FOOL-X: The road to Season 100!

[Alan T]

We have completed 97 seasons of FOOL-X baseball! As we count down the seasons to our 100th, I'll be looking back at the history of the league!

[Alan T]

The best teams of the first 100 seasons


#5 1996 Boston Resettlers (119-43) Lost in FOOL-X Classic to the New York Legends


The 1996 Resettlers have the record for wins in a single season with 119. They could easily be considered the best FOOL-X team that didn't win the title. In fact, it took this group of young future-stars 5 consecutive trips to the postseason before they finally won the title in 1999.

The pitching staff was anchored by nine time all star, future hall of Famer Bernardo Agamez. Agamez had his break out season at the age of 27 in 1995, but it was 1996 that saw him have his first 19-win season, a feat that he would accomplish the next four seasons. It was also the first of his three Pitcher of the Year awards. Some may argue that the best pitcher in the squad that year however was 30 year old Greg Johnston. Johnston would get his revenge by claiming the pitcher of the year two seasons later, but in 1996 he matched Agamez with a 19-7 record and had an incredible ERA of 2.31 and WHip of .91!

The lineup was nothing special for the most part. Filled with journeyman players and fielding specialist, the Resettlers were only fourth in the CL in OPS. The only standout hitter on the club was quite a hitter however. Future hall of Famer Bernard Moore had a respectable .321 season with 18 HR and 109 RBI. Moore has the third most career hits of all time, and that season was 10th in the league in hits. Without much in the way of offensive support around him in the lineup, he led the league with 30 times being hit by a pitch. He still managed to score the 6th most runs in the league that season.

[Alan T]

#4 2017 Spring Lions (108-54) Beat Havana in the FOOL-X Classic 5 games to 4

The 2017 Spring Lions were not quite as dominant compared to other teams in the league as some of the others listed in this top 5. The thing that sets this 2017 Spring team out above the rest is the competition that they had to overcome for their title. First they had to beat out 104-win Cleveland in the regular season and then once again overcome them 4 games to 3 in the RLCS. The 2017 Cleveland team was so strong that they would follow up with their own title in the following season. After making it to the Classic, Spring had an even larger test with 101-win Havana Banana Sluggers. The Banana Sluggers had made the playoffs 5 times in 6 seasons, with two titles of their own in the decade.

Spring's pitching staff was anchored by former Pitcher of the year Hector 'Wacky' Lopez, a 19 game winner and 20 game winner Belmiro 'Megaphone' Bouchard. Bouchard was quite the interesting case as a 24-year old he had his career season and was looking like a future superstar. He left in the offseason to St. Louis however and never enjoyed the same success again.

Spring's strength however was their offense. They easily outscored the rest of the teams in the league that season, averaging 6.3 runs scored per game! They had four 30+-Home Run Hitters in Chi-ming Li, Felipe Losoya, Juan Macias and future hall of famer Bailey 'Pigpen' Marks. Marks, an 18 time all-star had many many great seasons, but his best was arguably the 2017 season with Spring which saw him pick up his only Hitter of the year award in his career.

[CleBrownsfan]

Awesome Alan - I'll be following this thread closely. Can't wait to look back at the last 100 years for Fool-X.

[Alan T]

#3 2056 London Bishops (109-53) Beat New York Legends 5 games to 3 in FOOL-X Classic


If there was a contest for the best dynasty in league history, it might just be the 2050 - 2057 Chicago Southpaws/London Bishops. Through 8 seasons, there has not been a single other team from the Continental League in the Classic. Their domination has not been limited to only the CL however, as 6 of those 8 trips resulted in victories over the Republic League team in the Classic as well. The 2017 edition of the Bishops never made the contest close during the regular season. Finishing an incredible 22 games over the second place Plantana Pirates, the fight all season long was for which team would claim second place.


Having two Morales Award winners anchor your pitching rotation usually sets up a team for success. London in 2056 had four time Morales award winner Jose Nunez turn in 18 wins, and the 2051 Morales award winner Jose Gutierrez put forth a 15-8 record of his own. The surprise of the season had to be 34 year old Keith Kenney who had the best season of his career, with a 19-6 record and an ERA nearly 2 points lower than his previous season! If you some how got past the starting rotation, in the late innings you had to deal with closer Rafael Mendez. Mendez had 45 saves in 2056 with an incredible 0.81 ERA. In 64 games, Mendez only allowed 6 Earned runs to score!

Offensively the team had a number of standout hitters. The 2055 Liriano Award winner Juan Aquino led the team with a .341 Batting average while former slick fielding third baseman Jose Vidal played his sixth season at the Shortstop position and while not spectacular, was overlooked thanks to his great bat. Jose Arreola and Allen Hunt added to the potent lineup two other former Liriano Award winners with some power as well.

