March 7, 2017
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Good afternoon,

Great time of the year. Spring training games.  March madness.  NFL Free Agency.  UEFA knockout round begins. Atlanta United franchise opener.  Atlanta United is a new MLS franchise.  It has sold 27,000 season tickets.  It is possible that Atlanta's United average attendance will exceed the Braves' this year.

Continuing the Father -Son theme. Check out Robert Mosher and his grandson, Camron Shaffer at the 3rd Annual Michigan Tournament. 

Rom Emch shared his video of the Michigan tournament.

Here is the link to register for the 2017 Convention. First time attendees make sure to choose the right registration.

NEW SETS
1883 Master baseball season (258 players),
1905 Master Baseball season set (304 players, single batting factor)
1920 Master Card set is now available (400 players)
1933 Master Baseball game set (all 460 players)
1942 Master baseball game season (512 players),
1982 Master baseball season (676 players), and
1996 Master baseball season set (896 cards).

The 2016 College Football roster is now available.  The smaller version of the College Football set will be available next week.

Now that spring training games have begun, check out APBA GO. Sign up and tell a friend. You can be managing the 2016 World Series teams tonight against each other.

Check out the 2017 Convention section for news on the convention hockey and soccer tournaments. The hockey tournament field is set with eight teams. There is still time to register for the soccer tournament.

2016 Baseball Card update.
There are two errors in some of the 2016 card set.
Raul Mondesi (KC) dice roll 33 should be 8*1.
Billy Hamilton (CIN) dice roll 13 14*6*.

We can't tell what print runs have these errors.  Please send requests for these cards to custsupp@apbagames.com. Include your name and address in your email. We will start mailing these corrected cards out tomorrow.

INNOVATIONS  I want to add an innovation section to the newsletter.  Please send any innovations you would like to see in the newsletter to custsupp@apbagames.com.

 APBA GO LEAGUE NEWS  
The PAGL is an APBA GO league with two eight team divisions with inter division play.  After five series and the beginning of interdivision play, the 1957 Milwaukee Braves led the Continental  Divison by a game with a 15-4 record.  The Federal Division, the 2016 Cubs have a two game lead with a 14-5 record.  

Check out the APBA Soccer Premier League by Email Facebook page.  These folks are having a lot of fun.

TOURNAMENT NEWS
Here is this week's report from the City of Brotherly Love:
 
I am pleased to report on two tournaments this week; one cards and dice and the other APBA Go.
 
The Capital of the Confederacy tournament was held last Saturday afternoon (February 18th) in Richmond, Virginia, with a total of 14 participants, the largest one to date.  It was especially satisfying to see the next generation of APBA players well represented as there were three managers under the age of 18 that participated:  Wilkie Cook, who guided his 1936 Yankees into the four-team playoffs with a 3-1 record, Tyler Wyks , and John Scalzo who managed the 1931 A's. Kudos to these three fine young men, all of whom finished with winning records! 
 
Despite being only a half-day tournament, each team played four games against a different opponent in each round.  The teams with the four best records advanced to the playoffs, to see who would have the privilege of playing in the championship game.  The four teams making the playoffs were:
 
Tim Rounds-1930 Philadelphia A's 4-0
Rob Wyks-1969 Orioles 4-0
Jim Saska-2016 Cubs 3-1
Wilkie Cook - 1936 Yankees 3-1
 
In the semi-final playoff games, Round's 1930 A's defeated Cook's 1936 Yankees in a close game by the final score of 4-3.  In the other semi-final game, another close contest saw Rob Wyks's Orioles topping  tournament host Jim Saska's Cubs 3-2.  In the Championship game, the 1930 A's prevailed with George Earnshaw tossing a three-hitter enroute to a 6-0 whitewashing of the '69 Orioles.  Congratulations Tim!
 
Final records for all of the participants, including playoff games:
 
1.    1930 Philadelphia A's(Tim Rounds) 6-0
 2.    1969 Orioles (Rob Wyks) 5-1
3.    2016 Cubs (Jim Saska) 3-2
4.    1936 Yankees( Wilkie Cook) 3-2
5.    2007 Phillies(Todd Stephenson)2-1-1
6.    1931 A's (John Scalzo) 2-1-1
 7.    1993 Giants (Tyler Wyks) 2-2
8.    1995 Braves (Jeff Butler)2-2
9.    1985 Cardinals (Jeff Scalzo)2-2
10.  1928 A's (Mike Cook) 2-2
11.  1975  Reds (Bob Newman) 1-2-1
12.  1982 Brewers (Mike Burns) 0-3-1
13.  1970 Orioles (Mike Whitener) 0-3-1
14.  2009 Yankees (Mike Visaggio)  0-3-1
 
Thanks Jim for your continued commitment and tournament growth.
 
