The Illowa APBA League

Three Rivers capture flag; three others join for playoffs April 4-6

The 2012 Illowa APBA League is finished and the playoff teams are determined. 

With a 105-57 mark, Todd Ventresca (seen left rolling at the 2012 IAL All-Star Game) and his first place Three Rivers Gamblers will take on fourth place Chicago Champions (87-75) managed by rookie manager, John Heneghan.  Second place Rising Bamm Beanos and their skipper John Brandeberry (95-67) will go against Marcus Bunch (90-72) and his Moline Upperdeckers. 

The playoffs will occur at during the weekend of April 4-6, 2013. 

By the way, the Gamblers’ 105 wins is the third most wins by a team in IAL history.  Only the 1985 Twin City Thunderchickens (115-47) and the 2005 Chicago Highlanders (106-56) had more.  The Northside Hitmen also won 105 games in 1993.

Congrats to all four teams and good luck in the playoffs!

Official 2013 IAL Rookie Draft Order

This is the official 2013 draft order for the Illowa APBA League with penalty points applied.

The Illowa APBA League draft will take place on the weekend of April 4-6. 

IAL welcomes John Heneghan as manager

The IAL welcomes John Heneghan as its newest manager.  John resides in the Chicago West Suburbs and will be taking over the Chicago Champions. 

John has been a friend of the Illowa APBA League for a couple years now and has already shown he has a good knowledge of baseball history and seems to be looking forward to playing APBA in a league environment. 

Not only does John play APBA but he has been a member of the DuPage County Ploughboys, a vintage base ball team that plays by the rules of the mid-19th century. 

Welcome to the IAL, John!

When a Legend Lays Down His Dice for the Last Time

When I first met Tedd  some 36 years ago Tedd was hanging out in the Computer Lab at Northeastern Illinois University where I was a new student trying to figure out life. I didn’t know Tedd from Adam as the saying used to go, but Tedd immediately made me feel welcome as the discussion turned to APBA baseball. I was a History major wondering where that would get me while “Cutting Edge” Tedd was a Computer Science Major (as it was called back then) which was the perfect recipe for a successful occupation for the 70’s and beyond.

Tedd had placed an ad in the “Print” newspaper, the University’s Student paper, about starting a new APBA league ( for those that don’t know what APBA is by the way, it’s the first but probably not,  but definitely the best simulated major league board game ever invented and marketed in my humble opinion. It is played with dice, charts major league player cards and yes even strategy, smarts and luck).

At this time, Tedd and other members of the Illowa league were looking for prospective members to start up a second new league which would be called the Midwest League. Tedd was already a member of the Illowa league which had members from both Iowa and Illinois- get it? (That league and perhaps the whole 1970’s culture thought that more was always better, so why not start a second league and have two leagues going at the same time?)Tedd apparently believing in the Norman Vincent Peale approach of positive thinking had named his Illowa league team the Champions and the name has stuck and been very appropriate if not prophetic. Tedd’s teams have won 11 Illowa league championships, which is far and away the most in league’s history and probably always will be.Players like Mike Schmidt, Luis Tiant, Cal Ripken, Greg Maddux, Gary Carter, Dennis Leonard, Eric Davis and even failed prospects such as Brad Komminsk and everyone’s mid-80’s favorite Cory Snyder and recent pasteboard heroes such as Alex Rodriguez and Tim Lincecum and Ken Griffey Jr. (Sr. played for the Champs too) have graced the diamond for Mgr. Mallasch.

