REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS
2019 Regional Tournament Summary
2019 continued the growth of APBA Regional Tournaments at an astonishing rate. Tournament offerings were up 28% over 2018 with 36 events being held. Participation in these events was up 32% with 857 individuals playing in the 36 events. And the average number of participants grew at a rate of 15% with 26.78 participants at each event. I want to thank each tournament director for their dedication and commitment to offer these events to the APBA community. Recognized are Percy Ashcraft, Steve Ryan, Mike Kehrer, Rich Zawadski, Steve Radtke, Kurt Bergland, Tony Stevens, Earle Shamblin, Jim Fraasch, Jim Saska, Tom Nelshoppen, Bill Sagee, John Herson, Dale Shreiner, Rob Spatz, John Cochrane, Dr. Rebecca Peterson, Chris White, Ron Emch, Michael Willett, Ken Schulz, Darren Schulz, GF Korreck, Dick Moore, Stray Corrado, Rob Wyks, and Amy Wyks. Thank you to all. In closing these events have also supported charities with $4,239 being raised for ALS and $125 being raised for Disabled American Veterans. A great job well done by all who contributed.
THE APBA SCENIC CITY SHOOTOUT OPENS THE C&D TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE - REMEMBERING APBA HALL OF FAMER CHARLIE FOUCHE
The APBA Scenic City Shootout is on tap this coming Saturday February 22nd in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Sadly, their defending champion Charlie Fouche passed away this past Wednesday. Steve Ryan was able to spend some time with Charlie over the past few months and he was always proud of being the champion at the inaugural APBA Scenic City Shootout. He will be missed.
2020 REGIONAL TOURNAMENT CALL-OUT - Tournament Directors who are planning an APBA Regional Tournament between January and July of 2020 are requested to forward tournament information to Randy Coryer at
[email protected] for inclusion into the newsletter. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
2020 Tournament Schedule
The 2020 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 face-to-face gaming and tournament gathering.
Saturday February 22, 2020 - The 2020 APBA Scenic City Shootout will be held in the Hamilton Room of the Embassy Suites by Hilton located at 2321 Lifestyle Way Chattanooga TN 37421. The cost will be $20 with the event scheduled to start at 8 am. The tournament theme is The Expansion Era 1961-Present with teams having a Winning Percentage between .475 - .525. Team selection will begin on November 30, 2019 at Noon. The rules will be similar to the 2019 Shootout. APBA Hall of Famer Charlie Fouche was the Inaugural Scenic City Shootout Champion. Email Mike Kehrer (
[email protected] ) or Steve Ryan (
[email protected]) with any questions or to register.
Saturday March 7, 2020 - The 6th Annual Greater Michigan APBA Baseball Tournament at The Loomis Park Baptist Church, 2301 North Elm Road, Jackson, Michigan 49201. There is a $20 Entry Fee ($10 Cancellation Fee if you cancel after August 16, 2019). The tournament theme is any MLB team from 1901-2018 with winning % of less than .600 %. This tournament still has room for participation (capping at 72) and plenty of good teams remain available. Please contact Pastor Rich Zawadzki at
[email protected] if interested in attending or with your team selection by December 31, 2019.
Sunday March 15, 2020 - The Inaugural Rocky Mountain APBA Baseball Tournament will take place in Boulder, Colorado at a location to be announced. For this year, teams will be selected from the 1993 season (birth year of the Rockies) until present. No designated hitter will be used when an NL team plays at home. Please contact Ryan Strauss at
[email protected] to sign up today!
Saturday March 21, 2020 - The 2nd Annual Far West APBA Baseball Tournament. The tournament is open to any team from 1908 to present PROVIDED that 154 or more games were played in that season. Last year's champion 1930 Philadelphia A's may not be used. The tournament play is the basic game using the advanced fielding option. Boards and dice will be provided, bring your lucky dice tower or shaker (They have APBA shakers available). Cost for tournament is $40 and includes lunch, drinks, continental breakfast, trophy, and a day of great fun and camaraderie. If interested please contact Steve at
[email protected] for more details.
Saturday March 28, 2020 - The 3rd Annual Heartland Apba Tournament is scheduled for Saturday March 28, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The tournament the is any team with a .500 record or worse. The DH will be used. You can give Earle your team when you commit. Three-man rotations will be used and starters must go a minimum of 5 innings unless yielding 5 runs. Relieve pitchers can pitch one inning each game. The cost to participate is a $10 entry fee. Trophy and APBA. gift card to the winner! Hope to see you there! For more info contact Earle Shamblin at
[email protected]
NEW TOURNAMENT LISTING - Saturday March 28, 2020 - The 5th annual Prairieland APBA Baseball tourney will be held in Springfield Illinois. If interested, please contact Eric Berg at
[email protected] for information.
