American League - Round 1

MEMPHIS, TN – Dolly caused quite a commotion at the Chicagoland World Series, but our Tournament Director would not be discouraged.  "The music industry, as a whole, gives us so much.  We need to shay-uh APBA with they-um.  Country music may not be the correct fit, but I won't give up." said Jimmy Carter.  Armed with new resolve, he drove across the Volunteer state and met with the King of Rock-n-roll, Elvis Presley.  The King was a little reserved about learning the game at first, but Carter suggested Elvis travel across the river and into Arkansas to meet with long time APBA enthusiast Kenneth Heard.

Heard and the King have many things in common, but it was quickly learned that their favorite loves were rock-n-roll, dancing, baseball and APBA.  Heard was able to teach the King several things about all of them.  Pictures of the actual dance lessons are not available as of the time of this writing, but the end results were impressive.  Heard taught the King the hip swivel that would propel Presley to the top of the rock charts and make him a formidable APBA dice rolling opponent as well.

Presley was so moved and shook up by all of the tips provided by Kenneth, that he re-wrote a chart topper to showcase his love of the APBA baseball game.

WOODSTOCK, IL - The King's appearance at the Chicagoland World Series provided some moments of concern.  Unfortunately, the security personnel normally employed for most APBA events are not the best.  Budget concerns do not allow for much formal training, but do provide for some cool hats.  The security staff indicated they did not notice anything unusual about Presley as he exited.  Later, it was announced to those in attendance, that "ELVIS AND THE TROPHY HAVE LEFT THE BUILDING."

ANAHEIM, CA - Vida Blue led the 1976 Oakland A's into battle against Rod Carew and the 1979 California Angels.  The 76 A's team was the last remnant of the dynasty that Oakland enjoyed in the early part of the decade before Charlie O' could dismantle it.  With Reggie already departed (and participating in this tourney with the 80 Yankees), the A's still exhibit a formidable lineup.  However, with this matchup, Bert Campaneris, Joe Rudi, and Don Baylor play for both teams.  It made for some interesting challenges in keeping the teams straight.

Game 1 saw the Halos get out front early, aided by a 2 run blast off the bat of Willie Mayes Aikens in the 4th.  Campaneris and Baylor drove in runs in the 5th and 7th for the A's as they tied the game, then took the lead in the 8th when Claudell Washington singled home Sal Bando.  They picked up an insurance run in the 9th with back-to-back-to-back singles from North, Campaneris and Baylor.

In the bottom of the 9th, with Rollie Fingers on the mound, Rick Miller blasted a solo shot to start the inning.  Carew later doubled and would score on a triple by Disco Dan Ford.  Miller would deliver the winning shot in the bottom of the 10th with a double scoring Brian Downing and giving California the Game 1 win.

OAKLAND, CA - The series moved up the coast where Nolan Ryan looked to eliminate the A's and Mike Torrez.  But the bear hurled a 2 hit shutout against the Angels.  Ryan struck out 9 batters over 7 innings, but took the loss giving up 4 runs, 3 earned.

ANAHEIM, CA - Game 3 turned out to be a cake walk for Oakland.  Trailing 1-0 in the 5th, Rudi and Bando singled and Gene Tenance flied out deep enough to Dan Ford in right to score Rudi and tie the game.  Claudell Washington's 2 run homer put the A's ahead  and Lindblad and Fingers combined for 2 innings of relief each to move Oakland into the Quarter finals to face the #1 Seed, the 1979 Baltimore Orioles.

MILWAUKEE / CLEVELAND - Molitor's doubles home Sal Bando in the 7th and 9th innings and beats the Indians in Game 1.  Every Brewer who could grab a bat hit Dennis Eckersley hard in Game 2 as the Milwaukee advances with a sweep, winning 10-0.  Bando is head over heals celebrating the wins with the '76 A's and '79 Brewers.

PLAINS, GA - Running the country and a 26 team APBA tournament, with locations spread out all over the United States, can take a toll on any man.  Our tournament director took some much needed time off and attempted to spend a restful afternoon fishing.  The event was not restful for anyone involved. 

While fishing alone, on Coast Guard One, Carter was attacked by an unidentified wild animal.  Carter was able to hold off the ravenous beast until nearby secret service agents could render assistance.  The official White House account is as follows:

"Upon closer inspection, the animal turned out to be a rabbit.  Not one of your cutesy, Easter Bunny type rabbits, but one of those big splay-footed things that we called swamp rabbits when I was growing up.  The animal was clearly in distress, or perhaps berserk.  The President confessed to having had limited experience with enraged rabbits.  He was unable to reach a definite conclusion about its state of mind.  What was obvious, however, was that this large, wet animal, making strange hissing noises and gnashing its teeth, was intent upon climbing into the Presidential boat." - Presidential Press Secretary Jody Powell.

Swamp rabbit???  With staffers like that, it makes you realize just how much public sentiment had turned against Gerald Ford in order for Carter to win the election in 1976.

"I haven't had much experience with deranged or berserk wild life, but I have been Billy's brother all his life.  I know crazy when I see it." added the tournament director.  After the harrowing event, the President could not wait to get back to the APBA tournament.  "Things rarely hiss or gnash their teeth at you in APBA", said Carter.  Obviously, the director has not been around all of the members in our Facebook group.

CHICAGO - Home runs would be the leading story in the 77 Hitmen v. the 78 Tigers series.  Although, it would not be as anyone would have predicted.  Known for stealing bases and blistering speed, Ron LeFlore's 3 run homer in the top of the 2nd, came as a surprise, and put Detroit ahead in Game 1.  But the Chisox fought back with 2 runs in their part of the inning on an RBI double from Chet Lemon and single from Alan Bannister.  The Chicago fans cheered as Bannister brought home Solderholm in the 4th on a fielders choice to tied the game 3-3.  But in the top of the 8th, another Tiger surprise 3 run homer came off the bat of Lou Whitaker to give Detroit the 6-3 win.

DETROIT - The Hitmen came to life in Game 2.  Slugging 22 hits and scoring 16 runs, Chicago clobbered the Tigers 16-4 in the largest run producing effort by any team in any of the tournaments so far.  Oscar Gamble set an individual tournament record with 3 home runs.  Milt Wilcox had as tough of a start as anyone can. In 3 2/3 innings of work, facing 25 batters, the Sox collected 12 hits, with 1 walk while scoring 10 runs, 9 earned. 

CHICAGO - The series moved back to Comiskey where things started for Game 3. Jason Thompson's 2 run homer in inning 1 helped the Tigers get out to an early lead.  Both teams traded runs in the 4th and 6th innings, and Detroit took a 5-3 lead into the 7th.  Both bull pens worked well.  Jim Essian knocked a solo shot in the 8th to bring the score tight at 5-4.  Essian's homer would be the only one enjoyed by Chicago outside of Gambles 3 blasts in game 2.  John Hiller set the Pale Hose down 1-2-3 in the 9th, as Zisk, Gamble and Johnson are unable to get the ball out of the infield.  Detroit advances into the Quarter Final round to face the #2 Seed, 1980 Yankees.

TEXAS / TORONTO - Gaylord Perry dominated in Game 1 with 8 2/3 scoreless innings. Bert Campaneris' (another former A moving on to much greener pastures and paydays) 2 RBI double in the 4th helped seal the win for the Rangers.  Jim Sundberg used the bat and Doyle Alexander and the Texas bull pen held off a late run by the Jays to sweep the series and move on for a 1977 matchup with division rival Kansas City Royals in the Quarter Finals.

National League - Round 1

WOODSTOCK, IL – With limited success in creating new APBA fans in his own family, Carter decided to reach out to those in the music industry and share his love of the baseball game.  Seen here, Carter met with Country Music superstar, Dolly Parton, and discussed the fine qualities of the game.  Parton said she often suffers from back and shoulder pain while performing.  Carter assured her that rolling a few games was just the thing to help relieve the strain of the heavy load she was carrying on tour.

Dolly was invited to the Chicagoland World Series in beautiful downtown Woodstock, Illinois to get her feet wet.  This was appealing to the country music legend who had not seen her feet in many years.  Prior to the event, Dolly contacted event coordinator and our APBA friend, Doug Schuyler, to go over the tournament rules and ask for an equipment waiver.  Parton had commissioned two extra large dice shakers just for the event and asked if they were legal for tournament play.  With a well documented dislike of dice towers and other dice paraphernalia, Schuyler informed Parton that he would have to personally inspect her shakers before they could be used in the tournament.

Being the perfectionist that he is, Doug painstakingly inspected Parton’s shakers before finally giving his two thumbs up approval.  “It was a big job, but I stayed with it until it was complete”, said Schuyler.  “I’ve honestly never had my hands on shakers that size before, but aside from obstructing the view of the boards some, I do not believe they offer any unfair advantage in game play.”  This ruling was exciting news throughout the APBA community. 

Schuyler was given some tips and exercises he could do by the tournament director to prepare for inspection of shakers this large.  “I used the techniques Carter suggested, and they helped.  It’s just hard to get your hands wrapped around things that big”, said Schuyler.  With the equipment inspection over, Dolly chose to play with the 1932 Philadelphia Athletics.  Parton made this choice, as many APBA players do, because it reminded her of her childhood.  “32 A’s remind me of a simpler time, when I was just a little girl, a very long, long time ago”, said Parton.

Things started out well for the East Tennessee native, but quickly came to an abrupt end.  Every time Parton would shake her big shakers, play at all of other tables would stop as the other participants watched.  Parton was finally asked to leave because of the constant interruptions to the tournament.  “All I said was her shakers didn’t provide any unfair advantage in game play.  I never said they wouldn’t be a distraction”, added Schuyler regarding the commotion.

“Adjusting to the passage of time, I think, is a key to success and to life: just being able to roll with the punches.” – Dolly Parton.  We agree.  Roll on Dolly, roll on!

NEW YORK -  In Game 1 the 1976 Mets put Tom Terriffic (A-XZ) on the mound against the 1979 Cardinals and Pete Vuckovich (B-YZ).  St. Louis scored 1 in the 2^nd inning, but from that point on, Seaver would allow only one Cardinal hit for the remainder of the game.  Vuckovich dominated the Mets hitters.  After a Bruce Boisclair double to start the game, the Cardinal ace retired 18 of the next 19 Mets.  In the bottom of the 7^th, trailing 1-0, Dave Kingman put the Mets ahead with a 2 run homer.  Seaver and company cheered from the dugout believing two runs would be enough.  But Ed Kranepool followed Kong with a 66-0, 44-1 homer of his own to give Seaver some breathing room.  #41 dominated, and New York won, 3-1.

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis tried to even the series with Bob Forsch (C-Z) against the Mets and Jon Matlack (B-YZ).  New York got on top in the first with 3 runs, highlighted by Ed Kranepool’s second home run in as many games.  The Cardinals answered with two of their own, but the Mets pulled away slowly, scratching out runs in the 3^rd and 4^th, before Dave Kingman matched Kranepool with his 2^nd home run (11-1) in as many games in the 5^th, giving New York a 6-2 lead.  Ted Simmons reached the seats with a 2 run blast in the 8^th, but Bob Apodaca and Skip Lockwood finished off St. Louis and New York advanced into the Quarter Finals to face the 1976 Cincinnati Reds with a 7-5 final score.

The clash between the Mets and Reds will set up a battle between Seaver and his future teammates.  It also will be a rematch of the 1973 NLCS and the Reds will be looking for some retribution.

MONTREAL – The Expos came into the tourney with high expectations.  While everyone was looking at the ’76 Reds and ’79 Pirates as favorites on this side of the bracket, the dark horse was the ’79 Expos.  Good starting pitching, a deep bull pen and explosive offense made this a team that no one wanted to face.  

The Cubs punched the higher seed in the mouth right out of the gate scoring 4 runs in the top of the 1^st and never looked back.  Larry Parrish cut the lead in half with a 2 run homer in the 2^nd inning, but Montreal could not pose a threat against Rick Reuschel.  Sutter locked things down in the 9^th and the Cubs take Game 1, 5-2.

CHICAGO – Outside of Dave Cash (4 for 8: 2 doubles and a triple), the Expos bats never showed up.  Cromartie, Dawson and Carter were a combined 1 for 23 (.043) in the 2 games.  The Cubs starters go 8 innings each and hand the ball off to Bruce Sutter who picks up 2 easy saves.  The Cubs advance to play the ’79 Pirates.  Mr. Cub was jumping for joy.

