(TOP ROW from L to R: Joe Pavlicek, Steve Ryan, Leroy Arnoldi, Fred Johnson, Pat Martin, Dan Skillings, George Adams, Kevin Cluff, Phil Geraffo, Chris Shores, Garth Anderson, Roy Langhans, John Kalous, Dave Norlander. BOTTOM ROW from L to R: Craig Christian, Gary Borthwick, Bruce Tyler, Jeff Boeding, Beau Lofgren, Ben Lofgren, Ron Emch, Darrell Skogen, Jim F)
TCABT-VI is in the books. 23 teams took their chances on a beautiful Saturday October 1st in the Twin Cities. After the usual opening where 1st-timers are introduced, a quick rules Q&A, and the big group photo, the dice rolling commenced by around 8:45am. We had 3 divisions of 6 teams playing 10 games each (HHH Metrodome Division, Nicollet Park Division, Target Field Division), and 1 division of 5 teams playing 8 games each (Metropolitan Stadium Division). The top 2 from each division would advance to the 8-team best-of-three Championship Bracket. We also held a consolation bracket for the teams not in the Championship bracket. 11 teams played in the consolation one-and-done bracket. 110 divisional games were rolled. Divisional play was wrapped up by 3:00pm.
(Consolation play: George Adams with one of his “generic” ballparks battling Dave Norlander)
In the HHH Metrodome Division, Bruce Tyler’s 1930 Cardinals led the way with an 8-2 record. Steve Ryan’s 1998 Braves were just 1 game back at 7-3, good enough for 2nd place and a berth in Championship Bracket play. In the Nicollet Park Division, Leroy Arnoldi’s 1977 Phillies win it, with a 7-3 record. For 2nd place, Roy Langhans won a 3-way tie-breaker with a record of 5-5, tied with the 1930 A’s (Garth Anderson) and the 5-5 1946 Red Sox (Chris Shores). In a 3-way tie for first in the Target Field Division, the 7-3 ’53 Dodgers managed by Fred Johnson winning the run-differential tie-breaker.
(Sitting foreground, Fred Johnson on left vs Gary Borthwick on right)
Gary Borthwick’s 1911 Giants (also 7-3) would gain 2nd place in that division with John Kalous drawing the short straw (also at 7-3). In the Metropolitan Stadium Division, the only division with 5 teams, saw the tightest race, with all 5-teams neck-and-neck, especially when you look at their run-differentials. Host Darrell Skogen’s 2014 Orioles went 5-3, winning the division. A 3-way tie for 2nd, with the Championship Bracket berth going to Ben Lofgren and his ’95 Indians (4-4, with a +1 run diff). Phil Geraffo’s 2001 Mariners were also 4-4, as were Jim’s 1930 Senators, both teams with a 0 run diff. Last place in the division, was Craig Christian and his 1981 Expos, at 3-5, and a run diff of just -2. Darrell’s 1st place run diff was +1.
(Divisional play: Darrell Skogen on right, vs Jim F on left)
(Divisional play: starting all the way in the back: Phil Geraffo vs Craig Christian, Jeff Boeding vs Garth Anderson, and foreground, is APBA HoF’er, Roy Langhans)
Championship Bracket play saw 8 teams fight it out in 7 best-of-three series. The Quarter-finals saw all series go 2 games to none, with the 1930 Cardinals, the 1977 Phillies, the 1911 Giants and the 1998 Braves advancing to the Semi-finals. In the only 3-game series of the Championship Bracket play, in the Semi-finals, Bruce Tyler’s 1930 Cardinals defeated Gary Borthwick’s 1911 Giants, 2 games to 1. Game 3 of that series saw the 1911 Giants with a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the 9th, give up 3 runs as the 1930 Cardinals stormed back to win the game and the series.
(Bruce on left, Gary on right)
Leroy Arnoldi’s 1977 Phillies took care of Steve Ryan’s 1998 Braves, 2 games to none.