After considering it all for about four seconds, I took the bait and accepted the invitation to join the new league which led to a membership in the aforementioned Midwest League. Teams were drafted out of the leftovers or undrafted players from the Illowa League.As leftovers go, this wasn’t all too bad as future Hall of Famers (remember when the Hall actually elected players?) players such as Robin Yount, Nolan Ryan, Dave Winfield and Carlton Fisk were all available for the draft. Tedd was going to be a charter member too. I guess the initial thought was that this league was to be something of a “farm team” for the existing Illowa league while as a  point of fact, there were a couple of members of the Midwest who were members of both leagues. (Remember that back in the dark ages of the 70’s we were stuck without any digital devices to occupy our time, hard to believe eh? There was no cable, no PCs or no iPods, just good old fashioned network TV, newspapers, magazines and radio (non-satellite variety of course) to while away the hours. (It’s no wonder then, that board games like APBA and Strat-O-Matic and leagues that featured these games were thriving around that time). (After a year in the Midwest League, I also joined/was promoted to the Illowa League  which was also a good thing too cuz the Midwest League eventually folded after a 20 year or so run due to squabbling, discord or possibly just general malaise).

While waiting for the Midwest League to begin, Tedd and I still had to show up for a few classes at Northeastern U.- at least most of the time. I remember sitting with Tedd in the back of J. Fred MacDonald’s TV as a Historical Perspective or was it The History of Sports in America with  Prof. Steve Reiss?  As fate would have it, we were both taking a couple of  the same classes. While our instructors were expounding on the things that professors like to expound on like why and how the Vietnam War came into our living rooms via TV each night or why Bear Baiting was indeed considered a “Sport”, Tedd was describing the merits of selecting Jim Umbarger or Jerry Augustine for his Illowa league team. Augustine could start and relieve and was graded a “B” or maybe a C/B. Not much information was to be shared about the new league yet, however.
We would both be vying for the same players (not really since Tedd knew how to draft and I didn’t) so our cards were held close to our chest so to speak. Unfortunately for Tedd he usually couldn’t keep quiet about hot (this term was used a little differently back in the day) young rookies and inevitably I’d learn about another great major league prospect. Also at that time, Tedd knew players that I didn’t even know existed. Today, even the most obscure rookie is touted somewhere!

Well, here it is 36 years later and tonight as I write this we’re going to be rolling on the white table top surface that has seen its share of many of the games, and facing off for the last time for our January Illowa league series. Over the past 35 or 36 years Tedd and I have faced off against each other by my count an estimated 630-675 times in the Illowa League regular season, 50-60 times in the Midwest League and probably another 50-75 times for playoff and World Series games. This doesn’t even take into account a handful of APBA football games. That’s over 800 games or a whole lot of rolling folks! There have been no-hitters perfect games and walk off victories along the way. There is no money to be had after our victory or defeats but the passion to compete has always been the name of the game with Tedd.

Games were typically but not always played at the familiar white table top stadium/aka Cracker Jack Park at the Mallasch residence on North Whipple although other venues to name a few over the years, included the Illinois Bell building in downtown Chicago, a fellow league member’s house in Davenport, Iowa, Colona/Green Rock in The Quad Cities and even a hotel room in Minneapolis.

Let me tell you a little something now about the Mallasch residence which houses White Table Top Stadium or Crackerjack Park, if you prefer; you would enter the residence from the back stairs. Upon entering the back door (you’re polite and knock but it’s always “come on in”) you will invariably be greeted by one of the likeable Mallasch dogs. (It’s a shame that the pig has long since passed away- or you would have gone past him in the yard- don’t ask!) The names and breeds of the canine may have obviously changed over the years but the roll call is impressive. Let’s see it could go something like this…’On Cleo, on Gracie on Abby and Sam on Chico and Missy and don’t forget Benji and many more that passed through these portals. Why there was even been a cat named Troubles and a fighter (I think) named Van Gogh. The lists are almost as extensive as the Champion closers over the years (most recently Valverde or Romo).

After you’re inside the house and in short order you will be exposed always to Mallasch hospitality. Food was offered and the word no was not taken for an answer. Hospitality was paramount and extended by all members of the Mallasch household to the invited APBA guest. (This was akin to being “fattened up” for the slaughter in some cultures.) The heat is always ratcheted up to seemingly unbearable levels in either the summer or the winter and more often than not a relative or a family friend would drop by during the series. Still, the Whipple house will be remembered fondly for all the APBA games rolled with in its- dare I say it “friendly confines”.

