A few questions for 2023 Pitching Grade Challenge winner Tom Doran

Tom Doran was the sole winner of the 2023 APBA Blog Pitching Grade Challenge. He was the only one who predicted all twenty pitchers’ grades correctly this past year.

So I thought we would get to know Tom a little better. As you will find out, it almost seems like destiny that Mr. Doran won. He has a connection with the game of APBA that is almost storybook.

Let’s find out a bit about Tom Doran, winner of the 2023 APBA Blog Pitching Grade Challenge.

Who is Tom Doran outside of the game of APBA? Give us a quick bio.

I am retired having worked in customer service and sales for over 40 years mostly in the advertising industry. I have also been married for more than 40 years and we have a dog who keeps us active. Sports has always been an important part of my life as I love to compete (and still do). I played a lot of racquetball, volleyball and softball.

How did you find out about the game of APBA?

My brother and dad introduced me to the game around 1960. The first season cards I ever played was the 1957 season.

In our correspondence, you mentioned you had a special connection with the APBA Game Company. Care to elaborate?

I worked at APBA part-time while I was going to high school and college in the early 70’s. Also, my father and Dick Seitz were friends from high school and Dick was my father’s best man when he got married.

Seitz was very demanding and unique, but he really knew what he was doing to create this game. I see some of the guys on the Dephi Forum making Seitz references especially when someone would question player cards. He never liked that.

When I worked at APBA, if you would be working and talking to a co-worker, he would make sure we would be moved far enough apart so we couldn’t talk.

Back in the early 60’s, he had a box right behind the dugouts in Connie Mack Stadium. He and his wife would take our family (mother, dad, brother and myself) to a game every year. For a little kid, this was really cool. He generally would be seated behind the visitors’ dugout because he liked to look into the Phils dugout. I think he had that box seat in Veterans Stadium I guess until his death.

What makes the game of APBA special for you? Why do you play the game?

First of all, baseball is my favorite sport. So, when I learned about the game and how realistic it was, I jumped right in and have been playing it ever since. I play for the enjoyment of the game. I actually enjoy it more today than ever.

Rapid Fire questions

You got 20 out of 20 in last year’s Pitching Grade Challenge correct. That’s impressive. What is your secret? Do you have a process for determining the grades?

I have tried for many years to guess the grades. I guess I got lucky this year. I go mostly by ERA’s when determining what they should be. Sometimes a winning team can help a grade if it is on the borderline. It is still a guessing game figuring out what the card makers may do for that season.

Finally, are there any APBA projects that you are currently working on?

I am currently playing in a face-to-face league, the Zangari’s South APBA League. We have 14 teams and are finishing up our 46th year. We have a really neat website maintained by Phil Zangari that has current and career stats for all teams, managers and players. Phil and I are the only two original members from 1978.

The Pitching Grade Challenge is always a chance for me to get to know another APBA fan worth knowing and this time around is no exception. Definitely check out the South APBA League website. Phil has got a lot of good info there.

A final congratulations to Tom Doran for a job well done! Thanks for a very interesting interview!