Baseball: The World's Game (OOTP 22 Fictional World)

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1915 would again see Tijuana and Puebla atop their Mexican League divisions. The Pumas had the best record in CABA at 114-48 despite a solid Ecatepec team at 99-63 giving chase early in the South. Puebla second baseman Alex Hinojosa picked up his second career MVP, leading Liga Mexico in home runs, RBI, and WAR. The Toros at 102-60 had no competition in the North, seeing CABA records with 370 runs allowed and a 1.99 team ERA, marks that wouldn’t be touched for the rest of the century.


Tijuana had a historic Pitcher of the Year season from 27-year old left Brian Kendall. The American from Massachusetts started as a solid pitcher with Oakland before having his contract purchased (in the short time that was allowed between MLB and CABA) by Santiago. After two years there, he signed with the Toros and posted a Triple Crown season at 23-8 with a 1.44 ERA and 441 strikeouts, plus 13.7 WAR. The strikeout record remains the all-time CABA mark even into the 2020s, as does his .151 opponent batting average and 4.67 hits allowed per nine innings pitched.


In the third iteration of Tijuana vs. Puebla in the Mexican League Championship Series, the Pumas prevailed for the first time, winning in six games.


In the Caribbean, the Island Division came down to a tiebreaker game after Jamaica and Havana each finished 99-63. The Jazz took the tiebreaker and the best record in the league, while defending CL champ Puerto Rico finished 86-76. Chris “Ratface” Barnett, a relatively unknown American third basemen whom came to Jamaica by way of Philadelphia, won MVP with the league best batting average and RBI tally.



Hurricanes pitcher Baptiste Timothee won his third PotY and was seven strikeouts from a Triple Crown. The man who bested him, 23-year old Ulices Montero of Santiago, had the breakout season in what would arguably be the greatest career any pitcher ever.


In the Continental Division, Salvador took the top spot at 91-71. The Stallions didn’t have much in the way of star power or big numbers, but they got hot at the right time. Salvador would defeat Jamaica in five games to become the first continental winner of the Caribbean League. Then in the CABA Championship, the Stallions dusted Puebla in five games. Second baseman Adony Nunez won series MVP and had seven runs and nine hits in the postseason.

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The American Association was incredibly titled towards the Western League in the 1915 regular season. Seven WL teams finished with 90+ wins whereas only two in the Southern League were above .500. In the SL, defending AA champ Memphis took first at 92-70 with Dallas taking the other playoff spot at 89-73. For the first time in 12 years, Houston had a losing record, finishing 71-91.


In the stacked WL, Denver led the way with the most runs scored (913) and fewest allowed (625) for a 112-50 record. Seattle earned their first playoff berth finishing 103-59, but they had to fend off Vancouver (102-6), San Diego (99-63), Las Vegas (93-69), Phoenix (93-69), Calgary (92-7), and Portland (89-73). Veteran first baseman Chad Tepp won his first and only MVP with Seattle, 24-year old Panamanian pitcher Duke Mercedes led the AA in strikeouts en route to his first and only Pitcher of the Year.


Denver easily swept Dallas in the first round of the playoffs while Memphis knocked out Seattle in four games. The AACS went seven games and despite the Dragons’ gaudy stats, the sturdy Mountain Cats prevails for a third straight American Association championship.


The top record in the National Association went to Montreal, the Eastern League champ at 97-65. New York took their first playoff spot since 1908 at 93-69, outracing Hartford (90-72) and last year’s World Series champion Washington (88-74). 22-year old right fielder Jonathan Goldstein, the ninth overall pick for the Yankees in 1913, had a breakout sophomore season with a MLB best 56 home runs and NA leading 124 runs.


The Midwest League had a five-team battle that Indianapolis took by one game at 95-67, the first league title for the Racers. St. Louis and Columbus tied for the second spot at 94-68, one game over Kansas City and four over Omaha. The Cardinals won a tiebreaker game against the Chargers to advance to the postseason. 35-year old veteran Willie Hodo, who signed with St. Louis in the offseason, had a career year for PotY.


The EL prevailed in the first round as Montreal survived St. Louis in five games and New York earned a road sweep over Indianapolis. The Maples handled the Yankees in five games to win the National Association Championship Series for their second NA title (the first coming in the inaugural season).


Montreal’s first World Series title would have to come another time as Memphis prevailed in six games for their second crown in three years. Outfielder Sam Best had emerged as a clutch performer, winning both World Series and AACS MVP. In 17 playoff games, Best had 22 hits, six home runs, 11 runs, and 11 RBI.