I find myself getting a little emotional about tonight’s meeting as we play this “silly board game” for what may perhaps be the last time while sitting across the table from one another. Tedd announced two months ago that he was stepping down from the Illowa league after 36 years. The reasons why are varied but I guess in short, the fun was gone.

While the last series will mean little or nothing for my squad, the Hitmen, it quite possibly will be the last shot at the playoffs for Tedd’s team the Champions. Playoffs or no playoffs, Tedd has indicated that in any event this is his last series. I was hoping that he would make the playoffs and manage the team to the title one last time because that’s the way a career like that is supposed to end yet I will try as always to defeat him because our competitive natures compel us to do this. I do feel honored though that Tedd’s last league series will be the Champs/Hitmen for one last go ‘round.

To understand Tedd’s management style and passion for the game of baseball I think about a quote that our fellow manage Todd V. uttered a few weeks ago when we were playing our series via Skype. (You see although we play a 1970’s type board game we do it with 2013 technology or maybe 2006 technology). I had just complimented Todd for a nice managerial move and as a byproduct his team benefited by this managerial maneuver. After he digested the compliment he realized that his team benefited almost inadvertently by his maneuver and not necessarily by design so he stated if I had known that this was going to occur then I’d been in Todd’s words, “Tedd Smart”. Tedd could use any and every advantage (all within the APBA rule book) to help his squad.

This won’t be the end of the friendship between Tedd and I after all he is my son’s godfather but it will be the end of to quote Tedd- a phase.

Just remember old friend – never say never cuz even MJ put back on his old #23.

Let’s raise our glasses to the legend of Teddy Ballgame as he lays down his dice for the last time!!

LAST DANCE

January 11, 2013

GAME 1
Chicago Champions vs Northside Hitmen

Champions Tim Lincecum was matched up against Brad Penny, both starting pitchers went seven innings, with Penny up by a run when he left for a pinch hitter.  Chicago scored four runs off reliever Neftali Feliz over the last two innings to come out with a 7-4 victory. Pinch-hitter Dexter Fowler ripped a two out RBI triple to score Jimmy Rollins with the tying run in the 8th.  Neftali uncorked a bases loaded wild pitch in the 9th, which proved to be the winning run, and then Rollins added some insurance with a two RBI single.    Jimmy was the hitting hero, driving in three, with three hits, including a double, and two stolen bases.  Miguel Cabrera provided a two RBI double in a losing effort for the Hitmen.  Feliz took the loss, while Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless 8th inning to pick up the win, and Sergio Romo threw a three-up & three-down 9th to notch the save.

GAME 2
Chicago Champions vs Northside Hitmen

Rob Taylor, who was on hand for the last dance, took over the reins of the Hitmen for a game for old time sake.  Northside jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after three, highlighted by a solo shot by All Star Game MVP Elvis Andrus and a 2-run bomb off the bat of Jay Bruce.  Chicago came back with a run in the 4th and a big fly off the bat of Alex Rodriguez with two runners aboard brought the game back to even.  The Champions offense ripped Clay Buchholz for seven runs over six innings and Matt Cain got off the mat for his 19th win of the year.  The Champs pulled off a daring double steal in the sixth inning with Eric Hosmer stealing home.  Sergio Romo struck out the side in the 9th for his 2nd save in two days, and his 37th of the year.

GAME 3
Chicago Champions vs Northside Hitmen

Chuck Lucas was back in the saddle for game three.  Thanks to the longball Chicago jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, a 2-run homer by Eric Hosmer and a solo knock by Jimmy Rollins provided the fireworks.  Through six, Mark Buehrle held that lead over Cole Hamels.  Miggy Cabrera took Buehrle yard in the bottom of the 6th to bring Northside back within one.  The Champs plated four runs in the 8th off Neftali Feliz, highlighted by four extra base hits, doubles by Jeff Francoeur, Victor Martinez, and Nick Swisher, and a triple by Hosmer.  Jose Mijares and Brett Myers worked the final three scoreless innings for another Chicago victory.

