1941 Boston Red Sox Replay – April Summary …

Who would have thought, the wiry, young left-fielder, Ted Williams, sitting upper left, just to the left of grizzled vets, Jimmie Foxx and Moe Berg (by then a Red Sox coach in ’41), in his 3rd full season, would hit .406 …

My 1941 Boston Red Sox replay:

• APBA Baseball, Basic Game, latest version of game booklet, released in 2013.
• Latest 1941 APBA Baseball season card set, which contains all of the players used during the 1941 season issued in 2017.
• Advanced Basic Rules.  Not using pitching grade advancement.  Using pitching grade reduction (NOTE:  The newer re-issued, re-formulated APBA season sets tend to slightly favor the pitching over the hitting, thus no need to advance the grade of any pitchers who are stringing together scoreless innings)
• Using APBA Journal Error Distribution card and Unusual Play Distribution card.
• Using Master Game Rare Play charts when rolling either a “12” or a “65” during the Unusual Play re-roll.
• Using actual lineups.
• Attempting to come close as possible to actual number of innings pitched for pitchers and plate appearances for hitters, knowing that they will be + or – a certain amount due to uncontrollable game circumstances.
• Following actual trades as they occurred during the season.

 

 

The high-lights and low-lights in the month of April …

• Red Sox open the season at home and win their first 2 games out of the gate, with low-scoring wins (3-2 and 3-1) over the Washington Senators.
• Red Sox quickly drop back to .500, after losing their first 2 road games, at Philadelphia vs the Athletics.  The A’s win game 1 at Shibe Park, 3-1 and win game 2, 10-3.
• With 3 games at Griffith Stadium vs the Senators, the Red Sox quickly drop 2 more, by scores of 5-3 and 5-2, before routing Washington in game 3, 16-2, and improving their record to 3-4.  Ted Williams is in the starting lineup for the first time, going 1 for 3, with a HR, a walk and a sac-fly, with 4 RBI.  Williams is currently hitting .500 for the season, in just 6 AB in 7 games.
• April 23rd, at New York, Jimmie Foxx hits a 9th inning grand slam, as the Red Sox rout the Yankees 11-3.
• April 25th-26th, Red Sox sweep Athletics and move back above .500, 6-5.
• April 29th, Ted Williams is back in the lineup, Red Sox win 7-2 over Detroit and Ted Williams goes 1 for 4 in his return.
• April 30th, a back-and-forth battle, which saw the Red Sox up 6-3, then trail 10-6 after a 6-run Tiger 6th.  A big 7 run 8th propelled Boston to a 13-10 lead, thanks in part to Jimmie Foxx’s 2nd grand slam in a week.  Red Sox hold on to win 13-12.
• The Red Sox finish April with a 4-game winning streak.

The Ted Williams “hits for .406” watch:

The month of April, 1941:

(click on game scores below for either the REPLAY boxscore or the ACTUAL boxscore)

Series #1:  Senators @ Red Sox, April 15-16

  AT  

Game #1-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 3, SENATORS 2  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 7, SENATORS 6)

Game #2-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 3, SENATORS 1  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 8, SENATORS 7)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (2-0)  –  Actual (2-0)

Charlie Wagner (B), pitches 7 innings, giving up 4 hits and 1 run, in the 3-1 win over Washington.

 

Series #2:  Red Sox @ Athletics, April 18-19

  AT  

Game #3-  Replay Score:  ATHLETICS 3, RED SOX 1  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 3, ATHLETICS 2)

Game #4-  Replay Score:  ATHLETICS 10, RED SOX 3  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 7, ATHLETICS 2)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (2-2)  –  Actual (4-0)

Jack Knott (C) pitches a CG, 4-hitter in game 1 of the 2 game series vs Boston, a 3-1 win for Philadelphia.

 

Series #3:  Red Sox @ Senators, April 20-21-22

  AT  

Game #5-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 5, RED SOX 3  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 14, SENATORS 8)

Game #6-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 5, RED SOX 2  –  (Actual Score:  SENATORS 6, RED SOX 5)

Game #7-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 16, SENATORS 2  –  (Actual Score:  SENATORS 12, RED SOX 5)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (3-4)  –  Actual (5-2)

Ted Williams gets his first starting lineup assignment in 1941, in game #7 on the season.  He goes 1 for 3 in 5 PA, with a 3-run homer, his first of the season, in the top of the 8th inning.  The late start for Ted was due to a broken bone in his ankle he suffered during the 2nd week of Spring Training.  After this 1st start, he would sit and/or PH a few more games before getting back to the starting lineup for good on April 29th vs Detroit.

 

Series #4:  Red Sox @ Yankees, April 23-24

  AT  

Game #8-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 11, YANKEES 3  –  (Actual Score:  YANKEES 4, RED SOX 2)

Game #9-  Replay Score:  YANKEES 6, RED SOX 5  –  (Actual Score:  YANKEES 6, RED SOX 3)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (4-5)  –  Actual (5-4)

1941 was Jimmie Foxx’s last good season.  His power was down, from 36 homers in 1940 to 19 homers in 1941.  He did manage to bat .300 in 1941.  1942 would be his final season, after a mid-season trade from the Red Sox to the Cubs, as he hit the final 8 homers of his 534 homer career.  In replay game #8, vs the Yankees, Foxx clouts a grand slam in the top of the 9th inning, as the Red Sox rout the Yankees, 11-3.

 

Series #5:  Athletics @ Red Sox, April 25-26

  AT  

Game #10-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 6, ATHLETICS 5 –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 3, ATHLETICS 1)

Game #11-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 2, ATHLETICS 1 –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 8, ATHLETICS 7)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (6-5)  –  Actual (7-4)

Bobby Doerr blasts a 4th inning homer, his 2nd HR of the 1941 season, in the 2-1 win over Philadelphia on April 26th.

 

Series #6:  Red Sox @ Tigers, April 29-30, May 1

  AT  

Game #12-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 7, TIGERS 2  –  (Actual Score:  TIGERS 5, RED SOX 3)

Game #13-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 13, TIGERS 12 –  (Actual Score:  TIGERS 12, RED SOX 8)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (8-5)  –  Actual (7-6)

Jimmie Foxx unloads again in April, hitting his 2nd grand slam of the month and driving in 6 runs, going 3 for 5 with a homer, a triple and a single.

 

RED SOX end of April Season Stats (click on link to read):

1941_RED_SOX_end_of_April_BATTING

1941_RED_SOX_end_of_April_PITCHING

1941_RED_SOX_end_of_April_FIELDING

 

RED SOX month-by-month Blog Summaries (click on links to read past months):

APRIL (W-L):  8-5  (7-6 Actual)

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPT/OCT

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TCABT-X: The Results …

TCABT-X:  October 6th, 2018

Maple Grove, MN

The first Saturday of October can mean only one thing to 30 APBA enthusiasts gathering in Maple Grove, MN, home of TCABT host, Darrell Skogen.  Another Neil Ess Memorial – Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament championship is on the line.

