Volume 1, Issue 22 - April 10, 2018
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Good evening,
Two weeks or so into the baseball season, the big winner is winter! Stanton has 10ks in two games. Ohtani looks good. Forgive me but I’m not going to over react to two weeks of performance.
My favorite time of the year starts tomorrow with the NHL playoffs. Can Pittsburgh win three in a row?
Greg Wells scored 35 on last’s weeks baseball quiz. He provided a screen shot of his score. Three had a score of 34. Congratulations Greg!
The football game now includes the 2017 Super Bowl teams and the National Championship teams. Here is the roster for the four teams in the 2017 football game set.
The 2017 College football have fifty players per team.
New items:
Now available the 1970-71 NHL season!Bring home the 2017 Alabama and Georgia teams here.
NEW MEMBERS TO THE APBA COMMUNITY
Please welcome the following new members to the APBA community. New members are folks who have recently made their first purchase of APBA products. If you know them or live in the same area, please reach out to them.
PATRICK ALLEN CHAPEL HILL, NC
SAL REYES CARY, IL
JAMES VARNADOE CLAXTON, GA
ALAN BUSER WOODBRIDGE, VA
STEVEN ADAMS PACIFICA, CA
STEHEN WILLOUGHBY HONEOYE FALLS, NY
TOMAS DE LA ROSA BAYTOWN, TX
PAUL MARKS CHARLOTTE, NC
JED LEVITAS MATTHEWS, NC
TEDDY BUCY PINCKNEY, MI
PAUL BASTARACHE COHASSET, MA
ED SANDOLI CHERRY HILL, NJ
JOHN KNAPP MASON, OH
Several of you have asked for the new members contact info. In this day and age, we can’t do that. But we will send your contact information to them if you ask us to. Please identify the name of the person you want us to send your contact info.THIS WEEK IN APBA (“TWIA”) RADIO SHOW
APBA has began to sponsor a weekly broadcast offering insights into the game of APBA and players within the APBA community. The host is John Asalon who offers a extremely professional broadcast. Please join John Asalon and his guests every Thursday night at 8:00 pm (Eastern) for THIS WEEK IN APBA radio show.
John’s guests this week are: Fritz Light.Listen to the Thursday April 12th show here.
Here is the tentative TWIA schedule for the next two weeks:
April 19th- Former MLBer and APBA player, Darrell Evans is the scheduled guest.
April 26th- we are trying to get the Cincinnati Reds broadcasters that used APBA during the 1981 strike (lockout) .
Check the archives below the large screen on the first page of the above link for earlier broadcasts.
We are exploring podcast options for TWIA.APBA GO
APBA GO NOW HAS A SOLITAIRE PLAY FEATURE.
Check APBA GO out here. Its free!You can know purchase single teams for APBA GO! Check out the 2018 APBA GO contest. Run don’t walk over to APBA GO now.
TOURNAMENT AND LEAGUE NEWS
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT REPORT
This week is the calm before the storm of tournaments. A storm that is welcome and a refreshing ritual of Spring. As I write this newsletter article the Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament is underway in Maple Grove, Minnesota under the direction of Jim Fraasch. Then on Saturday April 14th two tournaments are in the offering. The first is The Old Dominion APBA Baseball Tournament in Richmond, Virginia under the direction of Jim Saska. The second is Florida’s Spring Break From Reality APBA Baseball Tournament in Ocala, Florida (Site Change) under the direction of Tony Stevens. Tournament results will be published upon receipt. Tournament Directors are reminded to report tournament winner name and team, runner-up name and team, and the number of participants.
Oh my! The TCABT results were received just prior to press time. Here is a recap of the TCABT-IX, held this past Saturday, April 7th, 2018.