GAME 4
Chicago Champions vs Northside Hitmen

Jeff Francoeur brought his big bat to the ballpark, launching three homers, and knocking in eight, Frenchy also stole a base.  Madison Bumgarner was the beneficiary of the offensive explosion, while Brett Anderson threw two innings of Home Run Derby to Francoeur, a two run blast and a Grand Salami, Jeff’s other homer, a deuce, came off Brad Penny in the 6th.  Miguel Cabrera provided some offense with a three-run big fly in the 3rd.  Although Brett Myers allowed three runs over the final three innings, he managed to get the save, his 5th of the season.

GAME 5
Chicago Champions vs Northside Hitmen

Chicago scored eleven runs on eighteen hits, Victor Martinez paced the way with five RBIs and four hits, including two doubles.  Jake Peavy was knocked around for seven runs in under five innings.  Josh Beckett went the distance, allowing a 4th inning two-run clout off the bat of Edwin Encarnacion, and a harmless 7th inning tally.  Jeff Francoeur drove in his 100th run of the season with an 8th inning RBI double.  Eric Hosmer hit the only homer of the game in the 9th, it was his 26th, putting him up by one on Nick Swisher for the team lead in long balls.

January 13, 2013

GAME 6
Northside Hitmen vs Chicago Champions

The Champions dropped their first game of the series as Tim Lincecum went the distance surrendering six runs and was bested by Brett Anderson, Neftali Feliz, and Javy Guerra, 6-5.  Colby Rasmus drove in three and pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt plated a couple on a two run clout, and Ryan Doumit’s solo shot accounted for the other Hitmen run.  Nick Swisher’s tater with a man aboard cut it to one, but that was as close as Chicago would come.

GAME 7
Northside Hitmen vs Chicago Champions

Matt Cain’s limits got the best of him in his quest to become a twenty game winner.  He only had 6 2/3 innings as he took the bump for his final start of the year.  Jose Valverde relieved Cain with 2 outs in the 7th with the game knotted at five.  Of course the Champs scored a run in the bottom of the frame to give Valverde the win, as the Champs held on for an 8-6 win.  Long ball rakers were Eric Hosmer with a 2-run jack and Nick Swisher with a three run wallop.  Brett Myers closed it out, allowing one run (Colby Rasmus, does a leadoff homer in an inning kill a potential rally?) over two innings of work, to pick up the save.

GAME 8
Northside Hitmen vs Chicago Champions

Madison Bumgarner allowed one run over six innings to earn the victory, and he even plated a run with a sac fly.  Brett Myers was tagged for a run on a Chase Utley big fly (does a leadoff homer in an inning kill a potential rally?), but that was all, in three innings, to notch another save.  Pinch-hitter Carlos Lee provided Chicago with what would prove to be the difference in the game when he went shopping at the gap, for a 2-run two base knock in the 6th.

GAME 9
Northside Hitmen vs Chicago Champions

It was a pitcher’s duel through six in the last regular season game played at Crackerjack Park, Champions Mark Buehrle allowed no runs through six, Clay Buchholz posted five donuts and Javy Guerra threw up three of his own.  Miguel Cabrera tagged Buehrle for a bomb, Champ nemesis Colby Rasmus plated another with an RBI triple in the 7th, and in the 8th Chase Utley knocked another one out.  It was Luke Gregerson’s turn at what has become known as “Russian Roulette Save Opportunity” as he was called in to try to save it for a 3-0 Hitmen win.  Jeff Francoeur got a leadoff base knock (a leadoff homer might have killed a potential rally), Victor Martinez lined a hit & run double, scoring Francoeur, Alex Rodriguez singled to secondbase, sending pinch-runner Jimmy Rollins to 3rd, Nick Swisher tied the game up with a two run RBI double, Eric Hosmer walked, after retiring the next two batters, Gregerson booted a comebacker to the mound to fill the bases, bringing up Brett Myers.  In what often times happens in the last game of the year, Myers was the last man standing, so it was up to BAM, he did not disappoint, Brett watched 45-14, ball four go into Brian McCann’s glove, and the 4-3 comeback was complete.