 

MICHIGAN / OHIO – Between January 25^th and 27^th, 1978, the Cleveland Superbomb (also known as the Great Blizzard of 1978) pummeled the mid-west.  The Michigan State Police pronounced Traverse City, Michigan, unofficially closed and told everyone to stay home.  The Traverse City Panthers continued league play.  The Major General of the Ohio National Guard described the devastation to Ohio’s transportation system as being comparable to a nuclear attack.  It was not immediately clear just how many nuclear attacks the Ohio National Guard had participated in, but it was confirmed that the Major General had been to Cleveland before.  About 100,000 cars were abandoned on Michigan’s highways.  Most of them were abandoned in the southeast part of the state.  Most were Fords, and most were left because of the catastrophic snow fall.  However, many were just abandoned because they were Fords and that’s where they quit.  The subsequent snow fall was coincidental.

But in sunny California it was 1978.  There was no snow, and a First Round matchup saw the 1978 Giants take on the 1978 Padres.  This ’78 Padres club was the first team I ever saw play in a live game.  Riverfront Stadium, August 5, 1978.  A little known switch-hitting rookie named Ozzie Smith played shortstop.  A guy behind us spilled beer down the back of my shirt, the smell of the freshly cut Astroturf, the animation of the monochrome scoreboard.  Pete Rose was thrown out twice on the bases, and the Reds won!  I was hooked!

SAN FRANCISCO – Youngster Bob Knepper (A-YZ) took the hill for the Giants against former Giant and former youngster, Gaylord Perry (B-YZ) for the Padres.  Both pitchers held the other side hitless through three innings, but McCovey doubled home Darrell Evans in the 4^th, the Giants picked up another in the 5^th, and Evans smashed a solo shot in the 6^th, as San Francisco eased away from the Friars.  Knepper tried to record the complete game, but needed a little help from Gary LaVelle to get the final out. The Padres threaten, but the Giants hang on for the 3-2 win.

Winfield only had one hit,
but made it count

SAN DIEGO – Two great lefties Randy Jones and Vida Blue squared off in Game 2.  In APBA, as in real life, good defense is important.  The 1978 Padres do not have it.  With only a 34 team defense number, Jack Clark’s 36-12, in the first inning, resulted in a 4-6 fielders choice rather than an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.  Darrell Evans took advantage of the opportunity with a 66-1 to put the Giants up 2-0.  Clark would get his own 2 run homer in the 3^rd, but those two Giant hits were about all they generate.  In the last 6 innings, San Francisco managed only 2 singles.  The Padres doubled the Giants hit production and win Game 2, 5-4.

SAN FRANCISCO – The series moved back to the bay where the Giants jumped out early, but could not hold off the Friars.  With the score tied in the 7^th, Dave Winfield picked up his only hit of the series with a 66-1 to break the tie.  The Giants tied it back up in the bottom of the inning, but in the 8^th, Darrel Thomas doubled and scored on an Ozzie Smith single.  With Game 3 having no rest restrictions, Rollie Fingers went for the 2 inning save, picking up 3 strike outs and allowing no hits.  The 10 seed Padres move on to face #2 seed ’76 Phillies in the Quarter Finals.

HOUSTON – The tournament moves from 1978 to 1980 as the division winning ’80 Astros face the tournament directors favorite, ’80 Braves.  Game 1 saw the Niekro brothers face off against each other.  Older brother Phil goes 6 innings allowing only 1 run to get the win, while younger brother Joe lasts 8, but gives up 5 runs and is saddled with the loss.  After the game, to add insult to injury, the older brother held down the little brother and gave him a noogie for old time sake.

ATLANTA – The tournament director told everyone he had never thrown out a first pitch at a game before.  Afterwards, no one doubted him.  The tournament directors have had no luck in cheering for their teams in the tournaments.  George H.W. Bush’s 1986 Texas Rangers and 1986 Houston Astros both lost in their first series.  Likewise, Ronald Reagan’s 1985 Los Angeles Dodgers lost their opening series to the 1982 Pirates.  Jimmy Carter is a Braves fan, and his intelligence team had assured him the 1980 team would break the cycle.  Of course this was the same intelligence team responsible for Operation Eagle Claw.  The Astros’ bullpen was too strong for the Braves to manage any late inning offense.  J.R. Richard, Dave Smith and Joe Sambito gave Atlanta no chance in the late innings and Carter’s hope of a Braves sweep was lost.

