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Thanks to all of you for being such loyal followers of the IPA.

It's you that keep it going. :):):):):)

My next project is to post the IPA All-Time All-Stars... the best players of the first five decades.

It may take me a few days to research this, so bear with me.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 18, 2054

ALL-TIME GREATS NAMED BY IPA
The Islandian Pro Alliance is now over 50 years old, just completing its 54th season... to commemorate its five decades of professional baseball in the Islands, it chose its all-time top performers... the IPA commissioned The Islandian Times to survey the baseball media, the broadcasters and sportswriters, who have covered the sports, along with the baseball family of former players, managers and front office personnel, to come up with the best players in IPA history.

The voters also selected Roy Hobbs, the legendary outfielder for the Waleska Westerners, as the best player in Islandian Pro Alliance history... second and third in the balloting were sluggers Jack Elliott of High Mesa and Jerry Culpepper of Bayview.

IPA 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Stars:
SP: Nicky Engstrom (2010-2029)
SP: Ilya Szabo (2103-2021)
SP: Duncan Welch (2017-2036)
C: Hal Stevenson (2001-2024)
1B: Jack Elliott (2013-2031)
2B: Jojo DeLucca (2035-present)
3B: Jerry Culpepper (2033-2051)
SS: Don Nichols (2001-2024)
LF: Jet Kazmarek (2001-2016)
CF: Roy Hobbs (2013-2031)
RF: Lorne Evans (2025-2043)

IPA 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Star Team:

SP: NICKY ENGSTROM (2010-2029)
In the first half century of play in the Islandian Pro Alliance, the number one pitcher on the All-Time All-Stars is Nicky Engstrom... Engstrom was phenomenal with at least 20 wins in 14 seasons. In his fabulous 20-year career with the Turon Typhoons, Nicky Engstrom sparked his club to 8 pennants and one IPA Pro Cup with a 387-218 career record and a superb 2.43 ERA. Engstrom ranks second to Frank Blair (391-297) for the most wins in IPA history and is sixth in ERA. He was a 12-time All-Star, won three Golden Arm Awards (2011, 2013, 2015) and copped the Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year trophy in 2010. In the Pro Cup playoffs Engstrom made 29 starts and compiled a terrific14-5 mark with a superb 2.18 ERA. He retired at age 40 and was installed in the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2030... Engstrom made two All-Decade Teams... the 2010s and the 2020s... he won 20 or more games in 9 of the seasons from 2010-2019... and then won 20 or more 5 times in the next decade.

IPA 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Star Team

SP: ILYA SZABO (2003-2021)
The number two hurler on the IPA 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Stars is Ilya Szabo, a brilliant right-hander who starred for 19 years with the Colfax Blasters of the Ruthlandian Union... Szabo posted a 327-210 record with a super 2.57 ERA... he is 16th on the all-time wins list and has the 13th-best ERA in league history... Szabo led Colfax to the playoffs 8 times and to a Pro Cup trophy in 2010... that year he was voted the Pro Cup MVP with a 5-2 record in 7 starts with a magnificent 1.42 ERA... in the postseason Szabo charted a 14-8 mark lifetime with an impressive 2.44 ERA in 25 games... he was a 9-time All-Star, won four Golden Arms and was chosen the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player twice (2010 and 2015)... Szabo was selected the top pitcher in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015 and also made the First Decade All-Stars (2001-2010)...in his last season at age 42 he was 18-17 for a fifth place club... in 2027 Szabo was elected to the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame.

IPA 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Star Team

SP: Duncan Welch (2017-2036)
The number three man in the IPA 50th Anniversary All-Stars' rotation is Duncan Welch, who chalked up 350 wins and 255 losses in his 20 seasons in the IPA and compiled an impressive 2.78 career ERA... 4 times he was an All-Star, winning the RU Most Valuable Player trophy twice, in 2020 and 2023... 3 times he garnered the Golden Arm, in 2019, 2020 and 2023... 7 times the Crystal Lake Crushers won pennants and hauled in 2 Pro Cups (2020 and 2022)... Welch was also chosen for the Third Decade All-Stars (2021-2030).