Twenty-eight (28) entrants made it to Darrell Skogen’s home in Maple Grove, MN, early Saturday morning. After group announcements and a group picture, they were ready to start rolling by 8:45 am. Two divisions were upstairs and five divisions were in the basement. In all, seven divisions of four teams each. The division winners were, starting with the Gabby Hartnett division, Dave Norlander and his 1938 Yankees who was 3-3 heading into his final 3-game series vs the 6-0 1942 Yankees, managed by Ben Lofgren. Dave’s '38ers swept Ben’s '42ers, 3 games to none to win the division. The '38 Yankees would earn the #5 seed in the 8-team bracket play. The Frank Howard division saw Paul Van Beek’s 1995 Indians go 7-2 and win the division by 2 games over Kurt Bergland’s 2006 Padres who went 5-4. The '95 Indians earned the #2 seed in the 8-team bracket play. From the Reggie Jackson division, Marty Lee had thought he was bringing the 2001 Mariners, but was actually bringing the 2000 Mariners. This did not seem to phase him at all, as he wound up going 6-3 in the division round, good enough to win the Reggie Jackson division, earning the #6 seed in the the 8-team Bracket Round best-of-3 playoffs. Fred Johnson’s 1987 Tigers finished 2nd and out of the playoffs with a 5-4 record in the Jackson division. Moving to the Roger Maris division, it played out with another exciting matchup for the final 3-game series between the 5-1 2017 Indians managed by Rob Skogen and the 4-2 1953 Dodgers managed by Jim Fraasch. Somehow, the 1953 Bums manage to sweep the series, needing a 9th inning miracle to pull out game 1 of the 3 game set. After starting out the day going 1-2, the '53 Bums end up 7-2, and earned the #3 seed in the 8-team bracket play. In the Minnie Minoso division, the 1973 “Miracle” Braves managed by George Adams, pull out a stunner, and won the Minoso division with a 6-3 record earning the #7 seed in the 8-team bracket play. The '73 Braves were 3-3 before they swept Mike Vitt’s '98 Braves in their final series of division play. The 1911 Giants managed by Bruce Tyler, also went 6-3, but because they went 1-2 vs the '73 Braves in their head-to-head series, they finished 2nd in the division. But the 1911 Giants earned the one Wild Card given out to fill out the 8-team bracket play, with their 6-3 2nd place finish and a +23 run differential, better than the other 6-3 teams who finished 2nd. Winning the Enos Slaughter division was Kevin Cluff’s 2017 Nationals, with a 7-2 record. Two teams in his division finished 2 games back with 5-4 records, the 1968 Tigers managed by Darrell Shreve and the 1969 Orioles managed by Robert Elley. Kevin earned the #1 seed with his 7-2 record and his +19 run differential, better than the other 7-2 teams. Finally, the Ted Williams division was won by Gregg Nelson and his 1941 Dodgers, with a 6-3 record. This division had a lot of balance as the 1936 Yankees managed by Jeff Boeding and the 1998 Yankees managed by Gary Borthwick each finished just 1 game back with 5-4 records.
The Quarter-finals saw Kevin’s 2017 Nats down Bruce’s 1911 Giants, 2 games to 1. George’s 1973 Braves ousted Paul’s 1995 Indians, 2 games to 1. Jim’s 1953 Dodgers throttled Marty’s 2000 Mariners, 2 games to none. And Dave’s 1938 Yankees needed just 2 games to send home Gregg’s 1941 Dodgers.
In the semi-finals, Kevin’s 2017 Nats made quick work of George’s 1973 Braves, 2 games to none and Dave’s 1938 Yankees, also swept Jim’s 1953 Dodgers, 2 games to none. Jim’s '53 Dodgers blew a 9-6 lead in game 1, losing 11-9 giving up five runs in the top of the 9th.
The Championship match-up featured a 2-time April champion, Kevin and his 2017 Nats vs Dave and his 1938 Yankees as Dave was looking for his first title. The '38 Yankees won game 1, 3-2. The 2017 Nationals won game 2, 7-3. Game 3 for all the marbles, would go 11 innings. The '38 Yankees had an early 4-0 lead. The 2017 Nats tie it up 4-4 in the bottom of the 9th, after entering the 9th trailing 4-3. Then a scoreless 10th. Once the TCABT gets to the 11th inning, all pitchers are reduced to a straight D, regardless of their actual pitching grades. The Yankees put up 2 runs in the top of the 11th inning to go up 6-4. In the bottom of the 11th, Harper blasted a 2-run homer to tie it up and Zimmerman a 2-run homer to win the championship in walk-off style, as Kevin Cluff and the 2017 Nats won 8-6, and won the championship series 2 games to 1!
Congratulations to Kevin Cluff for winning his 3rd April TCABT championship, winning each even numbered April (2014, 2016 and now 2018). They joked that Kevin does not earn “Legend” TCABT status until he gets his name on the October trophy, which Leroy Arnoldi has done twice (but Leroy has no April championships). Who will be the first TCABT manager to end up on both trophies??? And will it happen this next October the 6th, 2018? Overall in the nine tournaments held, they have had 6 different managers as champions, and 9 different runner-ups. They also just pasted their 1000th game mark in TCABT history as they are currently sitting at 1006 games played.
