Thoughts on the Chicagoland Tournament

And to think that Scott Fennessy almost didn’t make it the Chicagoland Tournament. 

Scott emailed a month ago and told me he wanted to come but just couldn’t arrange transportation.  I told him not to worry.  We’d figure out a way.  I’m glad we did.  Scott had no trouble managing Christy Mathewson and the rest of the 1905 New York Giants to a tournament championship.  John Brandeberry and I picked Scott up his house in the suburbs so we got a chance to chat in the car.  A familiar theme for the day, it was a chance to get to know someone who I’ve been in contact for so long but never actually talked to or met.  Scott’s a great guy and pretty much how I pictured him in my head. 

Congrats again, Scott!  Way to represent The APBA Blog at the Tournament.  ;-)

To say that I had fun at yesterday’s Chicagoland Tournament would be a gross understatement.  It was fun but so much more.  It was like stepping into a room full of people who I had an immediate affinity with.  There were old friends.  Don Smith who was the kind soul who vetted me when I joined the Illowa APBA League back in 1980, showed up with the 1961 Angels.  He expressed to me later how much fun it was (don’t take that lightly, he must mean it).  I also saw new friends like Shawn Baier and Rich Zawadzki and Jim Saska and well, and I can’t list them all; there were so many. 

There was even media there.  I took the liberty of contacting the local paper, the Woodstock Independent, to let them know we were doing this.  Do you know how hard it is to describe this game to someone who doesn’t play it?  Well, I did my best and  reporter actually showed up.  He talked to Jim Saska for a bit and took some photos.  He was watching Scott play Jim and as Scott was reading off his lineup, he was furiously typing in the names of the players into his iPhone.  I’m not sure if anything will come of it but I’ll post a link if I see an article.

My top ten favorite things of the Chicagoland Tournament (in no particular order)

1.  As I walked in, Shawn Baier (who I’ve never met in person) gave me a hug.  That was cool.

2.  Finally meeting Scott Fennessy who does great commentary on his 1905 replay on this blog and then watching him win it all.

3.  Seeing the different ways people roll their dice.  Everybody has their own method.  Watch out for Doug Schuyler!  I’m just glad he rolls in the box.  :)

4.  Making the decision to start Jim Palmer (BYW) instead of Moe Drabowski and seeing him pitch a shutout with just one walk. 

5.  Italian Beef with hot peppers!  Good call, Jim!

6.  Speaking of which, getting a chance to meet and play a couple games against Jim Saska.  Great guy!  Glad you got at least one win even if it was against me, Jim.

7.  Don Smith’s now more-famous duck call.  It’s not just a Illowa League thing, anymore.

8.  Seeing some people dress for the part.  That’s one of my opponents Patrick McGregor who had the ‘95 Indians. 

9.  Seeing the 1969 Cubs make a respectable showing at 3-3 despite the naysayers.  Way to go, Bob Eller (left).

10.  Knowing that this probably won’t be the last time we will do this.  Let’s do this again, guys! 

I realize I haven’t written much about my 1966 Orioles’ performance in the Tournament.  We went 2-4 for the day.  It would have been fun to win it all but I really was looking forward to meeting everybody and having fun.  Mission accomplished!

My heartfelt thanks again to Jim Saska and Doug Schuyler for organizing this tournament.  I think I speak for everyone when I say it was worth your time and effort.