Saturday April 4, 2020 - Old Dominion APBA Baseball Tournament - The Old Dominion APBA Baseball Tournament will be held at Jim Saska's home in Richmond, Virginia. The team theme is any APBA issued team that finished with a regular season record of .500 or below. The event will begin at 9 am. The tournament cost and prizes are to be announced. Please contact Jim Saska via email at
[email protected] to register and give him your team selection.
Saturday April 4, 2020 - The 13th edition of the Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament
(TCABT-XIII) will be held Saturday, April 4th, 2020, at the usual location in Maple Grove, MN. Interested parties can contact Jim Fraasch at
[email protected].
June 25-28, 2020 - The APBA National Convention in Alpharetta, Georgia. Details are still being worked out and will be available sometime after the new year.
Saturday July 18, 2020 - The Florida APBA Baseball Tournament will be held at Lake Hills Church in Clermont, Florida. The tournament theme is the Expansion Years 1961-1998 -- (Retired teams 1980 NY Yankees, 1998 NY Yankees -- past winners of FL Tournaments). The entry fee is $20 which includes refreshments and prizes. If interested, please contact Tony Stevens at
[email protected].
NEW TOURNAMENT LISTING - Saturday August 8, 2020 - Chicagoland Tournament is currently at a capacity of 48 participants but it working on a reserve list. If interested, please contact Rob Spatz at
[email protected]
August 14-16, 2020 - Houston APBA Baseball Tournament - The Houston APBA Base Tournament will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Clear Lake/NASA, 750 West Texas Ave., Webster, Texas. Currently a block of 20 rooms is being held for tournament participants: $104 plus tax per night for a single King room and $109 plus tax per night for a double Queen Room; room rates include free breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings-the hotel is now accepting reservations. The tournament entrance fee is $85 per player, which covers a dinner on Friday night (when you will meet, submit rosters for the tournament, set the brackets, and go over the rules), a lunch on Saturday during the tournament, trophies, and a partial defraying of the facility costs. The hotel is near the Johnson Space Center (close to Hobby Airport and about equal distance between downtown Houston and Galveston Island). The tournament format is open with any teams from 1946-1972, with no DH, and up to 25-man rosters (if you have an old version of a team with only 20 players, it will also be allowed). The tournament will follow the APBA Annual Convention Tournament rules (see:
http://apbagames.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/APBA-2019-TOURNAMENT-RULES.pdf). Like the APBA Convention Tournament, check-in and an organizational meeting will be held on Friday evening with the tournament played mostly on Saturday through either the quarter final, or semi-final round (depending on how many players are actually participating); and the finals (and possibly semi-finals) played on Sunday morning, followed by a trophy presentation and discussion for planning for a 2021 tournament. The tournament will conclude by noon on Sunday-early enough for everyone to catch flights or head home by mid-afternoon. Although they have met their minimum number of players to move forward with the tournament, they still have room for more. So, if you are interested in participating in this inaugural tournament, please contact Ed Hubbard at
[email protected], and provide your name, email address and phone number.
NEW TOURNAMENT LISTING - Saturday, August 29, 2020 - The 6th annual Toledo Glass City APBA Baseball Tournament (GCABT-VI) will be held at the Maumee Elks Club located at 137 West Wayne Street in Maumee, OH 43537. The tournament will start at 9:00 and the cost is $15. The tournament theme is any team from 1920 thru 2019. This is a 'Back to Basics' year as prior years had more restrictions on what teams were allowed. A 3-pitcher rotation, basic fielding, and the Rare Play and Error Randomization charts will be utilized.. There will be a draft for teams on June 1st, for players who have signed up by that date. Please contact Ron Emch via email at
[email protected] or text/call at 419-349-0649 if you are interested in playing and/or want to sign up.
Saturday October 17, 2020 - The Linda B. Schulz Memorial APBA Baseball Tournament VI will be held in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The tournament theme is any APBA issued MLB teams from seasons 1901-2019 that had a winning percentage under .585 (approximately less than 95 wins in 162 game season and less than 90 wins in 154 Game Season). Teams are first come first serve. Retired teams are not eligible (1909 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1929 Philadelphia A's, 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers, 1975 Cincinnati Reds, 1977 Philadelphia Phillies). If interested or to register please contact Ken Schulz at
[email protected]
If your tournament is not mentioned above and you are planning a Regional APBA Tournament in 2020 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.