22 entrants from across the state of Minnesota, made their way to Maple Grove, along with 8 from out-of-state.  Attendees from Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Wisconsin, joined their APBA brothers from Minnesota to contend for the coveted October TCABT trophy, currently held by last year’s October champion, Alec Otto, of Green Bay, WI.

After the usual announcements, rules Q&A, and group photo, the rolling began shortly before 9am.

In the “Friendly Confines” of the basement, from L to R, Fred Johnson, Phil Geraffo and George Adams facing camera.  Back to camera, Chuck Penttila on left and Craig Christian on right.

 

DIVISION PLAY RESULTS:  Sparky Anderson Division

Familiar foes, Kevin Cluff and Darrell Skogen, once squared off in TCABT-V Championship, now facing each other again in division play.

SPARKY ANDERSON DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1977 PHILLIES (BEN LOFGREN)	7	3	58	46	12
1911 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER)	6	4	45	30	15
1905 GIANTS (KEVIN CLUFF)	6	4	39	32	7
2006 TWINS (CHUCK PENTTILA)	6	4	39	37	2
1953 DODGERS (FRED JOHNSON)	4	6	33	47	-14
1973 PIRATES (DARRELL SKOGEN)	1	9	26	48	-22
TOTALS	30	30	240	240	0

This was to be Ben Lofgren’s day, in more ways than one.  Ben was celebrating his birthday, and while sporting his Mike Schmidt #20 Phillies jersey, would end winning the division thanks to a walk-off grand-slam by none other than, Mike Schmidt in game #10.  This division was very competitive, with 3 of the 6 teams qualifying for bracket play, and Chuck Penttila’s 2006 Twins losing out on a tie-breaker to make the bracket round.  Dave Norlander’s 1911 A’s find themselves entering bracket play as the #6 seed wild card.  And just behind Dave, Kevin Cluff’s 1905 Giants grab the #7 seed.  3 teams from this strong division qualify for bracket play.  Not so fortunate, with his 2006 Twins going 6-4, but failing to qualify, 1st time entrant, Chuck Penttila, vows to return in the future.  A cocky, yet cool, Fred Johnson, stumbles out of the gate, and his lumbering 1953 Bums finish 4-6, after the ’53 Dodgers had made a semi-final bid in TCABT-IX.  Darrell Skogen and his 1973 Pirates, could not catch a break, or find some hot dice, as they go 1-9, scoring just 26 runs in the 10 games.

“Cellar dwellers” unite!

Fred Johnson’s 1953 Bums facing off with Chuck Penttila’s 2006 Twins.

 

DIVISION PLAY RESULTS:  Dick Howser Division

Pictured are 4 of the 6, Dick Howser Division participants:  Clockwise, Jeff Boeding, Rob Skogen, Darrell Shreve and Chris Shores.

DICK HOWSER DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1998 YANKEES (GARY BORTHWICK)	7	3	53	30	23
2004 TWINS (ROB SKOGEN)	6	4	42	45	-3
2016 RED SOX (CHRIS SHORES)	5	5	52	48	4
1938 YANKEES (JEFF BOEDING)	5	5	51	55	-4
1935 CUBS (JIM FRAASCH)	4	6	32	43	-11
1961 YANKEES (DARRELL SHREVE)	3	7	36	45	-9
TOTALS	30	30	266	266	0

4 of the 6 teams finish at .500 or above.  Gary Borthwick, and his 1998 Yankees started out the day, 2-0, with a sweep over Jim’s 1935 Cubs.  The first game went 13 innings after the Cubs’ Phil Cavarretta tied the game in the bottom of the 9th, with 2 outs, hitting a 2 run homer, knotting the game at 3-3, off of Yankee closer, Mariano Rivera.  Gary’s Yankees would prevail, winning the opener, 5-4, a very foretelling game for Gary’s ’98 Yanks.  Rob’s Twins started 2-0, and Chris’ Red Sox started 3-1, but fell back in later series.  Jeff’s ’38 Yankees, expected to be competitive, scored just 5 runs in their first 3 games, and they never fully recovered.  Darrell Shreve’s ’61 Yanks, after starting the day 2-1, lost 6 straight.

Gary Borthwick, Chris Shores, facing camera, Jeff Boeding back to camera.

Jim on left, Rob Skogen on right.

 

DIVISION PLAY RESULTS:  Tom Kelly Division

Terry Borthwick on left, Eric Berg on right.

TOM KELLY DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1906 CUBS (ERIC BERG)	7	3	59	27	32
2017 ASTROS (BRUCE TYLER)	6	4	57	54	3
1998 BRAVES (STEVE RYAN)	6	4	50	51	-1
2017 DODGERS (GREGG NELSON)	5	5	66	56	10
2015 BLUE JAYS (TERRY BORTHWICK)	4	6	48	57	-9
1995 INDIANS (SCOTT ELLINGWORTH)	2	8	33	68	-35
TOTALS	30	30	313	313	0

It was great to have Eric Berg back for a TCABT event (he was last at TCABT-V).  Eric, from Illinois, was one of our 8 out-of-state attendees.  Arriving with his 1906 Cubs, he did not waste any time in establishing his Cubs as the early division favorite, after splitting his opening series to Bruce Tyler’s 2017 Astros, he would win his next 5 games.  His Cubs would end up as the #1 seed for bracket play.  Meanwhile, Bruce’s Astros and Steve Ryan’s ’98 Braves kept the division close, finishing with 6-4 records.  And Gregg Nelson’s 2017 Dodgers went on to score the most runs of any team in division play, 66.  Terry Borthwick and her 2015 Blue Jays struggled to a 4-6 records, after placing as runner-up in TCABT-VIII, with that same Jays club.  Scott Ellingworth and his powerful 1995 Indians were stuck in a tough division, and would manage just 2 wins on the day.

With back to camera, Steve Ryan, and Scott Ellingworth.

Gregg Nelson on left, Bruce Tyler on right.

Steve Ryan of Tennessee, with the look of a man who just lost out on a tie-breaker to make bracket play.

 

DIVISION PLAY RESULTS:  Tony LaRussa Division

Rolling in the “Pennant Porch”, the Tony LaRussa Division, in the background, Garth Anderson and Leroy Arnoldi.  In the foreground, clockwise, Paul Van Beek, Beau Lofgren, Alec Otto and Chris Kaufman.