HOUSTON – Back in Houston, the Astros pitching was as strong as it had been in Atlanta.  Forsch and Richard combined for 4 innings each, while Sambito closed out the 9^th.  Jose Cruz and Cesar Cedeno capitalized on RBI opportunities in the 5^th and 6^th innings and the Astros advanced.  In the Quarterfinals, the Astros will face the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers in a rematch of the 1980 tie breaker game.  "I just couldn't win anything in 1980", said Carter.  

Jimmy Carter Invitational - American League Play-In Round

With the Holiday season now underway, it seems fitting that the Jimmy Carter Invitational has also began.  The tournament consists of the best team for each franchise from 1976 to 1980, in a best 2 out of 3 format.  The tournament is single elimination with seeding based upon winning percentage in the regular season.  All ties for seeding were broken by win differential.

President Carter was known for many things.  But to keep the theme of this tournament (as I attempt to do with all of them) non-political, I think it is best to remember our 39^th President for his humanitarian and charitable works.

As tournament director, Jimmy Carter has stated that he believes the love of APBA baseball should be extended to persons in every station of society.  This includes all walks of life from celebrities, entertainers, and super heroes to athletes and world leaders (both our world and beyond).  He intends to use his newly appointed position to spread the love we all share for this game beyond the traditional bounds.  May God have mercy on us all.

PLAINS, GA - Any good humanitarian knows that charity begins at home and with family.  Jimmy requested that I assist in recruiting his brother Billy as an APBA player.  I tried to fit in with brother Billy’s band of good old boys as we take in an outdoor APBA tournament, but I’m not sure it worked.  It’s hard to be a redneck, if you have no-neck.  While I’m not sure Billy was an immediate APBA convert, he seemed please he could drink beer while watching the dice roll.  I do feel confident he will make an appearance or two later in the tournament. 

  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Back at the White House, the director asked if I would return to Washington and assist him as he taught his daughter Amy to play.  He also asked that I tryout a new hair piece to see if it that was a better fit for me than the Billy Carter Redneck Power T-shirt.  I’m just not sure either work well.  At any rate, the young Carter daughter is seen here looking over a score sheet and enjoying the game with her dad.  I believe APBA is at its very best when shared across generational lines – but maybe without me watching the fun and looking like Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction.

CLEVELAND – Game one of the Tournament saw as good of a pitching matchup as you are likely to see as the 1979 Mariners battled the 1976 Indians in a Play-In Series to advance into Round 1 of the tournament.  Mike Parrott (C-YZ) and Pat Dobson (B-Z) are not names often mentioned when people discuss great pitchers of the 70s, but on this night, they were both very good.  Tom Paciorek delivered a 66-0, 44-1 solo shot in the 2^nd inning for the only run scored in the game. 

The Indians tried to rally in the 9^th.  Tommy Smith’s pinch hit double led off the inning.  Larvell “Sugar Bear” Blanks bunted Smith to third, and the Indians had the tying run only 90 feet away with 1 out.  Kuiper drew the only walk of the night off Parrott, putting runners on the corners.  Rick Manning struck out looking for the second time in the game and Rico Carty’s ground ball to Julio Cruz ended the Cleveland threat.  Mike Parrott finished the night allowing only 2 hits and the walk to Kuiper, while striking out 4 as he completed the shutout and collected the win.  Dobson took the hard luck loss, allowing only 4 hits over 7 innings of work.

SEATTLE-  As the teams moved back across the country to the west coast, Indians fans were comforted by the fact that Dennis Eckersley (B-XY) would be handed the ball in Game 2 and that the Mariners did not have another pitcher above a D grade in the rotation for the remainder of the series.

In the top of the 1^st, a two out rally with singles from Manning, Carty and Hendrick put the Tribe on the board first.  But Seattle answered in the bottom half with two of their own to take the lead, 2-1.  Cleveland roared back with 3 runs in the 4^th, but again Seattle answered with a pair of runs to knot things up 4-4.

Rick Manning singled and stole second base in the top of the 5^th, and Rico Carty drove him home to put Cleveland back on top.  They added two more in the 7^th on singles by Manning, Hendrick, Bell and Powell as they pulled ahead 7-4. 

The Mariners scored in the 9^th on a double from Tom Paciorek and a pinch hit single from Larry Milbourne, but it was too little too late as Cleveland evened the series and would return back to Cleveland for the finale.

