23
March

League Profile: Bultman/Glancy

David Glancy writes to tell us about his 3-player league in Dayton, Ohio.  They play a full 162 game schedule and have been doing this since 1982. 

The details on Bultman/Glancy:

League Name

Bultman/Glancy
Contact Person David Glancy
Sport Baseball
# of teams 8
Year of inception 1982
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Basic Game
Does your league play… out of the box
Geographic location Dayton, OH

David says: 

2- 4 team divisions from a base decade, 3 players, 162 game schedule, best records in each division have a world series, end of the season stats & voted all-star team, currently playing in the AL 1970′s, we rotate decades & eras

Thanks for passing on the info, David!

If you want to brag about your league, we’re listening!  Tell us all about the league you are in and we’ll post a profile about it.  In the meantime, read about other leagues who have written in.

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2
March

League Profile: APBA Patriot League

apba-logo22Brian Hey emailed The APBA Blog to update us on The APBA Patriot League.  Most notably, they have a new website!

I was just having fun going through their career leaders.  Like in our league, Maddux is the all-time leader in wins.  Happy to see Mr Glavine 2nd, too! 

Great job, guys!

The details on The APBA Patriot League:

League Name

APBA Patriot League
League Website http://www.apbapatriotleague.com
Contact Person Brian Hey
Sport Baseball
# of teams 12
Year of inception 1971
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Computer
Geographic location USA

Brian says: 

NL only league that started in 1971 with the basic board game plus modifications. In 2005, the league voted to use BBW and has been using the latest version ever since. The league has a unique bidding system for players undrafted in the first round. Statistics are maintained on the website.

Renny Maddox, a current manager and former commissioner, has been playing in this league for the last 42 years!!!

Thanks, Brian and congrats Renny for such a long-standing run as manager! 

If you want to brag about your league, we’re listening!  Tell us all about the league you are in and we’ll post a profile about it.  In the meantime, read about other leagues who have written in.

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16
February

League Profile: National Master Continuous Draft League

Donald Williamson writes to tout his league called the National Master Continuous Draft League.  As the name implies, it’s a APBA Master Game Baseball League.  Though I don’t play it as much as I used to, I’m glad to see they’re still around.  So much more strategy and realism in the MG.

Some quick facts on the NMCDL also known as the ‘N-1450’:

League Name

 National Master Continuous Draft League (NMCDL)
Contact Person Donald Williamson
Sport Baseball
# of teams 8
Year of inception 2011
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Master Game
Does your league play… with modifications
Geographic location All over

Donald says: 

“The league is a master NL only using the CMBA modifications for pitching. We play 108 games for our season(2/3). Quality of play vs quantity.”

Donald also notes that the NMCDL keep track of league standings online using Google Docs.  I’ve thought about this kind of collaboration for our league.  Have others done this?

By the way, if a Master Game league is up your alley, I hear the NMCDL is looking for managers.

thanks for the update, Donald!

 

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9
February

League Profile: APBA Winter League

Mike Lizanich writes in about a new league formed around college friendships.  The APBA Winter League is based in New Jersey and managers are all former frat brothers from Rutgers.

The data on the APBA Winter League:

League Name

APBA Winter League
Contact Person Mike Lizanich
Sport Baseball
# of teams 5
Year of inception 2011
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Basic Game
Does your league play… with modifications
Geographic location New Jersey

Mike reports:  

We have a draft league with 5 teams with several teams have multiple managers. All of us are frat brothers who were at Rutgers together 45 years ago where we first were exposed to APBA. We formed the league to give us another way to meet socially and keep our friendship strong.

We play a 40 game regular schedule meeting once a week and the top 4 teams make the playoffs. The season starts in November and ends in March.

We all agree that APBA is a great game that holds many warm memories for us all from our college days and that it’s just as much fun (maybe more!) playing it now when we’re all in our early 60s.

Great story and a good way to pass the time till baseball season!

By the way, welcome to the Big Ten, Rutgers fans!  :)

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7
January

League Profile: Matt Kading Memorial APBA Baseball League

Kirt Bennett emails The APBA Blog with an update on the Matt Kading Memorial APBA Baseball League.

They’ve changed their online presence and can now be found at their new web site.

Some quick facts on Matt Kading Memorial APBA Baseball League:

League Name

Matt Kading Memorial APBA Baseball League
League Website apbakading.com
Contact Person Kirt Bennett
Sport Baseball
# of teams 30
Year of inception 2001
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Computer
Does your league play… with modifications
Geographic location USA and Canada

Kirt says: 

“no DH…. pitching grades based on BAA instead of ERA…….Fielding Grades based on actual statistics… all games played LIVE over the internet.”