TONY LARUSSA DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
2000 GIANTS (BEAU LOFGREN)	6	4	56	43	13
1931 ATHLETICS (LEROY ARNOLDI)	6	4	41	37	4
1965 TWINS (GARTH ANDERSEN)	5	5	43	39	4
2017 INDIANS (ALEC OTTO)	5	5	46	45	1
1970 TWINS (CHRIS KAUFMAN)	4	6	34	43	-9
1939 YANKEES (PAUL VAN BEEK)	4	6	52	65	-13
TOTALS	30	30	272	272	0

A very tight division, with only 2 games separating 1st from 6th.  Beau’s 2000 Giants surprised the field, the first time this team has been entered in TCABT competition.  Beau won the head-to-head tie-breaker vs Leroy’s 1931 A’s.  Beau started out the morning with a 2-1 loss to Chris’ 1970 Twins.  After climbing back out, with 2 wins over the 1931 A’s, Beau found his 2000 Giants back at 3-3 after 2 losses to the 1965 Twins.  But after winning 3 of his final 4 games, Beau was back on top of the division.  Leroy would earn the #8 seed to enter bracket play as a wild card.  Garth and his 1965 Twins might have been the surprise team of the day, where at one point they were 5-2, and looking to be on their way to a division title or wild card berth.  Unfortunately for them, in their way was Chris Kaufman and his 1970 Twins, who swept the ’65 club in the last series of the day, dropping them to a 5-5 record.  Alec Otto and his 2017 Tribe, could not find the magic he had with the 1929 A’s last October, as they also finished 5-5.  Paul Van Beek, who previously had a semi-final berth with his 1939 Yankees, instead finds himself in the basement of the tight division race.

Top of the division going at it, Beau’s 2000 Giants and Leroy’s 1931 A’s.

Chris Kaufman’s 1970 Twins battle Leroy Arnoldi’s 1931 Athletics.

Garth Anderson with the 1965 Twins, smiling with 2 wins over the eventual division winner, Beau Lofgren and his 2000 Giants.

 

DIVISION PLAY RESULTS:  Jim Leyland Division

Gordon Rodell on left, Dave Druk on right.

JIM LEYLAND DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1975 REDS (PHIL GERAFFO)	6	4	44	44	0
2017 YANKEES (DAVE DRUK)	6	4	30	27	3
2003 MARLINS (CRAIG CHRISTIAN)	6	4	31	32	-1
1964 YANKEES (MARTY LEE)	5	5	36	34	2
1973 BRAVES (GEORGE ADAMS)	4	6	42	43	-1
2002 DBACKS (GORDON RODELL)	3	7	40	43	-3
TOTALS	30	30	223	223	0

Three teams tied at the top with 6-4 records.  With head-to-head as the first tie-breaker for division ties, Phil Geraffo and his 1975 Reds found themselves on top, owning a 3-1 record vs the other 2 teams tied at 6-4.  Phil had the Reds off to a 5-1 start, looking like a sure division win, before he lost 3 of his last 4 games.  Dave Druk and his 2017 Yankees, along with Craig Christian and his 2003 Marlins, finish 2nd and 3rd in the division, just missing out on the run-differential tie-breaker with 9 other teams who went 6-4 for a wild-card berth.  Rounding out the division were Marty Lee and his 1964 Yankees, 5-5, followed by George Adams, 1973 Braves (a surprise semi-final team in TCABT-IX), 4-6, and Gordon Rodell and his 2002 DBacks, 3-7.

Marty Lee vs Phil Geraffo (back to camera).

George Adams vs Craig Christian (back to camera).

 

BRACKET-PLAY:  Quarter-finals

Each series goes the full 3 games!

Quarter-final action with Ben Lofgren (1977 Phillies) vs Dave Norlander (1911 A’s) and in background, Beau Lofgren (2000 Giants) vs Phil Geraffo (1975 Reds).

Seed	TCABT-X   QUARTER-FINALS	G1	G2	G3	SERIES
1	1906 CUBS (ERIC BERG)	1	7	13	2
8	1931 ATHLETICS (LEROY ARNOLDI)	6	2	0	1
2	1998 YANKEES (GARY BORTHWICK)	4	3	7	2
7	1905 GIANTS (KEVIN CLUFF)	3	4	4	1
3	1977 PHILLIES (BEN LOFGREN)	3	8	3	1
6	1911 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER)	4	3	4	2
4	2000 GIANTS (BEAU LOFGREN)	5	3	1	1
5	1975 REDS (PHIL GERAFFO)	1	5	4	2

Best jersey worn award, has to go to Ben Lofgren and his Mike Schmidt jersey.

Facing camera, brothers Ben and Beau Lofgren, competing vs their opponents in Quarter-final action.

Eric Berg’s 1906 Cubs vs Leroy Arnoldi’s 1931 A’s in Quarter-final action.

Kevin Cluff (1905 Giants) vs Gary Borthwick (1998 Yankees) in Quarter-final action.

 

BRACKET-PLAY:  Semi-finals

Seed	TCABT-X   SEMI-FINALS	G1	G2	G3	SERIES
1	1906 CUBS (ERIC BERG)	6	4	2	1
6	1911 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER)	7	1	6	2
2	1998 YANKEES (GARY BORTHWICK)	6	7		2
5	1975 REDS (PHIL GERAFFO)	2	0		0

Dave Norlander (1911 A’s) vs Eric Berg (1906 Cubs) in Semi-final action.

With the series tied at 1-1, Dave’s 1911 A’s pull away with a 6-2 win in game 3 to advance to the TCABT-X Championship.

Phil Geraffo (1975 Reds) vs Gary Borthwick (1998 Yankees) in Semi-final action.

The first sweep in bracket-play, as Gary’s 1998 Yankees trip up Phil’s Big Red Machine, 6-2 and 7-0.

 

TCABT-X Championship:

Seed	TCABT-X   CHAMPIONSHIP	G1	G2	G3	SERIES
2	1998 YANKEES (GARY BORTHWICK)	5	2	4	2
6	1911 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER)	2	3	3	1

The Championship series, Dave Norlander (1911 A’s) vs Gary Borthwick (1998 Yankees) as Gary’s wife Terry looks on.

This is Gary’s first time making the championship series, and Dave is making a return trip to the championship, after taking his 1938 Yankees to the brink in TCABT-IX.  With the series tied at 1-1, it was beginning to look like Dave would capture the elusive TCABT Championship, as the A’s held onto a slim 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 8th.  The move of the tournament, would have to be Gary sending pinch-hitter, Homer Bush (a .380 hitter in 1998) to the plate with 1 runner on.  Homer lived up to his name, pulling one down the LF foul-line, staying fair, and over the fence by inches, as seen by this bystander.  Congrats to Gary for an incredible run with his 1998 Yankees.  Gary stuck with this bunch after they had gone 5-4 in TCABT-IX, missing out on bracket play.  Gary obviously saw enough talent in this club, to bring them back for another run, as they did not disappoint.

The Borthwicks, wife Terry with husband Gary, and the October Championship trophy.

The 1998 Yankees division results:

G1:  ’98 YANKEES 5, ’35 CUBS 4.

G2:  ’98 YANKEES 4, ’35 CUBS 0.

G3:  ’61 YANKEES 4, ’98 YANKEES 1.

G4:  ’98 YANKEES 8, ’61 YANKEES 3.

G5:  ’98 YANKEES 6, 2016 RED SOX 2.

G6:  ’98 YANKEES 4, 2016 RED SOX 2.

G7:  ’98 YANKEES 14, ’38 YANKEES 3.

G8:  ’38 YANKEES 4, ’98 YANKEES 3.

G9:  ’98 YANKEES 5, 2004 TWINS 3.