Other notes: Toronto outfielder Jeff Larouche set the MLB record with 74 stolen bases. Houston’s Adam Boehm and Dallas’ Israel Villalobos became the second and third players to achieve 2500 career hits.

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Tijuana claimed their fourth straight North Division title, dominating the Mexican League regular season in 1916 at 110-52. The Toros had both the league MVP and Pitcher of the Year with veteran left fielder Celio Quintero leading the way in the triple slash and Wolf Middelkamp with the best ERA and WHIP. Tijuana led Mexico in both runs scored (614) and fewest allowed (382).


The South Division was much more competitive as Ecatepec, Puebla, and Merida all won 90+. The Explosion and Pumas tied for the top spot at 94-68 with the Mean Green third at 90-72. Ecatepec unseated the defending champ in an one-game playoff and gave Tijuana a run in the LCS. However, the Toros survived in seven games for their third Mexican League title in four years.


Defending Caribbean champ Salvador dropped off a bit, but still advanced by winning a weak Continental division at 84-78. The Island division again was the powerhouse, having Santo Domingo third at 95-67; and a tie for first at 103-59 between Santiago and Jamaica.


The Sailfish edged the Jazz in the playoff game for their first division title. Ulices Montero picked up his first of many Pitcher of the Year awards, striking out 379 for Santiago. The Sailfish had an incredible top three rotation of Montero, Esaie Cherenfant, and multiple-time MLB Pitcher of the Year Josh Davis, Puerto Rico’s Jhoyce Hidrovo won his third MVP with the shortstop posting a CABA record 13.73 WAR season.


Santiago and Salvador went seven games in the League Championship Series with the Sailfish taking the Caribbean League title for the first time. The CABA Championship went seven games as well. Veteran first baseman was named series MVP as Santiago brought home the first CABA title to the Dominican Republic.

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Denver had the best record in baseball for the third straight season as the Dragons finished 115-47; their best mark yet. Denver had the highest attendance in baseball (2,640,779 over the season) and the highest payroll. Portland placed second in the Western League at 97-65, beting out Los Angeles (93-69) and Phoenix (90-72). 22-year old designated hitter Walter Seda won MVP in his sophomore season for the Pacifics.


Defending World Series champ Memphis dominated the Southern League at 101-61. Charlotte took the second place wild card spot at 86-76, edging New Orleeans (84-78) and Jacksonville (82-80). 23-year old Amo Smart from Albuquerque was Pitcher of the Year with the AA lead in wins (24) and ERA (2.40).


Denver dispatched Charlotte in four games in the first round of the playoffs. The stunner came on the other side as Portland shocked Memphis in five games. The Pacifics then shocked the Dragons by winning the AACS in six games, ending another season in disappointment for Denver and giving Portland its first Association title.


The Midwest League was top heavy in 1916 with four teams getting 92 wins or more. Indianapolis was back-to-back champ at 100-62, beating out Milwaukee (99-63) in the Mustangs’ first playoff berth since winning the World Series in 1904. Louisville was third (94-68), then Omaha (92-70).


The Eastern League had Hartford on top at 95-68 for their first league title and fourth playoff berth in six years. Washington also earned their fourth appearance in six years by finishing second at 89-73, one up over last year’s NA champ Montreal. New York’s Jonathan Goldstein won back-to-back MVPs with another 50+ home run season and Owen Swanson got his third Pitcher of the Year with Columbus on a career-high 270 strikeouts and 10.6 WAR.


The Racers swept the Admirals in the first round and the Huskies battled for a 3-2 series win against the Mustangs. In the National Association Championship Series, Hartford edged Indianapolis in seven games for their first Association title. In the first World Series appearance for both teams, the Huskies defeated the Pacifics in six games. Centerfielder Kody Moreland earned WS MVP, having 13 hits, five doubles, and three home runs in eight playoff starts.


Other notes: St. Louis pitcher Quadir Pitman threw MLB’s fourth perfect game, recording four strikeouts against Columbus on 8/18. Denver’s Jason Salvage became the first player to 500 career home runs with Vancouver’s Josh Noble doing it as well two months later. Casey Esnault of Omaha became the first pitcher to reach 3500 career strikeouts. Vancouver right fielder Joe Daniels won his 10^th Gold Glove.