A special thanks goes to the TCABT Tournament Director Jim Fraasch and tournament host Darrell Skogen on another top rate APBA Baseball Tournament. TCABT X will be held on Saturday October 6, 2018 so Mark your calendars and plan to attend. Contact Jim Fraasch at jwfraasch@mchsi.com if interested.
The 2018 APBA Regional Tournament schedule is as follows. Please Mark your calendars accordingly and be sure to attend and participate in one of these fine events. You will not regret the experience of brotherhood and gaming experience.
Saturday April 14, 2018 - The Old Dominion APBA Baseball Tournament, Richmond, Virginia. Contact Jim Saska at jamessaska@gmail.com.
Saturday April 14, 2018 - Florida’s Spring Break From Reality APBA Baseball Tournament, Ocala, Florida (NEW LOCATION - LaQuinta Inn, 3530 SW 36th Avenue, Ocala, Florida). The theme is Happy Days … teams from the 1950s and 1960s. Contact Tony Stevens at (352) 600-0974 or at AandTStevens@gmail.com
Saturday April 28, 2018 - The Prairieland III APBA Baseball Tournament, Springfield, Illinois (Ramada Inn, 3281 Northfield Drive). The theme is The Golden Years 1920-1960’s (No W.S. teams or 1941 Red Sox). Contact Tom Nelshoppen at nelshopp@gmail.com or register on-line at www.apbablog.com.
Saturday July 7, 2018 - The 4th Annual Linda B. Schulz Memorial APBA Baseball Tournament, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. Contact Ken Schulz at schulzka02@gmail.com.
Saturday, July 14, 2018 - The Chicagoland Summer APBA Baseball Tournament, Des Plainies, Illinois (at the Comfort Inn O’Hare in Des Plainies, IL). Contact Rob Spatz at robspatz@gmaill.com.
Saturday, July 21, 2018 - The Second Annual Lancaster World Series , Landisville , Pennsylvania. Contact Dale Shreiner at dashreiner@gmail.com.
Friday through Sunday August 17-19, 2018 - Las Vegas APBA Tournament, Las Vegas, Nevada. The site will be the Flamingo Hotel. Contact Chris White at CWHITESPORTS@YAHOO.COM.
Saturday August 25, 2018 - 4th Toledo Glass City APBA Baseball Tournament, Toledo, Ohio. Contact Ron Emch at rjce@emcher.com
Saturday October 6, 2018 - The Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament, Maple Grove, Minnesota. Contact Jim Fraasch at jwfraasch@mchsi.com.
Saturday November 3, 2018 - Inaugural Furniture City APBA Baseball Tournament, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Legends Sports & Games, CenterPoint Mall on 28th St. SE). Contact GF Korreck at gfk1949@yahoo.com.
If your tournament is not mentioned above and you are planning a Regional APBA Tournament in 2018 please forward me your tournament and contact information at apba66nyslp@yahoo.com and I will be sure to promote your event in APBA’s company electronic newsletter. Remember all APBA game tournaments are welcome.
THIS WEEK IN APBA RADIO SHOW
APBA has began to sponsor a weekly broadcast offering insights into the game of APBA and players within the APBA community. The host is John Asalon who offers a extremely professional broadcast. Please join John Asalon and his guests every Thursday night at 8:00 pm (Eastern) for THIS WEEK IN APBA radio show. This past weeks guest was Woody Studenmund. Woody shared his 60+ years in APBA.
Woody was born in Cooperstown, New York which would ultimately provide for his love of baseball and introduce him to APBA. Woody began playing APBA in the late 1950’s with his first set being the 1957 card set. Woody became friends with Bob Frazier finding they both played the game. Woody is the “Father of APBA Mail Leagues” as he founded the Northeast League which is still in existence today. He developed the methodology for mail leagues including rules, draft techniques, instructions, statistics sharing, etc. The league recently held its World Series and coming year draft in Cape Coral, Florida. The league has 12 members, 3 with over 50 years and 8 with over 20 years membership. Woody noted that the club is not only an APBA club but also a social club as many members have established life-long friendships. The success of the league has been rules stability, shared leadership, and committed membership. Woody shared stories on his love of trading, APBA Journal involvement, making of his own cards, and his contact with the likes of Joe Morgan and Billy Martin on measures of performance and fielding positions. The last item was particularly interesting as Woody was trying to improve his APBA league team through these contacts. Be sure to listen as this was fabulous and funny. Woody also shared some APBA history in that he owns the 1950 Seitz set and Seitz’s National Pastime playing boards inclusive of Seitz’s personal hand written notes on APBA board development. Although this author does not know Woody personally I do wish to thank him for his contributions to our hobby and for sharing APBA history with us. Be sure to listen to the podcast if you have not done so already. You will not be disappointed. Thanks again Woody!