G10:  2004 TWINS 5, ’98 YANKEES 3.

DIVISION RECORD:  7W – 3L  |  53 R, 30 RA

Dave (runner-up), Jim and Gary (TCABT-X Champion).

It all happens again, next April:

TCABT-XI

Saturday, April 6th, 2019

Thanks to APBA for making this hobby possible!

TCABT-X: The Divisions

30 teams are in play for the TCABT-X Championship this October 6th, 2018.

Darrell Skogen, Leroy Arnoldi, Kevin Cluff and myself met up at Tiffany’s Sports Lounge in St. Paul, and over lunch and some beverages, as the main reason for our meeting finally played out, the random division draw for TCABT-X.

We have 5 divisions, with 6 teams in each division.  Each team will play a 10-game schedule, that is 2 games vs each team in their own division.

5 division winners and 3 wild-cards will then advance to our best-of-three bracket quarter-finals.

Here are the divisions, named after 5 managers who wore #10 for at least part of their careers:

SPARKY ANDERSON DIVISION

1911 PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS – DAVE NORLANDER

1905 NEW YORK GIANTS – KEVIN CLUFF

1977 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES – BEN LOFGREN

1953 BROOKLYN DODGERS – FRED JOHNSON

2006 MINNESOTA TWINS – CHUCK PENTTILA

1973 PITTSBURGH PIRATES – DARRELL SKOGEN

 

DICK HOWSER DIVISION

1961 NEW YORK YANKEES – DARRELL SHREVE

1998 NEW YORK YANKEES – GARY BORTHWICK

1938 NEW YORK YANKEES – JEFF BOEDING

2004 MINNESOTA TWINS – ROB SKOGEN

1935 CHICAGO CUBS – JIM FRAASCH

2016 BOSTON RED SOX – CHRIS SHORES

 

TOM KELLY DIVISION

1998 ATLANTA BRAVES – STEVE RYAN

2017 HOUSTON ASTROS – BRUCE TYLER

2017 LOS ANGELES DODGERS – GREGG NELSON

1995 CLEVELAND INDIANS – SCOTT ELLINGWORTH

1906 CHICAGO CUBS – ERIC BERG

2015 TORONTO BLUE JAYS – TERRY BORTHWICK

 

TONY LARUSSA DIVISION

2000 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS – BEAU LOFGREN

1931 PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS – LEROY ARNOLDI

1965 MINNESOTA TWINS – GARTH ANDERSEN

2017 CLEVELAND INDIANS – ALEC OTTO

1939 NEW YORK YANKEES – PAUL VAN BEEK

1970 MINNESOTA TWINS – CHRIS KAUFMAN

 

JIM LEYLAND DIVISION

2003 FLORIDA MARLINS – CRAIG CHRISTIAN

1973 ATLANTA BRAVES – GEORGE ADAMS

1975 CINCINNATI REDS – PHIL GERAFFO

2002 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS – GORDON RODELL

1964 NEW YORK YANKEES – MARTY LEE

2017 NEW YORK YANKEES – DAVE DRUK

 

Saturday, October 6th, 2018

8:30am

 

 

 

TCABT-X: Team Selection begins July 7!

TCABT-X team selection is upon us.  Team selection will begin at noon on Saturday, July 7th, 2018.  Teams will be updated on this blog post, as they are validated.

TCABT-X Tournament date is:  Saturday, October 6th, 2018.

TCABT-X: Selected Teams –

1. 1953 DODGERS (FRED JOHNSON, COTTAGE GROVE,MN) 
2. 1911 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER, DULUTH, MN) 
3. 2017 INDIANS (ALEC OTTO, GREEN BAY, WI) 
4. 2017 DODGERS (GREGG NELSON, MAPLE GROVE, MN) 
5. 2015 BLUE JAYS (TERRY BORTHWICK, CRYSTAL, MN) 
6. 1961 YANKEES (DARRELL SHREVE, ST. PAUL, MN) 
7. 2017 ASTROS (BRUCE TYLER, ELK RIVER, MN) 
8. 1998 YANKEES (GARY BORTHWICK, CRYSTAL, MN) 
9. 1965 TWINS (GARTH ANDERSEN, ANDOVER, MN) 
10. 1975 REDS (PHIL GERAFFO, MINNETONKA, MN) 
11. 1931 ATHLETICS (LEROY ARNOLDI, PRIOR LAKE, MN) 
12. 1973 PIRATES (DARRELL SKOGEN, MAPLE GROVE, MN) 
13. 1977 PHILLIES (BEN LOFGREN, HAWLEY, MN) 
14. 2003 MARLINS (CRAIG CHRISTIAN, EAU CLAIRE, WI) 
15. 2017 YANKEES (DAVE DRUK, BLAINE, MN) 
16. 2016 RED SOX (CHRIS SHORES, MINNEAPOLIS, MN) 
17. 1905 GIANTS (KEVIN CLUFF, APPLE VALLEY, MN) 
18. 1970 TWINS (CHRIS KAUFMAN, MANKATO, MN) 
19. 2002 DIAMONDBACKS (GORDON RODELL, FT. MYERS, FL) 
20. 1906 CUBS (ERIC BERG, JACKSONVILLE, IL) 
21. 2004 TWINS (ROB SKOGEN, FOREST LAKE, MN) 
22. 1964 YANKEES (MARTY LEE, LENEXA, KS)
23. 1935 CUBS (JIM FRAASCH, SAVAGE, MN) 
24. 1938 YANKEES (JEFF BOEDING, PLATTE CITY, MO)
25. 1998 BRAVES (STEVE RYAN, HARRISON, TN)
26. 1973 BRAVES (GEORGE ADAMS, LIBERTY, MO)

27. 1995 INDIANS (SCOTT ELLINGWORTH, BROOKLYN PARK, MN)

28. 2006 TWINS (CHUCK PENTTILA, MONTICELLO, MN)

29. 2000 GIANTS (BEAU LOFGREN, HAWLEY, MN)

30. 1939 YANKEES (PAUL VAN BEEK, WINONA, MN)

 

TCABT-X Tournament date is:  Saturday, October 6th, 2018.

List your top 3 to 5 team picks.

Any MLB team, 1901-2017, minus the following previous TCABT Champions:

1927 Yankees, 1954 Giants, 1902 Pirates, 1937 Yankees, 2011 Rangers, 1930 Cardinals, 1930 Yankees, 1929 Athletics, 2017 Nationals.

Emails are handled on a first come, first serve basis.  But no email prior to noon (CST) on Saturday July 7th will be acknowledged.

Team selection will be open thru Friday, September 14th.

TCABT-IX: The Results …

The 28 entrants:  From top left standing – Bruce Tyler, Garth Andersen, Chris Kaufman, Phil Geraffo, Fred Johnson, Robert Elley, Gregg Nelson, George Adams, Pat Martin.

From 2nd row left standing – Paul Van Beek, Craig Christian, Marty Lee, Bob Collins, Leroy Arnoldi, Jim, Dave Norlander.

