Tuesday, April 1, 2070
TOP IPA ALL-TIME PLAYERS OF 2050s and 2060s ANNOUNCED
The Islandian Pro Alliance just completed its 7th decade of baseball in the Islands... in past years 5 All-Decade teams were chosen covering the seasons from 2001-2009, 2011-2019, 2021-2029, 2031-2039 and 2041-2049... in addition a 50th Anniversary All-Time All-Star team was also selected.
Another two decades of baseball has come and gone in the Islandian Pro Alliance so it's time to announce the IPA Sixth All-Decade Team and the IPA Seventh All-Decade Team... the Islandian Baseball Writers Association gathered at their annual convention in March and voted on the top players at each position from 2050 to 2059 and from 2060-2069.
Two teams had dual representatiives on the Sixth All-Decade Team... Middlefield placed pitcher James Long and centerfielder Johnny Wyatt on it... the Midway Wolves two great outfielders, Norishige Ito and Daryl Vale snagged the left field and right field postions.
60s juggernaut Rolling Hills had three players honored on the IPA 7th All-Decade Team: third baseman Teddy Stoich, shortstop Jameson Mulbert and center fielder Hugo Sutton... the Racers dominated the decade with 10 pennants in a row and 4 Pro Cup Trophies... they also came close to winning two other IPA titles, falling in the Pro Cup Finals twice.
Here are the 18 players chosen as the best of the best at each position during those two decades.
Islandian Pro Alliance Sixth All-Decade Team (2051-2059)
Pitcher: James Long (Middlefield) (2039-2059) (442-250/2.68 ERA)... Long was a legendary performer... 12-time All-Star... tops all-time in the IPA with 442 victories (51 better than second place Matt Bell with 391 wins)... 15 times he won 20 or more games... named Golden Arm 5 times ('50, '54, '55, '56, '57)... hands down the top twirler in the decade... Long won at least 20 games in 9 of the 10 years... even in his final season he was 14-13 with a 3.49 ERA at age 38.
Long far outdistanced his peers... San Alejo's Matt Bell (391-225/2.42 ERA) (2039-2057), Ranford's Ralph Hawk (351-195/2.46 ERA) (2038-2056) and San Alejo's Will McKinney (321-188/2.64 ERA) (2042-2056)... Bell won 20 games 14 times and 3 Golden Arms ('45, '46, '49)... Hawk won 20 games 11 times and 1 Golden Arm... and McKinney nabbed 4 Golden Arms ('48, '50, '51, '52) and chalked up 20-win seasons on 10 occasions.
Catcher: Scott Courtney (Fairfax) (2041-2057)
8-time All-Star... power hitter with .304 BA, 338 HR, 1442 RBI... handily outdistanced South Fork's Rudy Maroney (.284 BA/365 HR/1367 RBI) (2048-2064)... a 4-time All-Star... and East Point's Kenny Bailey (.283 BA/361 HR/1113 RBI) (2047-2059)... twice an All-Star.
First Baseman: Manny Sendejas (Wynnamac) (2055-2069)... 5-time All-Star... won 2059 Ruthlandian Union MVP... .292 BA/428 HR/1390 RBI... .991 FA... the Macs won 7 pennants during his tenure and captured the Pro Cup in 2055... the rookie drove in 14 runs, scored 13 and hit 5 homers in that postseason, while batting .286... overall in 70 playoff games, Sendejas batted .254 with 49 RBIs, 47 runs scored and 14 roundtrippers.
Sendejas outpolled Chuck Gregory for the 6th All-Decade first base spot... Gregory sadly starred for the hapless Belle Plaine Musketeers (2045-2059) with a .316 BA, 388 roundtrippers and 1282 RBIs... 3-time All-Star... 2-time Golden Glove... .990 FA... 2056 RU Golden Bat.
Second Baseman: Damien D'Amboise (Marston) (2048-2066)
4-time All-Star... 3-time Gold Glove... .979 FA... solid all-around player and a very productive hitter... .295 BA, 3291 hits, 632 doubles, 121 triples, 158 homers, 1328 RBI, 1700 runs and 354 stolen bases... limited postseason play with a .243 BA, 2RBI and 5 runs scored in only 10 games.
D'Amboise beat out his peers, La Claire's Derek Winchester (2052-2069) (.306 BA/505 doubles, 98 triples, 164 HR, 1153 RBI, 1412 runs, 267 SB)... 1-time All-Star... 2-time Golden Glove... Elnora's Mickey Wilbur (2052-2064) hit .306 BA with 247 home runs and 998 RBIs... only a .960 FA... Elvis Gifford (2054-2068) batted .298 with 194 roundtrippers, 1031 ribbies, 1317 runs and 153 stolen bases... .975 FA... 5-time All-Star.