This past weekend, the Illowa APBA League had their World Series and Draft Convention. Always considered the highlight of the year, this weekend was no exception.
The guys at the IAL have gotten used to me snapping photos at these weekends. I believe it gives us one more way of documenting our history.
These photos are from Friday night when we played (or watched) the playoffs and World Series from the 2010 season.
It was good to see Nick Tegeler (left) show up. Nick is a friend of the IAL and was a member of the now defunct Midwest League which shared a few a the same managers as the IAL. He’s now active with the AABA. While the playoffs were going on, Nick and I chatted a bit about the AABA. It’s an 18-team league with managers spread out around the country so it was interesting to get a sense of how they operate. After the weekend, Nick sent me an email and passed on AABA’s website address.
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Tedd Mallasch’s Chicago Champions and John Brandeberry’s Rising Bamm! Beanos were up in round one of the playoffs. John had the fourth seed so he had to play the first place and 100 win Champs. Fortunately, the Bamm! Beanos were up for the challenge and won the hard fought series in five games.
The Chicago Champion lineup that won 100 plus games.
Game Four was especially fun to watch even for onlookers.
Chuck Lucas gives the media the evil eye as he manages his Northside Hitmen in the first round of the playoffs against Keith Smith and the Kentucky Kernels.
Chuck makes a managerial move in the Hitmen-Kernels series. The Kernels ended up the winners and moved on to the World Series.
John and Keith face off in the 2011 IAL World Series. It was Keith’s first IAL WS and John’s second so this was somewhat unknown territory for both of them.
While the two of them played on late in night Friday, Chuck occupied his now free time by playing Monty Hall. He’d look through my team and say “Let’s make a deal!” We bandied about a few ideas but alas, nothing came to fruition.
Congrats to Keith Smith, IAL 2010 World Champs!
Bamm Beano placards left in the stands after the World Series.
I’ll post photos from the draft a little later.
A few years ago I’d have to pay someone for this information.