Scott Fennessy found this 1994 Jose Oliva card while very limited, had an impact on our Illowa APBA League.
As a rookie, Oliva was not necessarily a standout prospect but obviously had a great card. For the Braves, he hit .288 with six homers and five doubles in 59 at-bats.
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 Totals | 19 | 66 | 59 | 9 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 10 | .288 | .364 | .678 |
Ignore this per Jason’s comment below. —> Oliva had exactly 66 plate appearances so predicting his card should have been easy. That said, APBA downgraded his card. Looking at his stats, Oliva should have six 1s and five sixes. APBA decided to award him three of each, 1-1-1-6-6-6. Still a very good card.
In addition, Oliva received only four 14s to replicate his seven walks in 66 PA.
Note in 1994, APBA placed the 12 at 36. While most would rather have a 14 instead of a 12, this placement had a secondary effect. If a player had a 33, it was located at 23 as in Oliva’s case.
I mentioned how this card influenced our league. As a rookie, Oliva was drafted into the league. The manager is no longer in the league but might still read this (you know who you are).
The team that drafted Oliva made the postseason in the 1995 season. Oliva and his 1-1-1-6-6-6 card was moved into the starting role at third base.
Long story short, the next year, the Illowa APBA League added Rules 5-A-11 and 5-A-12 to our constitution.
Under the five-game “Playoffs” section, it states:
5-A-11: For rookie non-pitchers that have an injury rating of “J-3” they can play a maximum of four games in the field. Rookie non-pitchers with an injury rating of “J-4” can play a maximum of two games in the field. Pinch hitting appearances are not limited.
5-A-11: Rookie pitchers that have an injury rating of “J-4” are limited to one start.
A corresponding rule for the seven-game World Series section stating that J-3 players may play six games in the field and J-4 players, three.
From then on we would draft for the future and not for that year’s postseason.
And Oliva?? He played one more year in the majors before dropping out of baseball.
thanks, Scott!
You know that 66 isn’t a multiple of 36, right? While 66 is the last number of an APBA card, there aren’t 66 results, there are 36, and probabilities are out of 36, not 66.
Six homers in 66 plate appearances is 3.3 homers per 36. The three ones are obvious, and the sixes might get him the other .3 or close to it.
I kinda had senior moment there, Jason. ;)
I just saw ’66’ and lights went off.
thanks for pointing that out!
Tom