I’d be interested in what method the MKMAL uses to play their games over the web.  I know there are plenty of free and cheap remote access software out there.  I’m curious what works for them.

Thanks, Kirt!!

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6
January

League Profile: Lafortune’s APBA

Sometimes APBA is enjoyed best as a family.  Within the league I’m in, we’ve had at least three separate families play against each other (either brothers or father/son).

On that note, Thomas Lafortune emails The APBA Blog about his family-based league using the Basic Baseball Game.  Thomas is a “third generation APBA player” and his family has been playing APBA since 1953.  That’s quite a long time indeed considering the game was first produced in 1951.

Some quick info on Lafortune’s APBA:

League Name

Lafortune’s APBA
Contact Person Thomas Lafortune
Sport Baseball
# of teams 24
Year of inception 1982
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Basic Game
Does your league play… with modifications
Geographic location Warren, Massachusetts

Thomas’ comments: 

Currently on 5th season. Seasons played include 1980′s mixed, 1998, 2003, 2006, 2009. Several old-time players mixed in each season. 156 game seasons. Third generation APBA player.

Played in our family since 1953. Currently two managers, have had as many as four. Past World Series winners are Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, and New York Yankees.

Best pitcher of all time: Mark Fidrych. Best hitters: Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle

 

Thanks for passing on the info, Thomas!

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18
December

League Profile: Odon APBA League

When I read Jim’s email about the Odon APBA League, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were based only a few hours away from me.  From Odon, Indiana, Jim says he’s a Purdue grad so I immediately had a Big Ten bond with him (Go Illini!).

Anyway, the Odon League is a 10-team Baseball league that’s been around for over 30 years.

Info on the Odon APBA League:

League Name

Odon APBA League
Contact Person Jim
Sport Baseball
# of teams 10
Year of inception 1981
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Combination
Does your league play… with modifications
Geographic location Odon, Indiana

Jim’s comments on the Odon APBA League: 

Face-to-face master game with unplayed games played using APBA computer game. Continuous ownership with two annual drafts.

Mods to SB ratings, BC +/- ratings and pitcher control and strikeout ratings.

 

Thanks for letting us know about the Odon APBA League, Jim!

 

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9
December

League Profile: Mason Dixon TableTop League

Mike McClurg sends us info on the Mason Dixon TableTop League.  The name of the MDTL, which started back 1973, is not new to me.  Indeed with names of APBA players like McClurg, Tom Heiderscheit and Jim Boylan, I remember seeing this league referred to in the old APBA Journal many times.  

Info on the MDTL:

League Name

Mason Dixon TableTop League
Contact Person Mike McClurg Jr
League Website Link
Sport Baseball
# of teams 20
Year of inception 1973
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Basic
Does your league play… with modifications
Geographic location Primarily Virginia but managers in NC, RI, IA, MS, OH and AL

Here is Mike’s fantastic history of the MDTL:

The MDTL was created in 1973 by Bud Funk and Glenn Hampton, two law students at William & Mary. The first season was an eight team League. All eight Managers were friends of Funk or Hampton. The APBA Baseball board game was chosen for League play.

After the first season it was decided to expand the League to 12 teams and some Managers dropped out so an ad was placed in the (now defunct) APBA Journal to fill the vacancies. Answering that ad and joining the League in Season Two was (now Commissioner) Mike McClurg Sr. During Season Two another vacancy occurred and that team was taken by Mike McClurg Jr. who was 14 years old at the time.

Season 3 saw Jim Boylan join the League.
After Season 3 a convention was held in Richmond, VA with Bud Funk hosting what became the annual event that continues today. The League Convention now includes voting on Rule changes proposed by the Managers as well as the Money Draft and Secondary Draft where the teams are formulated for the following season.

Howard Frey came into the League for Season 6.
Season 8 welcomed Don Litewski, Charlie Tibbs, Keith Riggs and Elliott Atherholt.
The League expanded to 16 teams in Season 9 and Brian Devine came on board.

Gary Hartman joined in Season 10, Nick Sellman started in Season 11 and Greg Freaney began in Season 12. Greg’s brother Pat became a Manager in Season 15.
Terry Evans joined for Season 21. Season 22 saw the League expand to 18 teams and 3 six team Divisions were formed. Steve Allen joined the League along with the expansion to 18 teams.
Nellwyn Tibbs joined for Season 23 and the rivalry in the Tibbs household was born.

Season 27 saw another expansion of the League to the present total of 20 teams divided into 4 five team Divisions. Expansion Managers joining were Robbie Riggs and Dan Litewski.
Scott Egge and David Bardo entered the League for Season 32 and Mike McCoobery joined the group during the off-season prior to Season 34.

