TCABT-XIV (October 17, 2020): Team Selection …

“Let’s play 2” … Ernie Banks

TCABT-XIV Tournament date is:  Saturday, October 17th, 2020.

TCABT-XIV Tournament site is:

The Shakopee Community Youth Building at Lyons Park

1099 Adams St S

Shakopee, MN 55379

TCABT-XIV: Selected Teams (click on team name for Baseball Reference link) –

1.  1922 BROWNS (DAVE NORLANDER – GRAND RAPIDS, MN)
2.  1977 ROYALS (DAVE JONES – MINNEAPOLIS, MN)
3.  1969 ORIOLES (CHRIS KAUFMAN – MANKATO, MN)
4.  2004 CARDINALS (ROB SKOGEN – FOREST LAKE, MN)
5.  1949 RED SOX (JIM HALL – OTSEGO, MN)
6.  1906 NAPS – “INDIANS” (JEFF BOEDING – PLATTE CITY, MO)
7.  1973 REDS (JIM FRAASCH – SAVAGE, MN)
8.  1928 ATHLETICS (JERRY JACOBS – FORT MYERS, FL)
9.  2019 TWINS (FRED JOHNSON – COTTAGE GROVE, MN)
10.  2019 DODGERS (KEVIN CLUFF – APPLE VALLEY, MN)
11.  1998 BRAVES (PHIL GERAFFO – SHOREWOOD, MN)
12.  1911 GIANTS (BEN LOFGREN – HAWLEY, MN)
13.  1986 ANGELS (GARTH ANDERSEN – ANDOVER, MN)
14.  2018 DODGERS (PAUL VAN BEEK – WINONA, MN)
15.  1930 ATHLETICS (BRUCE TYLER – ELK RIVER, MN)
16.  2019 YANKEES (DAVE DRUK – BLAINE, MN)
17.  1946 TIGERS (GEORGE ADAMS – LIBERTY, MO)
18.  1962 GIANTS (LEROY ARNOLDI – PRIOR LAKE, MN)
19.  ?

Any MLB team, 1901-2019, minus the following previous 13 TCABT Champions:

1927 Yankees, 1954 Giants, 1902 Pirates, 1937 Yankees, 2011 Rangers, 1930 Cardinals, 1930 Yankees, 1929 Athletics, 2017 Nationals, 1998 Yankees, 1972 Pirates, 1938 Yankees, 2019 Astros.

Team selection for TCABT-XIV will be open thru Friday, September 25th.

Kent Hrbek, rookie year, 1981

TCABT-XIV Tournament date is: Saturday, October 17th, 2020.

TCABT-XIII Results …

TCABT-XIII: 13 entrants (12 pictured) – L to R: Barry Boevers, Ben Lofgren, Leroy Arnoldi, Phil Geraffo (standing directly behind Leroy), Dave Jones, Garth Andersen, Rob Skogen, Jerry Jacobs, Robert Elley (standing directly behind Jerry), Kevin Cluff, Jim Hall, Jim F. – Not pictured is Dave Norlander. The group photo was taken the morning of, before the games started, outside of the Shakopee Community Youth Center.

The Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament finally resumed action by holding its belated “April Trophy” tourney on Saturday, August 8th.

Our new tourney site, the Shakopee Community Youth Center, was put to the test. The overwhelming response to the new location, was that this can work for future TCABT events, even with 30+ attendees on hand.

The Shakopee Community Youth Center

A special thanks to Terry and Gary Borthwick, for offering to drive to the new site and take photos as the entrants arrive on site, including taking the group photo. The Borthwick’s are regular tournament entrants, but decided to sit this one out.

Gary Borthwick sneaks in a photo of his wife Terry. Even though both were not playing in this tourney, they took the time to show up early and take a few photos, including the group photo. You can blame her NYC roots for the wearing of the Yankees jersey.

Robert Elley from Longview, TX, takes the “long distance” award for his trek to the Twin Cities. Robert’s wife has a son who works for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, so the trip allows them a chance to visit. Robert managed the 2017 Astros today.

You could tell by the walk, Ben Lofgren meant business today … 13 wins and 2 losses was the record for his champion 2019 Astros.

Ben, Kevin Cluff (2019 Twins) and Jim F. (1931 Athletics)

Fearless Rob Skogen, and his 1995 Indians, had plans to “reverse the curse” …

Terry, Barry Boevers (1977 Phillies), Garth Andersen (1967 Cardinals) and Ben.

Phil Geraffo (1969 Twins) ready to play “Billy-ball” …

Leroy Arnoldi (1936 Yankees) arrives for his shot at April immortality.

The man behind the mask, TCABT first-timer, Jim Hall (1985 Expos).

Gag prop of the day … Robert Elley came prepared, for both his 2017 Astros and Ben Lofgren’s 2019 Astros. The garbage can fitted with the Houston Astros logo, a miniature baseball bat and 2 dice, with only “6’s” on each side.

DIVISION PLAY RESULTS:

	TCABT-XIII
	Saturday, August 8th, 2020
	LEFT FIELD DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
1	1910 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER)	7	1	46	29	17
5	2019 TWINS (KEVIN CLUFF)	6	2	54	45	9
7	1928 ATHLETICS (JERRY JACOBS)	4	4	36	30	6
	1969 TWINS (PHIL GERAFFO)	3	5	24	39	-15
	1995 INDIANS (ROB SKOGEN)	0	8	35	52	-17
	TOTALS	20	20	195	195	0
	CENTER FIELD DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
3	1977 PHILLIES (BARRY BOEVERS)	6	3	48	34	14
6	2017 ASTROS (ROBERT ELLEY)	6	3	59	49	10
	1976 REDS (DAVE JONES)	4	5	36	51	-15
	1931 ATHLETICS (JIM FRAASCH)	2	7	40	49	-9
	TOTALS	18	18	183	183	0
	RIGHT FIELD DIVISION	W	L	R	OR	RDIFF
2	2019 ASTROS (BEN LOFGREN)	7	2	42	30	12
4	1936 YANKEES (LEROY ARNOLDI)	7	2	50	18	32
8	1967 CARDINALS (GARTH ANDERSEN)	4	5	29	35	-6
	1985 EXPOS (JIM HALL)	0	9	19	57	-38
	TOTALS	18	18	140	140	0

Jim F. accepting a “bribe” payment from Leroy Arnoldi before play begins, as Phil Geraffo and Jerry Jacobs look on …

The division races were tight, especially between the top 2 teams in each division.

In the Left Field Division, Dave Norlander’s 1 loss was to Kevin Cluff’s 2019 Twins. Kevin Cluff finished 6-2 with the potent 2019 Twins lineup, and entered bracket play with their 2nd place finish as the #5 seed. Finishing 3rd, and qualifying for bracket play, was Jerry Jacob’s 1928 Athletics. He went 4-4 in division play, winning his first 2, losing his middle 4 then winning his final 2 to qualify. In what seemed to be a theme for those powerful late 20’s/early 30’s A’s teams today, Jerry saw his ’28 Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons go a combined 9 for 80 with 1 double and 1 triple. Phil Geraffo’s 1969 Twins started out the day with a 3-1 record. But losses in the final 4 games spelled doom for Phil and his Twins, finishing with a 3-5 record.

Meanwhile, Rob Skogen’s ’95 Indians lost 4 games by 1 run each, in going 0-8. For the record, this is the 2nd time Rob has brought the ’95 Indians to a TCABT tourney. Each time, they have gone 0-8 for Rob. In all, the ’95 Indians have been entered in our tournament, 9 times. They have gone 0-16 when Rob manages them, and 36-34 when other skippers have been at the helm. They have made bracket play 3 of the 9 times they have been entered. Rob Skogen’s overall TCABT W-L record when he does not bring the ’95 Indians, is 51-49. Will Rob try a 3rd time with these ’95 Indians? We all hope so …

Say-hey, it is tourney day!! Pictured are Leroy, Jerry Jacobs and Garth Anderson.

In the Center Field Division, it was a day of sweeping, or getting swept, with only 2 of the series in the division not seeing sweeps. In an opening series, the battle of Philly, went to my ’31 A’s, 2 games to 1, over Barry Boevers’ 1977 Phillies, the eventual Center Field Division champs. It would be Fraasch’s ’31 A’s last wins of the day. Jim’s A’s dropped the next 6 games, getting swept by Dave Jones’ 1976 Reds and the Robert Elley’s 2017 Astros. ’31 Lefty Grove (A&C-YZ) finished the day 1-2 with a team worst 6.48 ERA. Meanwhile, the sure-fire slugger tandem of ’31 Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons, went a combined 11 for 62, with 1 homer, 2 triples and 3 doubles and 7 RBI combined. Barry and his ’77 Phils, after starting the day 1-2, then swept the 3-0 ’17 Astros to move into first place with a 4-2 record. They would then take 2 of 3 from Dave Jones’ 1976 Reds, to finish 6-3. The 2017 Astros, led by Robert Elley, started out with a 3-0 sweep of the ’76 Reds, then getting swept by the ’77 Phils, before finishing the day with a 3-0 sweep of the ’31 A’s. The ’77 Phillies and 2017 Astros tied with 6-3 records, but Barry and his ’77 Phils won the head-to-head tie-breaker with their sweep of the Astros. Dave Jones ’76 Reds, after starting 0-3, looked to get back into contention with their 3-0 sweep of the ’31 A’s, only to lose 2 of 3 in the last series to the ’77 Phils.

