Season 35 Wrap Up

Season 35 in Gehrig will go down as a season of first. In the AL, the No. 2 seeded New Britain Hard Hitters (98-64) won the franchise's first playoff series and knocked out the powerhouse Santa Fe Tigers (100-62) to win the AL pennant. In the Old Circuit, the No. 2 seeded Florida Spring Breakers (103-59) won the pennant for the third time in the last five seasons, but for the first time in franchise history, they came out as the ultimate victors.

New Britain reached the World Series by sweeping the Pittsburgh Pushovers (88-74) in the ALDS and then defeating the Tigers in 7 games after having been down 0-2 and 2-3 in the ALCS. Florida reached the Series by defeating Mexico City La Raza (88-74) in four games in the NLDS before taking down Washington D.C. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (95-67) in six games in the NLCS.

In the World Series, the Spring Breakers got off to a fast start and never looked back. After easily winning the first two games by outscoring New Britain by a combined 16-4, they dropped a one-run Game 3. Florida removed any doubt that they meant business by scoring 4 runs in the top of the 1st inning of Game 4, which they ultimately won, before running away with Game 5 by 10-3. Overall, Florida outscored New Britain 34-13. The Spring Breakers also got an amazing showing from top starting pitcher Eric Hairston, who ended the playoffs with 4 Wins in 6 starts and an impressive 1.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.

Congratulations to the Florida Spring Breakers and antidrew on a great Championship run.

Notes:

This marks antidrew's first Hardball Dynasty World Series title.


This is the first time since season's 22-23 (both wins by the Fresno Mendozas) that the NL has won consecutive World Series titles.


Florida has made the playoffs in 5 of the last 6 seasons, and made the World Series in 3 of the last 5 seasons. The World Series runs were made by Florida teams that won 100+ games.

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
Season 29. San Diego Magic (thedream42) - NL
Season 30. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 31. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 32. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 33. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 34. San Diego Magic (thedream42) - NL
Season 35. Florida Spring Breakers (antidrew) - NL

Breakdown:

AL - 23 World Series
NL- 12 World Series

Season 33 Wrap-Up

For the fourth season in a row the Santa Fe Tigers (106-56) won the World Series in Gehrig. This time the Tigers claimed the title after defeating the Florida Spring Breakers (101-51) in six games. You could easily argue that the Tigers dominance of Gehrig the last 10 seasons, when they have won six World Series titles, has been the most impressive run by one franchise in the thirty-three season history of the world.

The Tigers, the AL top seed for the fourth season in a row, got to the World Series after beating the five seed Atlanta Swabbies (105-57) in four games in the ALDS before clinching the AL pennant by defeating the two-seed Scranton Buccos (99-63) in a seven game extra innings thriller that saw Scranton blow two one-run leads in extra innings.

The NL representative, the second seeded Florida, started their playoff run by defeating six seed Mexico City La Raza (89-73) in four games in the NLDS. The Spring Breakers then needed the full seven games to defeat the four seed Burlington Tree Huggers (86-76). The seventh game of the affair was shaping up like a win for the visiting Burlington team until the Florida bats broke out in the bottom of the 8th inning with five runs and 7 hits.

In the Series, Florida got off to a great start, winning the opening game before getting blown out in Game 2 by a 13-2 score. Florida countered by winning Game 3 but the Tigers roared back by winning the next three to claim their sixth World Series title. This is the second time Florida has fallen short of the title at the hands of the Tigers, with the last time taking place in Season 31.

Congratulations to the Santa Fe Tigers on another great run.

Notes:

Of the Tigers six World Series titles, four went to 7 games. The other two went to 6 games.

This was antidrew second World Series appearance since he took over the Florida franchise in Season 28.

Santa Fe has now had 11 consecutive 100+ win seasons, dating back to season 23, and has won 6 titles during this time span. 

This is kevinbigham's sixth World Series championship in Gehrig and in Hardball Dynasty.

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
Season 29. San Diego Magic (thedream42) - NL
Season 30. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 31. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 32. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 33. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL

Breakdown:

AL - 23 World Series
NL- 10 World Series

Season 32 Wrap-Up

For the third season in a row the Santa Fe Tigers (121-41) won the World Series in Gehrig. For the third year in a row the Tigers required all seven games of the Series to take home the hardware. For the San Diego Magic (113-49), a glorious season fell just one win short of a magical one.

