1985 Baltimore Monarchs
**Editor's Note: The 1985 Baltimore Monarchs team link does not work. So I am doing my best to compile an accurate list of things but this may prove difficult and things may end up being inaccurate in the end. I'll do the best I can...**
In 1985, the Monarchs of Baltimore won their first MBWBA Landis Championship. They'd win it again 2 years later in 1987, but it is the 1985 team that lands itself on this list. Despite being the dominant team in the Johnson League Atlantic Division for the better part of a decade in the 2000s, the Monarchs have not been able to claim that 3rd Landis ring.
The Monarchs offense led the charge in 1985 as their 887 runs scored not only led the Johnson League, but it also led the entire MBWBA. It was close however, as they won the runs battle by a slim 10 runs (has Baltimore always had a potent offense?). The offense was led by the legendary Steve Collins. Collins hit .384/.436/.581 in 1985 with 17 homeruns and 107 RBI. His contribution to the Monarchs offense in 1985 would not only land Collins on the all-star squad but also win him the Owner's Choice Top Hitter Award. If you're unfamiliar with Steve Collins, just research him. His 1989 season landed him 5th on my all-time hitting seasons. He hit over .400 twice in his career and is still the all-time batting average and base hit king in the MBWBA. Joe Kyle provided some offensive punch for the Monarchs that season as well by hitting 20 homeruns and driving in 95 RBI in 1985. Emile Santos drove in 124 RBI, which was good enough for 2nd overall in the JL. Baltimore also relied on team speed in 1985 as they'd claim the top 3 spots in the league in stolen bases led by Zebediah Williams' 105 followed closely by Icehouse Bolton's 97 and Collins' 84.
The pitching for the Monarchs was equally as good as their 636 runs allowed in '85 was 2nd best in the JL and third best in the MBWBA. The Monarchs +251 run differential is the 4th best of any MBWBA Landis winner in history. The staff was anchored by Mark Bobovnik who claimed his last of 5 consecutive Owner's Choice Pitching Awards in 1985 thanks to his 24-2 season with a 1.91 ERA and 307 strikeouts. Bobovnik was just 1 year removed from his 1984 season which landed as the 6th best single season pitching performance on my top 9 list. John Ross Riles, Jr would win 19 games that season with a 2.67 ERA. It would begin a stretch for Ross, Jr in which he would post an ERA in the 2.00s for 13 consecutive seasons. A stretch that started in 1985, at the age of 23. Marlon Candelaria would lead the league in saves in '85 with 37, but would be 10 shy of his career best of 47 set in 1987, the Monarchs other championship season.
During the regular season, the Monarchs won 106 games, 2nd most in the JL and 3rd most in the entire league. The Monarchs would sweep through Omaha in the Doubleday round, setting up a Cartwright Cup Series against Valencia, the only team in the JL with more wins. The series would be a good one as the Monarchs would win a game 7 on the road in Valencia to advance to the Landis Memorial Series. Waiting on the Monarchs in the Landis Series would be the New Orleans Crawdads. For those with short memories, the Crawdads were the defending champions and that 1984 Crawdad squad landed #8 on this list. The 105 win Crawdads squad had managed to win an epic game 7 of their own in the FL Cartwright Cup, defeating a 110 win Bison team in Buffalo. It may be safe to say that the winner of this series would have found themselves on this list either way. These two teams would play their 2nd consecutive 7 game series. However this time, the home team would leave victorious as the Monarchs would win the game 7 at home and claim their 1st Landis Title.
Major Award Winners
Two: Steve Collins (Owner's Choice Top Hitter) and Mark Bobovnik (Owner's Choice Top Pitcher)
Fielding Award Winners:
Zero
All-Stars:
Six: Mark Bobovnik, Steve Collins, Joe Kyle, Emile Santos, John Ross Riles, Jr, and Ray Lewis,
Hall of Famers:
Three: Mark Bobovnik, Steve Collins, and John Ross Riles, Jr
Potential Hall of Famers:
One: Zebediah Williams - Williams has been on the ballot since 2003. It does not appear likely Williams will ever make it to the hall as the highest he has finished since 2003 in the voting is 11th. Williams' 1185 stolen bases is an MBWBA record. A record he holds by a full 88 over the 2nd man on the list. Despite being the all-time stolen base king, it appears that won't be enough to land Williams in the hall of fame.
Top 9 Championship Teams
#9 1980 Louisville Sluggers
#8 1984 New Orleans Crawdads
#7 1995 Chicago Black Sox
#6 1988 New Orleans Crawdads