Barry Boevers (’77 Phils) before the full gang arrives …

In the Right Field Division, it was a battle of the haves, and the have-nots. The front-running 2019 Astros managed by Ben Lofgren and the powerful 1936 Yankees led by Leroy Arnoldi, opened up division play with their 3 game series. Ben’s Astros set the tone early, with a 5-1 win in game 1, and after falling 4-0 in game 2, the Astros won division game 3, 7-5. This 2nd loss by the ’36 Yanks would be Leroy’s final loss in division play, as he won his final 6 games to finish 7-2. Somehow, Leroy’s “C-grade” laden rotation, pitched 4 shut-outs. The staff gave up just 18 runs in 9 games. Not to be outdone, Ben’s 2019 Astros took another 2 of 3 series, from Garth Andersen’s 1967 Cardinals, losing only game 3 by a 2-1 score. The Astros were only able to outscore the “light-hitting” ’67 Cardinals, 10-8 in their 3 game series. Needing to gain 3 wins in his final series of the day, Ben wasted no time in taking down Jim Hall and his darkhorse, 1985 Expos, in 3 games. Scores of 12-8, 5-3 and 3-1, show that the last 2 games were very close for Jim Hall, looking for his first win in tourney play. It was not to be, as the 1985 Expos finished 0-9 on the day. This is the first time in TCABT history, where we had 2 teams finish win-less in the same tourney. Garth Andersen and his ’67 Cardinals, hung tough all day, finishing 1-game under .500 in a tough division. With a 4-5 record, they were good enough to take the #8 seed as a wild-card, entering bracket-play. Andersen’s ’67 Cards swept Hall’s ’85 Expos in the opening series, and thru their first 6 games, were standing at 4-2. But 2 shutouts hurled by Leroy’s ’36 Yankee staff, were part of the 3-game sweep of the ’67 Cards in the final series of the day. Thanks to Ben’s 2019 Astros winning the opening 3-game series over Leroy’s 1936 Yankees, the 2019 Astros took 1st in the RF Division. Leroy became the #4 seed in bracket play, finishing 2nd in the RF Division.

Dave Jones (’76 Reds) and Jim Hall (’85 Expos) checking out the view, before play begins …

BRACKET PLAY RESULTS:

Seed	QUARTER-FINALS	G1	G2	G3	SERIES
1	1910 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER)	4	6		2
	vs
8	1967 CARDINALS (GARTH ANDERSEN)	0	1		0
2	2019 ASTROS (BEN LOFGREN)	8	5		2
	vs
7	1928 ATHLETICS (JERRY JACOBS)	5	3		0
3	1977 PHILLIES (BARRY BOEVERS)	13	8		2
	vs
6	2017 ASTROS (ROBERT ELLEY)	3	6		0
4	1936 YANKEES (LEROY ARNOLDI)	5	13		2
	vs
5	2019 TWINS (KEVIN CLUFF)	4	6		0
Seed	SEMI-FINALS	G1	G2	G3	SERIES
1	1910 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER)	7	15	11	2
	vs
4	1936 YANKEES (LEROY ARNOLDI)	8	3	3	1
2	2019 ASTROS (BEN LOFGREN)	6	6		2
	vs
3	1977 PHILLIES (BARRY BOEVERS)	1	3		0
Seed	CHAMPIONSHIP	G1	G2	G3	SERIES
1	1910 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER)	5	4		0
	vs
2	2019 ASTROS (BEN LOFGREN)	10	6		2

With only 1 bracket series going the full 3-games, we were finished in record time, 6pm.

With only 1 of the bracket-play series going the full 3 games, it was a quick finish to TCABT-XIII. We were finished by 6:00pm Saturday. Ben Lofgren and his 2019 Astros breezed through bracket play with a perfect 6-0 record, to gain the April Trophy, Ben’s first championship in TCABT play. Ben’s road to the championship started with a 2-game sweep of Jerry Jacob’s ’28 A’s in the Quarter-finals. Then another 2-game sweep of Barry Boever’s ’77 Phillies in the Semi-finals.

Barry Boevers (’77 Phillies) battle Ben Lofgren (2019 Astros) in one Semi-final …

Meanwhile, last October’s tourney champion, Dave Norlander and his 1910 A’s took care of Garth Andersen and his 1967 Cardinals in the Quarter-finals, 2 games to none, giving up just 1 run in those 2 games. Dave then advanced to the championship series with a 2-1 series win over Leroy’s battling ’36 Yanks, scoring 26 runs in the series final 2 games. This was the only series to go the full 3 games in bracket play.

Dave Norlander (1910 A’s) vs Leroy Arnoldi (1936 Yankees) in the other Semi-final, the only bracket series to go the full 3 games … note, you need to look closely to see Leroy’s clear full-face shield … this seemed to help muffle Leroy’s “BANG! goes the DYNAMITE!” call …

Kevin with front row seats as Leroy (with an icy glare off his face shield) battles Dave …

The TCABT-XIII Championship was between Ben’s 2019 Astros and Dave’s 1910 Athletics. A nice match-up of “new” vs “old”. Power won out, as Ben’s 2019 Astros proved to be no match for the pesky 1910 A’s. The poor fielding of the 1910 A’s, was one culprit, but the relentless hitting of the 2019 Astros never slowed down. The 2019 Astros 6 wins with no defeats through bracket play, they outscored their opponents, 41-21. The 2019 Astros hit 37 homers in their 15 games rolled for the day.

Dave Norlander (1910 A’s) and Ben Lofgren (2019 Astros) battle for the championship as Jim F. observes …

A BIG congratulations to Ben Lofgren on his first TCABT Championship!!! Ben is looking forward to his younger brother, Beau Lofgren, to return to TCABT action in the coming tournaments. Due to scheduling conflicts, Beau has had to unfortunately miss the last few tourneys. The rivalry is just heating up, as Beau will be looking to match championships with brother Ben …

Dave still thinking about a potential TCABT “1st”, to become the 1st with “Legend” status in TCABT, which is getting your name on both the April and October trophies. Dave won last October’s trophy with the ’38 Yankees. Ben feeling content, if not confident, he might end up with his first TCABT Championship …

By 6pm, we had our TCABT-XIII Champion crowned … CONGRATS!!! to Ben Lofgren on left, with runner-up, Dave Norlander on right. Note the “TIN” garbage can in front of Ben … ironically, this was a pre-tournament “gag” gift to Ben from none other than Dave Norlander …

High point of my day, win or lose (more losses than wins) is posing with the tournament champion, Ben Lofgren. Incredible day for Ben going 13-2 on the day. Here’s to the next championship …

The upcoming TCABT-XIV (October Trophy) will be held Saturday, October 17th. The location will be the same, the Shakopee Youth Center in Shakopee, MN. Meanwhile, for TCABT-XV, Spring of 2021, date is TBD.

TCABT-XIV: Saturday, October 17th

TCABT-XV: Spring 2021, TBD

The Home for APBA Games

A follow-up to the new Tink Larson Community Field, Waseca, MN

Current day view of the rebuilt Tink Larson Community Field

The new Tink Larson Community Field opened for the first time back in 2018, after the original Waseca Community Field, built in 1939 as part of the WPA effort, burned down in 2016.

The photo below, depicts the original Waseca Community Field (later named after Tink Larson, who still manages and manicures the ballpark).

Early sky view of Waseca Community Field, during the 1940’s.

From the following photo, you can see the same house still standing, which puts it across the street on the west side, the 1st base side.

From 3rd base side, see same white home, and smaller home to the left of the white home across the street from the ballpark.

My goal was to catch the townball team (Waseca Braves) game being played here during the summer of 2020, but with the pandemic putting a stop to public gatherings for the time being, I will have to make another stop in Waseca during the summer of 2021.

My uncle, Jack Thornby (my mom’s oldest brother) played for the Waseca Braves in the late 1940’s and into the 1950’s. He played baseball for the Minnesota Gopher baseball team, with Dick Siebert as his manager. When home for the summer, he played for the Waseca Braves.

