May not be posting much for the next few days or so... have to put my computer in for repairs.

Finally got my computer going again.

First, I have to update the team rosters.

It may take 2-3 more days.

Sorry for the delay.

FYI

I created all of my free agents for the new season... I will now work on the rosters, trimming out the players that are not productive or have gotten too old and should retire... I don't know why the AI doesn't take care of this... it sure is time-consuming to manually do this roster purging.

Give me a few more days.

This is part five of a six-part series... The IPA Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)... the last part will be the IPA 50th Anniversary Team, the best players at each postion in the first half century of the league.

You can find the First All-Decade Team (2001-2010) in post #4601 on page 231 of this thread.
You can find the Second All-Decade Team (2011-2020) in post #4613 on page 231 of this thread.
You can find the Third All-Decade Team (2021-2030) in post #4632 on page 232 of this thread.
You can find the Fourth All-Decade Team (2031-2040) in post #4846 on page 243 of this thread.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

SP: Will McKinney (2042-2053)
The top pitcher for the IPA Fifth All-Decade squad is the great San Alejo southpaw, Will McKinney, still going strong at age 34... 8 times in the decade he registered 20 or more victories... McKinney was the Tycobbian Rookie of the Year in 2042, chalking up a 24-10 record and a 2.63 ERA... a 5-time Golden Arm winner ('48, '50, '51, '52, '53)... 7-time All-Star... overall in his 12 seasons he is 284-124 with a standout 2.43 ERA... during his tenure with the Montaneros, they have won the Tycobbian South Division three times... his best season was in '51 when he posted a marvelous 29-3 mark with a great 1.68 ERA and 9 shutouts... McKinney has not fared well in the postseason... he is only 1-3 in 5 starts, but has a fine 2.63 ERA... his club had never been known to score a lot of runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

SP: Billy Hoover (2039-2054)
Billy Hoover excelled not only in the regular season, but in the playoffs, where he led his Southport Sun Sox to two Pro Cup crowns in 2044 and 2047 and 7 Tycobbian South Division titles in his 15 seasons... his postseason record is 16-11 with a very impressive 2.39 ERA in 32 starts, many times winning crucial games in the series... he was a seventh-game specialist... Hoover, a right-hander, won 20 or more games 5 times in the decade... won the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player and Golden Arm Award in 2043, made the All-Star team 3 times and won a Golden Glove... he retired in 2054 at age 38... lifetime Hoover compiled a 271-183 mark with fine 2.82 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

SP: Jamie Taylor (2039-2054)
Still one of the best pitchers in the IPA at 37 for the Rocky Rapids Snappers with a 20-12 record and a brilliant 2.19 ERA in 2053... 7 times in the decade Taylor won 20 or more games... he went 30-7 in '46 with an remarkable 1.85 ERA... Taylor broke the old mark for the most victories in a season... the previous recordholder Shane Farmer went 29-3 in 2018 for the Turon Typhoons... his career record is 304-209 with a splendid 2.48 ERA... in '46 Taylor was honored with the Ruthlandian Most Valuable Player and Golden Arm trophies... he was an All-Star on 4 occasions... Taylor appeared twice in the postseason playoffs with a 4-2 record in 7 starts with a strong 2.48 ERA.

I thought I should mention some of the other fine pitchers that were in the running for the Fifth All-Decade Team in the IPA.

Matt Bell of the San Alejo Montaneros, a mound mate of Will McKinney... won 3 Tycobbian Golden Arms... 6-time All-Star... won 20 or more games 8 times in the decade... but was hurt by his poor performance in the playoffs... 0-3 record in four starts with a 4.30 ERA... he is 330-170 with a 2.33 ERA in his 15 seasons with the Montaneros... he was really hard to leave off the All-Decade team... he has helped the Monties win three Tycobbian South Division flags.

Ralph Hawk of the Ranford Bulls has won 3 Ruthlandian Golden Arms ('48, '49 and '51)... outstanding in the Pro Cup playoffs with a 9-3 mark and a great 1.55 ERA in 14 starts... won the 2040 Pro Cup MVP trophy while sparking the Bulls to the IPA title... overall left-hander Hawk is 284-160 with a 2.44 ERA... 3-time All-Star... Ranford rarely make the playoffs... only twice in Hawk's 16 years with the Bulls has the club made the postseason.

