TOURNAMENT AND LEAGUE NEWS   

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT REPORT

 

I hope everyone had a Happy Father's Day and that those of you going to the National Convention began packing for our annual gathering later this week. There were no tournaments this week.  The next tournament is scheduled this week; The APBA National Convention June 21-24, 2018 in Alpharetta, Georgia.  John Herson is the tournament director.  Register at  www.apbagames.com if interested in attending. I hope to see you all there for this annual gathering.

 

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.  

 

Thursday June 21 through Sunday June 24, 2018 - The APBA National Convention and Tournament, Alpharetta,Georgia. Register at  www.apbagames.com if interested in attending APBA Utopia.

 

Saturday July 7, 2018 - The 4th Annual Linda B. Schulz Memorial APBA Baseball Tournament, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.  Contact Ken Schulz at  [email protected].

 

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  [email protected].

 

Saturday, July 21, 2018 - The Second Annual Lancaster World Series, Landisville , Pennsylvania.  Contact Dale Shreiner at [email protected].

 

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  [email protected]. 

 

Saturday August 25, 2018 - 4th Toledo Glass City APBA Baseball Tournament, Toledo, Ohio.  Contact Ron Emch at [email protected].

 

Saturday October 6, 2018 - The Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament, Maple Grove, Minnesota.  Contact Jim Fraasch at  [email protected].

 

Saturday October 27, 2018 - The APBA 2018 Wisconsin Fall Tournament, Location to be determined.  The tournament theme will be the Negro Leagues using APBA's Negro League Baseball Card Set.  Team selection will take place by draft.  The draft will begin Saturday, June 23, at noon.  Contact Kurt Bergland at  [email protected].

 

Saturday October 27, 2018 - The Great Florida RollAPBAlooza 2018 Baseball Tournament in Brooksville, Florida (North of Tampa).  Location is The Microtel Inn and Suites, 6298 Nature Coast Boulevard, Brooksville, FL.  Theme is 1980 through 1989 with $20 entry fee (includes lunch).  Sign-up by 8/1 with team selection lottery on 9/1.  If interested contact Tony Stevens at [email protected] / 352-600-0974.

 

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  [email protected].

 

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 [email protected] 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 continues 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 Brian Crane a long-Time APBA player.

 

First I would like to apologize to John Asalon and southwest Florida resident's for an incorrect reference to Sanibel Island. I hope all is forgiven. John briefly recognized the Washington Capitals and Golden State Warriors on their respective NHL and NBA championships.

 

John welcomed long-time APBA player Brian Crane to the show. Brian like many of us fell prey to APBA marketing brochures and sample cards in the mid-1960's. He bought all the games and in 1967 conducted replays of the 1967 baseball and football seasons and yes the 1966-67 basketball season albeit with some game modifications. He and a friend played APBA but we're solitary players not face-to-face gamers. Brian loved sports, statistics, and his slide rule (was it a Pickett?) so much that he became a Math teacher for 42 years just recently retiring. Thank you for your dedication and service to our youth Brian.

 

But it was Brian's full season replay of the 1883 National League which was of great interest. Brian noted that preparation for any replay is important but the available information on this time period is very limited. His preparation included over 100 hours of research mainly through Baseball Reference and a Edward Achorn book titled, "The Summer of Beer and Whiskey". For example day to day line-ups were not available but games played information was and since substitutions in this time period were very limited use of a player for his stated number of games resulted in realistic at bat numbers. Also the number of pitchers starting games would result in accurate innings pitched as 93% of all games were complete games. Another unique twist was no substitutions were permitted in this time period unless the opposing team approved. So Brian made line-ups the best he could on available information knowing that starters were likely to play the complete game.

 

During the replay Brian noted that the APBA Game engine and card combination was not producing realistic results for fielding errors (3782 for the league) and passed balls (908 for the league). Brian began to modify game results to more closely replicate these numbers. Brian believes the use of these modifications will be proved in his upcoming 1883 American Association replay. He found singles, doubles, triples, and homeruns to be within statistical variance. He is also trying to get a better understanding of how APBA developed stolen base numbers as stolen base statistics are not available for this time period.