CLEVELAND -  Game 3 saw Seattle jump out to an early lead with runs in the 1^st, 3^rd and 4^th innings.  In the bottom of the 4^th, Manning singled and scored on a hit from George Hendrick.  Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and 2 out, Charlie Spikes drove a single that scored Carty and Hendrick to tie the game, 3-3.

Charlie Spikes & Chops

The wheels fell off for Seattle in the 5^th.  Things started harmless enough with two ground outs by Blanks and Kuiper.  Manning followed with a solo home run to break the tie and Seattle’s confidence.  Carty, Hendrick, Bell, Powell and Fosse all followed with 5 consecutive singles, scoring 3 more runs.  Charlie Spikes added 2 more with a double to the gap, and by the time the smoke cleared, the Indians were up 9-3.  Both teams reached the seats in the 8^th.  Leon Roberts smacked a solo home run for Seattle and Rico Carty hit a two run blast for Cleveland to finish the scoring out, as the Indians advance to meet the 1979 Milwaukee Brewers in Round 1 with the 11-4 win.

BLOOMINGTON, MN – The 11^th seed 1976 Twins prepared to host the lowest seed in the tournament, the expansion 1980 Toronto Blue Jays (.414).  Game 1 saw Jim Clancy dominate the home team, pitching a shutout while allowing 7 hits and no walks.  Mayberry and Moseby both homer for the Jays in a 7-0 win.

TORONTO – The Blue Jays pitching continued to be better than the Twins as Dave Stieb gets the win as the Toronto club continues to swing hot bats and roughs up the weak Minnesota pitching staff by a score of 9-4. 

Otto Velez pair of 3-run homers
power the Jays over the Twins

Rod Carew led off the game for the Twins with a triple and scored on a ground out by Lyman Bostock.  Not to be outdone, Blue Jay lead off man Damaso Garcia connected on his own triple and scored on a base hit by John Mayberry.  With runners at first and third, Velez connected on an 11-5 home run putting the Jays up 4-1.

The Twins get 2 runs back in the second as Wynegar doubles home Disco Dan Ford and scores on a Bob Randall base hit.  But Velez struck again with a 66-1 with Alfredo Griffin and Al Woods on base to put Toronto ahead 7-3.

Ernie Whitt busted a 2 run homer in the 3^rd to give the Blue Jays all of the runs they would need.  Dave Stieb allows the 4 Minnesota runs over 8 innings.  Jerry Garvin closes in the 9^th and the Jays advance into Round 1 of the tournament to face the 1977 Texas Rangers who boast 2 Hall of Fame pitchers (Perry and Blyleven) in their starting rotation.

Jimmy Carter Invitational - PREVIEW

I’m organizing the next tournament project and have to admit, I’m getting excited over the way the seeds fell and the players that will be participating.  As with all of the tournaments so far, there are some interesting peculiarities and exciting possible matchups when you look at the brackets. 

The five years represent the best team of each franchise, by winning percentage, from 1976-1980.  Teams were seeded based upon those percentages.  Ties were broken by run differential.  Breaking down the teams, you find that out of the 5 World Champions, only 2 are represented in the bracket.  Those two representatives could face in the semi-finals making it very likely the tournament winner was not a world champion in real life.  In fact, only four teams in the entire field were pennant winners, making this tournament wide open.

Mr. October looks to roll in November

The New York Yankees, which will again be commanded by Yankee Boy, collected two world championships in the period (1977 and 1978), but neither of those teams finished the regular season with as many wins as the 1980 team who will represent the Bronx.  The ’80 Yanks (.636) are the #2 seed in the AL, but were swept by the Royals in the ALCS that year.  The 1980 Royals were finally able to knock off New York after being beaten by them 3 straight times from 76-78, but that team isn’t present either.  The 1977 team represents Kansas City with a .630 pct and comes in with a 3 seed.  On the bottom side of the AL bracket, we have the possibility of a ’80 Yankee / ’77 Royals semi-finals matchup for some retribution by teams who both lost to the other in real life. 

On the top side of the AL bracket, the #1 seed ’79 Orioles are looking to regain some respect from losing to the Pirates after being up 3 games to 1 in the World Series.  Standing in the O’s way of the AL Championship game are the ’78 Red Sox and the powerful ’79 Brewers.  The Red Sox believe their chances are good of making the final round since the big bat of Bucky Dent is on the other side of the bracket.  

