More photos from Saturday’s Chicagoland APBA Tourney

Group photo!  Squeeze in there, Doug!  They were smart not to include me. 

From left to right:  Jim Welch, Bob Eller, Eric Berg, Clark Eichmann, Curt Bartel, Jim Saska, Pete Gill, Randy Woolley, November champion Scott Fennessy, Don Smith, Larry Eichmann, Bradd Romant, Gary Lindley, Bob Romant, Mrs. Gaubitz (sorry, I didn’t get your first name!), Craig Christian, Michael Gaubitz and Doug Schuyler.

Hanging outside the Woodstock Public Library before it opens.  It was nice for Scott Fennessy and I to get there early.  Last November, we got there late (sorry guys!)

Jim Saska had the idea of starting a new tradition for our tournament.  The previous champion would have the honor of starting the tourney by rolling the first dice roll. 

November’s champion Scott Fennessy rolls a 24.  Fortunately for him, it was non-binding. 

Jim Saska’s custom-made envelopes were awesome!

Baseball cookies!  They were made by a friend of Jim Saska.  Thanks also to Jim for providing a great Italian Beef lunch for a cheap price, too!

Bradd Romant brought along Cecil Cooper for good luck!  It worked as he went 5-0 in his division.  That fact was not lost on Don Smith who also had the ‘82 Brewers and didn’t win a game.  As Don said, “I took the ‘61 Angels last time and I at least won one game.”

Speaking of Don, we heard his duck call a couple times early on but the bats of Gorman Thomas and Co. quieted as the tourney went on.  Rumor has it, Manager Smith blames the umps. 

Look out.. the organizers are collaborating! 

Jim Saska and Doug Schuyler are pulling teams for the consolation round. 

A close look at Craig Christian’s dice tower that won it all.  I’ve thought of making/buying one but it is actually the first time I’ve seen it used for APBA.

Craig was the only person using a tower on Saturday.  Obviously, it worked well for him.

A view from the field.

The quarter-final game between organizers Jim Saska and Doug Schuyler drew probably the biggest crowd save the final championship game.  Despite Mike Schmidt’s late homerun, Doug’s 2001 Mariners pulled out a victory.

However, it was the championship game between Doug’s ‘01 Mariners and the 1968 St Louis Cardinals managed by interim manager Craig Christian who got all the attention. 

It’s too bad manager Jim Welch wasn’t there to see Nellie Briles pitch his team to glory.  Congrats to both Jim and Craig!

Finally, here’s a photo of me courtesy of Doug Schuyler, who knows better to get one of my face. 

This is me winning one of the only two games.  Ron Cey hit two homers in this game, one for for my 1980 Dodgers and one for Scott Fennessy’s 1984 Cubs. 

As Scott quipped, “it must have been an awkward moment for him as he rounded third base.”