AND THE SHOW GOES ON In early February all was quiet on the American Association front. Three months shy of the season getting under way and there were no changes scheduled in the league. The same 12 teams with two, six team divisions. And then in the blink of an eye everything changed. At first spring training was pushed back then came word the beginning of the season was postponed. Finally, on June 12 the American Association announced the 2020 season was going to get underway on July 3. Instead of 12 teams, however, six teams would partake in three hub cities. Instead of a 100-game season, the teams will play 60. It may look a little different, but the goal is still the same. The American Association will consist of three hub cities located in Fargo-Moorhead, ND, Milwaukee, WI, and Sioux Falls, SD. The Winnipeg Goldeyes and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks will pair up in the Fargo hub. The Chicago Dogs and Milwaukee Milkmen will share Franklin Field in the Milwaukee hub. The St. Paul Saints and Sioux Falls Canaries will become roommates in the Sioux Falls hub. The Saints made an incredible charge over the final 20 games, going 17-3, to finish with the best record at 64-36 overtaking the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, who received the North Division Wild Card berth. In the South, a tight race had Kansas City coming back from nowhere to claim the division and Sioux City edging out Cleburne for the Wild Card because of head-to-head record. The Saints won a thrilling five-game
series over the RedHawks while the Explorers took out the defending champs in four games. In the Finals it was the Saints ending a 15-year drought with a three-game sweep of the Explorers. After a dominating Game 1 win, they came from behind in Games 2 and 3 to claim the crown. The playoffs will look a little different this year. The top two teams in the league will meet in the American Association Finals in a best-of-five. The team with the better record will host the final three games. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FINALS SERIES Saturday, September 12 Top Seed @ Lower Seed Sunday, September 13 Top Seed @ Lower Seed Tuesday, September 15 Lower Seed @ Top Seed Wednesday, September 16 Lower Seed @ Top Seed (if necessary) Thursday, September 17 Lower Seed @ Top Seed (if necessary)
MILEAGE CHART CHI
40
CLE
FM
GAR
KC
LIN
MIL
SP
SC
SF
TEX
WIN
Chicago
—–
984
631
57
523
517
75
385
472
563
942
852
Cleburne
984
__
1,105
983
569
652
1,046
991
777
866
52
1,323
Fargo
631
1,105
__
674
599
477
576
247
331
243
1,085
219
Gary
57
983
674
__
533
539
126
433
545
606
979
892
Kansas City
523
569
599
533
--
192
559
453
269
358
547
814
Lincoln
517
652
477
539
192
__
553
438
155
240
637
690
Milwauke
75
1,046
576
126
559
553
__
331
477
506
1,011
795
St. Paul
385
991
247
433
453
438
331
__
300
270
954
463
Sioux City
472
777
331
545
269
155
477
300
__
85
753
546
Sioux Falls
563
866
243
841
358
240
506
270
85
__
841
458
Texas
942
52
1,085
979
547
637
1,011
954
753
841
__
1,297
Winnipeg
852
1,323
219
892
814
690
795
463
546
458
1,297
__