(Darrell watching as Steve on left, takes on Leroy’s 1977 Phillies on right)
The TCABT-VI Championship came down to Bruce’s ’30 Cardinals vs Leroy’s ’77 Phillies.
VS 
The ’30 Cardinals won in 2 games, by scores of 9-8 and 7-5. Bruce Tyler wins his 1st TCABT Championship, and the 1930 Cardinals are now eliminated from TCABT competition. Leroy’s (we call him Mr. October) loss was the first time he did not bring the trophy home in October. It was only fitting as the 2 managers, Bruce and Leroy, have played together in the same face-to-face APBA league since they were kids in the early 1960’s.
(Standing, Jeff Boeding on left and Ben Lofgren on right watch, as Leroy Arnoldi sitting on the left faces off vs Bruce Tyler on the right for the TCABT-VI Championship Title)
(Bruce on left with his pile of dice, Leroy on right going for his 3rd October title)
In consolation play, Garth Anderson’s 1930 Athletics won the one-and-done bracket, over John Kalous’ 2015 Astros.
A look at some interesting numbers which played out in TCABT-VI:
- 23 Attendees in all (24 if you count Mr. Gregg Nelson stopping by early in the AM to take our group photo – thank you Gregg!)
- 7 Attendees from out of state.
- 2092 Miles, the round-trip distance traveled by car, with the majority of those miles driven by Steve Ryan’s wife (Harrison, TN to Maple Grove, MN)
- 110 Division games rolled.
- 15 Championship bracket games rolled.
- 10 Consolation bracket games rolled.
- 135 Total games rolled.
- 2 No-hitter’s, one pitched by Dallas Keuchel (2o15 Astros, John Kalous) and the other by Lefty Grove (1930 A’s, Garth Anderson, during the consolation play)
- 2 The number of almost no-hitters (thru 8-2/3rds) broken up by George Adams and his 1966 Astros.
- 2 The number of triple-plays that Albert Belle grounded into for Ben Lofgren’s 1995 Indians.
- 3 The number of times Jeff Boeding’s 1933 Pirates were shut-out consecutively, and Jeff’s team scored just 1 run in their 1st 4 games. Jeff’s Pirates also records back-to-back 2-0 shutouts.
- 4 Consecutive HR’s by Evan Gattis, coming in 12 inning of last pool game, then first 3 AB in Consolation bracket (2015 Astros, John Kalous)
- 6 The number of hits in 1 game by Chick Hafey (6 for 6) of the 1930 Cardinals (Bruce Tyler) while completing the cycle.
- 7 The number of double plays turned by Garth Anderson’s infielders in a single game vs Chris Shores’ 1946 Red Sox (the AL record is 6 in a game).
- 8 The number of errors committed in 10 games for SS Jose Pagan, of Dan Skillings’ 1962 Giants.
- 17 Games rolled by eventual TCABT-VI Champion Bruce Tyler and his 1930 Cardinals (finishing with an incredible 14-3 overall record).
- 19 Runs, the most runs scored in a game, thanks to Fred Johnson and his 1953 Dodgers.
- 18 Runs, the 2nd most runs scored in a game, ditto, Fred Johnson.
- 72 Degrees, the high temp in Maple Grove, MN for TCABT-VI.
(Leroy’s field with Charlie Brown shown hurling from the mound)
Each year, the TCABT is held on the first Saturday of April and the first Saturday of October. TCABT-VII will be held April 1st, 2017. TCABT-VIII will be held October 7th, 2017.
(Ron Emch on left vs Kevin Cluff on right)
Ron Emch posted a terrific video on Youtube, showing the “announcement show” for the 8 teams qualifying for the Championship Bracket portion of the tourney.
(Gary Borthwick, top, vs Dan Skillings, bottom)
(Steve Ryan on left, vs Beau Lofgren on right)
(Phil Geraffo on left, vs Craig Christian on right)
Friday morning I was able to meet Roy Langhans for breakfast at Al’s Breakfast, located in Dinkytown (on the University of Minnesota campus).
Thanks to George Adams, another ballpark addition … Griffith Stadium in D.C.