Tom Heiderscheit joined for Season 36 and Todd Davis joined for Season 37. Gregg Hansen, Jimm Smedley along with Larry Wilson became Managers for Season 38 replacing Nick Sellman, Mike McCoobery and Tom Heiderscheit.

The MDTL has evolved into a ‘family’ type arrangement where several Managers have resigned from the League for various reasons but have returned in subsequent years. Mangers that left and returned are Charlie Tibbs, Nick Sellman, Keith Riggs, Terry Evans, Pat Freaney, Mike Freaney, Liam Freaney, Gary Hartman and David Bardo. A total of 63 different Managers will have participated starting with the League’s 38th season.
Sadly, Greg Freaney passed away in 2007. Greg was a MDTL manager for 24 years. His team, the Star City Giants, was taken over by his nephew, Liam Freaney.

While the APBA Baseball Basic board game continues as the foundation of League play many adjustments have been incorporated into the General Rules as voted in by Managers at yearly conventions. Newer APBA products such as the Master Game and 66! are given consideration and are adopted or rejected by a vote of the League Managers at an annual convention. The new 66! Boards were voted in for use beginning with Season 34 along with MDTL enhancements.

Following our Convention on February 28, 2010 as teams were preparing for Season 38, we received the terrible news that Don Litewski, a 30 year member of the League, had passed away in his sleep. The League will miss one of its most loyal participants. Don was a true southern gentleman and always made positive contributions to the MDTL. The League will find a way to truly honor Don that recognizes his love for this baseball league and its Managers. The League has decided to rename the Tidewater Division to the Litewski Division.

Season 39 welcomed a new Manager Ray Couch along with the return of JAC Cales, a 10 year veteran of earlier seasons who twice was a World Series champion. Season 40’s Manager roster adds Ed Voshall and Rick Larson.

As the 2012-40 season was starting, we all received the devastating news that our leader, friend and commissioner for 38 years Mike McClurg Sr. lost his battle with cancer. To honor Mike we have renamed the league, Mike McClurg Sr. Mason Dixon Tabletop League MM-MDTL.

Thanks for passing this bit of APBA history on, Mike!

 

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5
December

League Profile: Buffalo Pastime League

The League Profiles keep rolling in.  This is our third one this week. 

Gary Hopkins writes in today about his Buffalo Pastime League.  Originating in 1976, the BPL is unique in that it primarily uses the Master Game as its game of choice.  I haven’t seen too many of those (they’re out there, I know). 

Info on the BPL:

League Name

Buffalo Pastime League
Contact Person Gary Hopkins
Sport Baseball
# of teams 8-12
Year of inception 1976
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Master Game
Does your league play… with modifications
Geographic location Southern California

Gary’s write-up on the BPL:

The BPL is a face-to-face dice rolling "keeper" league. We play the Master Game with modifications. The league has operated continuously since 1976 with several original members still involved. We play an 80 game season running from April to December.

Good fun, good friends. And we’re always happy to make room for a new member!

 

Gary also commented on my post a couple nights ago.  I asked whether readers would find it valuable to have contact email for league contacts in profiles like these. 

Gary answered with an emphatic ‘Yes!’.  I’d like to hear more input but Gary’s reasoning is sound.  He’d like for potential managers to be able to contact him.  If you would like to, you can contact him at garyhop(at)cox.net. 

Thanks for writing, Gary!

 

If you want to brag about your league, we’re listening!  Tell us all about the league you are in and we’ll post a profile about it.  In the meantime, read about other leagues who have written in.

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3
December

League Profile: Southern California Baseball League

I see Dan Velderrain’s name quite often on the APBA Baseball Facebook group page so it was good to get an email from him telling me about his league, the Southern California Baseball League.  It broke the ice and we chatted a bit about the need for an online presence for an APBA League.  It’s one of things I like most about running this blog… being in contact with so many APBA fans I normally wouldn’t. 

Turns out the SCBL is a relatively long running league (it’s in its 35th year now!) playing the Basic game.  Dan is looking for a way to share their wealth of history and stats.

Info on the USBL:

League Name

Southern California Baseball League
Contact Person Dan Velderrain
Sport Baseball
# of teams 14
Year of inception 1979
Basic/Master/Computer/ Combination Basic
Does your league play… with modifications
Geographic location Southern California

Dan tells us more about the SCBL:

The Southern California Baseball League (SCBL) is getting ready to start their 35th season in 2013.

We are a Continuous Ownership, 14 team, Face to Face, Basic Game with Modifications League.

Good times!!!

Thanks for writing, Dan.  Looking forward to hearing more about the SCBL!

 

If you want to brag about your league, we’re listening!  Tell us all about the league you are in and we’ll post a profile about it.  In the meantime, read about other leagues who have written in.

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