Days 161-168: Yukon and Bad Axe end up in a tie in the National League!!!!

Vermont and Backwoods have clinched their spots in the playoffs as expected, and Yukon and Bad Axe finalized their spots as well but in a rather unexpected and dramatic fashion.  They tie for first, finishing with the same 87-75 record!

Had to edit this as I originally had the playoff matchups wrong.  We had talked at the beginning about the top two in each league playing for the League title then facing the other League Champion.  So, it is Vermont (with the home field advantage) facing Backwoods in one division, and Bad Axe (with the home field advantage)  facing Yukon in the other.  Both winners will compete in the 2017 Carr Hall Of Fame World Series.  Managers of the playoff teams can send me a preferred rotation if they wish, otherwise will do the following...


Game 1 - Computer Manager Listed Starter #1
Game 2 - Computer Manager Listed Starter #2
Game 3 - Computer Manager Listed Starter #3
Game 4 - Computer Manager Listed Starter #1
Game 5 -Computer Manager Listed  Starter #2
Game 6 - Computer Manager Listed Starter #3
Game 7 -Computer Manager Listed  Starter #1

Will try to run these series over the coming weekend.  Good luck to all playoff teams, and thanks to all for drafting and following along this season!!!


All hail the League MVP - Babe Ruth of Vermont
(.347, 52 HRs, 140 RBIs, 115 Walks)

Smokey Joe Williams of Bad Axe
takes the Cy Young Award
(21-11, 3.55 ERA, 209 K's)

Really happy with the realism of this league, there were big numbers put up, but no video-game or Steroid Era type numbers.  The Negro Leaguers made a major impact, but did not perform like superhumans.  You can look at the League Leaders or the Newspaper Style Recap to see all the final statistical leaders but here are some of your individual champions....






Batting Average:  Ty Cobb (MAR)  .368
Runs Scored:  Babe Ruth (VER)  126
Hits:  Wee Willie Keeler (BAC)  214
Doubles:  Mule Suttles (BAC)  58
Triples:  Ty Cobb (MAR)  17
Home Runs:  Babe Ruth (VER)  52
Runs Batted In:   Babe Ruth (VER)  140
Hit by Pitch:  Hughie Jennings (ALI)  31 - Eee-yah!!!
Stolen Bases:  Ty Cobb (MAR) 61
Hitting Streak(s):  Honus Wagner  (YUK) and Chuck Klein (YUK)  27

Wins:  Smokey Joe Williams (BAD)  22
ERA:  Satchel Paige (POH)  3.53
Innings Pitched:  Carl Hubbell (YUK)  315.2
Saves:  Rich "Goose" Gossage (VRR)  33
Shutouts:  Big Ed Walsh (WIN)  4
Strikeouts:  Randy Johnson (BAC)  295


The final Players of the set are Backwoods  Hank Aaron (.306, 6 HRs 16 RBIs), Pedro Martinez (2 wins, 18 IP, 13 hits, 2 earned runs, 26 K's), and Carl Hubbell (3 wins, 27 IP, 7 runs allowed)

Hammerin' Henry Aaron

Pedro Martinez of Aliquippa

Yukon's Carl Hubbell demonstrating his famed screwball

Among those going out on a low note are Mel Ott of Pottersville (7 for 44, .159 average) and Mickey Welch of Mar-a-Lago (9 IP, 13 hits, 17 earned runs)

Day 161:  Bob Gibson two-hits the Pohdunkville Pounders, Bad Axe wins 6-0.  Christy Mathewson of Yukon also pitches a shutout, a fine five-hitter of the Bastards, 5-0 Polar Bears win.  Grover Cleveland Alexander pitched Aliquippa to a 7-4 victory over Pottersville, as Beavers Duke Snider, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray, and Gary Carter all homered.  Windy City knocked off the Socialists 4-3, Cal Ripken puts up 3 hits and 2 RBIs.  Verona Ridge edges Mar-a-Lago 6-5, Ron Santo goes yard and Goose Gossage gets his 32nd save. 

