1988 Midwest League

From SABR Encyclopedia

1988 Midwest League
Classification:	A

Statistics

{{#sabr-lightbox-iframe:http://sabrpedia.org/includes/active/leagues/batting/a20c16f0.html|Individual batting statistics for 1988 Midwest League|width:95%;height:95%;scrolling:auto|Batting}} • {{#sabr-lightbox-iframe:http://sabrpedia.org/includes/active/leagues/pitching/a20c16f0.html|Individual pitching statistics for 1988 Midwest League|width:95%;height:95%;scrolling:auto|Pitching}}

[edit] Season Summary

The Midwest League's long-delayed expansion--it was approved and franchises were sold after the 1984 season--finally occurred in 1988 when the Rockford and South Bend teams joined the fray. Rockford had a fine year on the field, while South Bend had an excellent year at the gate.

Cincinnati sent a strong team to Cedar Rapids, and the players delivered a first-half title and a Championship Playoff win. After a stumbling start, Kenosha won the the North's first half. Second half champions Rockford and Springfield won easy titles, but both lost in the first playoff round. The Reds overpowered Kenosha in the championship round.

In general, 1988 was a pitcher's year in the MWL; only three hitters topped .300, while 22 HR and 89 RBI were enough to the circuit. Kenosha's Lenny Webster had a strong season (.288; 11 HR, 87 RBI) and parlayed his leadership and clutch hitting into an MVP year. Tom Gordon's three months in Appleton were spectacular: 2.06 ERA, and 176 strikeouts in 118 innings--and a Prospect of the Year prize his son would repeat 21 summers later. Ramon Sambo's 98 stolen bases for Cedar Rapids set a league standard.

[edit] Notes

• The Midwest League played a 140 game, two-division, split-season schedule which began on April 8 and ended on August 29. The first half ended on June 17.
• An All-Star Game was played on July 11 between All-Star Teams representing the league's Northern and Southern divisions. The North won by a 5-2 score.
• A two-tier championship playoff was held after the season. The best-of-five championship round was won by Cedar Rapids.
• Total 1988 attendance: 1,657,595.

[edit] Sources

• 1988 Baseball Blue Book.
• 1989 Sporting News Baseball Guide.
• 1989 Baseball America Almanac.