The Illowa APBA League has been around nearly 35 years. It started out as an eight team draft league, fell apart after 120 games in its inaugural season, only to rebound strong. I urge you to checkout at www.illowaapbaleague.com In the olden days, there were mail, as well as face-to-face series, but now it’s pretty much all face-to-face. Currently there are ten teams in the league, 26 players per team, playing a 162 game schedule.
Our managers are spread out across the country. One manager in Pittsburgh, three in the Quad Cities area, two in the Champaign area, and three in the Chicago area. We are looking for a manager living in the Chicago area. It’s pretty much a year round commitment. We get together at a Chicago area hotel in March for our Playoffs, World Series, Rookie Draft, and to open the new season by playing 30 games. Then we get together a weekend in May to play 30 more games. And then one more time in the Fall to play the All Star Game and 30 more games. These gatherings are when our out of area games are played, hotel fees run no more than $100 per manager, and one of the two remaining get togethers is usually either in the Quad Cities or Champaign area. Every other month throughout the year, you’ll be matched up with an in-area team to play a nine game series.
You’ll be responsible for keeping your teams statistics and e-mailing them to the league president, along with an article, for the monthly newsletter. Trades are only allowed during the offseason, at the March league get together. Players are not allowed to go over their games, at bats, or innings pitched, with the exception of D pitchers who are allowed double their games & innings pitched. The first position on a player’s card is unlimited, 1-9 games, gets you ten games at that position, 10-39 gets you 40, and 40 gets you all.
The available franchise, the State Street Sluggers, is not a doormat, by any stretch o the imagination. Ryan Howard, Robinson Cano, Michael Young, & David Wright make up the infield, while the outfielders are Pat Burrell, Carlos Beltran, & Andre Ethier, A.J. Pierzynski & Dioner Navarro are the catchers. Brandon Webb, Jered Weaver, David Bush, Joe Blanton, & Carlos Silva makeup the rotation, with Takashi Saito & Damaso Marte in the bullpen.
There are so many things I could tell you about the IAL, rule-wise, but the most important thing I can say is, “The IAL is where I’ve met my best friends”, come join us. If you love baseball, but hate the money, would like to manage your own team, and get together with great guys for friendly competition, this is the place you wanna be!
I’m sooo psyched to announce RobT & BIG MIKE have agreed to co-manage the State Street Sluggers. RobT was a longtime IAL manager with the Chicago Stockyards & Mercenaries. While BIG MIKE managed the West Walker Solons of the Midwest League for over twenty years. RobT will assume the duties of GM. It ought to be interesting, as RobT’s always been a very active trader.