The second tournament was directed by Percy Ashcraft using APBA Go! I am pleased to report the third online APBA Go Tournament directed by Percy is in the books, entitled "The Spring Training Tournament" to coincide with the opening of training camp for major league teams.
 
Twenty-two players drafted teams from the National League.  The event was double-elimination using the single-game format and ran from February 3rd-19th.  A total of 42 games were played.
 
The champion was Jeffrey Lemm from Iowa with a 5-0 record fielding the 1957 Dodgers.  The Dodgers defeated the 2016 Nationals, 9-4, to capture the crown.  The Nationals fought their way through the Lower Bracket with a 6-2 record and was managed by Joe Francis.
 
The final game saw the '57 Brooklyn Dodgers erupted for 5 runs in the 3rd Inning and 3 more in the 4th e route to a 9-4 win over the '16 Washington Nationals to capture the Championship in the Spring Training Tournament. Duke Snider and Gino Cimoli each drove in 3 runs and Pee Wee Reese 2 more to lead the bums.  Snider hit his second Home Run of the Tournament. Daniel Murphy, Stephen Drew and Trea Turner all homered for the Nats, but all unfortunately for them, each was a solo shot. Don Drysdale fought control problems, but did go all the way giving up 6 hits and walking another six, while striking out a half dozen.  He earned his second win of the tournament.
 
Thanks for another great APBA Go event Percy. I look forward to your next event as each continues to grow through your dedicated effort.
 
The remaining 2017 APBA Spring-Summer Regional Tournament schedule is as follows:
  
Saturday April 1, 2017 - TCABT VII; Neil Ess Memorial APBA Baseball Tournament, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Contact Jim Fraasch at  jwfraasch@mchsi.com
 
Saturday April 1, 2017 - 2nd Annual Prairieland APBA Baseball Tournament, Champaign, Illinois.  Contact Thomas Neishoppen atnelshopp@gmail.com
 
Saturday July 8, 2017 - 3rd Annual LBS Baseball Tournament, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.  Contact Ken Schulz atschulzka02@gmail.com
 
Saturday July 22, 2017 - APBA Lancaster World Series Baseball Tournament, Landisville, Pennsylvania.  Contact Dale Shreiner atdashreiner@gmail.com
 
Saturday September 16, 2017 - 3rd Toledo Glass City APBA Baseball Tournament, Toledo, Ohio.  Contact Ron Emcher at  rce@emcher.com
 
If your tournament is not mentioned above and you are planning a 2017 Spring or Summer Regional APBA Tournament 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.  Please plan to attend one of these events, you will not regret attending
APBA SOCCER 2015-16 SEASON SETS AVAILABLE

The 2015-16 Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A
seasons are now available.
 
2017 APBA Convention (66th Anniversary Family Reunion)
We will be back at the Hilton Gardens again.  Rooms at the APBA rate will be available beginning Thursday June 22nd.  Watch for further information.

Here is the link for the rooms at the Hilton Gardens with the APBA room rate
http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/A/ATLALGI-APBA17-20170621/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG


2017 APBA Soccer Club Cup
 
Overview
Tournament will be similar to World Cup play. For the inaugural tournament, we'll be limiting the field to eight (8) individuals each competing with a single ABPA soccer club team. Teams will be split into two groups with four teams each. Teams in each group will play each other in a round-robin format. A team winning a group match will be awarded three (3) points; teams that earn a draw will be awarded one (1) point; each loss will be awarded no points. The top two teams in each group will advance to the single elimination round. The first-seeded team in each group will play host to the second-seeded team of the other group. Winners will advance to the Tournament Final. It is the wish of APBA that the finalists play this match LIVE at the APBA Convention on Friday afternoon on June 23 rd, 2017 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Alpharetta, GA. If one or both finalist cannot make it to the convention, we can do our best to play the match over Skype so that anyone can view the match from the Convention floor. Home team for the final will be decided based on total points thus far, goals difference and then coin flip.
 
Match Dates
Group Play Phase 1 - 4 games - Completed on or before April 15, 2017
Group Play Phase 2 - 4 games - Completed on or before April 30, 2017
Group Play Phase 3 - 4 games - Completed on or before May 15, 2017
Semi-final Phase - 2 games - Completed on or before May 31, 2017
Tournament Final - Friday afternoon June 23rd at the APBA Convention. 
 