Welch, the 6' 7" southpaw, ranked 7th in the Islandian Pro Alliance in wins with 350... the stringbean lefty also was brilliant in the postseason with a marvelous 17-5 mark in 28 games with a fine 2.50 ERA. Twice Welch was named the Pro Cup MVP in 2020 and 2022.

Seven other standout hurlers got support for the Islandian Pro Alliance 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Star Team... postseason success, along with Pro Cup rings and MVP Awards apparently was the deciding factor for many of the voters.

Dave Michael (North Hills 2029-2047): the North Hills Hawks' fine right-hander was a big part of the team's enormous success in the '30s and '40s when they won 11 pennants and 4 Pro Cups in a 12-year period... Michael was the main money pitcher for those clubs, compiling a 315-234 record with a 3.11 ERA... in his career of 19 years he was an All-Star twice and registered 20 wins 6 times, but it was in the postseason that Michael really shined with a 20-13 mark and a superlative 2.32 ERA in 37 games... he copped two Pro Cup MVP trophies, winning in 2034 and 2038... Michael retired in '47 at the age of 40... made the Fourth All-Decade Team.

Mila Mohoski (Red Bluff/Denton City) (2002-2021): 353-267 with a 3.19 ERA... First All-Decade Team, 8 pennants, 1 Pro Cup, 2-time All-Star, 1 Golden Arm, 16-11 in the playoffs with a 3.07 ERA.

Cody Burg (Cape Coral 2001-2021): 369-264 with a 2.79 ERA... first all-time with 5250 strikeouts... 3rd all-time in wins... led the league 14 times in Ks... First All-Decade Team, no Pro Cups, 6 pennants, 8 All-Star Games, 1 MVP, 3 Golden Arms... playoffs 9-2 with a 1.54 ERA.

Ralph Hawk (Ranford 2038-still active at 36): 311-166 with a 2.39 ERA (3rd all-time)... 1 Pro Cup, 2 pennants, 4 Golden Arms, 4-time All-Star, postseason record 9-3 with a 1.55 ERA.

J. J. Gillespie (Cold Creek 2029-2045): 294-170 with 2.46 ERA (7th all-time)... Fourth All-Decade Team, 5 pennants, no Pro Cups, 3 MVPs, 5 Golden Arms, 6-time All-Star, 11-9 with a 2.86 ERA in playoffs.

Will McKinney (San Alejo 2042-still active at 34): 313-136 with a 2.37 ERA (2nd all-time)... Fifth All-Decade Team, 3 pennants, no Pro Cups, Top Rookie, 5 Golden Arms, 7-time All-Star, 1-3 in playoffs with a 2.63 ERA.

Matt Bell (San Alejo 2039- still active at 35): 357-182 with a 2.33 ERA (1st all-time)... 5th all-time in victories... no Pro Cups, 3 pennants, 3 Golden Arms, 6-time All-Star, only 0-3 in the playoffs with a 4.30 ERA.

IPA 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Star Team

C: Hal Stevenson (2001-2024)
The top all-time catcher in IPA history is Hal Stevenson, who was gifted at the plate and also with the mitt and starred for the Sugar Valley Rattlers almost his entire IPA career. He is number 16 on the IPA career homer list with 567 and number 19 in RBIs with 1758 and was a member of the IPA Second Decade All-Stars (2011-2020). The Rattler superstar was a 12-time All-Star and hauled in 8 Golden Gloves in 23 seasons. He sparked Sugar Valley to 8 division pennants and to the postseason 9 times, but never won a Pro Cup. In 2013 Stevenson was honored with the Golden Bat Award. That year Stevenson topped the Ruthlandian Union with 49 home runs and 134 runs batted in, while batting at a .311 clip.

In his 2466-game career, Stevenson hit .287 with 2503 hits, 567 home runs, 1574 runs scored and 1758 RBIs. He wrapped up his career at the age of 40 and made the IPA Hall of Fame in 2027, which was the first year of its existence. However, Stevenson didn't have much success with the bat in the playoffs, batting only .197 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 21 games. Most of the time the Rattlers were eliminated early in the postseason.

At catcher Hal Stevenson had super competition for the 50th Anniversary All-Star club from superstars like Crash Davis, Hank Bethel and Corky DiNozzo.