Potential APBA Tournaments
POTENTIAL TOURNAMENT IN SEATTLE AREA - There is an effort underway to conduct an APBA Baseball Tournament in the Seattle, Washington area. If interested, please contact Dave Bednarek at
[email protected] with you name, contact information, and a preference for a Spring or Fall tournament.
POTENTIAL TOURNAMENT IN NEW ORLEANS - Are you tired of only seeing tournaments on the East Coast and Mid-West?? If there is enough interest, a small group of New Orleans players are looking to set up a regional in the NOLA area in 2020, please contact Randy Tabor at
[email protected] (note the underscore "_" in email address).
ALS CHARITABLE SUPPORT
IMPORTANT UPDATED INFORMATION - EACH TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OVER THE NEXT YEAR IS REQUESTED TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE ALS FOUNDATION IN THE NAME OF RANDY WALKER - 2019 APBA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE. RANDY IS IN LATE STAGE OF ALS BUT CONTINUES TO FIGHT THE DISEASE AND ENJOY PLAYING APBA WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF HIS WIFE LISA. THE DONATION CAN BE COLLECTED THE DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT BY PASSING A HAT OR BY INCREASING THE TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION FEE. APBA WILL AWARD A PRIZE TO THE DIRECTOR AND TOURNAMENT RAISING THE MOST MONEY FOR ALS. REMEMBER IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE BENEVOLENT WHEN AN APBA BROTHER IS IN NEED. I KNOW I CAN COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT. MORE DETAILS WILL FOLLOW IN THE COMING WEEKS.
DONATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE ALS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
WWW.ALSA.ORG/DONATE. ; DONATIONS CAN BE MADE VIA PHONE, CHECK, CREDIT CARD, OR PAYPAL. PLEASE REFERENCE THE DONATION IN YOUR WRITE-UP. RANDY AND LISA WALKER THANK YOU FOR THE APBA COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO A VERY WORTHY CAUSE.
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. I will be glad to run your league opening, if you contact me at
[email protected] with a brief and concise write-up. Openings or individuals looking to join leagues are as follows:
February 17th Opening
ICBL League Openings - The ICBL has openings for 3 teams, two (2) in the American League and one (1) in the National League. The ICBL is a Computer Baseball League using the APBA game format of BBW Version 5.75. The league has been continuously running since 1989. The ICBL is composed of two twelve-team leagues, each containing three four-team divisions. The DH is used in the American League while pitchers must bat in the National League. The ICBL is a continuous-ownership league using all current MLB players as well as six (6) prospects per team. If interested, please contact Brian at
[email protected]
January 19th Opening
TSL League Opening - The TSL currently has an opening fortheir upcoming 2020 season. The TSL is a basic 12 team, continuous ownership baseball league with very few board changes; they basically play "right out of the box". The TSL will be entering their 45th season of play. The new owner can step in right away and be just in time to begin wheelin' and dealin' and preparing for the upcoming rookie draft. The available team just completed a playoff run. Some of the players on the team include Bellinger, Lindor, and K. Marte. If you are interested in joining a well-established mail/email APBA league, or if you have questions or need more information about the league, please contact Dan at
[email protected].
January 12th Opening
COBL League Opening - The COBL APBA Baseball league is looking for a couple of new managers! The COBL has been around for over 20 years and has a strong core of GMs. It is an auction league - players are signed to contracts of from 1-5 years in length. It is a fantastic way to acquire and manage a roster. There are a couple opening so more than likely there will be a dispersal draft for the new GMS. The teams in question include one team that won well over 100 games this past year, so there are a lot of very good players available. The auction is a unique experience! If you are interested please contact John at
[email protected].
January 5th Opening
APBA MLB BBW League Opening - APBA MLB (BBW) has a managerial opening. The league is in it's 15th season, uses the current disk, has continuous ownership, and an unique and easy free-agent rule that enhances the annual draft. Contact Duane at
[email protected] or call/text at 630-200-7787. The open franchise has Gerrit Cole and Walker Buehler.