THE NEIL ESS MEMORIAL TWIN CITIES APBA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT – VI
STANDINGS:
| TCABT-VI | 23 TEAMS | ||||
| Saturday, October 1st, 2016 | |||||
| HHH METRODOME DIVISION | W | L | R | OR | RDIFF |
| 1930 CARDINALS (BRUCE TYLER) | 8 | 2 | 71 | 35 | 36 |
| 1998 BRAVES (STEVE RYAN) | 7 | 3 | 43 | 29 | 14 |
| 1990 ATHLETICS (BEAU LOFGREN) | 5 | 5 | 42 | 32 | 10 |
| 1972 ATHLETICS (JOE PAVLICEK) | 4 | 6 | 36 | 44 | -8 |
| 2008 CUBS (PAT MARTIN) | 3 | 7 | 22 | 42 | -20 |
| 1966 ASTROS (GEORGE ADAMS) | 3 | 7 | 39 | 71 | -32 |
| TOTALS | 30 | 30 | 253 | 253 | 0 |
| METROPOLITAN STADIUM DIVISION | W | L | R | OR | RDIFF |
| 2014 ORIOLES (DARRELL SKOGEN) | 5 | 3 | 28 | 27 | 1 |
| 1995 INDIANS (BEN LOFGREN) | 4 | 4 | 26 | 25 | 1 |
| 2001 MARINERS (PHIL GERAFFO) | 4 | 4 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1930 SENATORS (JIM FRAASCH) | 4 | 4 | 35 | 35 | 0 |
| 1981 EXPOS (CRAIG CHRISTIAN) | 3 | 5 | 24 | 26 | -2 |
| TOTALS | 20 | 20 | 147 | 147 | 0 |
| NICOLLET PARK DIVISION | W | L | R | OR | RDIFF |
| 1977 PHILLIES (LEROY ARNOLDI) | 8 | 2 | 49 | 26 | 23 |
| 1985 CARDINALS (ROY LANGHANS) | 5 | 5 | 54 | 47 | 7 |
| 1930 ATHLETICS (GARTH ANDERSON) | 5 | 5 | 36 | 39 | -3 |
| 1946 RED SOX (CHRIS SHORES) | 5 | 5 | 37 | 41 | -4 |
| 1948 INDIANS (DAVE NORLANDER) | 4 | 6 | 39 | 49 | -10 |
| 1933 PIRATES (JEFF BOEDING) | 3 | 7 | 31 | 44 | -13 |
| TOTALS | 30 | 30 | 246 | 246 | 0 |
| TARGET FIELD DIVISION | W | L | R | OR | RDIFF |
| 1953 DODGERS (FRED JOHNSON) | 7 | 3 | 79 | 43 | 36 |
| 1911 GIANTS (GARY BORTHWICK) | 7 | 3 | 48 | 41 | 7 |
| 2015 ASTROS (JOHN KALOUS) | 7 | 3 | 40 | 37 | 3 |
| 2010 TWINS (KEVIN CLUFF) | 4 | 6 | 47 | 49 | -2 |
| 1962 GIANTS (DAN SKILLINGS) | 4 | 6 | 38 | 45 | -7 |
| 1998 PADRES (RON EMCH) | 1 | 9 | 29 | 66 | -37 |
| TOTALS | 30 | 30 | 281 | 281 | 0 |
TCABT-VI CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET PLAY RESULTS
| Seed | TCABT-VI QUARTER-FINALS | G1 | G2 | G3 | SERIES |
| 1 | 1930 CARDINALS (BRUCE TYLER) | 6 | 9 | 2 | |
| vs | |||||
| 8 | 1995 INDIANS (BEN LOFGREN) | 1 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2 | 1977 PHILLIES (LEROY ARNOLDI) | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
| vs | |||||
| 7 | 1985 CARDINALS (ROY LANGHANS) | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | 1953 DODGERS (FRED JOHNSON) | 1 | 5 | 0 | |
| vs | |||||
| 6 | 1911 GIANTS (GARY BORTHWICK) | 4 | 7 | 2 | |
| 4 | 2014 ORIOLES (DARRELL SKOGEN) | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| vs | |||||
| 5 | 1998 BRAVES (STEVE RYAN) | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