1947 Waseca Braves baseball team Team of Southern Minny League; shown are 11 men, Front row left to right: Harold “Hal” Younghans; Bob Wichello; Dick Rediske; Pete Kramer; Ronald Kelly. Standing left to right: Bill Foster; Jack Thornby; Arleigh Kraupa; Chick Gray; Harry Anderson; Bill Severin.

My mother would have seen several of Jack’s games, however, I had not asked her much about the games before she passed away in 2014. My dad indicated that when he would watch the team play during the 1950’s after he met my mom, the player who stood out was Arleigh Kraupa, the star pitcher on the team. He is standing, 3rd from left with glasses on, next to my uncle Jack (who is standing, 2nd from left).

Arleigh Kraupa is pictured below in a photo taken approx. circa 1948, with another player, Gene Farrell.

Gene Farrell (L) and Arleigh Kraupa (R), circa approx 1948.

The new rendition of Tink Larson Community Field was built with many thanks to the hundreds of donors who are listed on the donor wall on the new grandstand. The Minnesota Twins donated $100,000. Tink Larson, who lives nearby, continues to manage and manicure the field.

Donor Wall

View from CF with the light standard shadow

View of LF from 1st base side of grandstand

CF Scoreboard, noting state championships for the 1957 Waseca Braves townball team and the 1990 Waseca Bluejays high school team.

Grandstand view of CF

Game in play at the original Waseca Community Field

The same view today

Tink Larson talks Waseca Baseball and what the ballpark has meant to him over the years

SBMBL thru 10 games …

Newark Eagles’ dugout, circa 1940’s

100 of the 380 total regular season games have been rolled in my 20-team Negro League Baseball project, the Sherwood Brewer Memorial Baseball League.  Each team has played 10 games.

SBMBL Standings thru 10 games:

Upcoming Schedule (Round 6, Series #51-60):

GAMES 11-12
1910 CHICAGO (6-4) VS 1931 HOMESTEAD (10-0)
1913 NEW YORK (8-2) VS 1948 BIRMINGHAM (6-4)
1916 INDIANAPOLIS (5-5) VS 1927 CHICAGO (6-4)
1917 CHICAGO (4-6) VS 1938 HOMESTEAD (1-9)
1921 CHICAGO (3-7) VS 1946 NEWARK (6-4)
1924 KANSAS CITY (5-5) VS 1933 CHICAGO (5-5)
1925 HILLDALE (7-3) VS 1930 ST. LOUIS (7-3)
1926 ATLANTIC CITY (4-6) VS 1945 CLEVELAND (5-5)
1929 BALTIMORE (2-8) VS 1942 KANSAS CITY (4-6)
1935 PITTSBURGH (4-6) VS 1943 BIRMINGHAM (2-8)

The 1931 Homestead Grays have made a mark for themselves, 10 games into my Negro League Baseball project, by going a perfect 10-0.

The ’31 Grays are batting .301 as a team, good for 3rd in the league, behind the ’30 Stars (.315) and the ’13 Lincoln Giants (.308).  The ’31 Grays Jud Wilson leads the league with a .531 batting average.  The ’31 Grays Oscar Charleston leads the league in runs scored with 15.  ’31 Grays, Josh Gibson, leads the league with 16 RBI.  On the pitching side, the ’31 Grays team ERA of 3.16 is 4th best in the league.  ’31 Grays, Lefty Williams, is 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA.

While the ’31 Grays are king of the hill, the ’38 Grays are at the bottom of the heap, with a 1-9 record.  Their 1 win, coming in a 9-0 thumping of the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons in game 5 of the season, after starting out 0-4.  The ’38 Grays have lost 5, 1-run games, including 3 of their last 4.  The last game they lost in extra innings after leading the entire game thru 8-1/2 innings.  While Josh Gibson has torn up the league for the ’31 Grays, he has slumped big time for the ’38 Grays, batting just .212 with 3 homers and 5 RBI.  2 of his 3 homers came in the 10th game, the 4-3 extra inning loss.

Bingo DeMoss, 1917 Chicago American Giants, leads the league with 11 stolen bases.

SBMBL Batting Leaders thru 10 games:

Lefty Williams, 1931 Homestead Grays, leads the league with a 1.66 ERA in 4 starts.

SBMBL Pitching Leaders thru 10 games:

Oscar “Heavy” Johnson, 1924 Kansas City Monarchs

Highlight Games and Performances last 20 games rolled (team record in parenthesis are after result of game played):

• Games #82:  1942 KC Monarchs (4-6) vs 1910 CHI Leland Giants (6-4).  Ted Strong, ’42 Monarchs, hits his first 2 homers of the season, in a losing cause to the ’10 Leland Giants. Strong finished the game 3 for 4, with 4 RBI. Frank Wickware, ’10 Leland Giants goes to 4-0 on the season with a 2.77 ERA.
• Games #83 and #84: 1913 NY Lincoln Giants (8-2) vs 1930 STL Stars (7-3). The ’13 Lincoln Giants sneak a sweep from the ’30 Stars with a 2-1 win in game 1, and a 7-5 win in game 2. The ’30 Stars have now lost 3 straight after starting the season, 7-0. They are in a tie for 3rd place. Meanwhile the ’13 Lincoln Giants move all alone into 2nd place, with an 8-2 record, and a 6-game winning streak.
• Game #85: 1933 CHI American Giants (4-5) vs 1916 IND ABC’s (5-4). In an all-out slug-fest, the ’33 CAG jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the top of the 1st inning. The ’16 ABC’s battled back, scoring in every inning except the 4th and the 6th, leading to a 13-10 win over ’33 CAG. Bingo DeMoss goes 4 for 4 for the ’16 ABC’s.
• Games #87 and #88: 1917 CHI American Giants (4-6) vs 1946 NEW Eagles (6-4). First game of this series, the ’46 Eagles scored more runs in 1 game than any other team through the first 100 games. Newark scored 7 runs in back-to-back 7th and 8th innings, winning the first game of the series, 20-3. Larry Doby hit for the cycle, going 4 for 6 with 4 runs scored and 4 RBI. Jimmy Wilkes went 5 for 6 and Pat Patterson went 4 for 6. In game 2 of the series, Dick Redding got the ’17 CAG back on track giving up just 4 hits and 1 run, in a 7-1 win.
• Game #89: 1921 CHI American Giants (3-6) vs 1945 CLE Buckeyes (4-5). John Brown for the ’45 Buckeyes twirls a 3-hit shutout of the ’21 CAG. Cleveland wins 4-0.
• Games #95 and #96: 1931 HOM Grays (10-0) vs 1926 AC Bacharach Giants (4-6). The undefeated ’31 Grays needed extra innings in both games to maintain their perfect 10-0 record. Game 1, the ’26 Bacharach Giants scored 3 in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game at 5-5. The ’31 Grays pushed across a run in the top of the 10th, winning game 1, 6-5. Game 2, the ’31 Grays score 2 in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game 3-3, and score 1 in the bottom of the 11th to win game 2, 4-3.
• Games #97 and #98: 1927 CHI American Giants (6-4) vs 1938 HOM Grays (1-9). In game 2 of this series, the ’38 Grays looked to be headed for their 2nd victory of the season, with a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 8th. The ’27 CAG scored single runs in each the 8th, 9th and 10th innings to eek out a 4-3, 10 inning win in game 2. Josh Gibson, who has been struggling for the ’38 Grays, finally has a stand-out game, going 2 for 4 with 2 homers and all 3 of the Grays RBI in the loss. As you can tell by the ’38 Grays record, it has been that kind of a season. While their ’31 counterparts are in 1st place with a 10-0 record, the ’38 Grays are now alone in last place with a 1-9 record. They are too good of a hitting team to be in dead last. My guess is they are going to rebound for some big wins as the season plays on.
• Game #99: 1943 BIR Black Barons (2-7) vs 1929 BAL Black Sox (1-8). In an epic battle, as the ’29 Black Sox attempt to win their first game of the season, 9 games in, by the 4th inning, the score was already 7-6 in favor of the ’43 Black Barons. Script Lee had already been knocked out of the game through 2 IP for Baltimore. Bun Hayes came in relief of Lee for Baltimore in the 3rd inning and pitched 12 shut-out innings for the Black Sox, in earning a well deserved, 14 inning, 8-7 win over the ’43 Black Barons. Bun Hayes also went 5 for 6 with 5 singles including the game winning single in the bottom of the 14th. John Huber for the ’43 Black Barons pitched 7.1 innings of shut-out relief before giving up the losing run in the 14th. The ’29 Black Sox would make it a sweep in game 2 of the series, getting to 2-8 on the season, and out of last place.

