Darren Schulz sends an update on last weekend’s Linda B. Schulz Memorial APBA Baseball Tournament in Pittsburgh! –Tom
2016 Linda B. Schulz Memorial APBA Baseball Tournament – Slippery Rock PA
The venue may have changed, but the excitement remained unaltered for 20 participants bonding over not just any old tabletop game…APBA BASEBALL! On a beautiful summer day at the ROCK, defending champion Greg Wells (1977 Philadelphia Phillies) was greeted with a warm round of applause from the attendees as tournament director Ken Schulz handed him his personal championship plaque from 2015. Afterwards, Ken affectionately announced, “If Greg wins again this year, he may be banned for life from the tournament!” After making some last minute adjustments to the schedule due to some unfortunate circumstances for a few of our APBA brethren, the five divisions of four were narrowed down to eight playoff contenders looking to get their names and teams etched into the larger championship plaque.
The top eight included:
- #1 seed 1994 Montreal Expos (Gilles Thibault – Hurdle Division)
- #2 seed 1919 White Sox (Jeff Heagy – who managed brilliantly despite some sketchy play from a couple of his players – Murtaugh Division)
- #3 seed 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates (Greg Wells – Uh oh Ken! – Clarke Division)
- #4 seed 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates (Brian Murphy – Virdon Division)
- #5 seed 1977 Pittsburgh Pirates (TJ Schuyler – who probably had the biggest cheering section within the crowd – Tanner Division)
- #6 seed 2001 Seattle Mariners (Darren Schulz – Wild Card 1)
- #7 seed 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates (Bill Lilley – Wild Card 2)
- #8 seed 1912 New York Giants (Doug Phillips – Wild Card 3).
In true “March Madness” fashion, the playoff bracket was blown up as the top two seeds were dispatched quickly. The coined phrase “you never want to face a divisional opponent in the first round” reared its ugly head as the 1912 Giants upset the top seeded 1994 Expos 5-3. Then the two seeded 1919 White Sox were left wondering who got paid off as the 1960 Pirates pounded out an 8-4 victory. To round out the quarters, the 1909 Pirates shut down the 2001 Mariners (Wells vs Schulz in a rematch of the 2015 title match) 6-2 and the 1902 Buccos escaped the jeers from within their own home crowd with a 1-0 victory over young Schuyler’s 1977 crowd favorite from the same franchise.
Heading to the final four, there would be no miracle from Maz’s 1960 Bucs in this tournament as they fall to the 1909 Pirates 6-2. Being the only team not from Pittsburgh in a Pittsburgh regional tournament must have been an intimidating feeling for the 1912 Giants as they had no answers for the 1902 Pirates in an 11-2 onslaught that guaranteed an all-Pittsburgh finale.
Two of the more memorable dead ball era teams were alive and well heading into the second LBS Memorial Championship game as Brian Murphy and his 1902 Pirates looked to overcome Greg Wells, who was looking to win back-to-back titles with his 1909 squad from the steel town. Names like Fred Clarke, Tommy Leach, and Honus Wagner would be celebrating a championship, but the question remained from which dugout, or at least side of the table, would the tears of joy flow. The dream pitching matchup saw Jack Chesbro (02) toeing the rubber with Howie Camintz (09). The “visitors” wasted no time as Ginger Beaumont rudely introduced himself to Camintz with a one out triple. Leach hit a sac fly to plate Beaumont with the game’s first run.
After three complete, the lead still belonged to 1902 at 1-0. After 1902 went hitless in the top of the fourth, Wells queried Murphy, “How has Wagner done for you? He hasn’t done much for me today.” Murphy’s concise reply only included the words “he has done ok” with a grin. Honus then stepped to the plate and with two dice rolls hits a rare homer to knot the score at one. Game on!
Chesbro and Camintz put on a pitching clinic in front of the APBA enthusiasts still in attendance. After putting up zero after zero on the scoreboard, 1909’s Wagner draws a two out walk in the bottom of the eighth. Subsequently, Dots Miller strokes a single to give the crowd a much needed “edge of the seat moment” because now designated hitter Ham Hyatt had a chance to come up big in a first and third situation. Skipper Murphy showed no signs of looking towards his bullpen and Chesbro appreciated the gesture as Hyatt hits a weak ground ball to end the brief drama. The ninth inning saw both sides go “three up, three down,” so for the second consecutive year, the title game would be decided in extra frames.
With one out in the top of the tenth, Kitty Bransfield slaps a single off of a tiring Camintz and promptly steals second base. Claude Ritchey walks. Shortstop Wid Conroy hits the ball to the right side to move up the runners ninety feet and put both in scoring position for catcher Chief Zimmer. As Murphy had done in the eighth, Wells stuck with his starter and this time it was Camintz who managed to find the right pitch in getting Zimmer to hit a weak pop up to end the latest threat. Chesbro proved equally efficient in the bottom of the first extra frame despite giving up singles to Bobby Byrne and Clarke. The key moment was in between the two safeties. Wells’ decision to put Byrne in motion with a hit and run attempt backfired on a brilliant line drive 4-3 double play snagged by second basemen Ritchey.
Both managers would have to go to their bullpens for the 11th, so Wells called upon Babe Adams, one of his starters on short rest. Fred Clarke rips a single immediately off an Adams fastball and one out later scampers home on another Leach sac fly to end the game’s scoring drought. Murphy would call on another from his starting rotation with Deacon Philippe to get the save for Chesbro. Dots Miller does his best interpretation of 1902 Clarke by finding the gap in his own lead off triple. With one out and the infield drawn in by Murphy, the older Leach hits another sac fly. This time, however, for the home team, and the score is tied yet again at two apiece. After a fruitless 12th and both bullpens seeing players getting stretched, the question remained on how long this game could go.
Despite giving up a two out walk to Clarke, Adams delivers a scoreless top half of the 13th providing Wells another opportunity to secure another title. Phillippe gives up a lead off single to Clarke which set up a show down with Honus Wagner who had homered all the way back in the bottom of the fourth. Phillippe delivers an inside fastball and Wagner hits a liner over first basemen Bransfield’s head which rolls to the right field corner to plate Clarke with the game winner! Wells does it again!
2016 LBS Championship Box Score
Congrats to Greg Wells in capturing back-to-back LBS Memorial tourney titles in dramatic fashion. The 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates are now officially retired from future tournaments, but Mr. Wells will most definitely NOT be banned from the 2017 or any other future LBS tournament. Both the team’s and manager’s names will be etched into the championship plaque. Wells also took home a brand new 2015 APBA Baseball Card set. Additional congrats goes to Brian Murphy’s great tourney performance and earning the tickets to the evening’s Cubs at Pirates game at PNC Park. Doug Phillips earned a brand new APBA Baseball game with his consolation third place win with his 1912 New York Giants.
Special thanks goes out to Ken Schulz for organizing the event, Mark McDonel for providing the side entertainment of the 1971 and 1984 MLB All-Star game broadcasts, and Jackie Schulz for all her help with the food preparation. Certainly more bonds were made with so many great moments to share for a lifetime. Linda Schulz loved to hear the dice rattle, so for all you who have supported the tourney the past two years, there is a special place for all of you in the hearts of the entire Schulz family.
UPDATE: The date for the 2017 LBS Memorial APBA Baseball Tourney will be July 8, 2017 and teams will only be from 1960-1979 (aside from the retired 1977 Phillies). Same location, same start time…9 AM. First come, first serve so contact Ken Schulz at with your team selection.
Thank you Darren for the update and congratulations (again!) to Greg Wells! -Tom
Well done Greg! Looks like it was a great day and lots of fun for all.