Fremont Rockets

100-62, first in the NCL
April: 13-8. May: 15-14. June: 20-7. July: 16-9.
August: 18-10. September: 15-12. October: 3-2.

First season: did not play, expansion team

NOTES
The Rockets lost the World Series to Seaview in six games. They clinched the NCL pennant with a 2-1 win at Olympia Sept. 30. They had a winning record in every month.

Rocket statistics

What went right?
"Training" methods (aka steroids). Also, the Rockets enjoyed using the Atlanta Braves pitching staff of the '90s: Tom Glavine went 18-7 and led the NCL with a 3.23 ERA, Greg Maddux went 17-8, and John Smoltz 17-9. Fourth starter Kevin Brown even got minor Cy Young consideration at 14-7, 3.32. When Curt Schilling and Dennis Martinez split your fifth starter duties, you're in pretty good shape. Did we mention that Fremont led the NCL in club ERA? At 3.96, they were more than half a run better than the second-best club. They also hit 301 homers and led the loop in scoring and slugging. Barry Bonds got MVP consideration for 44 homers and an all-around solid season. Sammy Sosa hit 41, in all 10 guys reached double figures in home runs. They bumped along for the first couple of months, but were never really challenged after a 20-7 June and won the pennant by six games.

What went wrong?
Well, gosh, not much. The Rockets were eighth in the league in fielding. Three key players -- Sheffield, Piazza, and Sosa -- aren't exactly known for their glove work, and Slammin' Sammy spent much of his time in center field. But really, they were cookin' until Trevor Hoffman couldn't get anyone out in the Series.

Cox won 900 games as a manger in the 90s. The next closest in the National League was Jim Leyland, who won 766.