Hank Bethel (2001-2027) was probably the best hitter of the bunch... he hit .288 lifetime with 494 HRs, ranked 9th all-time in the IPA with 1985 RBIs, 14th all-time with 3368 hits and scored 1812 runs... Bethel was a 12-time All-Star and led Bayview to 6 playoff appearances and Rocky Rapids to 4 more... the Snappers also won the 2019 Pro Cup with Bethel behind the plate... Bethel was selected to the First Decade All-Stars squad.

Crash Davis (2013-2033) was also a top-notch receiver, mainly for the Ginza Ninjas... he was a 15-time All-Star, 4-time Golden Glover, who batted .304 in his career with 403 home runs, 1556 RBIs and 1656 runs... Ginza made the playoffs 5 times while Davis played there, but never won the Pro Cup... he came in second to Stevenson in the Second All-Decade team voting, but finally was chosen in the following decade on the Third Decade All-Stars.

Rounding out the runner-ups was Kenwood's great Corky DiNozzo (2035-2053), who was 8th all-time in the IPA with 635 homers... DiNozzo hit .313 in his 19 seasons with the Wildcats with 1744 RBIs and 1424 runs... 6 times he led Kenwood to the pennant, but never got a Pro Cup ring... he was a 13-time All-Star, Tycobbian Rookie of the Year in '35 and picked up the Tycobbian Most Valuable Player and Golden Bat Awards in 2048.

IPA 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Star Team

1B Jack Elliott (2013-2031)
Only a limited few superstars have made an IPA All-Decade Team. And even fewer players will do it twice. The great slugging first sacker and Hall-of-Famer Jack Elliott is one of those superstars that did it. He was picked for the Second All-Decade Team (2011-2020) and then again on the Third All-Decade Team (2021-2030).

At age 38, Elliott called it quits after 19 seasons, 18 of them spent with the High Mesa Cowboys (now Mustangs). The standout first baseman made the All-Star team 13 times, won an unbelievable 12 Golden Bats, 5 Golden Gloves and 3 MVPs (2013, 2021, 2022). The gifted player led the league remarkably 9 times in homers, runs 8 times and in batting average 7 times. He is second all-time with 848 roundtrippers. Only Jerry Culpepper with 878 had more. However, Culpepper never hit for the average Elliott did, batting .304 in his career. Elliott played in 2758 games, hit .332 lifetime (3rd) with 3467 hits (13th), 2120 RBIs (5th) and 2192 runs (3rd). He made the IPA Hall of Fame in 2032. Much to his dismay, Elliott never played in the postseason.

Ranking second and third in the All-Time All-Star poll at first base were Phil Gravelli and Marty Blake.

Phil Gravelli (2001-2025) is one of the all-time greats in IPA baseball circles and was just barely beaten out by Jack Elliott in the All-Time All-Star poll at first base. The great first baseman played for 25 years with Belair Beach and Crystal Lake, was a 12-time All-Star, twice a Golden Glove winner and the Ruthlandian Union MVP and RU Golden Bat recipient in 2007. Gravelli led his teams to 2 Pro Cups, 5 pennants and 7 playoffs. Crystal Lake won the IPA Pro Cup in 2020 and 2022. In addition, he holds 3 all-time IPA records.

His all-time numbers show Gravelli as the IPA leader in games, hits and RBIs. He compiled a .315 batting average and collected 4260 hits (1st), 726 home runs (4th) and 2493 RBIs (1st). In all, he played in 3628 games (1st).

In 65 postseason games Gravelli was even more productive with a .340 batting average, 7 homers and 44 runs batted in. Gravelli retired from baseball at the age of 42 and was inducted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2027.

A distant third in the All-Time All-Star voting was Marty Blake (2013-2035)... he was a standout first sacker for many years, but was overshadowed by two remarkable and legendary players... Blake starred mainly for White River, hitting .312 in 23 seasons, ranking 5th all-time with 3749 hits, 5th with 711 roundtrippers, 4th in 2125 RBIs and 9th in runs scored with 2034... Blake was a 7-time All-Star and 3-time Golden Glover... he led White River to four postseason appearances, but batted only .245 in the playoffs with 9 homers and 27 RBIs in 53 games.