From left sitting – Ben Lofgren, Beau Lofgren, Jeff Boeding, Scott Egge, John Kalous, Darrell Skogen, Kevin Cluff.

From left kneeling and sitting on floor – Kurt Bergland, Rob Skogen, Gary Borthwick, Mike Vitt, Darrell Shreve.

Thanks to Terry Borthwick for taking this group photo, and most of the photos shown throughout this post!

We had a punctual group of 28, ready to get at it, Saturday morning, April 7th, 2018.  Although it felt more like February outside, we knew better, and baseball was the name of the game today.  APBA Baseball that is.  After a few announcements, introductions of the 3 first time entrants (Bob Collins of APBAOnline fame, Robert Elley and Mike Vitt) and some rules review, all 28 were ready to roll by 8:45am.  At stake, the April hardware, waiting for the next April victor …

There are 3 primary playing “areas” laid out through Darrell Skogen’s Maple Grove home:  The Pennant Porch, which is a beautiful 4-season wood and windows porch, with plenty of sunlight, holding one division at play.  The Den, which is another well-lit room on the other side of the main floor, with plenty of book shelves and APBA cards stored about and holding another division of 4 teams.  And then the Basement, which is hosting 5 of the 7 divisions today, a total of 20 guys, each rolling dice either with a shaker or a dice tower, making plenty of noise, between groans and sighs, and all lined up sitting at long tables looking like they are all waiting to yell “BINGO!”, or, as is the case with Leroy Arnoldi, “BANG GOES THE DYNAMITE!” each time one of his players goes deep.

In the Pennant Porch, Leroy sitting on right, with George Adams explaining how he came to pick the “Miracle” Braves of 191473 …

 

Also in the Pennant Porch, newcomer, Mike Vitt from Louisville, KY on left vs Bruce Tyler.

 

The Minnie Minoso division in action.

 

The Den, hosting the Gabby Hartnett division:  from L to R … Dave Norlander, Darrell Skogen facing off at the desk and in the background, Ben Lofgren and John Kalous at the table.

 

At one end of the basement, back in the corner and working clockwise:  Phil Geraffo, Gary Borthwick, Gregg Nelson and Jeff Boeding playing out their games in the Ted Williams division.

 

The Enos Slaughter division, with games in action, starting clockwise from front left:  Newcomer Bob Collins from Woodbury MN, Kevin Cluff, Darrell Shreve and newcomer Robert Elley from Longview TX.

 

The Reggie Jackson division, starting clockwise from back left:  Craig Christian, Scott Egge, Fred Johnson and Marty “Doc” Lee.

 

The Frank Howard division, starting clockwise from front left:  Chris Kaufman, Kurt Bergland, Paul Van Beek and Garth Andersen.

 

Closing out the basement division setup, the Roger Maris division, starting clockwise from back left:  Pat Martin, Rob Skogen, Beau Lofgren and Jim.

The Division Results:

TCABT-IX
Saturday, April 7th, 2018
GABBY HARTNETT DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1938 YANKEES (DAVE NORLANDER)	6	3	34	33	1
1942 YANKEES (BEN LOFGREN)	6	3	42	27	15
2017 ASTROS (JOHN KALOUS)	4	5	33	39	-6
2006 TWINS (DARRELL SKOGEN)	2	7	26	36	-10
TOTALS	18	18	135	135	0
FRANK HOWARD DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1995 INDIANS (PAUL VAN BEEK)	7	2	42	26	16
2006 PADRES (KURT BERGLAND)	5	4	36	45	-9
1970 TWINS (CHRIS KAUFMAN)	4	5	38	38	0
1972 PIRATES (GARTH ANDERSEN)	2	7	34	41	-7
TOTALS	18	18	150	150	0
REGGIE JACKSON DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
2000 MARINERS (MARTY LEE)	6	3	57	56	1
1987 TIGERS (FRED JOHNSON)	5	4	54	35	19
1980 EXPOS (SCOTT EGGE)	4	5	39	50	-11
1976 REDS (CRAIG CHRISTIAN)	3	6	46	55	-9
TOTALS	18	18	196	196	0
ROGER MARIS DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1953 DODGERS (JIM FRAASCH)	7	2	44	28	16
2017 INDIANS (ROB SKOGEN)	5	4	34	28	6
2010 TWINS (BEAU LOFGREN)	3	6	27	33	-6
1954 INDIANS (PAT MARTIN)	3	6	28	44	-16
TOTALS	18	18	133	133	0
MINNIE MINOSO DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1973 BRAVES (GEORGE ADAMS)	6	3	45	51	-6
1911 GIANTS (BRUCE TYLER)	6	3	46	23	23
1993 BLUE JAYS (LEROY ARNOLDI)	3	6	35	49	-14
1998 BRAVES (MIKE VITT)	3	6	38	41	-3
TOTALS	18	18	164	164	0
ENOS SLAUGHTER DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
2017 NATIONALS (KEVIN CLUFF)	7	2	37	18	19
1968 TIGERS (DARRELL SHREVE)	5	4	38	26	12
1969 ORIOLES (ROBERT ELLEY)	5	4	34	36	-2
2016 INDIANS (BOB COLLINS)	1	8	26	55	-29
TOTALS	18	18	135	135	0
TED WILLIAMS DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1941 DODGERS (GREGG NELSON)	6	3	41	29	12
1936 YANKEES (JEFF BOEDING)	5	4	38	33	5
1998 YANKEES (GARY BORTHWICK)	5	4	35	37	-2
1955 DODGERS (PHIL GERAFFO)	2	7	34	49	-15
TOTALS	18	18	148	148	0

Kurt Bergland and Garth Andersen in a Frank Howard division showdown between the 2006 Padres and 1972 Pirates.

 

Leroy appears less than amused during his division play match-up with George’s Miracle Braves of ’73.

 

After finishing up division play by around 2:30pm, it was well deserved break and then onto the 8-team, best-of-three, bracket play session.

George Adams (1973 Braves) and Paul Van Beek (1995 Indians) waste no time in getting their Quarter-final match under way.  George is making his first bracket-round appearance.

The Bracket Play Results:

Seed	QUARTER-FINALS	G1	G2	G3	SERIES
1	2017 NATIONALS	0	8	6	2
	vs
8	1911 GIANTS	6	7	4	1
2	1995 INDIANS	2	6	5	1
	vs
7	1973 BRAVES	3	5	7	2
3	1953 DODGERS	8	9		2
	vs
6	2000 MARINERS	4	3		0
4	1941 DODGERS	4	5		0
	vs
5	1938 YANKEES	9	10		2
Seed	SEMI-FINALS	G1	G2	G3	SERIES
1	2017 NATIONALS	3	8		2
	vs
7	1973 BRAVES	1	5		0
3	1953 DODGERS	9	3		0
	vs
5	1938 YANKEES	11	4		2
Seed	CHAMPIONSHIP	G1	G2	G3	SERIES
1	2017 NATIONALS	2	7	8	2
	vs
5	1938 YANKEES	3	3	6	1

2 former TCABT Champs go at it in the Quarter-finals, Bruce Tyler (1911 Giants) on left, vs Kevin Cluff (2017 Nationals) on right, inside the Pennant Porch.