NEARLY FORTY YEARS OF APBA MEMORIES

I answered an ad in the APBA Journal for a local APBA league looking for a manager.  I sent in my resume and was blown away when Don Smith said he would drive all the way from Iowa to check me out.  We took two stock teams out of their team envelopes, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Texas Rangers.  We had a mini draft and played a couple of games.  Don clobbered me something like 13-0 and I thought, that was it, I was out.  Then we played another, I won 4-3, and I was in.

Seeing Chicago baseball hadn’t won a championship since the 1917 Chicago White Sox, I figured Chicago needed a champion, and named my franchise the Chicago Champions.

Going into my first draft we were loaded with hitters such as Mike Schmidt, Dave Parker, Cesar Cedeno, Joe Rudi, Willie Stargell, and Gene Tenace.  What we needed was pitching, so everybody was shocked when I selected Jim Rice over Dennis Eckersley.

Dave Concepcion was my shortstop, but he only played 120 some games that year, and nobody (Tom Reisdorph) told me that because Mike Schmidt played 10 games at shortstop, he could cover me.  So Concepcion was dealt to Tom’s Cardinals in exchange for Rick Burleson.

I played my first Illowa APBA League game against another first year skipper, the late great, Dale Smith.  Dale was an Al Hrabosky look alike, with a competitive nature, and a heart of gold, still one of my favorites.  We got to the 9th inning, down by a run, with runners on base, two outs, and rolled Cesar Cedeno’s error number.  It was a good result, would’ve tied the game, and kept the inning going.  However we thought the error chart was being used, I rerolled the error number, and the game was over.

We jumped out to a big lead, then limits caught up to me, but I was able to hang on to 4th place, and the last playoff slot.  With everybody back for the playoffs and World Series our team name was to prove prophetic as we won our first league championship.

While Mike Schmidt was my big home run hitter, Graig Nettles was Dale Smith’s big slugger for the Rocket Fire.  Dale’s father cut off the top of a couple of fence posts, painted one white, one red, and added black spots.  Dale brought those big boys out when Graig strode to the plate at my house.  He rolled them across my dining room floor and they came to rest at the far wall of my living room, 66-1!  The dogs went crazy and that might have been the only time those dice were used against me.

Back in the day, Don Smith would call timeout, march to the middle of the room, and talk with his pitcher, trying to coax him out of a tight jam, which was quite unnerving to a new manager, like me.  I also remember having second thoughts when I got a hit and run single versus Mike Cuellar, a D plain, to put the score to something like 8-0, and I got the DonS glare, if looks could kill.

Craig Smith had switch-hitter Ted Simmons on his team and would roll the dice with either hand depending on whether Ted was batting lefthanded or righthanded.  In a series against Tom Reisdorph, Craig asked whether Tom’s pitcher was a righty or a lefty, so he’d know with which hand to roll the dice for Simba, no response.  So Craig rolled a homer with both hands on the dice cup.

In the first inning of the fifth game against Tom Reisdorph, we were up 4-0 in the series and 4-0 in the game.  We had two runners on and the pitcher on deck.  Tom intentionally walked the 8th place hitter.  Pinch-hitter Don Baylor cracked a grand slam putting the game on ice, 8-0!

Another highlight came against Reisdorph when Cesar Geronimo hit the only two home runs of that particular year, back-to-back, to beat him 2-1.

Via Baseball America, I would study all of the young players before the information was pretty much common place as it is today.  As a result I was able to draft youngsters like Cal Ripken (uncarded), as well as D pitchers, Dave Stieb, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux, not to mention extra round pick Jeff Bagwell.  I can still remember Rob Taylor, Chuck Lucas, and I at Comiskey Park watching Ripken look terrible after I’d drafted him.  Later we learned he played the doubleheader with the flu and he went on to have a pretty good career.  Then there was the “future” trade of Stieb, in which I got guys, and was able to keep Dave for the year, that practice was soon outlawed.  I fell in love with an aging Kirk Gibson when he hit that famous homer off Dennis Eckersley, so I traded Glavine to the Thunderchickens for him, not a very bright move.