Appendix of games rolled:

Last 20 games (Game #81 thru #100)

Series #41-50 (Games 9 and 10 for each team):

Series #41

1942 KC MONARCHS 9, 1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 6

1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 8, 1942 KC MONARCHS 5

Series #42

1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 2, 1930 STL STARS 1

1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 7, 1930 STL STARS 5

Series #43

1916 IND ABC’s 13, 1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 10

1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 7, 1916 IND ABC’s 2

Series #44

1946 NEW EAGLES 20, 1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 3

1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 7, 1946 NEW EAGLES 1

Series #45

1945 CLE BUCKEYES 4, 1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 0

1945 CLE BUCKEYES 6, 1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 2

Series #46

1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 4, 1924 KC MONARCHS 3

1924 KC MONARCHS 5, 1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 4

Series #47

1925 HIL DAISIES 5, 1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 1

1925 HIL DAISIES 6, 1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 4

Series #48

1931 HOM GRAYS 6, 1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 5

1931 HOM GRAYS 4, 1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 3

Series #49

1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 10, 1938 HOM GRAYS 5

1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 4, 1938 HOM GRAYS 3

Series #50

1929 BAL BLACK SOX 8, 1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 7

1929 BAL BLACK SOX 4, 1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 3

Previous posts on this project:

• SBMBL Introduction
• SBMBL thru 8 games

Visit the Negro League Museum in Kansas City

SBMBL thru 8 games …

Rickwood Field, Birmingham, Alabama – Home of the Birmingham Black Barons

The first 80 of 380 total regular season games have been rolled in my 20-team Negro League Baseball project, the Sherwood Brewer Memorial Baseball League.  Each team has played 8 games.

SBMBL Standings thru 8 games:

Upcoming Schedule (Round 5, Series #41-50):

GAMES 9-10
1910 CHICAGO VS 1942 KANSAS CITY
1913 NEW YORK VS 1930 ST. LOUIS
1916 INDIANAPOLIS VS 1933 CHICAGO
1917 CHICAGO VS 1946 NEWARK
1921 CHICAGO VS 1945 CLEVELAND
1924 KANSAS CITY VS 1948 BIRMINGHAM
1925 HILLDALE VS 1935 PITTSBURGH
1926 ATLANTIC CITY VS 1931 HOMESTEAD
1927 CHICAGO VS 1938 HOMESTEAD
1929 BALTIMORE VS 1943 BIRMINGHAM

A few things stand out thus far.  Stolen Bases are aplenty.  292 SB have been piled up in the first 80 games.  The 1916 Indianapolis ABC’s have 30 SB in their first 8 games.  There have been an abundance of triples hit as well, 92.  Meanwhile, the overall stats of the league are relatively “normal”.  The league batting average stands at .258.  The league ERA is 4.30.  There have been 100 homers hit, in 80 games, along with 239 doubles.  2 teams have yet to hit a single homer (the 1917 Chicago American Giants and the 1926 Atlantic City Bacharach Giants).  Meanwhile, the 1930 St. Louis Stars have 19 home-run clouts in their 8 games played.

Mule Suttles, 1930 St. Louis Stars and 1933 Chicago American Giants

A note on Mule Suttles, as he plays for 2 teams in this project.  For the 1930 STL Stars, Mule Suttles is batting .429 with 7 homers and 12 RBI, having played in 7 of the 8 games for STL.  For the 1933 CAG, Mule is batting .286 with 6 homers and 10 RBI in 8 games played.  While his numbers will surely calm down, it has been an amazing start of the project for Mule on 2 different teams.

Josh Gibson is playing for 3 teams:  the 1931 HOM Grays, the 1935 PIT Crawfords and the 1938 HOM Grays.  For the ’31 Grays, Gibson is batting .469 with 3 homers and 16 RBI in 8 games.  For the ’35 Crawfords, Josh is batting .385 with 3 homers and 12 RBI in 8 games.  However, for the struggling ’38 Grays, Gibson is batting just .160 with 1 homer and 2 RBI.

It is early, and while Mule’s numbers will fall off a bit, I would not be surprised to see Josh begin to pick up the slack for the struggling ’38 Grays as they look to get into the playoff chase.

8 of the 20 teams will advance to the playoffs.

SBMBL Batting Leaders thru 8 games:

 

Satchel Paige, 1942 Kansas City Monarchs

SBMBL Pitching Leaders thru 8 games:

 

Josh Gibson, 1931 and 1938 Homestead Grays, 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords

Highlight Games and Performances thru first 80 games rolled (records in parens are after result of game played):

• Game #21:  1913 NY Lincoln Giants (2-1) at 1910 CHI Leland Giants (2-1).  The ’10 Lelands score 6 in the bottom of the 8th to pull out a 10-7 win over NY.  Doc Wiley for NY went 3 for 3 with a double and 2 homers and 6 RBI.
• Game #25:  1948 BIR Black Barons (1-2) at 1917 CHI American Giants (0-3).  Willie Mays homers in an 8-1 win for Birmingham over Chicago.
• Game #26:  1917 CHI American Giants (0-4) at 1948 BIR Black Barons (2-2).  Willie Mays’ sac-fly in bottom of the 8th enables Barons to pull out a 2-1 win in 2-game sweep of the ’17 CAG.
• Game #27:  1921 CHI American Giants (1-2) at 1943 BIR Black Barons (0-3).  Jim Brown, catcher for the ’21 CAG, goes 4 for 4 and is batting .727 thru the first 3 games of the season.  ’21 CAG wins the game, 5-2 with Brown having 4 of the 5 RBI.
• Game #28:  1943 BIR Black Barons (0-4) at 1921 CHI American Giants (2-2).  ’21 CAG scores a run in the bottom of the 10th to steal game 2 and a sweep of the series, 1-0.  Dave Brown pitches the 10-inning shut-out masterpiece.
• Game #29:  1929 BAL Black Sox (0-3) at 1924 KC Monarchs (2-1).  Baltimore’s Rap Dixon crosses the plate for 4 runs in a losing cause, as the ’24 Monarchs defeat the ’29 Black Sox, 9-8.
• Game #31:  1925 HIL Daisies (2-1) at 1926 AC Bacharach Giants (1-2).  ’26 AC scores 4 in the bottom of the 9th to upset the 2-0 ’25 Daisies, 8-7.  Rats Henderson pitches the 11-inning shut-out for AC.
• Game #32:  1926 AC Bacharach Giants (2-2) at 1925 HIL Daisies (2-2).  ’26 AC breaks a scoreless tie in the top of the 11th to pull out a 1-0 win and a 2-game sweep of the favored ’25 Daisies.
• Game #39:  1942 KC Monarchs (0-3) at 1945 CLE Buckeyes (3-0).  The ’45 Buckeyes score 2 in the bottom of the 9th, winning 6-5, to remain undefeated thru 3 games, meanwhile, the ’42 Monarchs drop to 0-3.
• Game $40:  1945 CLE Buckeyes (1-3) at 1942 KC Monarchs.  In the longest game of the project thus far, the ’42 Monarchs score the winning run in the bottom of the 14th, to win the game 2-1 in getting their first victory.  Cleveland loses for the first time.  Both pitchers go the distance, as Satchel Paige gets his first win.
• Game #43:  1913 NY Lincoln Giants (3-2) at 1929 BAL Black Sox (0-5).  NY wins 15-4.  NY had 27 hits, including 4 players who had 5 hits each.  15 hits from the first 3 hitters in the batting order (Poles/G Johnson/J Lloyd).
• Game #46:  1916 IND ABC’s (4-2) at 1930 STL Stars (6-0).  STL wins 16-1.  The ’30 Stars had 23 hits, including 4 players who had 4 hits each.  John Russell for STL hit for the cycle, going 4 for 5.
• Game #48:  1933 CHI American Giants (2-4) at 1917 CHI American Giants (1-5).  ’17 CAG wins 8-7 for their first win of the season.  They score 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take the 8-7 lead and hold on for the win.
• Game #56:  1946 NEW Eagles (3-3) at 1927 CHI American Giants (4-2).  ’27 CAG scores 12 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, winning the game 13-5.
• Game #70:  1921 CHI American Giants (3-5) at 1931 HOM Grays (8-0).  ’31 Homestead wins easily as Josh Gibson hits for the cycle.  Thru his first 8 games of the season, ’31 Gibson has 16 RBI.  The ’31 Grays are the only remaining unbeaten team thru 8 games.
• Game #72:  1930 STL Stars (7-1) at 1924 KC Monarchs (4-4).  After starting the season 7-0, the ’30 Stars lose their first game, 7-2 to KC.
• Game #74:  1929 BAL Black Sox (0-8) at 1925 HIL Daisies (5-3).  ’29 Black Sox lose their 8th straight to open the season, 0-8, with a 5-1 loss to ’25 Hilldale.
• Games #77 and #78:  1933 CHI American Giants (4-4) vs 1938 HOM Grays (1-7).  The ’38 Grays and their powerful lineup continues to struggle, dropping to 1-7 and sitting in 19th in the standings.  These last 2 losses sums up their season thus far.  Game 1 was a 3-2 loss to ’33 CAG after giving up 2 runs in the top of the 9th.  In Game 2, The Grays lose in the bottom of the 10th, after tying the game with 2 runs in the top of the 9th.  ’38 Josh Gibson is batting just .160 on the season, hitting his first homer in game #8, as well as his first 2 RBI also in game #8.  If the ’38 Grays expect to get back in the race for the 8 playoff spots, they will need Josh Gibson to get hot.

