Early Saturday morning tournament action
You’ve already read my official news release of the 2016 Chicagoland Summer Fantasy World Series. Here’s my personal account. There’s a lot to tell.
Friday- Tournament eve
I arrived at the Grayslake Comfort Suites on Friday afternoon. Don Smith arrived from Davenport, Iowa soon after and Scott Fennessy from Des Plaines after him. We shared one room that night but fortunately, Comfort Suites features nice big rooms.
We were excited about the next day but I had business that night. Rob Moore traveled from Addison suburb to play a July series for the Illowa APBA League. It was a big series as it was the first time in a while I wasn’t in last place this late in the season. Rob’s Chicago Highlanders were the inhabitants of the IAL basement so I was looking to move up.
Things were looking up for my Thunderchickens. As Don and Scott watched on, I won three of the first four games. I was feeling confident so I even let Scott manage a game for me (he lost a close one, 3-0). As Don said later, I was probably eyeing the next spot in the Illowa standings. Then it hit the fan. We were shutout twice in a row and never saw another win that night. We lost the series 3 games to 6.
A Thunderchicken stat to whet your appetite: Kris Bryant has struck out 103 times in 301 at-bats so far in Illowa play.
It was still fun with the four of us hanging out, eating pizza and talking baseball. Thanks Rob for coming out!
Saturday- The BIG Day!
In the morning, Scott, Don and I grabbed some courtesy breakfast at the hotel running into Champaign Dave Rueck and Cody, “his designated roller”. By 8:30 or so, Don gave us a ride to the Grayslake Historical Society where all the action was to take place.
APBA fans were already milling about the room! Tables were adorned with printed envelopes and custom-printed fantasy players for each team. After some hellos and handshakes, I searched out my first opponent. Gary Lindley from my Sandy Koufax Division was there so we started playing. But wait, in comes Shawn Baier from Michigan. Time out for a man-hug for my commish from the Boys of Summer League.
I have played Gary Lindley at least three times at these tournaments. Each time, I get a better understanding of his knowledge of baseball. This man knows his baseball! It’s no wonder he is the reigning CWS champ. Burleigh Grimes won the first game over Gary’s 1939 New York Yankees but after that, Mr. Lindley put me in my place. DiMaggio had five hits including a walkoff homerun in Game 3.
We were already down 1-2.
Next up, I had the pleasure to play Mike Miller who came all the way from the San Francisco area. Mike had the 1941 Dodger with Sandy Koufax as his fantasy player. Mike had brought a Koufax bobblehead to place his card on. Sandy’s head kept bobbing up and down… mocking me. Mike didn’t need any pitching in game 1. His 41 Bums collected 13 hits and 10 runs. Chick Hafey and Gus Mancuso homered in vain and we lost 10-6. It was Koufax’ turn in Game 2 and he delivered keeping the 1930 Cardinals to 2 runs while Burleigh Grimes lost his first one 7-2. My bats came alive in Game 3 though. A single a double and a triple and three rbis for Frank Frisch. Two hits including a homer for George Fisher. Mancuso had three hits with a triple. Final score: 9-3.
After two teams, we were 2-4
The Koufax Division was running a little late but Mike and I had time to walk down to the Twisted Burger in Grayslake and wolf down a burger before the All-Star Game. He told me about life in California and listened to me brag about Illini Baseball. On our way back, we see some high school girls are having a fund raising car wash at the fire station next door.
Umm, Mike, the tournament is this way.
Bradd Romant rolls on 1956 Mickey Mantle during the All-Star Game
The All-Star Game was all it could be with the National League coming out ahead 5-3 (no thanks to my entry, Mark McGwire). 2015 Jake Arrieta is the winning pitcher while Rick Monday takes home MVP thanks to a winning homerun.
More importantly, the All-Star Game gave us all the opportunity to mill around and chat a bit before games started up again.
My last opponent were the 1933 Giants with the help of Orlando “Baby Bull” Cepeda. They were managed by Larry Eichman. Now I think this is the third time I’ve played Larry at these tournaments and each time, he’s taken a Giants team. Like Gary, Larry has a deep knowledge of baseball history. I always learn something when I play him. Game 1 was departure from the previous games. Jesse “Pop” Haines (CZ) pitched a five hit shutout. With homers from George Watkins and Mark McGwire, that was all we needed winning 4-0. Bill Hallahan was on task in Game 2 while being supported by the bats. The Cardinals came up with 19 hits including three each by Jim Bottomley, Frisch and Watkins. Cardinals win their 3rd in a row 9-4. in Game 3, Larry’s Giants were up 7-2 but the Cardinals mounted a comeback against Carl Hubbell. We managed to score two runs each in the 8th and the 9th but it just wasn’t enough as Giants won 7-6.
Final tournament record: 4-5
Bob Eller’s 2015 Cubs were too much for Gary’s ‘39 Yanks in the first round
Gary’s 1939 Yanks came out of the gate early winning five of his first six games and never looked back. They ended up 7-2 for regulation play. Mr. Lindley is becoming a tournament powerhouse!
Team performance
I really had a lot of fun with the 1930 Cardinals. They sure can hit! It was nice to roll a 25-7 and get a hit off an A or a B pitcher. I didn’t really have a set lineup. For those who read my CWS preview article, I played George Fisher four games and Taylor Douthit five.
Big stars for the day:
- George Watkins: .410, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 rbis
- Gus Mancuso: .419, 2 HR, 6 rbis
- Frank Frisch: .366, 8 runs, 6 rbis
- George Fisher: 3 HR (in four games), 6 rbis
Perhaps I should have played Fisher more but as he only had 254 at-bats in real life, that made sense to me.
As for my fantasy player, 1998 Mark McGwire, I will give credit to all my readers who told me that I should have taken a pitcher. Heck, I could have taken Dal Maxvill and he would have moved the ball along better (ok, that’s not fair).
Mark McGwire: 4 for 34 (.118), 3 HR, one 2B, 6 rbis, 4 BB, 16 strikeouts (team total 38)
Other notes of interest: Yes, George Puccinelli made an appearance! Down 7-2 in Game 2 against Mike Miller’s 1941 Dodgers, the “Count” pinch hit and flied out to right to end the game. On the other hand, Homer Peel, who is about as bad as Puccinelli is good, also pinch hit in Game 3. He grounded to third. Hi Bell (BZ), my only reliever better than a C, made one appearance. Score that as 0 IP, 1 H, 1 run, 1ER. That was Joe DiMaggio’s walkoff homer.
Thanks and Congrats
Some thanks are due: I had to catch a 5pm Metra train from Grayslake to downtown Chicago. It runs every two hours so if I missed it I’d be staying overnight at Doug’s house :). The taxi was late I was a little nervous. Mike Miller found out and said, “Heck, I’ll take you to the station”. I made the train with minutes to spare. Thanks Mike! You’re a lifesaver!
Speaking of thanks, Doug puts months of work into organizing this tournament. Everyone had great time. It isn’t a stretch to say that Doug is a visionary of sorts. He knows what APBA fans want and what will be fun. Each of his tournaments have added on to the last. Thanks, Doug!
Finally, congrats again to Bob Eller! I have seen Bob at every tournament I have been fortunate to participate. He was a semi-finalist at The Prairieland (and even came out to watch some Illini Baseball with me the day before). This time, he got the job done. Nicely done, Bob!!
[photo of me credited to Doug]