John’s Asalon’s scheduled guest for the April 12th live show is Fritz Light. Fritz will take us through the history of his stewardship of The APBA Game Company and share some Dick Seitz stories. Be sure to tune in for this discussion with Fritz and other current APBA topics.
APBA LEAGUE INFORMATION
I am pleased to report that this column continues to assist leagues in finding new managers and pairing individuals looking for leagues. Beginning in January 2018 and to better manager newsletter volume, I will run any of your league opening or requests to join leagues for a period of four or five weeks. I will be glad to run them longer if you contact me at apba66nyslp@yahoo.com. Openings or individuals looking to join leagues are as follows this week:
March 11th, 18th, and 25th and April 1st and 8th Openings
No openings these weeks. C’mon boys someone has to be looking for a new league member, but then again I realize that leagues are now underway.
March 4th Openings
O.Z. League Opening - The O.Z. League, an APBA Baseball group created in 1982, is looking for a N.J. addition to their league. They currently have 12 teams of which 3 hail from Jersey so getting another would give them the opportunity to create a N.J. Division. They play a mixture of BBW, MG, and the hybrid Paul Marino Boards. They were featured in the N.Y. Daily News in 1988 and play 162 games from February to October. Their draft is held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ronkonkoma every February. If you are interested send an e-mail to Dom at NYAPBA@yahoo.com.
Louisiana/Mississippi League Formation - David is interested in reaching out to all members in Southeast Louisiana, Southern Mississippi to arrange a face to face conference for the purpose of exchanging ideas and perhaps forming a league or tournament in the area or possibly even forming an online league. If interested contact David Carry at dcarry1@cox.net.
ABL League Opening - The American Baseball League (ABL) is looking to add one or two managers for their 2018 season. The ABL has been in existence since 1982. It is a face-to-face basic game (w/ modifications) league. If you live in the Butler County, Ohio area and are interested, send an e-mail to gregsch4867@gmail.com.
League Openings - The Cal Ripken Junior League which is AIM playing the 2015 season and The Kirby Puckett Memorial League playing 2014 season has openings. If interested contact Gene at apbagene@yahoo.com.
Roger Lawson Memorial League - The RLML, a well-run 20 team BBW AIM league, has two openings. Both teams are in pretty decent shape, unlike most orphaned teams. The league draft is starting next week, so email commish Rick at rdmull_33@yahoo.com if interested.
February 25th Openings
APBA MLB Opening - APBA MLB (BBW, 14 teams, continuous ownership, currently 2017 disk) is looking for a manager in their 13th season. They play from April through October. The Annual Draft also includes players who changed leagues in the previous major league season, such as J.D. Martinez and Yu Darvish this past season. They limit position players to actual games played and pitchers to innings and starts. The league plays a 162 game season with DH, 40 man rosters, 7 team American League, 7 team National League, and interleague play. Please e-mail Duane at cub23@comcast.net for a rules page or questions. The league is very well organized and operated and has very good people involved, some of them friends for 35+ years.
Canadian Player Expressing Tournament Interest - Alan Lipman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada has been playing APBA Baseball for over 40 years and would be interested in playing in a local tournament. If any area tournament offerings please contact Alan at alanb.lipman@yahoo.com.
February 18th Openings
The International Master APBA League Opening - The IMAL, in it’s 7th season, is looking for a manager of their 2017 Championship winning team. The league is a C&D based league, there are only 8 teams in the league. Most of the members are living in Southern California and play some of their games FTF. The IMAL uses the Master Game with modifications and the CMBA Pitching System. They have a 108 game schedule. This year’s draft starts in March and the season around the beginning of April. They only use the 30-man National League rosters from the current APBA season. There is a 3-tier draft, Auction (player’s coming from the AL), Free Agent, and finally a Waiver Draft. If interested or for more information, please contact David Breeden at davidbreeden13@yahoo.com.
February 11th Openings
BBW League Openings - This BBW league has two manager openings in their 14 team, continuous ownership BBW league that is in it’s 13th year. One of the teams has the first overall pick in the draft on Saturday, February 17. Great league, great members, and great rules. Some of the members have been together in leagues since 1980. Please contact Duane at cub23@comcast.net with interest and/or questions and he will send you a copy of their league rules.