Stars Park (Hyde Park) in St. Louis at the northeast corner of Compton and Market streets.

The ballpark hosted Negro League Baseball until the Stars disbanded following the 1931 season.  The field (minus the stands) still stands today as part of Harris-Stowe’s University in St. Louis, shown here in the lower-right quadrant.

Appendix of games rolled:

Below, you can click on the score of each game, to see the box score.  80 games have been rolled, there are 80 box scores below.  For upcoming posts on this project, I expect to do them every 20 games rolled (2 per team).  The following updates will contain 20 new box scores each post.

Series #1-10 (Games 1 and 2):

Series #1

1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 6, 1924 KC MONARCHS 2

1924 KC MONARCHS 7, 1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 4

Series #2

1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 4, 1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 0

1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 8, 1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 3

Series #3

1916 IND ABC’s 2, 1929 BAL BLACK SOX 0

1916 IND ABC’s 6, 1929 BAL BLACK SOX 4

Series #4

1930 STL STARS 12, 1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 1

1930 STL STARS 4, 1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 3

Series #5

1925 HIL DAISIES 7, 1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 2

1925 HIL DAISIES 7, 1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 4

Series #6

1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 4, 1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 2

1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 6, 1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 4

Series #7

1931 HOM GRAYS 6, 1942 KC MONARCHS 2

1931 HOM GRAYS 9, 1942 KC MONARCHS 8

Series #8

1946 NEW EAGLES 5, 1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 3

1946 NEW EAGLES 7, 1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 5

Series #9

1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 4, 1938 HOM GRAYS 2

1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 8, 1938 HOM GRAYS 7

Series #10

1945 CLE BUCKEYES 6, 1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 2

1945 CLE BUCKEYES 10, 1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 5

 

Series #11-20 (Games 3 and 4):

Series #11

1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 10, 1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 7

1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 3, 1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 2

Series #12

1916 IND ABC’s 11, 1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 6

1916 IND ABC’s 8, 1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 7

Series #13

1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 8, 1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 1

1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 2, 1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 1

Series #14

1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 5, 1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 2

1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 1, 1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 0

Series #15

1924 KC MONARCHS 9, 1929 BAL BLACK SOX 8

1924 KC MONARCHS 12, 1929 BAL BLACK SOX 2

Series #16

1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 8, 1925 HIL DAISIES 7

1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 1, 1925 HIL DAISIES 0

Series #17

1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 4, 1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 2

1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 4, 1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 1

Series #18

1930 STL STARS 10, 1938 HOM GRAYS 5

1930 STL STARS 5, 1938 HOM GRAYS 4

Series #19

1931 HOM GRAYS 6, 1946 NEW EAGLES 4

1931 HOM GRAYS 8, 1946 NEW EAGLES 1

Series #20

1945 CLE BUCKEYES 6, 1942 KC MONARCHS 5

1942 KC MONARCHS 2, 1945 CLE BUCKEYES 1

 

Series #21-30 (Games 5 and 6):

Series #21

1925 HIL DAISIES 5, 1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 2

1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 6, 1925 HIL DAISIES 2

Series #22

1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 15, 1929 BAL BLACK SOX 4

1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 8, 1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 3

Series #23

1930 STL STARS 11, 1916 IND ABC’s 5

1930 STL STARS 16, 1916 IND ABC’s 1

Series #24

1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 5, 1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 4

1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 8, 1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 7

Series #25

1942 KC MONARCHS 5, 1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 3

1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 4, 1942 KC MONARCHS 3

Series #26

1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 9, 1924 KC MONARCHS 6

1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 9, 1924 KC MONARCHS 5

Series #27

1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 3, 1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 1

1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 4, 1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 3

Series #28

1946 NEW EAGLES 3, 1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 1

1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 13, 1946 NEW EAGLES 5

Series #29

1931 HOM GRAYS 7, 1945 CLE BUCKEYES 4

1931 HOM GRAYS 9, 1945 CLE BUCKEYES 4

Series #30

1938 HOM GRAYS 9, 1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 0

1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 13, 1938 HOM GRAYS 7

 

Series #31-40 (Games 7 and 8):

Series #31

1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 8, 1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 3

1943 BIR BLACK BARONS 2, 1910 CHI LELAND GIANTS 1

Series #32

1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 3, 1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 2

1913 NY LINCOLN GIANTS 8, 1935 PIT CRAWFORDS 3

Series #33

1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 2, 1916 IND ABC’s 1

1948 BIR BLACK BARONS 7, 1916 IND ABC’s 5

Series #34

1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 3, 1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 2

1917 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 4, 1927 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 1

Series #35

1931 HOM GRAYS 5, 1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 2

1931 HOM GRAYS 11, 1921 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 4

Series #36

1930 STL STARS 2, 1924 KC MONARCHS 1

1924 KC MONARCHS 7, 1930 STL STARS 2

Series #37

1925 HIL DAISIES 3, 1929 BAL BLACK SOX 2

1925 HIL DAISIES 5, 1929 BAL BLACK SOX 1

Series #38

1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 2, 1942 KC MONARCHS 0

1942 KC MONARCHS 1, 1926 AC BACHARACH GIANTS 0

Series #39

1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 3, 1938 HOM GRAYS 2

1933 CHI AMERICAN GIANTS 5, 1938 HOM GRAYS 4

Series #40

1946 NEW EAGLES 4, 1945 CLE BUCKEYES 2

1946 NEW EAGLES 4, 1945 CLE BUCKEYES 3

Previous posts on this project:

• SBMBL Introduction

 

 

Visit the Negro League Museum in Kansas City

 

 

 

 

Sherwood Brewer Memorial Baseball League …

My fascination with Negro League Baseball began somewhere around the mid to late 1990’s, as my continued passion for baseball began to spread to more avenues of the grand game.  While I had always appreciated what the Negro Leagues meant to so many African-american players, I did not do much in the way of discovery until I reached my 30’s.  Initially, I purchased a couple Negro League jerseys from Ebbets Field Flannels.  What really got me going were a few APBA Journal articles, covering the release in 1994, of the 20-team, Negro League card set, issued by APBA Game Co.  The articles were written by regular APBA Journal contributor, David Lawrence.

During the summer of 2000, there was a Negro League “exhibit” setup at the Mall of America in Bloomington.  Sort of a traveling show.  When it hit the Mall, I made sure I made it over.  The mall is less than a mile west of my office space.  The day I was there, Sherwood “Woody” Brewer, was one of the handful of Negro League’rs in attendance.  The man could not have been nicer.  I stopped at his table and began a conversation with him.  We shook hands.  And he was willing to allow a “helper” take a photo of us together, with my camera.  This photo is below:

Sherwood then signed my Negro League Baseball Encyclopedia (the book I am holding in my hand in the photo), on the page where his bio was listed.  I will say, while I do not make a point of obtaining many autographs, this one is most special to me.

He also signed a Negro League “Stars” baseball card of himself, for my daughter, who was just 4 at the time.

Sherwood would die 3 years later, on April 23rd, 2003, which happened to be my wife’s 38th birthday.  Sherwood was a few months shy of his 80th birthday.  While Sherwood does not appear in the 20 team Negro League set issued by APBA Game Co., I felt I had to name my current Negro League project in honor of the one former Negro League’r I was able to meet in person.

Since 1994, APBA Game Co. has “reprinted” the cards twice, with no changes to the original “ratings”.  Using the version which was reprinted in 2012, I decided I needed to play a comprehensive project using this 20-team set.  The cards were formulated in 1994, prior to the advent of better statistical, more complete data on the Negro League players and the seasons they had.  If a new set was formulated today, many of the cards would do a better job of accurately depicting the abilities of the players.

There are also a few roster “anomalies” which I have corrected, as far as removing a player from a roster if he did not actually play for the team he was carded on.  For example, one of the teams which Satchel Paige is carded for, is the 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords.  However, Satchel actually pitched for Pittsburgh from 1932 to 1934, and did not pitch for Pittsburgh in 1935.  My guess is, in 1994, APBA Game Co, decided to include Satchel with the 1935 Pittsburgh club, due to having big seasons for the Crawfords in 1932, 1933 and 1934.  In my project, Satchel Paige will not be included on the 1935 Crawfords roster.  This will have a big impact on the 1935 Crawfords in my project, as they lose a top notch pitcher.