 

2 Quarter-final series taking place in the Den.  In the foreground, Gregg Nelson (1941 Dodgers) vs Dave Norlander (1938 Yankees).  This is Gregg’s first TCABT appearance in the bracket play round.  In the background, Jim (on left) with his 1953 Dodgers battles Marty “Doc” Lee and his 2000 Mariners.

 

Semi-final action in the Pennant Porch between Dave’s 1938 Yankees and Jim’s 1953 Dodgers.  Dave’s 1938 Yankees with a big top of the 9th inning in game 1, comeback from down 9-6 to win 11-9.  Dave’s ’38 Yankees would sweep the series with a 4-3 victory in game 2.

 

In the other semi-final match, Kevin Cluff’s 2017 Nats need just 2 games to tame George’s Miracle 1973 Braves.

The championship series would pit Dave Norlander’s 1938 Yankees vs Kevin Cluff’s 2017 Nationals.  Kevin has been here before, winning the April TCABT title twice, in 2014 and in 2016.  Would he make it a 3rd time in 2018?

TCABT-IX Championship series, Dave Norlander on left vs Kevin Cluff on right.

The Championship match-up featured a 2-time April champion, Kevin and his 2017 Nats vs Dave and his 1938 Yankees, and Dave looking for his first title.  The ’38 Yankees won game 1, 3-2.  The 2017 Nationals win game 2, 7-3.  Game 3 for all the marbles, would go 11 innings.  The ’38 Yankees had an early 4-0 lead.  The 2017 Nats tie it up 4-4 in the bottom of the 9th, after entering the 9th trailing 4-3.  A scoreless 10th.  Once we get to the 11th inning, all pitchers are reduced to a straight D, regardless of their actual grades.  The Yankees put up 2 in the top of the 11th to go up 6-4.  In the bottom of the 11th, Harper blasts a 2-run homer to tie it and Zimmerman a 2-run homer to win the championship in walk-off style, as Kevin and the 2017 Nats win 8-6, and win the series 2 games to 1!

A big congratulations to Kevin Cluff for winning his 3rd April championship, winning each even numbered April (2014, 2016 and now 2018).  The joke was that Kevin does not earn “Legend” TCABT status until he gets his name on the October trophy, which Leroy Arnoldi has done twice (but Leroy has no April championships).  Who will be the first TCABT manager to end up on both trophies???  And will it happen this next October the 6th, 2018?  Overall in the 9 tournaments, we have had 6 different managers as champions, and 9 different runner-ups.  We also just past our 1000th game mark in TCABT history.  We are sitting at 1006 games played.

 

One note about the division names … the divisions were named after baseball greats who wore the #9 during part or all of their careers.  We originally had 8 divisions of 4 teams, but due to drops, we ended up with 7 divisions of 4 teams.  One glaring omission … one of the divisions was appropriately named for Bill Mazeroski.  But after 2 of the 4 drops came from the Mazeroski division, unfortunately, the Mazeroski division faded away.

 

It has become tradition to conclude each TCABT Results write-up with a wonderful, if not self-serving, offering from tourney entrant, and Minnesota’s top author on Minnesota History, Fred Johnson:

Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament – IX [April 7. 2018]

An Explanation

Editor’s Note: APBA “expert” Fred Johnson is back with yet another twisted version of a TCABT tournament, this regarding the recent April, 7, 2018 playoffs in Maple Grove. Take his words with a grain (a tablespoon would be better) of salt.

APBA Veterans and insightful rookies alike know my contempt for a sore loser, the whiner and wailer, who make excuses for defeat. So, to be clear, this brief account of my April 7 set back at Darrell Skogen Fields in Maple Grove is not a evasion or cover-up for a loss. It is an explanation.

In fact, two words quite aptly summarize the Saturday massacre: Jack Morris. The Tiger’s alleged ace sported a 0–2 record as he stumbled toward the critical division-deciding game with Craig Christian’s ’76 Reds; it is worth noting the rest of the Tiger pitchers were a combined 5-1 at this point and had won the first two games with Reds by a combined 12-7 count. Personal and professional redemption stood within easy reach if the Tiger tosser could prevail in the finale. Instead, Morris surrendered 10 runs, all earned, while his valiant teammates finished with 9 and the tying run at the plate.

In another display of Tiger toughness, the Detroiters piled up a +19 run differential within the Reggie Jackson division. The only other division club in the positive range was Marty Lee’s 2001 Mariners with an embarrassing +1. Not surprisingly, the Tigers’ +19 proved to be the highest among all division teams—if you don’t count runs scored by Bruce Tyler’s 1911 Giants and Kevin Cuff’s winning 2017 Nats, and I don’t.

Clearly my Tigers proved far superior to all of their division competitors, a point I made with Lee, whose Seattle club actually advanced to the next round. “Hey Marty,” I announced cordially, “since the Tigers are the real class here and they stomped your boys 2–1 in our series, doesn’t seem obvious that they should move on to the playoffs? It is evident you should hand over the title to them. This is not about me; it’s about them and justice.” Lee haltingly offered a cliche excuse—“But my Mariners had a better record”—and refused to concede.

A final point: If Jack Morris can’t compete fair and square with the baseball greats in Maple Grove last Saturday, how is it that he will be entering the MLB Hall of Fame this summer? In a search for baseball justice, I will be assembling my case against Morris with a concise 25-page synopsis of his April 7 TCABT-IX performance and submit it the Modern Baseball Era committee next month.

1961 Minnesota Twins Replay – September/Oct. Summary …

All good things must come to an end.  My 1961 Minnesota Twins replay, played out a little differently than I expected.  I expected the 1961 Twins to struggle playing against the upper-division clubs of the American League.  But other than the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox each going 12-6 vs the Twins, the Twins turned the tables on the likes of the Detroit Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles.  The Twins do struggle in their closing month of 1961, going just 12-17 (compared to 13-16 actual).  Overall, the Twins finish a balanced 80-80, 10 games above their actual record of 1961, 70-90.  The last 33 games for the Twins (including the final 4 games of August thru the close of the season), the Twins record was just 12-21.  I expected this tailspin much earlier in the season, it just did not occur until the last 33 games, thus allowing the Twins to finish 10 games above their actual 1961 mark.  The single most contributing factor to the Twins being able to win 80 times in my ’61 replay was the pitching of Jack Kralick (BYZ), who finishes 23-4 with a 2.02 ERA on the season.  And to think after his first 4 starts, he was just 2-2.  The last loss he took was July 30th vs Detroit where he pitched 4 innings, giving up 5 runs, 4 of those earned.  3 out of his last 5 starts were no decisions, but he did win his final start of the season vs Cleveland.

