won over 20 games for the fourth year in a row, going 20-12 with a 3.12 ERA, striking out 234 over 279.2 innings.

The PCL said goodbye to one of it's top arms of all time, as San Diego's Jody Hintz, just months after earning his 250th career win, hung it up at the age of 43 years old. Despite not debuting until he was 27, Hintz still won 257 games, struck out 2,948 batters and won six Pitcher of the Year awards.

In the Texas League, Tulsa third baseman Sean Hayden had never been more than a solid, if unspectacular, player over his first eight big league seasons. However, the 30-year-old, who had never hit more than 20 homers, exploded for a TL-leading 43 home runs and 120 RBI, to go along with a .313/.376/.581 slash line, 188 hits, 105 runs, 32 doubles, and his second Great Glove, earning him a surprising MVP award.

Houston righty David Rojas also fell in the category of solid, but unspectacular, but he found another gear after a trade from San Antonio to Houston late in 2007. The 33-year-old went 18-10 with a 3.12 ERA in his first full year in the Space City, leading the TL in wins and striking out 155 over 213.2 innings to take home his first Pitcher of the Year.

On Hall of Fame weekend, the Eastern Baseball Federation welcomed in a trio of pitchers; one Pitcher of the Year who was also a longtime dominant reliever and two more former Pitchers of the Year who were underrated ace-level pitchers for many years:

RP Ismael Villavicencio (1986-02), 98.8%
SP Mark Overton (1977-95), 77.1%
SP Hugh Marcotte (1978-97), 77.0%

The Texas League also inducted a pitcher, one who won a Pitcher of the Year and even in the later stages of his career was a key cog in the TL's greatest dynasty:

SP Jorge Matias (1982-98), 78.8%

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In the American Baseball League, Charlotte posted the best season in franchise history, winning 106 games to finish atop the East. Richmond was a distant second, but it was tightly bunched from there, with four teams separated by five games. Ottawa and Raleigh-Durham finished third and fourth, with the Tar Heels edging out Syracuse by two games. In the West, Anaheim won 103 games and Las Vegas 100, with Minneapolis shooting up to third for their best record and highest finish since 1995. Memphis finished fourth, three games clear of Spokane. The ABL had a weird year where ten teams won at least 84 games (three over 100 wins), six teams lost at least 94 games (three over 100 losses)...and no one in between.

In the first round, Charlotte vanquished their in-state rivals in Raleigh in five games, as did Richmond against Ottawa. In the West, favorites Anaheim and Las Vegas each won six-game series over Minneapolis and Memphis. In the semifinals, Richmond upset Charlotte in seven games and Anaheim held off Las Vegas in six. The Giants had one more upset in them, sweeping the Amigos in the finals. After no titles in their first 31 ABL seasons, the Giants now were hoisting the American Baseball Cup for the second year in a row.

In the East, Richmond catcher Chris Hanson claimed MVP honors for the third time in four years, slashing .314/.432/.582 with 151 hits, 94 runs, 36 doubles, 31 homers, and 102 RBI for the ABL champs. On the mound, Raleigh-Durham's Chris Banks went 21-9 with a 3.58 ERA, leading the league with 261 strikeouts over 263.2 innings and logging 14 complete games as the 21-year-old won Pitcher of the Year.

In the West, Anaheim's Mike Parks enjoyed another strong season in a career full of them. The 29-year-old slashed .320/.375/.555 with league-high 193 hits and 114 runs, in addition to 50 doubles, 28 homers, and 107 RBI to win MVP for the first time. Two years after not winning Pitcher of the Year despite earning a Triple Crown, Memphis' Fernando Evangelista finally took home the hardware, going 25-7 with a 3.41 ERA, leading the league in wins, innings (272.0), and complete games (20), while his 260 strikeouts led the West.

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Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Chattanooga Lookouts, 108-46, defeats Savannah
Colonial League: Binghamton Big Cats, 83-57, defeats Reading (2nd straight)
River Valley League: Charleston (WV) Coal Sox, 84-56, defeats Toledo
Rocky Mountain League: Lethbridge Moose, 59-61, defeats Missoula
Coastal League: Johnson City Smokies, 99-55, defeats Macon (3rd straight)
Northern League: Winnipeg Goldeyes, 107-33, defeats Thunder Bay (2nd straight)
Southwest League: Ventura Vipers, 74-67, defeats Fresno
Southern Association: Biloxi Pilots, 83-57, defeats Springfield
Northwest League: Pocatello Gatekeepers, 79-75, defeats Salem (2nd straight)
Can-Am League: Quebec Capitales, 68-58, defeats Trois-Rivieres
Mid-Atlantic League: Frederick Keys, 78-62, defeats Worcester
Lone Star League: Abilene Prairie Dogs, 88-52, defeats Rio Grande
Great Plains League: Peoria Distillers, 83-58, defeats Des Moines
Florida Coast League: St. Petersburg Saints, 89-51 defeats Daytona Beach
Heartland League: Sioux Falls Canaries, 68-72, defeats Lansing
Atlantic Coast League: Lynchburg Lightning, 62-58
North American League: Billings Mustangs, 80-60, defeats Ft. Collins
North Atlantic League: Nashua Knights, 55-57, defeats Halifax

A record three league champions finished the regular season below .500, though maybe the most interesting race was in one where that didn't happen. In the Atlantic Coast League, Lynchburg won the four-team North division at 62-58, though Annapolis and Petersburg were both 61-59. Even last-place Newport News was just five games back at 57-63.

Checking in on the best player in minor league baseball, Idaho Falls' Matt Nichols just can't catch a break. After two straight Triple Crowns and success in limited big-league time in both 2006-07, Nichols...played 127 games in Triple-A in 2008. Same ol, same ol, .386/.460/.842 slash line, 52 homers, 115 RBI. Finishing runner-up in RBIs prevented him from winning a third-straight Triple Crown. Despite a slash of .322/.366/.568 and 27 homers in 114 big-league games (over three years), Nichols still hasn't cracked Oakland's big-league lineup, despite being a top-5 PCL prospect since 2003 (currently #1) and the Oaks refusing to trade him (I've tried with no luck). Maybe next year he'll finally break through...