Team Selection
All teams from standard APBA league sets, dated 2013-2014 or later, are eligible. These include teams from the English Premier, Spanish La Liga, Bundesliga, and Serie A leagues (essentially, any club team from a league set where individual players have a DEF rating). All MLS teams from Season 2013 and later are also eligible. Champions League teams and World Cup teams (including Women's teams) are NOT ELIGIBLE. You must own your team card set.
 
Match Rules
In-Box rules will be followed with the addition/exception of the following:
  • Playing head-to-head in person (if possible) or over Skype is HIGHLY encouraged. Skype allows the use of a laptop's camera as well as screen sharing (for the score sheet). Teams should share their starting line-ups over email at least a day in advance and have their own games/boards set up and ready to play when they start the Skype session.
  • Whenever a Manager rolls against a player card, the manager of the card must show the dice and/or card with the result UPON REQUEST by the other manager. If a player does not have a camera on their computer, then taking a picture of the card and texting to the owner is another option. (Note: www.random.org with Skype screen sharing can be used for dice rolls, if so desired).
  • One team manager may allow the other team manager to play the match SOLO. Instructions should be provided prior to the match. (i.e Navas takes all direct kicks; Erikson takes corners; If losing by the 65th minute sub in Gestede for Drinkwater and move to a 4.3.3; use 1 clutch point after the 65th minute if the other teams has possession in the A or B areas; etc).
    • Your authorization/instructions allowing the other manager to play your team solo must be sent the opponent with the Tournament Chair copied.
    • All Matches will be played at NEUTRAL locations, for team ratings.
    • Managers will have approximately two weeks to coordinate a date/time to play their scheduled game.
    • Game Day Rosters - must share with your opponent at least a day before the match will be played. Must have 10 starting field players and 1 goalkeeper. The bench must have 1 goalkeeper and six field players. No other players from each team may enter this match.
    • Default Rosters: Each match may have the same or different game day rosters, except for card suspensions.
    • Maximum of 3 substitutions per match, including injured players.
    • All substitutions and goals add 30 seconds to stoppage time.
    • The use of clutch points MAY NOT be used to counter a clutch point play. i.e. If a team uses 3 CPs to steal to Area B and gives Harry Kane the ball, this CP play must be played out. The opposing team cannot immediately use 1 CP to steal the ball from Kane to Area D.
    • There will be an official score sheet to be used for all matches; only one of the managers need to complete it and turn in the results to the Tournament Committee.
    • Assists: Option B, "Follow the pass" will be used.
    • The Marking Defensive System will not be used.
    • If a player is Injured (Special Plays), the restart will be a GK-Outlet for the team who was in possession of the ball when the player was injured. (Imitates possession team kicking the ball out of bounds so the injured player can get help, then the opposing team passing the ball to the opposing GK for a restart).
    • PK ratings for Goalkeepers: For this tournament we'll ignore the value on the card. If the card has 9 or less "10s" as a roll result on the card, their PK rating is PK14. All others have a PK13 rating.
    • Red/Yellow Cards
      • Immediate Red Cards
        • If a player has a 12 or greater red card value, and if rolled, red card is enforced - the player will be out for the remainder of the match and suspended for the next match.
        • If a player has an 11 red card value, then roll 1d6 and if a 1 is rolled award a red card. Otherwise award a yellow card.
  • Two yellows within the same match is an automatic RED - the player will be out for the remainder of the match and the next match.
  • If a player receives his third yellow in the tournament, the player is suspended the next match. This would include the Tournament Final. Cards do NOT reset anytime during the tournament.
  • Formations: No changes to the rule book. For clarity, player positions on cards do not dictate the formations, but they may affect a team's defensive rating.
  • If match is tied in a single elimination game or Tournament Final, two 15m overtime periods will be played in full (no sudden victory). If match remains tied move to PKs. Coin flip to see who kicks first. Players on the pitch at the end of last overtime period may take PKs (no players from the bench).
 
Equipment/Awards
A tournament score sheet (MS Excel) will be provided for all matches. Stats will be kept and turned in when the match is completed. Stats will be compiled and shared prior to and after the Tournament Final. The winner of the Tournament Final will win a tournament award (probably a plaque), along with quite a few strong pats on the back from all conventioneers.
 
All disputes arising during the tournament not covered by these rules will be resolved by the Tournament Committee and all decisions will be FINAL.
 
To register, email:   abpasoccertournament@apbagames.com with your year/team name.
 
Registration Deadline: March 20, 2017
 
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
APBA Games
In This Issue
APBA Soccer
2017 APBA Convention
    

Baseball
5.75
Football
Golf
Soccer
Hockey
Basketball
 

APBAwear & Gifts 
 

     
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