(1932-35 era) Pittsburgh Crawfords

Seamheads, has the Negro Leagues Baseball Database, where you can see accurate, comprehensive statistics for each team in my 20-team Negro League project.  The links to each team is listed below (note, if I were to “re-card” any of the Negro League players in this APBA set, I would use the statistics included in the Negro Leagues Baseball Database to re-formulate the card set):

1926 ATLANTIC CITY BACHARACH GIANTS

1929 BALTIMORE BLACK SOX

1943 BIRMINGHAM BLACK BARONS

1948 BIRMINGHAM BLACK BARONS

1917 CHICAGO AMERICAN GIANTS

1921 CHICAGO AMERICAN GIANTS

1927 CHICAGO AMERICAN GIANTS

1933 CHICAGO AMERICAN GIANTS

1910 CHICAGO LELAND GIANTS

1945 CLEVELAND BUCKEYES

1925 HILLDALE DAISIES

1931 HOMESTEAD GRAYS

1938 HOMESTEAD GRAYS

1916 INDIANAPOLIS ABC’s

1924 KANSAS CITY MONARCHS

1942 KANSAS CITY MONARCHS

1946 NEWARK EAGLES

1913 NEW YORK LINCOLN GIANTS

1935 PITTSBURGH CRAWFORDS

1930 ST. LOUIS STARS

SABR historian, and avid APBA fan, Ted Knorr produced a “ranking” of the 20 Negro League teams issued in the 20-team APBA set found here.

My project entails playing a 38-game season using all 20 teams, using the APBA basic game, cards and dice, all advanced rules, along with the APBA Journal Error Re-roll chart and Unusual Play Re-roll chart.  I also incorporate the Master Game Rare Play boards for certain outcomes.

No leagues, no divisions.  Each team will play the other 19 teams in the league, twice (1 home, 1 away).  I created the schedule using 2-game series (round-robin format), again, with 1 game at home and 1 game away in each 2-game series.  At the end of the 38-game season, the top 8 teams in the standings will advance to a “post-season”, starting with the Quarter-final series with the teams seeded 1 thru 8.  The winners will advance to a Semi-final round and finally the Championship series.  All play-off series will be best-of-seven format.

Due to the small pitching staffs each team has, I have decided to use just a 3-man rotation for each team, for both the 38-game season, and the post-season.

Each team has now played 8 games in my project (I have rolled 80 of the 380 games total towards completion of the 38 game regular season).  My next SBMBL post will be an update on the standings, game results and highlights.

Cool Papa Bell, 1930 St. Louis Stars

A few Negro League Baseball websites:

Negro League Baseball Museum

Negro League Baseball Players Association

Negro Leagues Database (Seamheads.com)

 

To purchase the APBA Baseball Negro League 20-team card set, order here

 

1925 Hilldale Daisies

 

 

1941 Boston Red Sox Replay – September Summary/Completion …

“Replay” Ted started September, batting .392.  Ted saw his batting average reach as high as .404 on September 12th after a 10 for 10 hot streak came to an end.  Ted’s last dance  with .400 in this replay is when he is clinging to .400 on September 14th.  After the season ending slump and a late 5 for 11 charge in the final series, he closes out the season batting .391.

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 Ted Williams “hits for .406” watch:

How the rest of the American League faired vs the Red Sox:

The month of September, 1941:

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

Series #50:  Senators @ Red Sox, September 1 (2)

  AT 

Game #132-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 12, SENATORS 1  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 13, SENATORS 9)

Game #133-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 4, SENATORS 2  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 10, SENATORS 2)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (77-56)  –  Actual (70-63)

Ted Williams opens the month of September going 0 for 2 (with 3 walks) and 3 for 4, in the 2 game series.  His batting average raises 1 point to .393.

 

Series #51:  Yankees @ Red Sox, September 3, 4

  AT 

Game #134-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 5, YANKEES 3  –  (Actual Score:  YANKEES 2, RED SOX 1)

Game #135-  Replay Score:  YANKEES 5, RED SOX 4  –  (Actual Score:  YANKEES 6, RED SOX 3)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (78-57)  –  Actual (70-65)

In 2 games vs the Yankees at Fenway, Ted goes 1 for 4 and 0 for 2 (with 2 walks), dropping his average down to .390.

 

Series #52:  Red Sox @ Yankees, September 6, 7

  AT 

Game #136-  Replay Score:  YANKEES 6, RED SOX 4  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 8, YANKEES 1)

Game #137-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 8, YANKEES 7  –  (Actual Score:  YANKEES 8, RED SOX 5)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (79-58)  –  Actual (71-66)

Boston travels to New York for remainder of the home and home series, with 2 games at Yankee Stadium.  Williams goes 1 for 4 and 2 for 2, raising his batting average back up to .392.

 

Series #53:  Tigers @ Red Sox, September 9, 10

  AT 

Game #138-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 13, TIGERS 1  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 6, TIGERS 0)

Game #139-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 11, TIGERS 4  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 11, TIGERS 2)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (81-58)  –  Actual (73-66)

The offense and Ted Williams takes center stage when the Red Sox return to Fenway to face the Tigers.  Williams goes 3 for 3 with 2 walks, and 4 for 4 with a walk, raising his batting average to .402 by the end of the series.  Ted is now 9 for 9 in his last 9 AB.  The Red Sox plate 24 runs in the 2-game series vs Detroit.

 

Series #54:  Browns @ Red Sox, September 12, 13

  AT 

Game #140-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 15, BROWNS 11  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 5, BROWNS 0)

Game #141-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 9, BROWNS 7  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 7, BROWNS 2)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (83-58)  –  Actual (75-66)

The Browns come to town, as Ted Williams continues his hot hitting with a 2 for 3 performance in game 1 (at one point he was 10 for 10 in his last 10 AB) and is batting .404 heading into game 2 of the series.  Cooling off with an 0 for 3 in game 2, Ted is now hitting .401.  The Red Sox continue their torrid pace at the plate, scoring another 24 runs in this 2-game series.

 

Series #55:  White Sox @ Red Sox, September 14 (2), 15

  AT 

Game #142-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 3, WHITE SOX 1  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 9, WHITE SOX 2)

Game #143-  Replay Score:  WHITE SOX 10, RED SOX 7  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 5, WHITE SOX 1)

Game #144-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 6, WHITE SOX 2  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 6, WHITE SOX 1)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (85-59)  –  Actual (78-66)

The story of this series is Dick Newsome (CZ) continuing to pile up wins.  Newsome pitches game 1 of this series, gets a 3-1 win over the Chisox.  His record is now 17-4 with a 2.99 ERA.  Meanwhile, Ted Williams goes 2 for 9 in the series with 1 HR.  He drops back below .400, and is now batting .397.  (Special thanks to Fred Johnson for rolling game 3 of this series as Red Sox skipper vs the White Sox who I managed at our “Board of Winter” get together at Gregg Nelson’s home in mid-February.)

 

Series #56:  Indians @ Red Sox, September 17, 18

  AT 

Game #145-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 11, INDIANS 2  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 3, INDIANS 2)

Game #146-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 3, INDIANS 0  –  (Actual Score:  INDIANS 6, RED SOX 1)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (87-59)  –  Actual (79-67)

Dick Newsome does it again, pitching game 2 of this series vs Cleveland and Bob Feller.  Red Sox win 3-0.  Newsome pitches a CG shut-out giving up 3 hits and 1 walk.  Dick’s record is now 18-4 and he has a 2.86 ERA.  Meanwhile, Ted’s “slump” continues and is now batting .393.  (Special thanks to Bruce Tyler for rolling game 2 of this series as Red Sox mgr vs Fred Johnson, managing the Indians at our “Board of Winter” get together at Gregg Nelson’s home in mid-February.  Fred Johnson was Red Sox mgr in game 1 vs me as mgr of the Indians.)

 

Series #57:  Yankees @ Red Sox, September 20, 21

AT 

Game #147-  Replay Score:  YANKEES 5, RED SOX 3  –  (Actual Score:  YANKEES 8, RED SOX 1)

Game #148-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 5, YANKEES 2  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 4, YANKEES 1)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (88-60)  –  Actual (80-68)

Ted Williams goes 2 for 5 in this 2 game series, raising his average slightly to .394.

 

Series #58:  Red Sox @ Senators, September 23, 24 (2)

  AT 

Game #149-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 5, RED SOX 2  –  (Actual Score:  SENATORS 4, RED SOX 3)

Game #150-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 10, RED SOX 5  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 7, SENATORS 2)

Game #151-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 8, SENATORS 0  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 5, SENATORS 4)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (89-62)  –  Actual (82-69)

The timing of Ted’s latest slump is unfortunate, with only 3 games now remaining in the season.  Ted goes 2 for 10 in this series, and is now batting .389.

