Chicago Champions Reach Century Mark

I have been playing APBA baseball since 1970, more than forty years, and have never reached the 100 win plateau in any format.  I’ve managed the Chicago Champions in the Illowa APBA League since the 2nd season of the league, more than 35 years, and have never gotten 100 wins, until now.  Two years ago the Champions finished in 1st place with 98 wins, last year we again finished in 1st place & won the World Series (our 11th title), but missed out on 100 wins, finishing with 99 victories.

This year with nine games to play, the Champs again had a strong hold on 1st place, but needed four wins to reach the century mark.  Prince Fielder hit a walkoff homer with 2-outs in the bottom of the 9th of the 1st contest turning a victory for Tim Lincecum into defeat in the opener.

The Champions beat the Gamblers the next three games, and it was The Freak’s turn once again to toe the rubber for Chicago.  Although he walked six men in the game, Three Rivers hadn’t a hit with 2-outs in the 9th, then the unthinkable happened, on the brink of 100 wins.  Lincecum only had 8 2/3 innings left, so reliever Sergio Romo was called on to get the final out, and we finally had our 100th win.  The Champs won two more games to finish the season with 102 victories, now it’s on to the postseason, and hopefully title twelve.

Gambler Starter Webb is More than Just Perfect

originally posted August 2004

To say that Aurora Gambler rookie starter Brandon Webb had a good month in August might be a bit of an understatement.  It would be more accurate to say that Webb did the impossible. 

In game 3 against the State Street Sluggers, Webb was perfect.  Not figuratively speaking, mind you. Just perfect.  No runs, no hits, no walks. Nothing.  It was the first perfect game in recent history of the Illowa League (it is said Orel Hershiser pitched one).

Ironically, opposing pitcher Kerry Wood pitched a 3-hitter for the Sluggers.  Unfortunately for Wood, one of those hits was a 2 run homerun by Derek Jeter and that’s all it took.  The Gamblers won 2-0.

It was the first no-hitter this year in the IAL.  Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez pitched a no-hitter for the State Street Sluggers near the end of the 2003 season.

But that’s only half the story

But Webb wasn’t done yet… far from it.  In game 8 against the Sluggers, Webb again took to the mound.  Webb allowed two baserunners in the game, a pair of walks (both to Omar Vizquel) to pitch his second no-hitter in as many starts!  The Gamblers won the game 4-0.

This is first time in the 30 year history of the IAL that a pitcher has pitched back-to-back no-hitters.  Add to this that one was a perfect game and that the pitcher was a rookie and you have the recipe for an bona fide unique event which will never be duplicated. 

Webb’s Series Stats against the Sluggers in August:

Webb entered the month of August with a 2-5 record and a 3.56 ERA.  He was the first pick of the 2004 IAL rookie draft.

The boxscore for Webb’s perfect  game: