One weekend after the Twin Cities APBA Baseball Tournament, we see another juggernaut of the regional APBA tournaments take place. That is the Schulz Brothers’ Linda B. Schulz Memorial APBA Baseball Tournament V in Slippery Rock, PA. I really have to hand to Ken and Darren who know how to put on a tourney… they had 44 APBA fans at LBS!
LBS PR man Darren Schulz put out a press release which tells the story.
Linda B. Schulz Memorial Apba Baseball Tournament V – Slippery Rock PA – October 12, 2019
The dice were rattling once again at the Rock in the first ever fall edition of the annual tabletop tournament. After some last minute divisional adjustments caused a slight delay in the first rolls, an LBS record 44 participants witnessed defending champ Rob Wyks receiving his championship plaque and all the kids in attendance garnering a warm applause when it was revealed they would be receiving an anonymous donation of Negro League teams designed by Apba Hall of Famer Charlie Fouche.
This year’s 10 game round robin play included Brian Murphy’s amazing run of seven straight victories in overcoming an 0-3 start to secure his division, Ron Glos’s 2016 Cubs stealing a victory in extra innings after having no hits for eight and two thirds innings, and Philip Silvis’s 21 run single game effort with the powerful 1927 Philadelphia Athletics. When the tables became temporarily silent, these were the eight remaining teams and their managers.
- Seed – 1948 Cleveland Indians of the Mike/Laura Bencic Division (Michael Coon)
- Seed – 2001 Seattle Mariners of the Matt Adams Division (Richard Golden)
- Seed – 2017 Cleveland Indians of the Bob Shawkey Division (Wendell Neely)
- Seed – 1995 Cleveland Indians of the Slider Division (Dick Moore)
- Seed – 2018 Houston Astros of the Jack Critchfield Division (Brian Murphy)
- Seed – 1937 New York Yankees of the Jeff Messer Division (Hank Boucher)
- Seed – 1929 Philadelphia Athletics – Wild Card 1 (Steve Skoff/LBS 3 Champ)
- Seed – 1985 St. Louis Cardinals – Wild Card 2 (Tyler Wyks)
As MLB’s 2019 Washington Nationals have proven this postseason, no one should want to face the wild card entries. Clawing their way into the top eight, the 1985 Cardinals derailed the top-seeded 1948 Indians (9-4) and the 1929 Athletics upended the 2001 Mariners (8-1). Meanwhile, fans of the Tribe found no solace on the table as the 2018 Astros held on to nip the 1995 Indians (4-3 in 13 innings) and the 1937 Yankees overpowered the 2017 Indians (10-1) to complete round one action.
In the semifinal matchups, young Tyler Wyks guided his 85 Red Birds past the 2018 Astros 4-3 to end the amazing eight game winning streak by Brian Murphy. With those original 1937 Yankee cards in hand, Hank Boucher had no answers for George Earnshaw’s complete game 7-0 effort for Steve Skoff’s 1929 Athletics.
Those remaining in attendance were in for a treat with Apba Hall of Famer and 2017 LBS Champ Steve Skoff facing Tyler Wyks, son of 2018 LBS Champ (Rob) and 2019 National Convention Champ (Amy), in a best of three title series.
Game 1: 85 Cardinals (John Tudor Ayz) at 29 Athletics (Lefty Grove Axyz)
The Cards struck early when Willie McGee drew a first inning walk, stole second, and immediately trotted home on a Tommy Herr double. After a productive at-bat by Andy Van Slyke to move the runner to third, Herr scampered home on a Jack Clark sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead. That was all that John Tudor needed in his four hit complete game effort. His only blemish was a solo shot to Mickey Cochrane in the third. Cards tacked on two more insurance runs on a Tito Landrum double for a 4-1 game 1 victory.