Day 162:  Yukon continues to chase Bad Axe, beating Backwoods 12-7 (two home runs from Turkey Stearnes) but the Lumberjacks maintain their one game lead by topping the Pounders 7-5 (getting three hits and three RBIs from Tony Gwynn).  Windy City is all over Vermont 15-0!  Big Ed Walsh tosses the three-hit shutout, and Andre Dawson hit two homers and a double.  Mar-a-Lago ekes past Verona Ridge 7-6, Ken Griffey Jr. homered and drive in four runs.  Aliquppa topped Pottersville 9-3, Gary Carter providing 3 hits, including a home run. 

Day 163:  Yukon climbed back into a first-place tie with Bad Axe, squeaking past Pohdunkville 6-5.  George Sisler's three-run HR was the key hit in that contest.  The Lumberjacks were destroyed in the top of the 9th as Vermont put up SIX runs, 12-6 Socialists is your final.  Johnny "Big Cat" Mize has two HRs and 5 RBIs.  Pottersville got past Mar-a-Lago in 10 innings, Zack Wheat's walk-off single tipped this one in favor of the Misers.  Backwoods got three hits from Pie Traynor to beat Aliquippa 7-3.  Windy City got outstanding performances from Andre Dawson and Nolan Ryan to beat Verona Ridge 14-1. 

Day 164:  Biz Mackey's four hits gave Carl Hubbell and Yukon the 9-5 win over Pohdunkville, and possession of first place in the National.  The Lumberjacks were defeated by Vermont 4-3, Johnny Mize cracking another homer, his 29th of the season.  Verona Ridge pulls off a come-from-behind win over Windy City 5-4, Billy Williams delivered the walk-off single.  Aliquippa all over Backwoods 10-1, Frank Robinson had 3 hits and Pedro Martinez fanned 15 Bastards.  Pottersville wins a slugfest with Mar-a-Lago 13-11.  This game featured 28 total hits. 
 
Day 165:  Bad Axe gets a walk-off sacrifice fly from George Kell to get by Vermont 3-2.  Yukon dropped into a first-place tie by losing to Pohdunkville 7-4, Nap Lajoie picking up four hits.  Backwoods edged Aliquippa 2-1, Big Bill Foster limiting the Beavers to just 4 hits.  Verona Ridge uses a Bobby Wallace walk-off single to top Windy City 4-3.  Mar-a-Lago gets by Pottersville 3-2, Dan Brouthers racking up three base hits. 

Day 166:  The seesaw race in the National League continues as Bad Axe gets a walk-off double from Kirby Puckett to defeat Vermont 8-7 and claim first place again.  Pottersville got a grand slam from Hack Wilson to beat Yukon 8-3 and send them into second place again.  Verona Ridge wins 7-2 over Aliquippa, Walter Johnson getting his 14th win.  Mar-a-Lago wins in dramatic fashion, Harry Heilmann belts a walk-off homer in the 10th! It's walk-off fever, as Backwoods gets a walk-off Grand Slam from Hank Aaron to steal a 6-3 win over Windy City. 

Day 167:  Pottersville roughs up Yukon 13-1, behind two Stan Musial homers.  Bad Axe also comes out on the losing end though, falling to Vermont 7-4.  Elmer Flick goes 4-5 for the Socialists.  Pohdunkville wallops Mar-a-Lago 8-1, Harmon Killebrew is the "Mon" as he jacks two home runs.  Backwoods gets an easy 7-1 win over Windy City, Randy Johnson with a strong start.  Most dramatic game of the day?  We go live to Aliquippa, where the Roadrunners and the Beavers battled for 11 innings.  Mike Schmidt ends it with a three-run walk-off homer!

Day 168:  Bad Axe falls to Vermont 9-2 (another homer and five more RBIs for Johnny Mize), opening the door for Yukon to tie them.  The Polar Bears do just that, easily defeating Pottersville 4-1 and giving Carl Hubbell his 20th victory of the year!  Verona ends the season with a nice 6-5 win over Aliquippa, aided by a two-run 9th inning homer by Dave Winfield.  Pohdunkville pounds Mar-a-Lago 14-6, big game for Josh Gibson (home run and two singles).  Backwoods defeats Windy City 5-3, Hank Aaron connecting for his 32nd home run of the year.