Although there were some duds selected too, guys like Brad Komminsk, Cory Snyder, Steve Trout, Frank Pastore, and Ben Petrick Still the Champs were able to capture ten Championships in about the first 20 years in the league, and we were able to add our eleventh a few years ago.  Mike Schmidt ended his career with more home runs than anyone in the history of the IAL.  Jim Rice held the single season home run record with 66 (a nice APBA number), until the roid boys stepped into the picture.  The alltime wins pitcher is Greg Maddux.  Yet there was a perception of lucky dice and I’d rather be lucky than good anytime.  My little white die was purchased at a rummage sale and was a little off square, with numbers painted on it, and sometimes they were hard to read.  Stealing a line from Guys and Dolls, I remember where the spots were.  Tom Reisdorph charted dice rolls trying determine if I was rolling an unfair advantage.  I still don’t know if those dice gave me an advantage, but they were never selected to give me one.  I was urged to can my dice.

Against the then Tom Nelson, I pinch-hit Duane Kuiper, who had a 66-6, with a runner on 3rd, two outs in the bottom of the 9th of a 1-0 against T*Chix closer Dave Smith.  Of course I was lucky and Kuiper hit a walkoff homer for his only long ball of his career.

One time Nick Tegeler was managing the Gehlen J’s against me, his pitcher was throwing a no-hitter with two outs in the bottom of the 9th with a 3-0 lead.  I rolled a homer, a double, a homer, a double, and a game ending homer.  Again, I’d rather be lucky than good.

One time Roberto Mejia was up with the game on the line against Mike Bunch.  I rolled into Mejia’s 2nd column.  Mike noticed there was only one chance for me to hit a home run.  I smiled and said that’s all I need as Roberto circled the bases after a 66-1 was rolled.

Joe Carter came up with his last at bat of the season, with 50 homers and 19 stolen bases.  I wanted him to steal twenty, but he only had a 15-10, so chances were bleak as he batted with nobody on.  I rolled a 22-0 and a 52-11.  Once again, I’d rather be lucky than good.

The rivalry between Tom Reisdorph and me reached an all-time high/low in a World Series matchup.  The Cardinals had a big lead and Tom intentionally walked many batters so that Mike Schmidt, the face of the Chicago Champions, would make the last out of the Series.  I still can’t believe this actually happened.

There were many fantastic memories in the IAL and through playing APBA.  I met the best friends in my life, not blood related (my brother Todd will always be my best friend), Chuck Lucas, Rob Taylor, and Mike Raisanen.  So it was extra special to play my last IAL series against Chuck, to have Rob roll one against me, and to have Big Mike present at the IAL All Star weekend.  All good things must come to an end, I’ve always said, when it’s good, it’s good, and when it’s bad, it’s over.

Thanks for the memories!  My life’s dice are still rolling 66’s!

Delgado, Griffey Jr., Martinez inducted into IAL Hall!

Word came down from IAL vice-commissioner Rob Moore on the results of the Illowa APBA League Hall of Fame ballot. 

“Please welcome your new Illowa League Hall of Fame members:

Pedro Martinez (unanimous)

Ken Griffey Jr. (unanimous)

Carlos Delgado (7 votes)

Nomar Garciaparra, Mike Mussina, and Gary Sheffield each got 6 votes, just missing the cutoff, but will return to the ballot next year.”

It was a banner day for manager Chuck Lucas who managed both Martinez and Delgado and won five championships with their help. 

Here are the official online HOF entries for each player:

• Carlos Delgado
• Ken Griffey Jr.
• Pedro Martinez

You can see the whole list of IAL players (and manager) at the IAL Hall of Fame web page.

Congrats to all three!

IAL Hall of Fame: Ken Griffey Jr

The consummate slugger and great fielder, Ken Griffey Jr was inducted into the Illowa APBA League Hall of Fame by a unanimous vote.