James Long of the Middlefield Roosters has paced his club to 7 Ruthlandian West Division pennants in his 15 years there... 7 times an All-Star... lifetime he is 308-191 with a super 2.60 ERA, twice won the Ruthlandian Golden Arm ('50 and '52) and Long captured the Ruthlandian MVP trophy in 2052... in the postseason playoffs in 22 starting assignments Long is 9-9 with a very strong 2.04 ERA.

Jayson Hallstrom of the Summerland Sunsets is a 7-time Tycobbian All-Star with a career 321-225 record and a 2.61 ERA... in the Pro Cup playoffs Hallstrom is 4-4 with a 3.52 ERA in 10 starts... Summerland has won three Tycobbian South Division titles in his tenure.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

C: Corky DiNozzo (2035-2053)
One of the best backstops of all time in the IPA... DiNozzo was a 13-time Tycobbian All-Star for the Kenwood Wildcats... he was the Rookie of the Year in 2035... won the TU Most Valuable Player Award in 2048, along with the Golden Bat for that year... led Kenwood to 6 TU West Division pennants... DiNozzo batted .313 for his career, drove in 1744 runs and ranked 5th all-time in homers with 635... no catcher had more roundtrippers than him... in the playoffs DiNozzo hit .268 in 38 games with 9 homers and 26 RBIs... never won a Pro Cup ring... played for 19 years... retired at the end of the 2053 season at age 37... still quite a hitter... batted .277 his final season with 17 homers and 78 RBIs in 117 games... DiNozzi was the overwhelming choice for the best catcher in the 40s... no one came close to his stats in the decade.

Other distant contenders for the All-Decade catcher were Filipe Zamora and Ryan Nelms... Zamora played 13 seasons for the San Alejo Montaneros, finished with a .299 BA, 322 home runs and 1170 RBIs... From 2041 to 2045 Zamora even outperformed DiNozzo, but he declined rapidly after that and retired two years later at 36... 6-time All-Star... Zamora played very well in the postseason, appeared in 29 games with 6 HRs and 27 RBIs and a .287 BA, but did not win a Pro Cup trophy... at 35 Nelms is still an active player in his 10th season with the Taranto Tars... he is a 4-time All-Star and Golden Glover... career average at .261 with 432 homers and 1093 RBIs...Nelms has never played in the playoffs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

1B: Benny Hull (2034-2052)
Hull had a splendid overall career and tremendous decade in the '40s... Hull drove in over 100 runs from 2038 to 2051 missing out only one time in 2042... he was a fairly easy choice for the All-Decade club, but he did have some good competition from his peers, who were 7th and 9th in all-time roundtrippers... in his 19 seasons with the Grand City Cybercats Hull ranks 6th all-time in homers and RBIs in IPA history, hit .297 with 620 homers and 1819 RBIs... he was an 8-time Ruthlandian All-Star, won a Gold Glove and hit well in his only playoff experience, batting .333 with 1 home runs and 5 RBIs in 6 games.

Hull's main competition in the All-Decade poll came from Belair Beach first sacker Jason Butler, a Ruthlandian MVP and Golden Bat winner in 2047... ranks 7th in all-time home runs... Butler hit .297 for a career with 578 home runs and 1696 RBIs... he was an 8-time All-Star... in his limited postseason action, Butler hit well with a .333 BA, 1 HR and 5 RBIs in just 6 games... Butler starred from 2035 to 2051 for the Sunbirds.

