Milkmen, Monarchs Look to Lock up Top Seeds, Select First-Round Playoff Opponents
MOORHEAD, Minn., September 3, 2026 – The battle for the fourth and final playoff slot in the West and a new single-season stolen base king are among the highlights in the American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) this week. With the regular season ending on Monday and the Miles Wolff Cup playoffs set to begin on Wednesday, all AAPB regular season and postseason broadcasts are available free for live viewing on AABaseball.tv as well as all AAPB television partners. Please see the local broadcast schedule for select listings for games of the week in team markets.
Here are 10 (or so) Things to Know about the AAPB this week:
- The Milwaukee Milkmen (57-38) and Kansas City Monarchs (55-40) hold multiple-game leads in the East and West Divisions, respectively, with the 100-game regular season concluding Monday. The division winners earn the right to select their first-round Miles Wolff Cup playoff opponents.
- Winnipeg last night became the second West team to clinch a berth, and at 53-42 still has designs on the Division title. The final West slot will come down to one of the Siouxs… The Canaries and Explorers are tied at 47-48 heading into the final six games.
- Austin Davis of Sioux City stole his 72nd base of the season on Thursday, breaking the AAPB single-season record. He has since swiped three more, and has been caught only six times all year (92.6%). Davis topped the 71 steals set by Bryan Torres, now a starting outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, for the Milkmen in 2023.
- Last week, Joshua Mears set the league single-season home run record with his 34th (he’s up to 35 now)… and while José Sermo trails Mears by four in the 2026 race, he became the first Fargo-Moorhead RedHawk ever to reach 30 (he’s now up to 31).
- Alec Olund hit for the cycle while Milwaukee recorded twenty-three hits, four home runs, and the Milkmen defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs 16-5, Tuesday night at Haymarket Park.
- Kansas City will conduct a Salute to the Negro Leagues on Friday – Honoring the original Monarchs, the current iteration will face Winnipeg, playing as the Buffalos to represent the professional minor league team that played in the Mandak League in the early 1950s.
- Jani-King of Manitoba, the official cleaning company of the Goldeyes, recently had a Franchisee Appreciation Day at Blue Cross Park.
- Media interest in the AAPB remains strong. Some of the recent articles on teams include:
- CBS58 Milwaukee discussed the Milkmen’s season in a live segment.
- The Irish American News ran a photo of the Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums performing before a Chicago Dogs game.
- Kansas City Magazine had this fine feature on how the current Monarchs keep the legacy of their royal forebears.
- KTIV talked to Austin Davis about his record-setting season for stolen bases.
- The Crescent-News noted that local Napoleon, Ohio, standouts Art Warren and Zach Willeman both pitched in Kane County’s 4-3 win over Sioux City on Friday. Willeman fanned 10 in six innings of work for the X’s, and Warren whiffed two in his scoreless outing. Willeman moved into the fourth spot all time in club history for career strikeouts with 252.
- The Minot Daily News noted that the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks were one of several area teams whose strikeouts generated a $25,000 donation for the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation.
- A few team promotions of note are:
- Kane County is closing the regular season with a bang, with Chicagoland Skydiving appearing plus a Drone Show and pickleball paddle giveaway on Friday, a Pope bobblehead gift on Sunday and George Washington bobblehead offering on Sunday.
- Gary SouthShore’s Fan Appreciation Day tonight includes a Team Card giveaway
- The Chicago Dogs will play in special jerseys auctioned off post-game on Monday for their Fan Appreciation Day that also includes a team photo giveaway, pre-game catch and player autographs.
- The first 1000 fans at Fargo-Moorhead’s final home game tonight receive a RedHawks team card set presented by Matbus.
About the American Association
The American Association of Professional Baseball (www.aabaseball.com) and (www.aabaseball.tv) is a Major League Baseball Partner League that operates in nine states and one Canadian province. Formed in 2006, the league consists of twelve member clubs with many beginning play in 1993. Through the 2025 season, 483 player contracts have been transferred to MLB organizations. In addition, 60 AAPB alumni have reached the Majors, including 17 participating in 2025.
– AAPB –
Contact:
Joe Favorito, joefavorito2@gmail.com, 917-566-8345
Jerry Milani, jerry@jerrymilani.com, 917-797-5663