 

Brian noted that the eight team 98 games/team replay took him about 6 months to complete.   The Boston Beaneaters out distanced the Providence ballclub by 14 games. Brian noted the league MVP was Boston's Grasshopper Jim Whitney who won 44 games, lost 14 games, and had a 2.11 earned run average. The league batting champion was Buffalo's Dan Brouthers. Brian also noted the season replay produced six no-hitters.

 

In closing, Brian said that he learned so much about this time period of baseball and the modifications to reproduce realistic fielding errors and passed balls and looks forward to applying this knowledge as he embarks on a replay of the 1883 American Association. John thanked Brian for sharing his experiences and results in this unique replay season and invited Brian back in the future to share his results of the upcoming 1883 American Association replay.

 

John's Asalon's scheduled guest for the June 20th show is Bruce Andera.  Bruce is the tournament director of the TGA. 

 

 

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 to eight weeks.  I will be glad to run them longer if you contact me at  [email protected].  Openings or individuals looking to join leagues are as follows this week:

 

June 17th Openings

 

OAPBA League Opening - OAPBA (The Orlando APBA Association) is seeking Central Florida-based APBA players to join the league for the 2019 season. OAPBA has been in existence for 27 years. Face-to-face Master Game with modifications. The league players an 80-game schedule in two halves with each half winner playing for the championship. Currently there are five managers, but league has had as many as eight managers. See www.oapba.org < http://www.oapba.org/> for current info on the league (standings, results). If interested, contact Rod Caborn at 407-463-0927 or at [email protected] or Dave Larson at 407-256-0366.

 

TFBL League Openings - The True Franchise Baseball league is a league in which each team owns all of his minor league players affiliates from rookie to AAA. TFBL plays BBW, in it's 2nd season only, with aim. The league has 24 teams with 4 six teams divisions. 4 Divisions winners and 2 Wild cards make the playoffs.  Each team has a 40 men roster, 28 active, and 12 on the farms.  The teams available are the Houston Astros (top of its division), Chicago White Sox (rebuilding but with a strong minor league affiliates coming in the future season, perfect for someone who wants to rebuild) and the San Francisco Giants also a bottom division team which needs rebuilding. So if you are a Giants, Chisox or Astros fan,these teams are up for grab.  If interested or for more info, please contact Alain at  [email protected]          

 

MDTL League Opening - The MDTL is in its 46th season. They have one manager that has announced that he is leaving the league due to health reasons. They are looking for a replacement manager to take over the ownership of his franchise. The league is a 20 team league with 25 man rosters. They use the basic boards with a few modifications. They also use the basic pitching grades. This is a very solid league with a competitive but friendly membership. If you are interested in joining the league please contact Keith at  [email protected] with your gaming history and any questions you may have. 

 

EBL League Opening - The EBL is a 24 team BBW league that is almost ready to draft for the 1987 season. They have one managerial opening. The team won 116 games in '86 but will need to be rebuilt. If interested contact Paul at [email protected].

 

June 10th Openings

 

WBO League Openings - The World Baseball Organization ("WBO") is looking for a replacement manager for 2018 and beyond.  They are a current year play keeper league, using the old fashioned cards & dice.  Not face-to-face, but rather solitaire style play (instructions and pitching rotations sent to opponents by email).  Ballstat/Ballscore is used for gameplay and stat-keeping.  Full 162 game season running generally from March/April - October/November.  Basic game with lots of interesting modifications.  This is an opportunity to be part of a truly great league that has been around for a long time, with high character guys.  http://wboapba66.wixsite.com/wbo-baseball.  If interested contact Dan Levine, Commish, at  [email protected].

