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.