February 4th Openings
Mid-West Winter League Opening - The Mid-West Winter League is looking for a replacement expansion owner. The MWWL is finishing up the 1993 season and will have an Expansion Draft prior to our 1994 Season in early March. The MWWL will be adding 4 franchises to a now 20 team League - to bring us up to 24 Teams total. One of the expansion owners had some life commitments arise. If interested contact Stray Corrado at straycorrado@gmail.com.
The Internet Computer Baseball League Opening - The ICBL has openings for two (2) managers. The ICBL, established in 1989, is an in-season, 24 team league divided into the National League (NO DH) and the American League (DH) using BBW 5.75 and AIM. Team roster size is limited to 34 carded players and 6 prospects. At this time both openings are in the American League. If interested, please contact Brian Devine at brianrdevine23@gmail.com with your league/game experience and general knowledge of the game.
I trust this column is continuing to bring many APBA players together be it in regional tournaments or league play. Everyone have a great APBA week.
2018 APBA CONVENTION SCHEDULE
This is the tentative schedule for the 2018 APBA Convention at Alpharetta Georgia starting on Thursday June 21st ending on Sunday June 24th.Before the actual convention starts, the opening rounds of the football, hockey and soccer tournaments will be played. In addition, the opening rounds of the Negro League Baseball APBA GO tournament will be played. Rules for the Negro League tournament will be forthcoming. This tournament is limited to 20 (twenty managers) Teams will be randomly assigned. It is not a requirement but I would like to have the managers of the teams in the semi-finals in Alpharetta for the semis and finals.
You can registered by sending an email to custsupp@apbagames.com expressing your interest to manage a team. The first twenty emails received get a team.
Thursday June 21st (all activities are the Hilton Garden hotel unless indicated otherwise)
MORNING
10:00 am Unveiling of the new APBA Games website11:00 am Finals of the Negro League Baseball APBA GO tournament.
AFTERNOON 1:30 - 5:00 Game demonstrations (small group demonstrations on how to play APBA Football, Soccer, Golf, Hockey and APBA GO). These sessions will repeat at 2:45 and 4:00. Each session is one hour. Get an up-close tutorial on these other games. Expand your APBA experience.
EVENING
7:00 A NIGHT AT THE RACES.
Using the APBA Horse Racing game, we are having a night at the races. This will a multi-race card with the final race - a race of the evenings winners.
Sometime on Thursday we will record an APBA Roundtable discussion for This Week in APBA (TWIA).Friday June 22nd
MORNING 9:00 Opening welcome
9:30 to 11:30 Innovation sessions
11:30 to 1:30 last chance to register at the APBA offices and purchase product.AFTERNOON 1:30 to 3:30 FIFTH ANNUAL APBA HOME RUN DERBY
4:00 to 5:00 Questions and answers
The par three golf tournament runs from 9 am to 4 pm on Friday. Golfers will be provided for you. I encourage everyone to play in this tournament.
EVENING
6:30-8:00 Dinner including awards ceremony hosted by Greg Wells.
Discussion of the baseball tournament rules.
Submit teams and rosters to tournament director by 9:00The restrictions on pre-1950 teams has been lifted for this year. Thank you Paul.
Saturday June 23rd
9:00 am to ? APBA Baseball tournament. Completion of pool play and best of three quarterfinals. Each team plays ten games of pool play. Teams are assigned to a team randomly.Saturday lunch is included in your convention fee.
Sunday June 24th
Morning Semi-finals and Finals.
Trophy presentation
Safe travels home.How much is all this fun going to cost? Don’t know yet. I’m still waiting for the hotel to finalize its cost. They have promised me it will be this week. Check the store for more information. Your fee includes the convention T-shirt, Friday dinner and Saturday lunch and four days of conference rooms for us.
If you have never been to a convention, check us out. You can come just for Thursday for the tutorials at no charge.
You can also attended the Friday sessions. We will offer a Friday night dinner only option. That price will be announced at the same time as the convention price.
People tell me I don’t know if I’m good enough. All these folks are better players than me. Nonsense. One of the managers, last year only owned the four teams that came with the basic game. He is coming back.
There were several young boys, pre-teens, the defending home run champ is ten years old.
There are women managers. One made it to the semi-finals last year. One manager’s new wife played her first APBA baseball game at the tournament last year.
If you have an interest in APBA, come to Alpharetta. Renew old friendships. Make new friends. This is a family reunion with people you like. You will not be sorry that you came.
If you have a question about your order or if APBA has made a mistake, please contact us at 1-800-334-2722 or custsupp@apbagames.com. Remember all prices listed do not include shipping and handling charges.
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Thank you for your support of APBA.
Sincerely,
John Herson
APBA Games