Here is how the American League fared vs the Twins in my 1961 Twins replay:

The High-lights and low-lights in the month of September/Oct. …

• After losing their last 4 games of August, the Twins win their 1st 2 games in September, taking 2 of 3 vs Boston including a 1-0 walk-off win on September 2nd when Bob Allison went deep in the bottom of the 9th.  Don Lee earning the CG shut-out.
• The Twins earn a 4-game series split with Chicago.
• After dropping the 1st 2 games to lowly Kansas City, the Twins win the last 2 games to earn another 4-game series split.  Jack Kralick wins his 22nd game on September 10th.
• The Angels take 2 of 3 from the Twins.  Camilo Pascual K’s a season-high 16 batters on September 11th, pitching 11 innings, in a 13 inning 5-3 loss.
• Another 4-game series split, this time vs Cleveland.
• Twins begin a 5-game scheduling oddity where they play 2 at Washington followed by 3 at home vs Washington.  Twins drop the 2 games at Washington.  Back home at Metropolitan Stadium, the Twins drop 2 of 3, including a 1-0 win by Dick Donovan of the Senators.
• The Twins continue their end-of-season 11-game home stand, and lose 2 of 3 to the Cleveland Indians.  Twins drop to 1 game above .500.  Jack Kralick won his 23rd in his final start of 1961.
• The season closes with a win and then 2 losses to Detroit, as the Twins finish an even 80-80.  Harmon Killebrew blasts 3 homers in the final series, to finish the season with 54 (8 more than actual).

I will be posting a follow-up to this final monthly post, with stat comparisons for each player, real-life vs replay.

(Killebrew, Mantle, Lemon, Maris at Yankee Stadium)

 

The month of September/October:

(click on game scores below for either the REPLAY boxscore or the ACTUAL boxscore)

Series #47:  Red Sox at Twins, September 1, 2, 3

  AT  

Game #132-  Replay Score:  TWINS 3, RED SOX 2   –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 5, RED SOX 1)

Game #133-  Replay Score:  TWINS 1, RED SOX 0   –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 2, TWINS 1)

Game #134-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 10, TWINS 7   –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 8, TWINS 6)

TWINS RECORD:  Replay (70-64)  –  Actual (58-76)

Don Lee, C(B*)Y, entered his start on September 2nd, with a 2-10 record having made 8 starts and 31 appearances with a 5.93 ERA.  Lee pitches his 2nd CG, 1-0 shut-out of the season.

 

Series #48:  White Sox at Twins, September 4 (2), 6 (2)

  AT  

Game #135-  Replay Score:  TWINS 6, WHITE SOX 4  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 9, WHITE SOX 5)

Game #136-  Replay Score:  WHITE SOX 6, TWINS 3  –  (Actual Score:  WHITE SOX 9, TWINS 5)

Game #137a – *Did not replay this game*  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 3, WHITE SOX 3 – TIE)

Game #137b-  Replay Score:  WHITE SOX 5, TWINS 0  –  (Actual Score:  WHITE SOX 6, TWINS 3)

Game #138-  Replay Score:  TWINS 7, WHITE SOX 4  –  (Actual Score:  WHITE SOX 4, TWINS 2)

TWINS RECORD:  Replay (72-66)  –  Actual (59-79)

Juan Pizzaro (BXY) finished 4th among the 1961 AL Strikeout leaders in real-life.  In the September 6th replay game, White Sox at Twins, game 1 of a double dip, Pizzaro pitched a CG, 3-hit, shutout, winning 5-0, and striking out 13 Twin batters.  Pizzaro also shut-out the Twins back on June 17th, pitching a CG, 2-hitter and striking out 9.  In 3 appearances vs the Twins in this replay, he has 20 IP, a 0.00 ERA and has struck-out 22 batters.  The White Sox finish with a 12-6 replay record over the Twins.

.

Series #49:  Twins at Athletics, September 8, 9, 10 (2)

  AT  

Game #139-  Replay Score:  ATHLETICS 4, TWINS 2  –  (Actual Score:  ATHLETICS 6, TWINS 4)

Game #140-  Replay Score:  ATHLETICS 9, TWINS 7  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 5, ATHLETICS 4)

Game #141-  Replay Score:  TWINS 2, ATHLETICS 0  –  (Actual Score:  ATHLETICS 13, TWINS 1)

Game #142-  Replay Score:  TWINS 11, ATHLETICS 4  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 7, ATHLETICS 0)

TWINS RECORD:  Replay (74-68)  –  Actual (61-81)

Jack Kralick and Harmon Killebrew do what they have done all season long, win ballgames and knock the ball over the fence.  Kralick wins his 22nd game of the season pitching 6 innings of shut-out ball as the Twins take the 1st of a double-header dip on September 10th, the Twins win 2-0.  Killebrew blasts his 46th homer, equaling his 1961 actual output, during the 2nd game of the double-header sweep on September 10th.  The A’s had won the first 2 game of the 4-game series, and they finish with an 8-10 record vs the Twins in ’61.

 

Series #50:  Angels at Twins, September 11, 14 (2)

  AT  

Game #143-  Replay Score:  ANGELS 5, TWINS 3  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 5, ANGELS 2)

Game #144-  Replay Score:  TWINS 6, ANGELS 1  –  (Actual Score:  ANGELS 5, TWINS 1)

Game #145-  Replay Score:  ANGELS 5, TWINS 1  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 3, ANGELS 1)

TWINS RECORD:  Replay (75-70)  –  Actual (63-82)

Camilo Pascual (BX), has turned into the strike-out “highlight” reel for the Minnesota Twins in 1961.  In game #143, Pascual went 11 innings, striking out 16 (a season record high for the Twins), only to see the Twins lose the game in the 13th inning.  The Angels meanwhile, finish with a 10-7 record (1 rain-out not made up) over the Twins in 1961.

 

Series #51:  Twins at Indians, September 15, 16, 17 (2)

  AT  

Game #146-  Replay Score:  INDIANS 9, TWINS 6  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 3, INDIANS 2)

Game #147-  Replay Score:  INDIANS 2, TWINS 1  –  (Actual Score:  INDIANS 2, TWINS 0)

Game #148-  Replay Score:  TWINS 5, INDIANS 1  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 5, INDIANS 0)

Game #149-  Replay Score:  TWINS 8, INDIANS 7  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 5, INDIANS 3)

TWINS RECORD:  Replay (77-72)  –  Actual (66-83)

Joe Altobelli’s 1961 tenure with the Twins (41 games) was very short-lived.  ’61 would be the last season Altobelli played in the Major’s after previously playing for Cleveland in 1955 and 1957.  In real-life, Joe only hit 3 HR in 1961.  In this ’61 Twins replay, Joe would hit #4 and #5 vs the Indians, in games 3 and 4 of this 4-game series.  In game 4, Joe’s 3-run homer tied the game in the top of the 9th for the Twins, after the Twins had given up a 3-run homer to Vic Power in the bottom of the 8th.  The Twins split this 4-game set with the Indians.  Altobelli would go on to manage parts of 7 different seasons between 1977 and 1991 for the Giants, Orioles and Cubs.

