[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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The best record in the Arab League’s Western Conference went to 95-67 Amman. The Aviators won their third Levant Division in three years, bouncing back from only 80 wins the prior year. Casablanca also reclaimed its hold on the Mediterranean Division after falling below .500 in 1997. The Bruins were 91-71, topping Tunis by two games and Tripoli by five. Casablanca has won the division seven times through ALB’s first nine seasons. Reigning conference champ Khartoum repeated as Nile Division champs. The Cottonmouths fell from the prior year to 86-76, narrowly holding off Cairo by one game.

Taking Western Conference MVP was Casablanca right fielder Amer Waleed. The 24-year old Iraqi lefty led in RBI (137), total bases (397), slugging (.696), OPS (1.069), and wRC+ (196). He added 7.7 WAR, a .316 average, and 55 home runs. Khartoum ace Mohamed Wael won his third Pitcher of the Year. The 28-year old Egyptian lefty was the ERA leader at 2.18 and had the best WHIP (0.91) and FIP- (62). Wael added 316 strikeouts in 231.1 innings, 7.8 WAR, and a 16-5 record. Also of note, Amman’s Khemais Khalid became a three-time Reliever of the Year winner.

In the first round of the playoffs, Khartoum topped Casablanca 2-1. The defending champs then went on the road and rolled Amman in the Western Conference Championship, sweeping them 3-0. The Aviators are now 0-2 in their WCC berths, having also fallen in 1996. Khartoum is the second team to earn repeat pennants in the West, joining the Bruins (who three-peated from 1993-95).



For the third consecutive season, Mosul had the top record in the Eastern Conference. The Muskies finished 102-60 to win a fourth straight Iraq Division title. It wasn’t easy though, as they had to fend off a 98-64 effort by Basra. Defending Arab League champ Doha repeated in the Gulf Division. The 93-69 Dash finished five games better than Dubai. The Saudi Division had a first-time playoff berth from Jeddah. The Jackals took it at 91-71, beating out Riyadh by six games. Medina, who had won the division in seven of the prior eight seasons, dropped to 79-83.

Basra may have missed the playoffs, but they had the Eastern Conference MVP in LF Nordine “Hawk” Soule. In time, he emerged as an all-time slugger in pro baseball history. The 23-year old Comoran led in home runs (54), total bases (424), slugging (.748), OPS (1.200), and wRC+ (226). Soule added 11.1 WAR, a .372 average, and 125 RBI. Doha’s Ali Al-Shakal earned Pitcher of the Year in only his second season. The 24-year old Yemeni righty led in wins (20-13), WHIP (0.90), complete games (14), and shutouts (6). Al-Shakal added a 2.40 ERA over 273.2 innings, 306 strikeouts, and 8.2 WAR. Also worth noting, Basra’s Khadir Seif became a three-time Reliever of the Year winner.

Doha downed Jeddah 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs, setting up a rematch in the Eastern Conference Championship with Mosul. Last year, the Dash pulled off the stunning upset. The Muskies were determined not to see that happen again, sweeping Doha 3-0. This was Mosul’s second EC pennant in three years.



In the ninth Arab League Championship, we were guaranteed to have the seventh different champ. Khartoum had been the runner-up in 1997, while Mosul took second in 1996. The two top records battled to a 4-2 Muskies victory. Three-time conference MVP Mohammed Mohamed was the finals MVP. In 9 playoff games, the 24-year old Saudi shortstop had 11 hits, 8 runs, 6 home runs, and 11 RBI.



Other notes: Bilal Hamdan became the first ALB batter to 400 career home runs. He also won his sixth Gold Glove at first base. Pitcher Fahed Al-Eryani won his seventh Gold Glove.