December 15th Opening
New Orleans Salary League - The New Orleans Salary League is searching for 2 committed members to take on 2 strong teams. Both teams made the playoffs last season. One in the AL and 1 in the NL. If you are the individual for the job contact Brad at
[email protected]. Here's their website for more information New Orleans Salary League.
Patriot League Opening - A BBW 12-person NL only league needs one new member. Th Patriot League was established in 1971 and is very reliable. The team you would be inheriting missed the playoffs by one game. The league is unusual in that they have a first round draft as well as a blind bidding process for undrafted players. They also have historical statistics since the inception of the league. If interested in joining the Patriot League please contact Hey at
[email protected]
The Lame Duck Baseball Association League Opening - The LDBA has an opening for the next season, the 40th for the league. The LDBA is a 20-team league with rosters at 40 carded players and 3 uncarded. They use the basic game with some modifications, including the Coxx pitching charts. For more information on the league you can visit their website at
http://www.l-d-b-a.com/, and take a look at the constitution as well as view the current roster for the Coney Island Krakens. The franchise is in decent shape with W. Contreras, DeJong, Castellanos, Conforto, Gallo, Renfroe, Ryu, Bieber, German, Lucchesi, and Hudson. They also have the #6 draft pick in the upcoming March rookie draft. If interested please contact Neil at
[email protected].
Freedom League Opening - The Freedom League is a continuous owned, 20-team computer league with 42 men rosters that utilizes AIM and is divided into one DH and one Non-DH league. The League has been around since 2008 and has a unique feature; each team is allowed to own up to seven (7) minor league prospects. The league presently has one managerial opening in the DH American League and one managerial opening in the non-DH National League. The Rookie Draft is to occur after the diskette comes out in January. The available team in the American League owns the #1 Draft slot in the upcoming Rookie Draft. If you are interested in learning more about the Freedom League, please email the league representative at
[email protected] and he will send you a copy of the league constitution to look over.
December 8th Openings - There are five new openings this week!
North East League Opening - The North East League, the original APBA mail league, is beginning its first search for a new manager in ten years. The NEL is about to start its 60th season and is a 12-team, continuous-ownership league that uses the 1986 basic APBA game and allows virtually unlimited use of the hit and run. Not surprisingly, they focus more on fair competition and fun than on reality, and the result is a friendly league in which the majority of the members have been managers for 22 or more years. For more information on the NEL and the search, please email Woody Studenmund at
[email protected]
Jersey Central League Opening - The Jersey Central League has experienced a completely devastating year losing 3 members unexpectedly. They have filled 2 of the openings for the upcoming 2020 Season (Using 2019 Cards) . They are in their off-season and hoping to fill this opening before locking the 16th team for the season and trying to fill by next year. The league plays the basic game with some master game modifications like pitching grades etc. The league website is
http://www.jselmon.com/JerseyCentralLeague/home.asp
The available team is in the Potts Division and is Valley Glen. The team has a 1st and 2nd round picks this year. It would be a rebuild for sure, but the league has a boat load of continuity. The league has been around since 1978 and has a few founding members still in it. The highlights of the roster would be Jeff McNeil, Ramon Laureano, Trey Mancini. If you are interested, please contact Bryan 732-575-3008 or
[email protected]
BBW League Looking for a Manager - A BBW 12-person NL only league needs one new member. The league was established in 1971 and is very reliable. The team you would be inheriting missed the playoffs by one game. The league is unusual in that they have a first round draft as well as a blind bidding process for undrafted players. The league also has historical statistics since the inception of the league. If interested contact the league commissioner at
[email protected].
New Orleans Salary League Opening - The New Orleans Salary League is searching for two strong league members to take on two strong teams. Both teams made the playoffs last season. One in the AL and one in the NL. If you are interested please contact Brad LaBrosse at
[email protected]. Here's their website for more information New Orleans Salary League
Mid West Winter League Opening - The MWWL is a BBW 5.75 league which has an opening for their Mexico City Chihuahuas franchise. The league is 1/3 way through the 1996 season. You can access the team's web page and roster athttp://www.straybaseball.com/mwwl/wordpress/?page_id=745. ; This league has great owners, post-season awards, an All-Star Game, and a live and list draft. A candidate must be able to commit to weekly series, write brief game recaps, and have e-mail access to receive and send league files. If you have any questions you can contact John "STRAY" Corrado at
[email protected]. To Apply for this Franchise - please go to:
http://www.straybaseball.com/mwwl/wordpress/?page_id=717.
