League Profile: Mid-West Baseball League

Stray Corrado sent us an update on the BBW-based Mid-West Baseball League and includes some information on a new retro league called the Mid-West Winter League. 

Stray included a fantastic description of both leagues:

“My name is John (STRAY) Corrado (I live in the METRO DETROIT AREA) and I am the Commissioner of the Mid-West Baseball League & the Mid-West Winter League.

Both are APBA Leagues, and have been mentioned as two of the BEST APBA Leagues around.

On Saturday February 18th, 2012 the Mid-West Baseball League will be holding its 15th annual Draft Day.  Please take a moment to check out the Mid-West Baseball League.  If you have any thoughts or questions, or would like more information please E-Mail me at:

The Mid-West Baseball League is a Fantasy Baseball League – 28 Team Deep, 38 man rosters, 12 Man Minor League system.  The Mid-West Baseball League is entering its 15th season of play, and is one of the finest most established APBA / BBW Leagues around. 

Not only does the Mid-West Baseball League have unique playing rules, but we’re also deeply interested in the development of the game and minor leaguers. With Twenty-eight (28) (Yes that’s right twenty eight franchises scattered throughout the United States, we have a wide range of ownership.

With that wide range of ownership comes a great amount of knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication that makes the MWBL shine above other fantasy (alternative reality) baseball Leagues. Ten plus years ago the Mid-West Baseball League was formed as a continuous ownership league. To this day, we still have eight of the original members, and seven other members who have been with us for at least six plus years. The beauty in all this is represented by the fact that there are still people who are fanatic about the game of baseball.

It goes back to the great old saying “If you build it – they will come” and come they have. From as far West as California, and as due East as New York, and as far south as Florida. The Mid-West Baseball League goes beyond what a normal fantasy (alternative reality) baseball League does. You actually play the games, based on statistics from the previous MLB season using APBA Baseball for Windows game. We play a full 162 game season, along with playoffs (Wild Card & League Championship Series) as well as a World Series and All-Star Game. We have Awards for players, just like the pro’s – everything from Gold Gloves, right down to MVP, and Cy-Young awards.

Scouting and development don’t take a back seat in the MWBL, actually quite the opposite. Each team is allotted twelve (12) minor league roster spots. These twelve minor league spots are often used to draft minor leaguers, college or high school kids, or foreign born players. That’s part of the beauty of the MWBL. Also each minor leaguer play drafted must make it to the big leagues within a three year period or you lose his rights. Sort of like a free agent system.
Each off season we hold a live draft. It’s at this draft where you can try (and I say try) to rebuild your club. Not only do you need to finish off your major and minor league roster on draft day, you need to be more than prepared. There are not a lot of super “Gems” in this draft. Most decent to solid prospects are usually taken a year or two before most of the normal public know who they are. Which if you’re not knowledgeable on the subject you probably missed your prospect two years ago.

The draft is tough, but for the serious baseball aficionado, this is like Christmas Day for you. It’s where you get that great present, but don’t have a clue what it really is.

How many leagues out there, that you know of that have career statistics and full player information including trade and Draft History for each individual player. Do other leagues show what a certain player has done just for your team? Do other leagues have a trade register based on individual teams, so you can go back and look at all your good trades, and all those bad ones you may have made?
The Mid-West Baseball League prides itself on quality owners, we do this for a few reasons. This is not something we take lightly. Some say we’re “overly compulsive” about it. We have a great group of guys, and are looking for a few more. If you don’t believe what your reading to be true, stop by the Mid-West Baseball League web site and see for yourself. This is absolutely one of the premier fantasy (alternative reality) baseball Leagues around. Come check us out at the MID-WEST BASEBALL LEAGUE WEB SITE.

We are always looking for RECRUITS & Back up Managers. If you’re interested , or have any questions please let me know.
I also run a RETRO-LEAGUE called the Mid-West Winter League – you can check that out as well.

Always looking to meet up with more APBA enthusiasts.”