Griffey has the unique distinction of being one of only three hitters with over 1500 rbis and runs.  His mark of 1754 rbis is second to only Barry Bonds.  That and his mark of 582 homeruns only tells part of the story.

Griffey was a superb outfielder for most of his career until injuries slowed him down.  He had speed too, at least for the first half of his career.  He stole 193 bases in the first 12 years of his career.  In his final nine, he stole none.

As fantastic as Junior was, he never found a permanent home in the IAL.  In the 21 years he played for the IAL, he played for 8 different teams and was traded seven times.  His longest stint was with his drafting team, the Chicago Mercenaries, who were renamed the DreamTeam in Griffey’s sophomore year (some believe that it was the hopes of Ken Griffey Jr’s promise that prompted the team name change). He played for the Mercs/Dreamteam for seven years and led them to a first place finish in 1992.

IAL Accomplishments:

Ranks 4th with 582 career homeruns; hit 50 or more four times including 63 (7th highest) in 1995

Is second all-time with 1754 career rbis and fourth all-time in runs scored with 1547.

Best season:  1995 – .299, 63 HR, 160 rbis, 136 runs, 13 triples,  

IAL Hall of Fame: Pedro Martinez

Hard throwing Pedro Martinez was inducted into the Illowa APBA League Hall of Fame by a unanimous vote at the 2012 All-Star weekend. 

Martinez was drafted by the Northside Hitmen and spent his sixteen year career with them.  In the process, he led them to five IAL championships and won 200 games along the way. 

The pitcher simply known as ‘Pedro’ was at his peak in the early 2000s.  He won 22 games in 2000 with a 2.32 ERA and 224 strikeouts.  Four years later, he improved on that ERA with a miniscule 2.03 mark winning 18 and losing only 6. 

IAL Accomplishments:

• 10th all time with 200 career wins with 15 or more wins in eight seasons.
• Five World Championship rings with the Northside Hitmen
• Career low 2.03 ERA in 2004; Career high 22 wins in 2000

IAL Hall of Fame: Carlos Delgado

Slugger Carlos Delgado who spent the bulk of his career with the Northside Hitmen, had a propensity for offense.  To this day, he still holds the single season record for runs scored with 167 which he accomplished in the Hitmen’s 2001 championship season.  That championship was one of five he helped the Hitmen win in his career.

Delgado is one of only 11 IAL hitters who have over 1100 runs and rbis.  

IAL Accomplishments:

• Hit 40 HR five times and 50 twice (2001,2004)
• Holds IAL single season record for runs with 167 in 2001 (also sixth on list with 153 in 2004)
• Drove in 1174 runs an scored 1287 runs in 15 year career
• Played on Five IAL World Championship teams with the Northside Hitmen

APBA, Just a phase…

Mom told me when I wanted APBA Baseball for Christmas 1970 that it was just a phase I was going through, and that I’d tire of it before long. Well Mom was right! After 42 years of playing APBA Baseball, more than 35 years in the Illowa APBA League, I’ve announced my resignation as Chicago Champions manager at the end of the regular season, and will be hanging up my dice cup.

When asked to comment on the reason for my somewhat abrupt departure from the game I’ve loved for so many years, I’ve chosen not to comment, other than to say, “When it’s good, it’s good & when it’s bad, it’s over”.

I enjoyed much of my APBA success in the early years, winning ten of my eleven league championships. I always seemed to have no problem rolling good numbers, good players help with that feat. Some star Champion hitters were Mike Schmidt, Jim Rice, Gary Carter, Joe Carter, Cal Ripken, Jeff Bagwell, & Alex Rodriguez. On the hill Chicago had the likes of Dennis Leonard, Dave Stieb, Greg Maddux, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, & Mark Buehrle.

All in all I’ve enjoyed playing that stupid dice game and wouldn’t trade a moment. I’ve met the best friends the world has to offer playing APBA, and those friendships will go on long after my final 66 has been rolled.