THE GREAT 8

Three of the five World Series were won by NL clubs during this period.  The 1976 Reds are the NL top seed and look to a possible matchup with the other world champion, the 1979 “We Are Family” Pirates.  The Reds would like some revenge against Pops and company after being swept by the Bucks in the NLCS that year.  Before Pittsburgh or Cincinnati can meet in this classic rematch, both teams will likely have to get passed two other strong teams from 1979.  The Cardinals with MVP Keith Hernandez, and the Expos, who are loaded from top to bottom, will likely pose serious opposition to the two world champs.

Phils look to even the score with the Reds and LA

The final world champion of the period, the 1980 Phillies, is not present.  In fact, the ’80 team was the only the 3^rd best Philadelphia squad from the period and only 1 game better than the 4^th best 1978 Phils.  APBA chose the ’77 Phillies as a GTOP, although they had an identical record as the ’76 team with both clubs winning 101 games (.623).  The ’77 team out hit the ’76 team slightly (.279 to .272); however, ’76 had a much better ERA (3.10 to 3.71) than ’77, and a higher run differential.  For this reason, they get the selection.  On their side of the bracket the 1980 Astros are looking for a rematch of game 163 with the ’77 Dodgers in the quarter-finals.  The possibility of a rematch of the 1980 NLCS (Phillies-Astros) or the 1977 and 1978 NLCS (Phillies-Dodgers) exists in the semi-finals.  Of course in a tournament of this type, an unexpected underdog could get hot and eliminate any of the favorites.  You just never know. 

Ronald Reagan Championship

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The tournament director had the head of his Secret Service protection detail contact me with instructions to report to Reagan’s hospital room where he was still shaken, but recovering, from his fall immediately after a recent press conference.  Mr. Reagan requested that I bring a complete APBA Baseball game, and the team set for the ’85 St. Louis Cardinals, including the XBs.  I wasn’t sure exactly why I was being called into a top level security clearance situation with dice, boards, cards and little yellow shakers, but when the leader of free world calls, you go.

Reagan asked that Cardinals be allowed to use his recently made card in the championship against Yankee Boy.  As tempting as it was, I declined, stating the integrity of the game would not allow such a substitution.  Reagan understood and instead asked that we play several simulated games with the ’85 St. Louis team so that I would fully understand each player and their unique attributes.  He wanted me to know which player to hit and run with.  With the A.L. winning home field advantage in the Home Run Derby, and the lefty Ron Guidry pitching for New York, Cesar Cedeno was selected as the DH at Yankee Stadium.  How would the addition of a little more power affect the team?

We rolled games and studied cards and stats well into the afternoon.  With Reagan now tired from the hours of playing APBA, he could no longer sit up in the bed.  <<you all saw this coming, right???>>

As I packed to leave, in his weakened condition, he told me this,

“You’ve got to go Pike.  It’s all right.  I’m not afraid.  Some time, Pike, when the Cardinals are up against it, when things are wrong and the Dice are beating the boys, ask them to go in there with all they’ve got and win just one for the Gipper.  I don’t know where I’ll be then, Pike.  But I’ll know about it, and I’ll be happy.”

With the Yankee Boy’s streak of 9 straight series wins against his dad in tournament play, and with Reagan himself pleading from his hospital bed for me to defeat New York, I’ve never felt more pressure to win an APBA game.

NEW YORK – The Yankees ran out their ace, Ron Guidry (B-YZ) for Game 1.  In his 4 prior tournament outings, Guidry was 0-4.  Gator was always known for big performances in big games.  Yankee Boy hoped this would be the game when he got back into form.  John Tudor (A-YZ) has been the exact opposite of Guidry for the Cards, coming in with a 1.40 ERA.  The two lefties were ready to hook up in what the fans hoped would be an APBA classic.

Ron Guidry could not wait for the tournament to end

Louisiana Lightning shut down the first 5 Cardinals he faced.  Walks to Van Slyke and Pendleton made the Yankee dugout tense, as they held their breath and hoped Guidry would not fall into his prior ways.  But Nieto grounded back to Ron at the mound to kill the threat.