 

Series #52:  Twins at Senators, September 19, 21

  AT  

Game #150-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 7, TWINS 5  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 3, SENATORS 1)

Game #151-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 2, TWINS 1  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 6, SENATORS 3)

TWINS RECORD:  Replay (77-74)  –  Actual (68-83)

Bud Zipfel’s MLB career lasted only 2 seasons.  1961 and 1962 with the Senators.  In this 2 game replay series vs the Twins, Zipfel managed to hit a HR in each game.  In game 2, the homer came in the 6th off of Jack Kralick, who had a 1-0 lead going at the time.  The Senators win game 2, 2-1, in 10 innings in walk-off fashion on a wild pitch by Twins reliever Bill Pleis with Willie Tasby scoring from 3rd.  With the Senators sweeping 2 vs Minnesota in D.C., the teams now head to Bloomington, MN for 3 more …

 

Series #53:  Senators at Twins, September 23 (2), 24

  AT  

Game #152-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 10, TWINS 3  –  (Actual Score:  SENATORS 6, TWINS 4)

Game #153-  Replay Score:  TWINS 7, SENATORS 4  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 10, SENATORS 0)

Game #154-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 1, TWINS 0  –  (Actual Score:  SENATORS 4, TWINS 1)

TWINS RECORD:  Replay (78-76)  –  Actual (69-85)

In game #152 of the replay, Harmon Killebrew blasts his 49th homer of the season (which matches his highest real-life, 1-season total during his career).  In game #154, Dick Donovan blanks the Twins, 1-0.  The Senators finish with an 8-9 record (1 rain-out not made up) vs the Twins in the replay.

 

Series #54:  Indians at Twins, September 26, 27, 28

  AT  

Game #155-  Replay Score:  TWINS 4, INDIANS 2  –  (Actual Score:  INDIANS 7, TWINS 3)

Game #156-  Replay Score:  INDIANS 7, TWINS 1  –  (Actual Score:  TWINS 10, INDIANS 4)

Game #157-  Replay Score:  INDIANS 10, TWINS 4  –  (Actual Score:  INDIANS 12, TWINS 5)

TWINS RECORD:  Replay (79-78)  –  Actual (70-87)

Vic Power, the slick fielding 1st-baseman for the Cleveland Indians has a career 3-game series going 8 for 12 vs his future team, as the Twins will end up acquiring Power for the 1962 season.  In Power’s last 4 replay games vs the Twins in ’61, he was 11 for 18 with 2 HR’s and a triple (and 16 for 46 in 11 games vs Minnesota in ’61).  Meanwhile the Cleveland Indians finish with a 10-8 record over the Twins in ’61.  Jack Kralick won his 23rd in his final start of 1961, in game 1 of the series.

 

Series #55:  Tigers at Twins, September 29, 30, Oct 1

  AT  

Game #158-  Replay Score:  TWINS 4, TIGERS 2  –  (Actual Score:  TIGERS 6, TWINS 4)

Game #159-  Replay Score:  TIGERS 13, TWINS 7  –  (Actual Score:  TIGERS 6, TWINS 4)

Game #160-  Replay Score:  TIGERS 8, TWINS 6  –  (Actual Score:  TIGERS 8, TWINS 3)

FINAL TWINS RECORD:  Replay (80-80)  –  Actual (70-90)

The season closes with an 8-6, 11 inning loss to Detroit.  In the final series opener, Harmon Killebrew hit homers #52 and #53, and driving in all 4 Twins runs in a 4-2 win.  Harmon’s homer barrage continued in game #159, as Killer hit homerun #54, in a losing cause, and the Twins dropped their final 2 games of the season, finishing an even 80-80.  Harmon’s 54 replay clouts top his actual highest HR total in any season, of 49 (done in 1964 and 1969).

 

TWINS Final Season Stats (click on link to read):

1961_TWINS_BATTING_Final

1961_TWINS_PITCHING_Final

1961_TWINS_FIELDING_Final

160 ink-stained scoresheets later …

 

TWINS month-by-month Summaries (click on links to read past months):

APRIL (W-L):  6-9  (9-6 Actual)

MAY (W-L):  18-10  (10-18 Actual)

JUNE (W-L):  15-16  (10-21 Actual)

JULY (W-L):  15-12  (16-11 Actual)

AUGUST (W-L):  14-16  (12-18 Actual)

SEPT/OCT (W-L):  12-17  (13-16 Actual)

 

The 1961 season closes with Harmon Killebrew emerging as the new Minnesota hero for generations to come.

TCABT-IX: Divisions are set …

NOTE: we have 4 drops from our original 32, so we are at 28 teams, 7 divisions.

The prelude to TCABT-IX … our random division draw.  Seven of us were able to meet at the Meadows Bar & Grill in Prior Lake, MN.  Tension was non-existent, but giddy we were, to see how our 28 teams would be divided into 7 divisions, 4 teams each, for our 9th semi-annual Neil Ess Memorial Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament, to be held in Maple Grove, MN, Saturday, April 7th, 2018.

A few Bloody Mary’s, Diet Cokes, and lemonades later, a large envelope was presented containing all 28 team/manager names, to be picked one by one, as it passed around the table.

Up for grabs, were 7 divisions, named after 7 greats of the game, who wore #9 during their careers (or at least part of their career).

How they fell (click on each team to see Baseball Reference Stats):

GABBY HARTNETT DIVISION
2017 ASTROS (JOHN KALOUS)
1938 YANKEES (DAVE NORLANDER)
2006 TWINS (DARRELL SKOGEN)
1942 YANKEES (BEN LOFGREN)

FRANK HOWARD DIVISION
2006 PADRES (KURT BERGLAND)
1972 PIRATES (GARTH ANDERSEN)
1970 TWINS (CHRIS KAUFMAN)
1995 INDIANS (PAUL VAN BEEK)

REGGIE JACKSON DIVISION
1976 REDS (CRAIG CHRISTIAN)
2000 MARINERS (MARTY LEE)
1987 TIGERS (FRED JOHNSON)
1980 EXPOS (SCOTT EGGE)

ROGER MARIS DIVISION
1953 DODGERS (JIM FRAASCH)
1954 INDIANS (PAT MARTIN)
2017 INDIANS (ROB SKOGEN)
2010 TWINS (BEAU LOFGREN)

MINNIE MINOSO DIVISION
1998 BRAVES (MIKE VITT)
1993 BLUE JAYS (LEROY ARNOLDI)
1973 BRAVES (GEORGE ADAMS)
1911 GIANTS (BRUCE TYLER)

ENOS SLAUGHTER DIVISION
1969 ORIOLES (ROBERT ELLEY)
2017 NATIONALS (KEVIN CLUFF)
1968 TIGERS (DARRELL SHREVE)
2016 INDIANS (BOB COLLINS)

TED WILLIAMS DIVISION
1941 DODGERS (GREGG NELSON)
1936 YANKEES (JEFF BOEDING)
1955 DODGERS (PHIL GERAFFO)
1998 YANKEES (GARY BORTHWICK)