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Tijuana won the Liga Mexico Division Norte for the fifth straight season and posted their best record yet, a league-record 115-47. Their team ERA was 2.24 with the next closest Puebla at 2.66. The Pumas won Division Sur for the fourth time in five years after just missing out last year. Puebla went 102-60, nine better than Ecatepec (93-69). In the fourth Mexican League Championship Series meeting of the Toros and Pumas, Tijuana prevailed in six games for their fourth league title.


Puebla’s Alex Hinojosa won his third MVP with a league best 1.022 OPS and 10.7 WAR. Juarez pitcher Nick Bermea won his third Pitcher of the Year and became the third pitching Triple Crown winner in CABA with a 24-9 record, 1.84 ERA, and 365 strikeouts.


In Liga Caribe, Santo Domingo won their first-ever division title. The Dolphins finished with 747 runs, 103 ahead of next best, to finish 99-63. Jamaica had another great season but was just short at 97-65, while last year’s CABA Champ Santiago was third at 89-73. Diomar “Top Dog” Glas won his first MVP, with the 26-year old Curacaoan outfielder leading the league in runs (114), homers (50), RBI (121), and OPS (1.001).


In the Continental Division, Salvador won the title at 93-69 for their third straight playoff berth. Veteran American pitcher Matt Newman won PotY for the Stallions with a 0.80 WHIP, 1.92 ERA, and 26-7 mark. Newman became the first player to win his position’s top award in both CABA and MLB, as he won Pitcher of the Year in the National Association with Boston in 1913.


Santo Domingo would easily take the league title, defeating the Stallions in five games. In the CABA Championship, the Dolphins handled Tijuana in five games for their first title, the second straight by a Dominican team, and third straight for the Caribbean. Glas earned series MVP and had 19 hits, 10 runs, 6 doubles, and 4 homers over 10 playoff games.


Other notes: Santo Domingo also had pitcher Dave Walsh throw CABA’s third-ever perfect game, striking out 11 against Honduras on June 20. Jamaica pitcher Alejandro Cordova became the first CABA player to record 2000 career strikeouts.

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After winning the American Association as a wild card in 1916, Portland won the Western League title for the first time with an AA best 102-60 mark in 1917. 23-year old First baseman Walter Seda won back-to-back MVPs for the Pacifics with 143 RBI and 1.001 OPS. Portland saw one of the best relief efforts in AA history from 24-year old Armen Eberhardt, who had an ERA+ of 600 over 77.1 innings with 114 strikeouts and 5.2 WAR out of the bullpen.


Second in the Western League was a five-team race. Last year’s 115-winner Denver was in the mix at 86-76 with Las Vegas also at 86-76, plus San Francisco and Seattle at 84-78. However, Phoenix took the spot at 87-75, tying the mark for fewest wins from a playoff team.


The Southern League saw a tie at the top with Dallas and Memphis both finishing 99-63. As both qualified, league rule didn’t require a tiebreaker game and the Dalmatians got the head-to-head narrowly to be crowned league champ. Jacksonsville was third at 93-69 in their best season in more than a decade, followed by Houston (88-74) and Charlotte (87-75). New Orleans ace Newton Persaud was Pitcher of the Year at age 27 in his first of five eventual crowns with a 10.2 WAR season.


Despite the best record, Portland was upset in the first round of the playoffs, losing in four to Memphis. Dallas swept Phoenix, making the AACS a true “tiebreaker” between the Southern League powers. Pitching depth for the Mountain Cats, who had the AA fewest runs allowed at 619, gave them the edge over the Dalmatians in seven games. It was Memphis’ fourth AA title in five years.


In the National Association, defending World Series champ Hartford finished 99-63, which believe it or not, put them in third place in the Eastern League. Montreal’s 97-65 was fourth best in a loaded field. The New York Yankees would take first at 103-59, one better than Philadelphia’s 102-60. The Phillies had Eric Roman in his one Pitcher of the Year, as the 24-year old tossed 9.9 WAR.


The Midwest League’s winner was Omaha at 101-61. Milwaukee was second again at 98-64 and was the only team from last year in the National Association to make it back to the playoffs. Indianapolis was a close third at 94-68 with a league MVP sophomore season from outfielder Buck Alexander.


The second place finishers pulled off the road upsets in the first round of the playoffs as Philadelphia beat Omaha in five games and Milwaukee topped New York in four. In the NACS, the Phillies defeated the Mustangs in six games for their first Association title.