The Tigers, the AL top seed, got to the World Series after dispatching the Atlanta Swabbies (98-64) in three games in the AL Division Championship Series, followed by an easy 4-1 series win over the Scranton Buccos (99-63) in the AL Championship Series. The Magic, the NL top seed, defeated the Pawtucket Rainbows (90-72) 3-1 in the NL DCS before needing 6 games to defeat the Cinncinnati Redlegs (100-62) to reach their 2nd World Series in the last four seasons.

The World Series was an intense, pitching be damned, affair from the get-go. Santa Fe scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to take Game 1 11-7. The Magic shellacked the Tigers with 12 runs in Game 2 to even up the series before a closely contested Game 3 that saw the only semblance of decent pitching until the Tigers Bullpen blew a 1 run lead in the bottom of the 9th inning. The Tigers evened-up the series with a 12-run fest in Game 4. The Magic quickly countered with an 8-run effort in Game 5, thanks to a 6 run 7th inning.

In retrospect, the Magic lost the Series in Game 6. The Magic, needing one more win to clinch their second Series title in franchise history, jumped to a 7-1 lead before a furious 7th inning 7-run rally - 4 of the runs came with 2 out - by the Tigers put them ahead. In the deciding Game 7, the Tigers scored 5 runs in the bottom of the third inning and never looked back.

Congratulations to the Santa Fe Tigers on another great run.

Notes:

This was thedream42 second World Series appearance running the San Diego franchise.

San Diego has now had 5 consecutive 100+ win seasons, all of them taking place under thedream42.

Santa Fe has now had 10 consecutive 100+ win seasons, dating back to season 23, and has won 5 titles during this time span. 

This is kevinbigham's fifth World Series championship in Gehrig and in Hardball Dynasty.

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
Season 29. San Diego Magic (thedream42) - NL
Season 30. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 31. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL
Season 32. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL

Breakdown:
AL - 22 World Series
NL- 10 World Series

Season 30 Wrap-Up

It took some  extra innings drama, but after having blown a 3-1 game World Series lead, the Santa Fe Tigers won their third World Series title in Gehrig with a base hit by Alejandro Ortiz in the bottom of the 12th inning.

When the dust settled you had to feel the disappointment coming from the Mexico City squad and GM poboyheimer. Mexico City, back in the World Series for the 1st time since season 3, had all the momentum on their side after a crazy comeback victory in Game 6. Alas, it was not meant to be for poboyheimer's boys.

Santa Fe, 121-41 in the regular season, entered the playoffs as the number 1 seed in the AL. After easily defeating the Vancouver Thunderbirds (93-69) in the ALDS, they needed 6 games to defeat the number 6 seeded Atlanta Swabbies (94-68) in the ALCS. Meanwhile, Mexico City entered the playoffs as the NL number 2 seed after having gone 97-65 in the regular season. They needed the full 5 games to defeat the 3 seed Cincinnati Redlegs (95-67) before going head-to-toe with the number 1 seeded, and defending World Series champions, San Diego Magic (103-59). Surprisingly, Mexico City dominated the Magic and claimed the NL pennant after only 5 games.

In what ended up being a World Series mostly decided by poor Bullpen performances, the La Raza's took a 1-0 game lead after scoring 4 runs on the top of the 9th inning of Game 1. The Tigers countered by scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning on Game 2 to even out the series. Following convincing Game 3 and Game 4 wins by the Tigers in Mexico City, the La Raza scored 9 runs in Game 5 to send the series back to Santa Fe. Down 10-8 on the top of the 9th inning, Hugh Magnusson hit a Grand Slam to put La Raza ahead and send the Series to a deciding Game 7 where the Tigers managed to break through in the bottom of the 12th inning to clinch the title.

Congratulations to kevinbigham on the World Series championship and another great season!

Notes:

Santa Fe has now had 8 consecutive 100+ win seasons, dating back to season 23, and has won 3 titles during this time span. 

This is kevinbigham's third World Series championship in Gehrig in Hardball Dynasty.