Wayland Stetson had a great decade, too... until his club, the Denton City Redbirds, benched him in '49 and '50 for a younger player, his numbers rivaled Hull's... those two years gave Hull the spot on the All-Decade team... in 2051 he signed with Valmara and hit 36 homers and drove in 137 runs, so he wasn't over-the-hill... '52 was his last good year... he hung around with a couple of other teams for the '53 season and retired... Stetson was quite a player... 7-time All-Star, who hit .307 lifetime with 569 homers (9th all-time), drove in 1595 runs... won the Tycobbian Golden Bat in 2043 and 2044... also was twice a Golden Glover... in the playoffs Stetson fared poorly, hitting only .255 in 26 games with no homers and just 6 RBIs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

2B: Jojo DeLucca (2035-2053)
Sorry... when it came to second sackers in the IPA, no one was close to Jojo DeLucca in the 2040's... he was an almost unanimous choice for the IPA Fifth Decade Team... DeLucca made the Ruthlandian All-Stars 13 times... won the Golden Glove 7 times... drove in 100 or more runs in the decade 9 times in 10 years... has played for the Claxton Diamonds 19 seasons and still very active... the younger DeLucca is still playing at age 37 and isn't done yet... last year he hit .305 for average, cracked 21 out of the park, batted in 96 runs and scored 97 times... also made the Ruthlandian All-Star team... he has led Claxton to 5 Ruthlandian South Division flags, but never won a Pro Cup ring... DeLucca is 6th all-time in RBIs... in his fabulous career DeLucca is carrying a .311 BA with 542 homers, 2049 RBIs and 1817 runs... won his only RU Golden Bat and Most Valuable Player Award in 2045... batted .299 in the playoffs with 8 home runs, 32 RBIs and scored 23 runs in 45 games... he is the son of Hall-of-Famer Joe DeLucca, who starred mainly for Volusia in the teens and 20's... his dad hit .304 lifetime with 384 homers, 1508 RBIs and scored 1107 runs... inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2039.

Turon's talented second baseman C. C. Kingsford was second and far back in the All-Decade poll... he was an 8-time TU All-Star... compiled a .308 career BA with 437 roundtrippers and 1603 RBIs... led the Typhoons to 2 Tycobbian South Division crowns in '38 and '39... in 11 games Kingsford batted .354 in postseason play with 1 home runs, 7 RBIs and 5 runs scored... he is the son of the all-time IPA great and Hall-of-Fame first baseman Clyde Kingsford, a career .319 hitter with 485 homers in just 14 seasons... his father made the Hall of Fame in 2029 and also played and managed for Turon.

Marty Featherstone of the Rocky Rapids Snappers was the only other votegetter for the Fifth All-Decade squad... he's still contributing to his club at age 34... 27 HRs, 98 RBIs and 102 runs last season with a .309 BA... Featherstone is a 5-time RU All-Star, 3 times was named a Golden Glover, took the Ruthlandian Golden Bat in 2046, slamming 39 HRs, driving in 128 runs and scoring 119 and hitting .303... he's been to the playoffs only twice, batting only .242 with 3 homers, 7 RBIs and 12 runs in 17 games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

3B: Jerry Culpepper (2033-2051)
This was another clear-cut choice for the All-Decade Team... the all-time home-run king in the Islandian Pro Alliance, Jerry Culpepper, easily outdistanced the field... not only did Culpepper top the IPA with 878 roundtrippers, he ranks second in RBIs with 2170... beaten only by legendary first baseman Phil Gravelli with 2493... 5 times in his illustrious career Culpepper hit 60 or more homers in a season with a high of 66 in 2040... only High Mesa's Johnny Tallis ever did better with 68 in 2047... Culpepper was a 15-time Tycobbian All-Star, won 5 Golden Bats ('37, '39, '40, '41, '45), twice was the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player ('40, '41)... career-wise he hit .304 with 878 HRs, 2170 RBIs and scored 1738 runs... never made the playoffs because he played for the perpetually mediocre Bayview Vikings... he retired at age 37 in 2051... Culpepper is a shoo-in for the IPA Hall of Fame.

The rest of the All-Decade Team contenders were pale compared to Culpepper... Denny Simmons of Sligo batted .309 with 308 homers, 1414 RBIs and scored 1610 runs... he was a 6-time All-Star and 2-time Golden Glover... only made the playoffs twice, but hit extremely well with a .427 BA, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs and 10 runs in 27 games.

Cold Creek third sacker Joe Cochrane was third in the voting... 7-time Ruthlandian All-Star... Gold Glover... batted .305 lifetime with 225 HRs and 1000 RBIs... only played in one postseason and did poorly, batting only .182 in 5 games.