| Seed | TCABT-VI SEMI-FINALS | G1 | G2 | G3 | SERIES |
| 1 | 1930 CARDINALS (BRUCE TYLER) | 6 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| vs | |||||
| 6 | 1911 GIANTS (GARY BORTHWICK) | 8 | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| 2 | 1977 PHILLIES (LEROY ARNOLDI) | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
| vs | |||||
| 5 | 1998 BRAVES (STEVE RYAN) | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Seed | TCABT-VI CHAMPIONSHIP | G1 | G2 | G3 | SERIES |
| 1 | 1930 CARDINALS (BRUCE TYLER) | 9 | 7 | 2 | |
| vs | |||||
| 2 | 1977 PHILLIES (LEROY ARNOLDI) | 8 | 5 | 0 |
CONSOLATION ONE-AND-DONE BRACKET
(Garth Anderson show here during divisional play, facing off vs Jeff Boeding on the left)
| Seed | 1ST ROUND (CONSOLATION) | |
| 1 | 2015 ASTROS (JOHN KALOUS) | BYE |
| 2 | 1990 ATHLETICS (BEAU LOFGREN) | BYE |
| 3 | 1930 SENATORS (JIM FRAASCH) | BYE |
| 4 | 1930 ATHLETICS (GARTH ANDERSON) | BYE |
| 5 | 1946 RED SOX (CHRIS SHORES) | BYE |
| Score | ||
| 6 | 2010 TWINS (KEVIN CLUFF) | 3 |
| vs | ||
| 11 | 1998 PADRES (RON EMCH) | 0 |
| 7 | 1948 INDIANS (DAVE NORLANDER) | 1 |
| vs | ||
| 10 | 1966 ASTROS (GEORGE ADAMS) | 2 |
| 8 | 1933 PIRATES (JEFF BOEDING) | 2 |
| vs | ||
| 9 | 2008 CUBS (PAT MARTIN) | 13 |
| Seed | QUARTER-FINALS (CONSOLATION) | Score |
| 1 | 2015 ASTROS (JOHN KALOUS) | 12 |
| VS | ||
| 10 | 1966 ASTROS (GEORGE ADAMS) | 6 |
| 2 | 1990 ATHLETICS (BEAU LOFGREN) | 1 |
| VS | ||
| 9 | 2008 CUBS (PAT MARTIN) | 2 |
| 3 | 1930 SENATORS (JIM FRAASCH) | 2 |
| VS | ||
| 6 | 2010 TWINS (KEVIN CLUFF) | 4 |
| 4 | 1930 ATHLETICS (GARTH ANDERSON) | 1 |
| VS | ||
| 5 | 1946 RED SOX (CHRIS SHORES) | 0 |
| Seed | SEMI-FINALS (CONSOLATION) | Score |
| 1 | 2015 ASTROS (JOHN KALOUS) | 5 |
| VS | ||
| 9 | 2008 CUBS (PAT MARTIN) | 3 |
| 4 | 1930 ATHLETICS (GARTH ANDERSON) | 6 |
| VS | ||
| 6 | 2010 TWINS (KEVIN CLUFF) | 3 |
| Seed | CHAMPIONSHIP (CONSOLATION) | Score |
| 1 | 2015 ASTROS (JOHN KALOUS) | 3 |
| VS | ||
| 4 | 1930 ATHLETICS (GARTH ANDERSON) | 9 |
Where the action is:
Jim's APBA Barn 
I can’t thank my wife enough for driving me to what is one of the two best weekends so far this year! I would also like to thank everyone who was so friendly and encouraging. I look forward to seeing my new friends as well as some of my old friends in the future!
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It was so fun rolling with you, Steve! So glad you could make it! Another great tournament recap, Jim! Can’t wait for April!
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