The AL now has a 2:1 lead on the NL on World Series titles, with the AL having won 20 times and the NL only 10.

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
Season 29. San Diego Magic (thedream42) - NL
Season 30. Santa Fe Tigers (kevinbigham) - AL

Breakdown:
AL - 20 World Series
NL- 10 World Series

Season 29 Wrap-Up

After only four seasons at the helm of a franchise that had been long stuck in mediocrity, thedream42 took the San Diego Magic to the second World Series in franchise history, this time defeating the upstart San Jose Chinchillas in five games.

Few would have predicted the number five seeded Magic to meet the number four seeded Chinchillas in the World Series. Although the Chinchillas (79-83) came in as the higher seed, they came into the playoffs with a losing record in the regular season. The Magic (104-58) grabbed a Wild Card slot despite having the second best regular season record in the competitive NL. Nonetheless, the Chinchillas got hot just in time, first sweeping the number 5 seeded Ottawa Dragons, before shocking the 120-win Trenton Troubadours in 4 games and the 109-win Santa Fe Tigers in the ALCS. The Magic were really only pushed once during their playoff run. They took out the New York Skyscrapers in four games before needing all five games of the NLCS to defeat the top-seeded Fresno Mendozas and then defeating the Cincinnati Redlegs in six games to claim the NL pennant.

The Magic started the World Series with a Game 1 win after scoring the game winning runs on the top of the ninth inning. After dropping Game 2 in the late innings to the Chinchillas, the Magic ran the tables to claim their first Gehrig World Series title. In the end, the Chinchillas were done in by late inning scoring by the Magic. Indeed, three of the four Magic wins came off San Diego scoring the winning runs in the seventh inning or later.

Congratulations to thedream42 on the World Series championship and a great franchise turnaround!

Notes:

This is thedream42 first World Series championship in Gehrig and second overall in Hardball Dynasty.

This marks the first time the World Series went to the NL since season 23.

The AL now leads the NL nineteen World Series titles to ten.

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
Season 29. San Diego Magic (thedream42) - NL

Breakdown:
AL - 19 World Series
NL- 10 World Series

Draft Picks and Bonuses

With the Season 21 draft having just transpired, I wanted to look at what the highest bonuses paid for a drafted player. The following is a list of the highest bonuses paid by each franchise to a draft pick.


Not surprisingly, the vast majority of players on the list are first rounders, with nine franchises having awarded their highest bonus to a player outside of the first round. That is, about 28% of the players on the list are not from the first round. One franchise, Syracuse, has two players topping off at $7M and are represented with an "*" next to their bonus.

The highest bonus goes to the ninth overall pick in Season 20, Chuck Allen, at a whopping $12.9M. While you could argue that Allen is worth every penny, that bonus was more than the starting Prospect budget for 16 of the 32 teams that season. In other words, half the teams wouldn't have started with enough Prospect monies to pay Allen the bonus. One other interesting stat, only one first overall pick is on the list, Chip Greenwood.

The lowest drafted player on the list, Jeromy Milton, signed for almost $5M and never saw the majors. However, the biggest bust has to be Detroit handing over $9.7M for Hal Bacsik. Bacsik, drafted in season 6 in the 4th round and 129th overall, never amounted to much.

The most perplexing case goes to Ismael Hernandez. Taken, by then Philadelphia with the 4th overall pick. Hernandez was signed to a $7.5M bonus, but retired the following season after what appears to be a mysterious case of having never been assigned to a minor league squad. What a waste.

Season 11: World Series Champs

Season 11 ended in a 4-1 World Series win for the Monterrey Pepper Jacks over the Santa Cruz Crazy Santas. The Pepper Jacks outscored the Santas 31-14 in the 5-game series.

The Pepper Jacks went into the postseason with a 99-63 record, which was good enough for an NL South title and a #3 seed for the playoffs. They swept the #6 Montgomery Freedom Riders and the #2 Ottawa Sundragons before beating the #1 San Juan Myrmidons in an epic 7 game series.

After an early domination by the AL, the NL has countered with 4 straight World Series titles, and 4 out of the last 5. This is also owner tooly_mctool's second WS title in Gehrig, and joins cpkung and threester as owners of 2 World Series rings.

Congrats to the Pepper Jacks and their management on a great season.

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