Southport third baseman Craig Glennon came in fourth in the All-Decade balloting... twice a Tycobbian All-Star... played '36 to '51... batted .260 with 420 HRs and 1356 RBIs... mediocre playoff record with .223 BA, 10 homers, 25 RBIs and 26 runs in 54 games.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

SS: Ken Jensen (2040-2053)
The decade's top shortstop is still active at age 33... Ken Jensen has sparked his Valmara Vipers to 9 pennants and 3 Gold Cup trophies ('43, '49, '50)... he's a 2-time Ruthlandian All-Star... 4-time Golden Glover... and a good, solid bat... his career BA is .304 with 91 homers, 733 RBIs and 1097 runs scored... Jensen has stolen 291 bases... has played well in the postseason appearing in 103 games, batted .294 with 132 hits, 5 homers, 39 RBIs, 67 runs and 40 stolen bases.

Jensen was selected in the All-Decade poll because of the success of the Valmara Vipers in the playoffs... second in the voting was LaGrange's fine shortstop John Rodgers (2038-2053)... 5-times Ruthlandian All-Star... 3-time Golden Glove... but his club never made the playoffs... lifetime Rodgers batted .292 with 330 HRS, 1289 RBIs and 1284 runs scored... still playing very well at age 36.

Number three in the shortstop rankings is Sam Essex of the La Claire Lynx (2039-2053), who retired this year at age 34... in his career he was a 4-time Tycobbian All-Star... Golden Glover... but rarely made the postseason... appearing only one time in his last year of play as backup infielder and pinchhitter... Essex got his one and only Pro Cup ring this season when La Claire copped the IPA crown... in 5 games he hit .600 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored... for his career Essex hit .268 with 360 home runs, 1234 RBI and scored 976 runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

LF: Bobby Gamble (2033-2049)

Heading up the outfielders on the 40's All-Decade Team is Sugar Valley's superb Bobby Gamble, who excelled over 17 seasons, finally retiring in 2049 at age 35... he is the current Rattler manager... Gamble captured 4 Ruthlandian Most Valuable Player Awards ('35, '38, '43, '44)... 5 Golden Bat trophies ('35, '36, '37, '38, '43)... was an 11-time All-Star... and twice a Golden Glover... in his fabulous career Gamble paced Sugar Valley to 6 Ruthlandian East Division titles and a Pro Cup in 2045... in a fabled career he batted .315 with 530 roundtrippers, 1735 RBIs, scored 1864 times and stole 453 bases... in the playoffs Gamble stood out with a .315 BA in 45 games with 13 HRs, 26 RBIs and 33 runs.

Gamble got some stiff competition from Adam Thurgood, North Hills' sensational outfielder in the 30's and 40's (2033-2048)... Thurgood was a prime ingredient in the Hawks' 4 Pro Cups and 11 Tycobbian North Division championships... he was an All-Star on 9 occasions... TU Rookie of the Year in 2033... a Golden Bat winner in 2038... lifetime Thurgood batted .311 with 506 home runs, 1613 RBIs and 1338 runs scored... his postseason numbers were impressive, too, with 154 hits, 30 homers, 79 RBIs, 82 runs and a .294 BA in 123 games... Thurgood called it a career in 2048 at age 37.

A distant third in the 40's All-Decade poll was outfielder Rikki Van Dalen, an elite player for Cape Coral and La Claire (2036-2052)... Van Dalen was a 5-time Tycobbian All-Star... in '42 he was honored with the TU Most Valuable Player Award and the Golden Bat... overall in the IPA Van Dalen hit at a .316 clip with 405 homers, 1380 RBIs, 1547 runs and 236 stolen bases... he did well in limited playoff exposure with a .316 BA, 2 RBIs and 2 runs in 5 games.... Van Dalen retired in '52 at age 36.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

CF: Sogo Takagi (2034-2053)
His Ginza Ninjas never made the playoffs, but Sogo Takagi sure did shine in center field in the regular season for 18 years... he was a 10-time Tycobbian All-Star and 3-time Golden Glover... retired in '53 at age 39... his career BA was .300 with 510 roundtrippers, 1677 RBIs and 1872 runs scored.