Game 2: 29 Athletics (George Earnshaw Axw) at 85 Cardinals (Danny Cox Bz)
With the respectful banter between the two managers in full vigor by this point, Earnshaw forced a series deciding game three with his three hit, 8 strikeout performance. His only flaw was serving up a game tying solo blast in the bottom half of the third to Terry “In for his Defense” Pendleton. It did not take long for the A’s to answer the unexpected blast with a three-run fourth led by a two run shot by right fielder Mule Haas. Jimmie Foxx and Bing Miller added solo blasts in the latter two innings to avoid any stressful conclusions in this 6-1 win.
Game 3: 85 Cardinals (Joaquin Andujar Bz) at 29 Athletics (Rube Walberg By)
The Athletics struct first in the home half of the 2nd with a Cochrane two out single plating Sammy Hale for a 1-0 lead. Cards answered immediately with another Herr gap-shot double scoring speedster Vince Coleman with the tying run. The game stayed there until Andujar gave up a lead off 6th inning single to Jimmy Dykes, a double to Haas, and a base on balls to load the pads with no one out. With light-hitting Joe Boley at the plate, Skoff shrewdly ordered the squeeze play that worked to perfection for a 2-1 lead. Although Andujar walked the nine hitter to reload the bases, he escaped the inning and suffered no more damage until serving up a Jimmie Foxx solo homer with one out in the 8th. Up 3-1, Walberg was one out away from ending the series until giving up a double to Darrell Porter. After Wyks proved his savy decision making by entering Ivan de Jesus as a pinch runner, Ozzie Smith, aka The Wizard, reminded us of his real life playoff magic with an RBI double. After a second mound visit, Walberg could no longer convince manager Skoff to leave him in the game with the tying run in scoring position. Eddie Rommel entered and subsequently walked Pendleton to bring the 9 hitter to the plate. Unfortunately, Coleman, who shocked the LBS crowd earlier in the day with his double 66 long ball in the semifinals, could not get the job done as Rommel induced the final out for the save in the 3-2 series-clinching contest.
Congrats to Steve Skoff in earning his second LBS championship in three years. The 1929 Philadelphia Athletics are now retired from future LBS tournaments, and Steve’s name will be inscribed a second time into the championship plaque. Additionally, he took home a brand new Apba Baseball Game and will receive another personal championship plaque at the 2020 LBS tournament. Although he finished a run short of adding another title to the family’s trophy case, Tyler Wyks amazed the LBS faithful with his vast knowledge of the game boards and tremendous passion for Apba baseball. For his amazing run as this year’s runner up, he chose to take home a Forbes Field replica dice tray.
Ken and I would like to thank all of this year’s 40+ participants for their support of our annual tournament. Of course, we always have to thank Mark Mcdonel for providing the yearly baseball videos and Jackie Schulz for her help in food preparation. Special thanks goes to the Silvis Family for setting up a wonderful Friday night dinner with several of our Apba friends and helping me set up and clean up the venue.
Finally, we can’t end without mentioning two of our favorite moments from this year’s tournament. It was mentioned earlier that each of the kids at the tourney were given teams from Charlie Fouche’s Negro League website. Seeing these kids looking through Charlie’s cards, asking questions about them, and scoring what we thought was the best match-up of the day (a 7-3 win for the Kansas City Monarchs over the Baltimore Black Sox) were moments that will forever be etched into our minds.
Most importantly, the LBS family raised 830 dollars this year to donate to the ALS Foundation in honor of Apba Hall of Famer Randy Walker and his wife Lisa. Outstanding work by our Apba Community!!!
2020 LBS UPDATE
The sixth LBS MEMORIAL APBA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT will take place on October 17, 2020 at the Slippery Rock Township Building and will include teams from 1901-present with a winning percentage under .585. Other than the retired teams (1909 Pirates, 1929 Athletics, 1974 Dodgers, 1975 Reds & 1977 Phillies), all other single Apba-issued teams are eligible that fit the theme. If interested, contact Ken Schulz at ? with your contact information and team selection.
Excellent recap, Darren! He sent me the full tourney postseason bracket and results for your perusal.
Congratulations to Steve Skoff for his second LBS win!!