 

Series #59:  Red Sox @ Athletics, September 27, 28 (2)

  AT 

Game #152-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 7, ATHLETICS 5  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 5, ATHLETICS 1)

Game #153-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 8, ATHLETICS 7  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 12, ATHLETICS 11)

Game #154-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 5, ATHLETICS 4  –  (Actual Score:  ATHLETICS 7, RED SOX 1)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (92-62)  –  Actual (84-70)

Williams finishes strong, going 5 for 11 in the final 3 games of the season, however, it was too little, too late, with Ted finishing his wonder season hitting .391.  He finished just 8 hits short of his actual hit total in 1941, with 3 fewer AB.  Ted matches his HR total by powering homer #37 in game 1 of this 3 game set vs Philadelphia.  Ted drove in 134 RBI, 11 more than his actual.

 

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

1941_RED_SOX_BATTING_FINAL

1941_RED_SOX_PITCHING_FINAL

1941_RED_SOX_FIELDING_FINAL

 

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

APRIL (W-L):  8-5  (7-6 Actual)

MAY (W-L):  17-8  (12-13 Actual)

JUNE (W-L):  11-17  (17-11 Actual)

JULY (W-L):  18-12  (14-16 Actual)

AUGUST (W-L):  21-14  (18-17 Actual)

SEPTEMBER (W-L):  17-6 (16-7 Actual)

Replay note:  The Red Sox finish the season with a 51-26 record at home and a 41-36 record on the road.

1941 Boston Red Sox Replay – August Summary …

“Replay” Ted started August, batting at a .391 clip.  He closes out August batting .392.

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 Ted Williams “hits for .406” watch:

The month of August, 1941:

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

Series #38:  Tigers @ Red Sox, August 2, 3

  AT  

Game #97-  Replay Score:  TIGERS 9, RED SOX 5  –  (Actual Score:  TIGERS 6, RED SOX 5)

Game #98-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 3, TIGERS 0  –  (Actual Score:  TIGERS 6, RED SOX 3)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (55-43)  –  Actual (50-48)

While Ted Williams was going 4 for 7 in the 2 game series for the Red Sox, raising his season batting average to .396, Barney McCosky put his name on the map with a 6 for 6 performance in game 1 of the 2 game series.  McCosky finished the series going 7 for 10.  Pete Fox also had a big day for the Bosox in game 1, going 4 for 4.

 

Series #39:  Athletics @ Red Sox, August 4, 5

  AT  

Game #99-  Replay Score:  ATHLETICS 4, RED SOX 3  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 7, ATHLETICS 6)

Game #100-  Replay Score:  ATHLETICS 10, RED SOX 6  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 6, ATHLETICS 5)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (55-45)  –  Actual (52-48)

Ted Williams posing with former Boston Braves great, Hugh Duffy, during the 1941 season … In a losing cause, Ted goes 2 for 2 with a homer (#22) and a double in game 1, briefly hitting the .400 mark, before going 1 for 5 with his 23rd homer in game 2.  Williams’ batting average dips back to .396.

 

Series #40:  Yankees @ Red Sox, August 6 (2), 7

  AT  

Game #101-  Replay Score:  YANKEES 8, RED SOX 7  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 6, YANKEES 3)

Game #102-  Replay Score:  YANKEES 4, RED SOX 3  –  (Actual Score:  YANKEES 3, RED SOX 1)

Game #103-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 13, YANKEES 1  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 9, YANKEES 5)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (56-47)  –  Actual (54-49)

Joe Dimaggio goes 7 for 13 at Fenway in the 3-game series, with 4 homers, and 8 RBI.  Meanwhile, Ted goes 2 for 15, dropping his season batting average to .388.

 

Series #41:  Senators @ Red Sox, August 8, 9, 10 (2)

  AT 

Game #104-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 6, SENATORS 4  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 15, SENATORS 8)

Game #105-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 12, SENATORS 1  –  (Actual Score:  SENATORS 8, RED SOX 6)

Game #106-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 7, RED SOX 2  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 7, SENATORS 6)

Game #107-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 12, SENATORS 2  –  (Actual Score:  SENATORS 8, RED SOX 2)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (59-48)  –  Actual (56-51)

Jim Tabor is the star of this 4 game series, as the Red Sox take 3 of 4.  Tabor goes 8 for 16 in the series with 2 doubles, a triple and a homer.

 

Series #42:  Red Sox @ Yankees, August 11, 12

  AT 

Game #108-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 8, YANKEES 6  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 8, YANKEES 0)

Game #109-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 9, YANKEES 3  –  (Actual Score:  YANKEES 4, RED SOX 0)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (61-48)  –  Actual (57-52)

With his batting average down to .378, Ted rose up in this 2-game series vs the Yankees.  Going 4 for 5 in the 1st game and 3 for 5 in the 2nd game, raising his batting average to .388 by the end of the 2 game series.  Ted also blasted his 24th homer and smacked his 27th double, and drove in 7 runs, increasing his RBI total to 87.

 

Series #43:  Red Sox @ Athletics, August 13, 14 (2)

  AT 

Game #110-  Replay Score:  ATHLETICS 5, RED SOX 4  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 4, ATHLETICS 0)

Game #111-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 11, ATHLETICS 4  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 11, ATHLETICS 8)

Game #112-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 12, ATHLETICS 8  –  (Actual Score:  ATHLETICS 10, RED SOX 8)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (63-49)  –  Actual (59-53)

In game 1 of the double-header played on August 14th, perhaps Ted’s best game in the replay thus far, in terms of hits, power and production.  Williams goes 4 for 5, with 2 homers, a triple, 4 runs scored and 6 RBI and a walk.  He had a chance to hit for the cycle (missing the double) in his last 2 plate appearances, but he walked and flew out to CF.  Williams was hit-less in games 1 and 3 of this series.  His season batting average was holding at .385 by the end of the 3 game series.

 

Series #44:  Red Sox @ Senators, August 15, 16, 17

  AT 

Game #113-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 5, RED SOX 4  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX won forfeited game)

Game #114-  Replay Score:  SENATORS 5, RED SOX 1  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 8, SENATORS 6)

Game #115-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 3, SENATORS 0  –  (Actual Score:  SENATORS 6, RED SOX 2)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (64-51)  –  Actual (61-54)

Dick Newsome (CZ) gains his 12th win of the season, a 3-0 shutout of the Washington Senators in game #115.  Jim Tabor blasts a 3-run homer in the top of the 8th, as the Red Sox salvage the rubber game of the 3 game series.

 

Series #45:  Red Sox @ Browns, August 19 (2), 20 (2)

  AT 

Game #116-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 11, BROWNS 7  –  (Actual Score:  BROWNS 3, RED SOX 2)

Game #117-  Replay Score:  BROWNS 5, RED SOX 3  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 10, BROWNS 7)

Game #118-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 11, BROWNS 7  –  (Actual Score:  BROWNS 11, RED SOX 9)

Game #119-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 7, BROWNS 6  –  (Actual Score:  BROWNS 4, RED SOX 3)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (67-52)  –  Actual (62-57)

While Hugh Duffy points to his 1894 season batting average, Ted Williams has a big series vs the Browns, going 10 for 19, with 2 homers, 3 doubles and reaching the 100 RBI mark on the season.  His 2-run homer in the top of the 9th in game 2 of the double-header on the 20th put the Red Sox ahead, 7-6.  Williams is now batting .392 thru 119 games.

 

Series #46:  Red Sox @ White Sox, August 21, 22, 23

  AT 

Game #120-  Replay Score:  WHITE SOX 6, RED SOX 4  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 8, WHITE SOX 5)

Game #121-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 13, WHITE SOX 4  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 2, WHITE SOX 1)

Game #122-  Replay Score:  WHITE SOX 5, RED SOX 3  –  (Actual Score:  WHITE SOX 3, RED SOX 0)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (68-54)  –  Actual (64-58)

In game 2 of the series, the Red Sox put up 11 runs in the top of the 6th inning, and go on to win the game 13-4.

 

Series #47:  Red Sox @ Indians, August 24 (2), 25, 26

  AT 

Game #123-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 7, INDIANS 4  –  (Actual Score:  INDIANS 4, RED SOX 3)

Game #124-  Replay Score:  INDIANS 5, RED SOX 4  –  (Actual Score:  INDIANS 5, RED SOX 2)

Game #125-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 5, INDIANS 4  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 1, INDIANS 0)

Game #126-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 3, INDIANS 2  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 9, INDIANS 4)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (71-55)  –  Actual (66-60)

Dick Newsome (CZ) improves his record to 13-4 with his game CG victory over Cleveland in game 4 of the series.