 

June 3rd Openings

 

O.Z. League Opening - The O.Z. League, an APBA Baseball group created in 1982, is always looking to add new members to their family.  Currently the league is at 12 Franchises; if you live on the East Coast and want to join a fun but dedicated League this is one you should inquire about. They use BBW, MG, and the hybrid Paul Marino Boards as preference of the Home Team.  This league was featured in the N.Y. Daily News in 1988 and plays a 162 game schedule from February to October. The Annual Draft is held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ronkonkoma every February. If you are interested contact Dom at  [email protected].

 

USBL League Opening - The USBL a continuous ownership league using AIM 5.75 and is a 24 team league split into AL and NL.  They have a few unique features.  You may draft up to four never carded players (do your minor league homework!!) and we use an NBA style random draw for the top overall pick (prevents tanking).  Further they require each team to cut players at the end of the season, with playoff teams cutting deeper than non playoff teams.  If you are interested contact the league office at [email protected] or  [email protected].  For more information or see their website (slightly outdated but full of good information) at  https://unitedstatesapbaleague.weebly.com/.  They have two team openings due to managers changing jobs.

 

May 27th Openings

 

Waugh Classic League - There is an opening in a computer game 5.75 (with AIM) retro league that started with the 1946 season and now is in 1965. The league is stable with 10 of 16 managers having been in the league for at least 12 years.  The seasons usually run from late summer ending 28 weeks later as they play an 154 game schedule.  The opening is for a manager of the New York Yankees. If interested contact Peter at  [email protected].

 

Kirby Puckett Memorial League - The Kirby Puckett Memorial League (AIM) currently has four team openings.  If interested contact Gene at  [email protected] 

 

May 13th Opening

 

ASBL Opening - The ASBL ( APBA Salary Baseball League ) is looking for a couple of managers.  The league is a 24 franchise based league with continuous ownership.  Debut players with the franchise teams are their property unless cut or traded.  40 man rosters are utilized; a draft requires cut down to 28 protected players.  Players from non franchise teams are all in the draft.  Salary is based on current player yearly salary and creates a cap for the maximum salary per team.  The league will be drafting soon since they are behind due to previous commissioner health issues.  If interested please contact Robert through e-mail at [email protected]. 

 

May 6th Opening

 

Basic Game Mail League - A Basic Game Mail League has 4 openings in a 24 team league with a few variations.  It is a winter league running  October through March and has been around since 2004.  It is also a somewhat unique in that they employ a salary cap.  Since they have a total of 5 teams dropping out this year they will pool the rosters from each team, including their draft pick slots for the up coming rookie draft, and the new managers will stock their respective teams from a supplemental draft that only the new teams will participate in.  All the teams dropping out had good to excellent records this year so there will be good players to stock your team with.  For more information please contact Larry at  [email protected].

 

April 29th Opening

 

BBW League Opening - A 12-team computer draft league almost 30 years running playing BBW 5.75 computer game has an opening. You have the option to manage/run all home games and pick your micromanager for road games. Weekly opportunities for trades and waivers/pickups from the at-large pool. Open team needs some work but not that far out of playoff contention. Rosters and constitution available. If interested please contact Alan on the Between the Lines Delphi Forum Site under League Match.

 

April 15th Opening

 

The Northern Virginia APBA Baseball League - The NVABL is looking to immediately fill a vacant manager's slot for the 2018 season. The NVABL is a 12 team Master Game league that plays mostly online via Google Chat and phone. They have roots in the DC suburbs but currently have players as far North as New Hampshire and West as sunny California.  More about the league can be found at  https://sites.google.com/site/apbanvabl/. ; The open team is the Downington Abbots; an incredibly competitive team with current and future star power including Kris Bryant, Didi Gregorius, Stephen Strasburg, Charlie Blackmon and Trea Turner.  If you're interested in finding out more about the league and taking over the Downington franchise, please contact Chad at  [email protected] 

 

An APBA Game Company callout this week to Hugh Brown and the A.P.B.A. League which was founded in 1960 and just completed its 55th season.  Congratulations fellows on a long running established league!

 

I trust this column is continuing to bring many APBA players together be it in regional tournaments or league play.  Everyone have a great week and start packing those bags for Alpharetta. I cannot wait to see ya fella's!