Takagi nipped Kenny Mitzusaka (2033-2053) for the spot on the 40's All-Decade squad... Mitzusaka is still playing at the ripe old age of 39 for the Valka Blackhawks... 4 times he has been selected to the Ruthlandian All-Stars... Mitzusaka has won the Golden Glove 3 times... lifetime he is hitting .310 with 477 homers, 1850 RBIs and has scored 1580 runs... still looking for his first postseason appearance and first Pro Cup ring.

Also getting some votes in the poll were Paulo Teixeira of the San Alejo Monteneros (2039-2053) and Carl Ramsey of the Sugar Valley Rattlers (2039-2053)... Teixeira is an 8-time RU All-Star... 3-time Gold Glover... still playing at age 34... career average is .303 with 472 homers, 1348 RBIs and 1425 runs... hasn't done well in the playoffs with a poor .176 BA, 3 HRs, 7 RBIs and 8 runs in 13 games... Teixeira has led the Monties to three Tycobbian South Division titles... never won a Pro Cup.

Ramsey is still competing very well at age 38... lifetime he has hit .270 with 440 HRs, 1407 RBIs and scored 1323 runs... he has helped Sugar Valley win 8 RU East pennants... Ramsey had hit .256 in 78 postseason games with 14 HRs, 41 RBIs and 48 runs scored... he made the Ruthlandian All-Star club 5 times and has received 3 Golden Glove trophies.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 6, 2054

Islandian Pro Alliance Fifth All-Decade Team (2041-2050)

RF: Nioka Inkamara (2038-2051)
Beating out some stiff competition outfielder Nioka Inkamara was named to the Fifth All-Decade Team... he stood out for the Wynnamac Sundowners, won the RU Golden Bat three times ('40, '42, '50) and was chosen the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player in 2042... Inkamara was the RU Rookie of the Year in 2039... made the All-Stars on 5 occasions... and was given 2 Golden Glove trophies... Wynnamac made the playoffs twice during his years with them... Inkamara never won a Pro Cup ring... in his career he batted .303 with 488 homers, 1385 RBIs and 1137 runs... he hit well with a .333 BA in 20 postseason games with 3 HRs, 17 RBIs and 18 runs.

Finished a very close second and third in the All-Decade balloting were Billy Joe Hickman of the White River Rascals (2039-2053) and David Kelso of the Red Bluff Red Sox (2034-2051)... Hickman is still an active player at age 34... he is a 5-time All-Star and has sparked the Rascals to 6 pennants in the Tycobbian North Division, but have never won a Pro Cup, but was twice a finalist in '49 and '50... Hickman has been a productive postseason batter with 15 HRs, 47 RBIs and 38 runs in 47 games with a .230 BA... lifetime he is batting .280 with 569 homers, 1564 RBIs and 1303 runs scored.

Kelso is 7th all-time in the Islandian Pro Alliance with 657 four-baggers... has compiled a .284 BA with 1584 RBIs and 1281 runs... Kelso is a 5-time Tycobbian All-Star and was the top Tycobbian rookie in 2036... he paced the Red Bluff Red Sox to 4 TU East Division flags... playing in 50 playoff games Kelso hit .305 with 15 homers, 38 RBIs and 35 runs.

Others receiving some support for the All-Decade squad were William Snyder of the Cape Coral Hurricanes (2033-2050) and Guido Gervasio of the Turon Typhoons (2035-2053)... Snyder is 9th all-time with a .322 BA... the great Valmara star Jet Kazmarek is tops with a magnificent .354 lifetime batting average... Snyder was a 7-time TU All-Star and 3-time Gold Glover... won the Tycobbian Golden Bat in 2035... played in the playoffs only one time, but hit .368 in 5 games with 1 RBI and 4 runs scored.

Gervasio made the Tycobbian All-Stars 5 times and was twice a Golden Glove recipient... Turon won two pennants in his time there... in 11 playoff games Gervasio posted a mediocre .239 BA with no homers, 3 RBIs and one run scored... overall in his career he batted .294 with 422 circuit clouts, 1646 RBIs, scored 1565 runs and stole 195 bases.

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