In one of the most surprising playoff runs in Gehrig history, the Ottawa Dragons defeated the Fresno Mendozas in the World Series to clinch the franchise's third title, but first since Season 7, in Gehrig.
The World Series saw the first match-up between two Wild Card teams since Season 7. While the Mendozas are accustomed to playing late in the season (this was the Gehrig-leading 9th World Series appearance representing the NL), this was their first showing in the Series from the Wild Card slot. Ottawa, on the other hand, was making their first showing in the Series since Season 7. The Dragons got off to a fast start, easily winning the first two games behind solid hitting and pitching, outscoring the Mendozas 12-1. The Mendozas responded with two straight wins in Ottawa to even the series at two games a piece. Alas, it was not to be for the Mendozas. Ottawa regained their composure and shellacked Fresno over the last two games of the series, outscoring the Mendozas 17-3 in Games 5 and 6, to claim the Season 28 title.
The Dragons, in only their third season under selvendar, made the playoffs as the top Wild Card in the American League with a solid 92-70 regular season record. The Dragons got off to a slow start in the playoffs, dropping their first two games to the Tucson Junkies before winning the next three, clinching the pass to the ALDS thanks to an R.J. Torres three-run blast on the top of the 11th inning.
The Dragons needed more RJ Torres magic, this time a game-winning HR in the 9th inning of Game 5, to defeat the AL top seed Santa Fe Tigers to reach the ALCS. From there, it was all downhill for the Dragons. Riding strong pitching from Harry Guerrero and Wilkin Owen they dispatched the Rochester Red Royal North Stars in five games to reach the World Series.
Ottawa personified the feeling that once you reach the playoffs anything is possible. Through clutch pitching and hitting they caught lightning in a bottle and ran away with the playoffs.
Congratulations to selvendar on his first World Series championship!
Notes:
This is selvendar first World Series championship in Gehrig and in Hardball Dynasty.
The current 5-season streak of World Series championships for the AL is the second longest in Gehrig. The AL won 6 World Series' in a row from Season 16 to Season 21.
The AL now leads the NL nineteen World Series titles to nine.
Season 1. San Juan Clementes (mazz993) - AL
Season 2. Seattle Pilots (threester) - AL
Season 3. Scranton Shrutes (mookie79) - AL
Season 4. Jacksonville betelnut (cpkung) - AL
Season 5. Jacksonville betelnut (cpkung) - AL
Season 6. Wichita Wallabies (jdbkaput) - NL
Season 7. Seattle Pilots (threester) - AL
Season 8. Monterrey Pepper Jacks (tooly_mctool) - NL
Season 9. Ottawa Sundragons (sundragons) - NL
Season 10. San Juan Myrmidons (doontristy) - NL
Season 11. Monterrey Pepper Jacks (tooly_mctool) - NL
Season 12. San Juan Myrmidons (doontristy) - NL
Season 13. Durham Donkeyfish (armst24) - AL
Season 14. Scranton Schrutes (mookie79) - AL
Season 15. San Juan Myrmidons (doontristy) - NL
Season 16. Durham Donkeyfish (armst24) - AL
Season 17. Rochester North Stars (hypnotoad) - AL
Season 18. Atlanta Swabbies (graybeard) - AL
Season 19. Richmond big tunas (bigtuna5) - AL
Season 20. Charlotte Driskills (infamy) - AL
Season 21. Charlotte Driskills (infamy) - AL
Season 22. Fresno Mendozas (cwiddoes) - NL
Season 23. Fresno Mendozas (cwiddoes) - NL
Season 24. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 25. Kansas City Betelnuts (cpkung) - AL
Season 26. Kansas City Betelnuts (cpkung) - AL
Season 27. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 28. Ottawa Dragons (selvendar) - AL
Breakdown:
AL - 19 World Series
NL- 9 World Series