 

Series #48:  Red Sox @ Tigers, August 27, 28

  AT 

Game #127-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 5, TIGERS 4  –  (Actual Score:  TIGERS 6, RED SOX 3)

Game #128-  Replay Score:  TIGERS 5, RED SOX 3  –  (Actual Score:  TIGERS 8, RED SOX 7)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (72-56)  –  Actual (66-62)

Game #127 at Detroit, Ted hits his 2nd grand slam of the season, his only hit in a 5-4 Red Sox replay win over the Tigers.  He finished 2 for 5 in the series, maintaining a .394 replay batting average.

 

Series #49:  Athletics @ Red Sox, August 30, 31 (2)

  AT 

Game #129-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 6, ATHLETICS 2  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 12, ATHLETICS 3)

Game #130-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 7, ATHLETICS 2  –  (Actual Score:  RED SOX 5, ATHLETICS 3)

Game #131-  Replay Score:  RED SOX 12, ATHLETICS 5  –  (Actual Score:  ATHLETICS 3, RED SOX 2)

RED SOX RECORD:  Replay (75-56)  –  Actual (68-63)

Back at Fenway Park, August closes with Ted Williams going 3 for 10 in the 3 game series vs Philadelphia, his batting average dropping to .392 with 1 month to go in the season.

 

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

1941_RED_SOX_end_of_AUGUST_BATTING

1941_RED_SOX_end_of_AUGUST_PITCHING

1941_RED_SOX_end_of_AUGUST_FIELDING

 

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

APRIL (W-L):  8-5  (7-6 Actual)

MAY (W-L):  17-8  (12-13 Actual)

JUNE (W-L):  11-17  (17-11 Actual)

JULY (W-L):  18-12  (14-16 Actual)

AUGUST (W-L):  21-14  (18-17 Actual)

SEPTEMBER

Replay note:  Thru the end of August, the Red Sox are 39-23 at home and 36-33 on the road.

TCABT-XIII (August 8, 2020): Team Selection …

Ralph Branca, wearing #13 for the 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers.

TCABT-XIII team selection is upon us.  Team selection will begin on Saturday, January 4th, 2020 (wish lists can be submitted as early as Thursday, January 2nd).  Teams will be updated on this blog post, as they are validated.  Cut-off date for entering TCABT-XIII is on or around Friday, May 1st.  Note the change in dates is due to the COVID-19 virus.

TCABT-XIII Tournament date is:  Saturday, August 8th, 2020.

TCABT-XIII Tournament new site is:

The Shakopee Community Youth Center

1099 Adams St S

Shakopee, MN 55379

TCABT-XIII: Selected Teams (click on team name for Baseball Reference link) –

1.  1910 ATHLETICS (DAVE NORLANDER – GRAND RAPIDS, MN)
2.  1931 ATHLETICS (JIM FRAASCH – SAVAGE, MN)
3.  1967 CARDINALS (GARTH ANDERSEN – ANDOVER, MN)
4.  1928 ATHLETICS (JERRY JACOBS – ST. PAUL, MN)
5.  1976 REDS (DAVID JONES – MINNEAPOLIS, MN)
6.  2019 ASTROS (BEN LOFGREN – HAWLEY, MN)
7.  2019 TWINS (KEVIN CLUFF – APPLE VALLEY, MN)
8.  2017 ASTROS (ROBERT ELLEY – LONGVIEW, TX)
9.  1936 YANKEES (LEROY ARNOLDI – PRIOR LAKE, MN)
10.  1969 TWINS (PHIL GERAFFO – SHOREWOOD, MN)
11.  1977 PHILLIES (BARRY BOEVERS – CHAMPLIN, MN)
12.  1985 EXPOS (JIM HALL – OTSEGO, MN)
13.  1995 INDIANS (ROB SKOGEN – FOREST LAKE, MN)

Any MLB team, 1901-2019, minus the following previous 12 TCABT Champions:

1927 Yankees, 1954 Giants, 1902 Pirates, 1937 Yankees, 2011 Rangers, 1930 Cardinals, 1930 Yankees, 1929 Athletics, 2017 Nationals, 1998 Yankees, 1972 Pirates, 1938 Yankees.

Team selection for TCABT-XIII will be open thru Friday, May 1st.

Ralph Branca, entering the 1952 season, decided his #13 jersey needed to be thrown in the trash (thanks in part to Bobby Thomson), and he wore #12 for the ’52 season.

TCABT-XIII Tournament date is: Saturday, August 8th, 2020.

An APBA Baseball Resurrection: Cutthroat Baseball

If you are old enough, and you followed sports and baseball, and maybe you played table-top baseball games in your youth, you may have come across a magazine article in a popular (for the time) sports magazine, about a 4-team, draft APBA Baseball league played between 4 friends in their 30’s, now well into their careers, lives, marriages, and the general ups and downs of life.

The article I am referring to, “Cutthroat Baseball”, appeared in the October, 1977 issue of Sport magazine, featuring Rod Carew on the cover.  Written by one of the four league members (and an editor for Sport magazine at the time), Roger Director, you can read the actual Sport magazine article here:  ( Part 1 and Part 2 ).

I could say this article shaped my fascination with sports simulation games, as I was just 11 years old when I first read this article.  In 1977, I still had not purchased a stat based table top sports game.  I had an “ABC Monday Night Talking Football” game,

as well as one of the old Coleco table-top hockey games where you control the individual players, and puck and goalie, using the rods which run up-and-down the ice rink.

And I played my own 2-dice baseball game, where you added the 2 dice and the result was (if my memory serves me right): 2-triple, 3-walk, 4-K, 5-out, 6-single, 7-out, 8-out, 9-out. 10-out, 11-double, 12-HR.  Who the player was at-bat did not matter, they all had the same probability to hit a homer, to get a hit, etc.  Reading the Sport magazine article, made me realize, there were games out there which would statistically represent each player with probability, etc.

When the baseball publications came out later in winter/early spring of 1978, I was now determined to look at a few different table top baseball games, and with some lawn mowing money, make a purchase.  I had mailed away for 2 different game brochures:  APBA Baseball and Strat-o-Matic Baseball.  Both game brochures captured my imagination.

While I had read the “Cutthroat Baseball” article in Sport magazine which described the APBA Baseball game in use, each of the game brochures I now had in my hand, had sold me on the fact that I needed to purchase A game.  The price of each game was the same.  By the summer of ’78, I recall asking my dad to write out the check.  $14.50 was the price I paid, for my first APBA Baseball game.  My dad, while not a fervent sports fan as I was, was never one to get in the way of a good hobby.  Besides, he knew I was using my lawn mowing money to help pay for it.

The above game is from the same time, showing the $14.50 on the smaller box, but is not my game.

What is left of my original game box …

The game included the complete 1977 season card set (I did not order the XB’s until later).  For the remainder of the summer of ’78, I was in heaven, playing my favorite 1977 Minnesota Twins, and marveling at all the homers that the ’77 Boston Red Sox were hitting, and all of the batters who were whiffing vs Nolan Ryan (AXYW) of the ’77 California Angels.

By the end of the summer of ’78, I was hooked.  Suddenly, the “Cutthroat Baseball” article in my October 1977 issue of Sport magazine made all the sense in the world to me.  I understood exactly what each of the 4 “managers/GM’s” in Roger Director’s league felt and experienced by playing in such a league.  How could this not be fun!?!

From the drafting of players, to the reasons why this team needed this player, with these skills, to the rolling of the dice as they played their season, game by game.  Roger Director’s article captured the nuances and the excitement, which their periodic gatherings at Bennie’s apartment, brought to life … the games, the interaction, the arguments, the “thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat”!

Their league, to the reader, became an APBA version of another real-life baseball league … some fringe league, but each team had current MLB players (the cards based on the 1976 MLB season stats).  This league’s cast of characters had one of Roger’s buddies, Bennie, reigning 3-time champ, managing the Dayton Grits whose roster included the likes of Larry Hisle, John Mayberry, Manny Sanguillen, Larry Bowa, Bake McBride and Tom Seaver.  Another friend, Mark Cosgrove, managed the New York Highlanders with Catfish Hunter as the ace pitcher.  The Rahway Rocketmen were managed by friend, Jack Randazzo.  The Rocketmen featured Willie Stargell and Davey Lopes.  The one roster where you know the majority of the players, was Roger Director’s Vinton Hybrids.  His team included Joe Morgan, Thurman Munson, Mike Schmidt, Reggie Jackson, Bobby Grich, Jim Palmer, and Luis Tiant, among others.

A nice, concise, 4-team league, where each team’s roster is filled with stars, or top-end players.

It sure would be nice to know how long their league stayed together …