In the bottom of the inning, Dan Pasqua busted a 66-1 putting New York on the board first.  Ken Griffey followed with a double and scored on a double by Pagliarulo, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead.

Both pitchers kept dealing.  Guidry gave up only 1 hit (a double to DH, Cesar Cedeno) over the next 3 innings.  Tudor ran into some trouble in the 4^th, giving up 3 singles.  But when Butch Wynegar was thrown out trying to steal, Tudor was able to prevent New York from adding to their lead.

Vince Coleman led off the 6^th with a single and scored on a Willie McGee double.  The speed of St. Louis allowed them to consistently take extra bases throughout the tournament and was a tremendous advantage over practically every team they faced.  Jack Clark tied the game with a double that scored McGee and when Tudor set down New York 1-2-3 in the 6^th, the game headed into the final innings tied 2-2.

In the 7^th, Pendleton and Nieto flied out to start the inning.  I called time and walked down from the third base coaching box to speak with Ozzie Smith and showed him a picture of Reagan in the hospital and relayed his moving bedside speech.  The Hall of Fame shortstop looked at me and said, “So?”

The Wizard showing off his Home Run Trot

Back in the batters box, the Wizard dug in against Guidry.  Whether it was the speech, or shear Cardinal determination, or just plain luck (it was mostly luck), Smith rolled the only double 66 of the tournament for a solo home run putting St. Louis ahead 3-2.  Yankee fans booed Guidry.  Yankee Boy threatened small animals owned by the Guidry family.  Bob Shirley was called in from the pen.

In the 9^th, trailing by 1, the Yankees called on Brian Fisher (A-XZ) to hold St. Louis.  Things started off fine as Andy Van Slyke walked in between two fly outs.  Darrell Porter was called on to pinch hit for Nieto and drew a walk moving Van Slyke into scoring position.  Ozzie Smith, still on an emotional high from the Win-One-For-The-Gipper speech, drove a base hit that scored Van Slyke.  Righetti then summoned on to face Vince Coleman who smashed a triple into right center field clearing the bases.  McGee walked and the Yankee Boy became the first middle school student to need blood pressure medication.  Tom Lawless replaced an injured Tom Herr in the 8^th, and now singled scoring Coleman.  Jack Clark ripped another single, and Cedeno got one of his own, as the Cardinals kept moving 1^st to 3^rd on the base hits.  Rod Scurry was called as the 3^rd Yankee pitcher of the inning, and Andy Van Slyke singled home Clark.  Pendleton bounced out to Mattingly for the final out, but by the time the smoke cleared, St. Louis had rallied for 7 runs.

Tudor suffered a 1 grade reduction due to batters faced limits, but still shut down New York in the 9^th 1-2-3 to earn the complete game victory.

ST. LOUIS – The teams headed across the Mississippi River to the shadow of the Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium as the Yankee hopes rested again on the knuckles of Phil Niekro (C-YW).  The Cardinals sent Joaquin Andujar (B-Z) looking for the championship clinching win.

In the bottom of the 3^rd, Vince Coleman walked and stole second base.  Tommy Herr continued getting the big hit when needed as he singled home Coleman.  In the 4th inning, Terry Pendleton scored on a Tom Nieto double giving the Cards a 2-0 lead.  Phil Niekro was replaced by his brother Joe (C), who set down the birds without further damage. 

The Yankees dented the plate in the 7^th when Ken Griffey, pinch hitting for Joe Niekro, doubled into the right center gap.  That was as much as the Yankees could collect.  Ken Dayley (B-XZ) handled the 8^th and Jeff Lahti (A-YZ) took care of the 9^th, as New York could not get a base runner in the final two frames.  The Cardinals extend their record in the tournament to 8-1 and celebrated on the field in front of their home town fans! 

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the tournament championship trophy had been presented, and the tournament MVP trophy had been given to Tommy Herr, I traveled back to the hospital to share the victory with Reagan.  But the good news had beaten me back, as the President and Mrs. Reagan greated me from their hospital window and expressed their opinion of the St. Louis victory.

Afterwards, Reagan, now fully recovered, attended a reception for the ’85 Cardinals.  He raised his glass as a toast to the team for a job well done!  Mr. Reagan was not allowed to climb stairs or speak from a podium after drinking his glass of champagne.

It was a fun filled tournament.  Below is a look back at some of the highlights.