December 1st Opening
Windows Internet Baseball League Opening - The WIBL (Windows Internet Baseball League) has a managerial opening. The BBW 5.75 - Full AIM league was formed in 1997 to beta test the "power tools" of League Manager Power Tools. They have one managerial opening for the Glab franchise. Details of the league can be viewed at
www.papdog.com/WIBL. ; For further league information please visit their link to the league guide:
http://www.papdog.com/WIBL/LeagueGuide.htm. ; If interested in the league there is an application at:
http://www.papdog.com/WIBL/WIBLapp.htm. ; Should you have any questions please contact Steven Pappas at
www.papdog.com/WIBL.
November 24th Openings
Coast-to-Coast Baseball Association (CCBA) Opening - The CCBA is a continuous ownership BBW league entering it's 21 season. Several members have been there from the beginning. They find themselves entering the upcoming season with several openings. If you are looking to join a league or would like to add another, contact the Commissioner Chip Bingham at
[email protected].
ABL League Opening - The American Baseball League (ABL) is looking to add one or two managers for their upcoming 2020 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 or greater Cincinnati, Ohio area and are interested, send an e-mail to Greg Schultheiss at
[email protected].
November 17th Opening
SEATO League Opening - The SEATO APBA league in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is looking for 1 or possibly 2 members to join their league. They are a FTF league following basic game rules plus a few of their own additions. They are currently in their 50th year. One team available will be Randy Walker's team, our friend who is finishing his 40th year and recently inducted into the APBA Hall of Fame. The league and it's members will miss him immensely. He is courageously battling A.L.S. and is in all of our thoughts and prayers. Email all inquiries to John at
[email protected] information.
November 10th Opening
MDTL League Opening - The MDTL is finishing it's 47th season. They have one manager that is retiring at the end of the season and are looking for a replacement manager to take over the ownership of this very successful franchise. Players on the team include Mondesi, Muncy, Soto, Benintendi, and Ohtani. 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 MDTL League please email Keith Riggs at
[email protected] with your gaming history and any questions you may have.
November 3rd Opening
UAL League Opening - The UAL needs a manager. The UAL is 6 month winter league and are one month in. They had a resignation from a playoff ready team. They are a 24 team basic game league that uses a salary cap. Mail league and they roll the dice, or not, and play a 160 game schedule October through March. The available team has 43 A starts, 77 B starts, and 43 C starts (290 innings of A* and 129 B*). Eddie Rosario, Brantly, Andujar (NYY), Kepler, Jose Ramirez, and Story are some of the every day players. Only drawback to this team is most of next years draft picks were traded to make this years team a contender. The UAL CONSTITUTION is attached. Here is the google docs page for the UAL league. Hutcheson is the team without a manager.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-6uARoqRDaFcjo0DW5841YHS7WX7AB6lpd93yFq3E_Y/edit#gid=96610676
If you are interested, please contact Larry Wilson at
[email protected] for more information.
October 27th Openings
All American Baseball Association (AABA) Opening - The AABA is a hybrid card/dice and computer league started in 1983 and has an opening for a manager to take over a franchise. The league is a 20 team draft league with a 162 game season April through October. Three home/away series per month. Basic game with upgrades including MG pitching grades and a few others. The computer managers play BBW in manual mode. Realistic pitching and use of hitter limits are applied. The league draft is a live in person or by phone hookup in February. They usually have 10 to 12 managers attending the draft for the weekend, with the others participate up by teleconference. The available franchise features Bryce Harper, Gleber Torres, Joey Gallo, and excellent draft picks for the coming year. If interested to learn more about the AABA opening, contact the league commissioner at
[email protected]. Great group of managers, with three of them still around since 1983. Many of their other managers have been in the league for 20 years or more.
October 20th Openings
Down Under Baseball League Opening - The DUBL, a draft mail league consisting of 28 teams, seeks a new manager for at least one of its existing franchises. We use the basic game with several modifications and will begin our 43rd season next year. The DUBL was featured on John Asalon's "This Week in APBA" radio show on June 30, 2019 and features an annual Convention in late June and an annual draft in January. Each team plays 165 regular season games in a schedule played from May through October. Twelve teams qualify for the playoffs each season. Each team can carry 8 uncarded players as part of its 42-man roster. For more information contact Monte at
[email protected].
I trust this column is continuing to bring many APBA players together be it through regional tournaments or league play. I am glad that we can continue to provide this service to the APBA community and further promote brotherhood within our beloved hobby of APBA gaming.
