When his Brewers left home after Game 5 with a 3-2 series lead, Owner/Manager/Raconteur Jeffrey "Yountfan" Kloster had a feeling the series was going his way. 

"Sometimes you just know," Yountfan told PFL beat writer Ring Lardner prior to Game 6 in Montreal. The team is good, the manager is sharp, and it's been five years since we brought home a PFL pennant to the fine folks here in Wisconsin.

The Expos jumped out to a 2-1 series lead but stumbled in the last two games in County Stadium. Expos boss Geoff Brookes had high hopes for success in front of the home crowd, but it wasn't meant to be. "Two good teams collided in the playoffs," Brookes said. "Only one could win. I congratulate Mr. Yountfan and the Brewers.

Following a postgame celebration Yountfan returned home to his country estate. The photo below was taken during an early morning walk Yountfan took with his prize canines, Pomeranian Pedro Garcia and Labrador Larry Hisle. 

​Congratulations Jeff and Geoff. Now, on to 1987!

It wasn't even close.

Yankees Head Man Randy Partin was named 1984 Manager of the Year by his peers. The voting was unanimous, other than Randy of course. The Yankees made a late charge to take the East and earn the league's best record.

Randy was kind enough to send along a photo of Mets mascot and close friend of Fred Aaron, Mr. Met. He's in the photo on the right. Randy is on the left.

Voting was as follows. First place votes are in parentheses.

Randy Partin (11) 22
Jeff "Yountfan" Kloster (1) 11
John Recupero 3

1983 will go down as a season of offense. The team record for runs scored was eclipsed, while the team stolen base record was obliterated. Clubs were smashing doubles, triples, and homers, and a trend that started the previous season seemed to pick up momentum.

And in New York, the Yankees and Mets battled for superiority from opening day until Game 162. The Yankees combination of good hitting and good-enough pitching took them all the way, winning a first PFL world championship for veteran skipper Randy Partin. 

After a 5-4 loss to the Braves in Game One, Randy's Bombers took control, winning Games 2 and 3 in convincing fashion. A nail-biter in Game 4 set the stage for a Braves win in Game 5, but it would prove too little, too late. Yankees ace Joaquin Andujar took the mount for Game 6, pitching his team to a 2-1 victory and the World Series Championship.

Team Owner George Steinbrenner was euphoric in the postgame clubhouse, lavishing praise on his second-year GM. "Randy was just what we needed after that debacle we went through with the previous GM," Steinbrenner said. "I suspect that we'll be tearing up his contract and writing a new one! A lifetime contract. I want Randy to know that New York will be his forever home!"

Congratulations to Randy and Carl for great seasons. And thanks to the rest of you for being part of the PFL. And now, on to 1984.

Though the East Division race was close at times, the Mets under the astute leadership of Fred Aaron prevailed and will be considered the favorite in the PFL Playoffs scheduled to begin Monday night. For his hard work and ability to get the most out of a young nucleus of players, Fred has been selected by his PFL colleagues as this year's top manager.

Here are the final vote totals. First place votes are in parentheses. First place votes were worth two points, second place votes worth one.

Fred Aaron, Mets (5) 14
Paul Wootten, Angels (2) 11
Randy Partin, Yankees (2) 4
Carl Alexis, Braves (2) 4
John Recupero, Tigers (1) 2
Mark Kummerer, Indians 1