IPA 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Star Team

2B: Jojo DeLucca (2035-2053)
Sorry... when it came to second sackers in the IPA, no one was close to Jojo DeLucca... he was an almost unanimous choice for the IPA Fifth Decade Team and a landslide winner in the 50th Anniversary vote... DeLucca made the Ruthlandian All-Stars 13 times... won the Golden Glove 7 times... he played with Volusia in his rookie season, but has played for the Claxton Diamonds ever since, 19 seasons in all and still very active... DeLucca is still playing at age 38 and isn't done yet... this past year he hit .315 for average, cracked 25 out of the park, batted in 93 runs and scored 78 times... he has led Claxton to 5 Ruthlandian South Division flags, but never won a Pro Cup ring... DeLucca is 6th all-time in RBIs with 2142 and 6th all-time in hits with 3713... in his fabulous career DeLucca is carrying a .311 BA with 567 homers and 1895 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... the younger DeLucca will take command of Claxton in the 2055 season, replacing longtime skipper Dixie Baker... Jojo is thinking of being a playing manager for the Diamonds.

John Velasco of the Fairfax Frogs and Alan Hansen of Bayview and Turon were second and third in the voting for the IPA All-Time second baseman.

John Velasco (2026-2049)
Not only was second sacker John Velasco durable, playing for 24 years in the Islandian Pro Alliance, all for the Fairfax Frogs, but he was talented, too... a 9-time All-Star... with 4056 hits, second on the all-time list next to the great first baseman Phil Gravelli with 4260, who played mainly for Belair Beach and Crystal Lake, 2001-2025... Velasco was still a very good ballplayer even in his last season at age 42... he batted .320 with 18 HRs and drove in 73 runs in '49... overall, Velasco hit .299 with 2026 RBIs and 2071 runs... in the IPA he's 8th all-time in RBIs and 7th in runs scored... however, Velasco starred for a run-of-the-mill Fairfax team and made the playoffs just twice... still he was really "Mr. Reliable", playing at a good level year in and year out... Velasco was overwhelmingly voted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2049... he was also honored as the best second baseman on the Fourth Decade All-Star Team.

Alan Hansen (2001-2023)
One thing you could say about Hansen... he was definitely a winner... he played for two teams in his 22 seasons and was a vital part of their success. He was with the Bayview Vikings for five years and finished up with the powerhouse Turon Typhoons. Hansen helped the Vikings win two pennants and make the playoffs four times. But it was with the Typhoons where he really excelled. Hansen spurred them to 10 pennants in his 17 seasons. Turon won two Pro Cups 2009 and 2018 and lost in the Finals in 2010 and 2017... Hansen was twice named to an All-Decade team, the first one and the the second one... overall in 3287 games (5th best all-time) Hansen had a career .296 BA, 3554 hits (9th all-time), 149 triples (7th all-time), 2262 runs (1s all-timet), 2351 walks (2nd all-time) and stole 725 bases (5th all-time). He only struck out 554 times in over 12,000 at-bats. Hansen played in 135 postseason games, compiled a .309 batting average, had 159 hits, 31 doubles, scored 89 runs and stole 32 bases. He was chosen for the All-Star team four times and won a couple of Golden Gloves.

IPA 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Star Team

3B: Jerry Culpepper (2033-2051)
This was a very easy choice to make... Jerry Culpepper was one of the most productive longball hitters in IPA history, ranking first all-time with 878 homers and second with 2170 RBIs... only HOF-er Phil Gravelli topped him with 2493 RBIs... he dwarfed all other third sackers in the league... but his hapless Vikings never won a pennant, so Culpepper never played in the Pro Cup playoffs... Culpepper was an All-Star 15 times for the Bayview Vikings, won the Tycobbian Golden Bat 5 times and was twice the TU Most Valuable Player ('40 and '41)... he batted .304 in his career, collected 3064 hits and scored 1738 runs... on 5 occasions Culpepper hit 60 or more roundtrippers... his highest total was 66 in 2040... Johnny Tallis of High Mesa broke his IPA single-season mark with 68 in 2047... Culpepper retired in 2051 at age 37 and was installed in the IPA Hall of Fame in 2047... Culpepper was voted to the Fourth and Fifth Decade All-Star teams.