The World Series between Philadelphia and the Mountain Cats would be a seven-game classic. The home team won each game and this year, that gave the Phillies the edge for their first MLB title. It also marked the end of the Memphis signature run, as the Mountain Cats wouldn’t be back until the Johnson Administration.


Other notes: St. Louis pitcher Willie Hodo became the second player to reach 3000 career strikeouts. Former Houston star Will Miller, now with the Yankees, and Atlanta’s Israel Villalobos became the second and third players to have scored 1500 career runs. Seattle’s Chad Tepp was the first to hit 1500 RBI, joined later in the year by Anthony Young of Vancouver, Will Miller, and Denver’s Jason Salvage.

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Tijuana continued their Mexican League success in 1918 with a 114-48 record for a sixth straight North Division title. Toros ace Brian Kendall picked up his second Pitcher of the Year, leading Liga Mexico with 7.9 WAR despite only 24 starts due to injury. Tijuana had the top three pitchers in ERA as well as Reliever of the Year B.J. Medina.


In the South Division, Ecatepec won their second division title in three years, finishing 97-65. Guadalajara was next at 90-72, followed by Puebla at 88-74. Pumas infielder Alex Hinojosa earned his fourth MVP and led the league in seven categories. The Explosion gave a nice effort in the League Championship Series, but Tijuana prevailed in six games for their fifth league title in six years.


In the Dominican, defending CABA champ Santo Domingo battled with Santiago for the Island division title. The Dolphins had the league MVP in Zósimo Hernández, a two-way pitcher and left fielder; and the Sailfish had a Triple Crown season from Ulices Montero for his second Pitcher of the Year. Both finished the regular season at 103-59, but the offensive prowess of Santo Domingo gave them the edge in the tiebreaker game.


Nicaragua easily claimed the Continental division at 97-65 for their first playoff appearance. The Navigators couldn’t stand up to the Dolphins though, as Santo Domingo won the LCS in six games for back-to-back Caribbean League titles. The Dolphins couldn’t claim back-to-back CABA titles though as Tijuana got revenge in five games. The Toros became the first three-time CABA champ.


Other notes: Juarez pitcher Nick Bermea set a single game record with 22 strikeouts, doing it in 14.2 innings against Merida. Tijuana’s Avelino Tamez threw CABA’s fourth perfect game on 8/27 against Monterrey.

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Defending World Series champ Philadelphia took a very top heavy Eastern League in 1918 at 102-60. Phillies outfielder Cam Lloyd picked up the MVP with the National Association lead in runs (129), hits (203), home runs (53), and RBI (147). He was six points away from a hitting Triple Crown. Hartford took the second place spot at 99-63, fending off 97-65 marks from both Montreal and New York.


Columbus, who won 68 games the prior year, picked up the Midwest League title at 90-72. Louisville earned their first playoff berth since 1906 with the wild card at 87-76, one game better than Indianapolis. Washington’s Jeremiah Jaiboon picked up the Pitcher of the Year.


The Chargers swept the Huskies in the first round of the playoffs while Philadelphia survived in five games against Louisville. Philadelphia would find a rhythm though to defeat Columbus in the NACS in six, sending the Phillies to the World Series for the second straight year.


In the American Association, Jacksonville won the Southern League for their first playoff appearance since 1903, finishing with the AA’s best record at 100-62. Dallas made back-to-back playoff berths by taking second at 97-65. Houston (91-71) and Memphis (88-74) were next.


In the Western League, San Francisco secured their first-ever playoff berth with the league title at 99-63. The Gold Rush had the league MVP in centerfielder Payton Wayman, with the 24-year old claiming the batting title at .362. Portland advanced to the postseason for the fourth time in five years as the wild card at 95-67. Third place Denver (90-72) had Pitcher of the Year in Ray Biedermann, whom they acquired in free agency from Louisville in the offseason.


The second place finishers both advanced in the postseason as the Pacifics upset the Gators in a sweep and the Dalmatians outlasted the Gold Rush in five. Dallas downed Portland in five games in the AACS for the Dalmatians’ first-ever Association title.


The World Series went to Philadelphia in six games, making the Phillies the second MLB team to repeat as overall champ. Outfielder Pablo De La Fuente was the World Series MVP, picking up 13 RBI, 23 hits, and 4 triples over 17 postseason games.


Other notes; Montreal third baseman Dusty Knight won his record 14^th and final Gold Glove.