[Alan T]

#2 1988 Balzac Ticklers (108-54) , Beat the Maricopa Rattlers in the FOOL-X Classic

Never before has this league ever seen an explosive offensive threat like the 1988 Balzac Ticklers, and never have there been a team since with anything like it. The Ticklers in 1988 scored a league record 1378 Runs. Prior to that season, the previous record was 1182 runs, scored by the same Balzac team 3 years prior. Since 1988, only one team has ever scored more than 1200 runs (New York Legends with 1202 in 2008.) There were some really bad pitching rotations in the Continental League in 1988. Combine that with the 1 through 8 lineup that Balzac put out there and the Ticklers averaged scoring 8.5 runs per game.

Balzac's pitching rotation was nothing special. The best two starting pitchers had ERAs close to 5.00. The best performance of the staff was 4-time all star Pedro Sanchez. 1988 was Sanchez's rookie season and he came out strong with a 15-5 record, 4.42 ERA and the first of his all star selections. Three time all star Jose Gonzalez recorded 19 wins but a poor 4.98 ERA. When the team scores over 8 runs per game however, it gives the pitching staff plenty of room to work with.

The lineup was littered with former first round draft picks and all stars. The best of the bunch was two time hitter of the year Jamy Sutkamp. In perhaps the best season of his career, Sutkamp hit .367 with 35 HR and 180 RBI during the 1988 season. Sutkamp didn't lead the team in RBI that season however as Left fielder Jimmy Carroll hit 45 HR and 185 RBI himself! Amazingly the 1988 Ticklers had all eight position players hit more than 120 RBI that season, with all but one of them hitting over .300.

[hyde4us11]

I forgot about that Balzac team and how great they were. If I forgot about them, I am scared to see what team I forgot about at #1.

[Alan T]

#1 2037 Cleveland Naps (109-53), defeated the Havana Banana Sluggers in the FOOL-X Classic

All that you need to know about the 2037 Naps is that two hits was all that prevented them from completely sweeping the entire postseason. They beat the second place Portland Axemen by 18 games during the regular season. They were the two time defending FOOL-X Champions and had won three titles in four seasons. This Cleveland team was so good, that other playoff teams even commented that they had no desire to face them, expecting to be steamrolled. They scored more runs than any other team in FOOL-X, and they gave up less runs than any other team in FOOL-X.

Even though there perhaps was no weakness at all for Cleveland, you could perhaps say the strength of the team was their bullpen. During the regular season, they featured a strong four-man pitching rotation and in the playoffs used only three starting pitchers. This led to numerous no-decisions and low win-totals for the starters. The bullpen picked up right where the starters left off however. Dustin Bonner (12-2), Si-dao Yen (11-2) and Martin Thomas (10-1) all pitched in over 75 games with sub-3.00 ERA. The starting pitching staff was by no means shabby however. Four time Morales Award winner Ricardo Roman only won 14 games in the 41 games that he started, however his 2.97 ERA led the league that season.


The lineup also featured three all stars during the 2037 season. The biggest contributor was eight time allstar and team leader Pedro Medina. Medina hit .314 with 41 HR and 148 RBI during he 2037 season for Cleveland. Other allstars were Centerfielder Julio Castro and Catcher Raul Torres. Honorable Mention can perhaps go to 32 year old journeyman outfielder Jesus Perez. In the best season of his career, Perez hit .343 and led the league in triples with 11.

[CleBrownsfan]

I was really hoping once you started this list that this team would be onit- really stoked you feel they were the #1 team. It was by far the best run I've had and it was some nice years in Cleveland. Seemed like every pick in the draft panned out for like 5-6 straight years. To bad I think I'll never have that kind of "luck" again...

[Afino]

There was really a team called the Balzac Ticklers?

Awesome.

[Alan T]

Top 5 FOOL-X Classic memorable moments


#5 - Cleveland's Pedro Medina hits for a cycle in the 2036 Classic

The Cleveland Naps were the dominant team of the 2030s, and one of the key reasons was two time home-run champ Pedro Medina. The eight time all star had perhaps his most important season in 2036 when he led the league with 176 RBIs. He continued his contribution in the postseason with a cycle and 5 RBI performance on October 22nd, 2036.

[Alan T]

#4 Virginia Beach wins game 9 in 10-inning thriller

The very first FOOL-X Classic was fairly anti-climatic with the Ann Arbor Wolverines winning in decisive fashion. The very next year 1962 was quite different however. Virginia Beach and Boston were tied 4 games each, which forced a final game 9 to decide the title.

Virginia Beach went up 1-0 early in game 9 before their starting pitcher Sam Phillips walks three straight hitters in the third inning. Who was next up to bat? Perhaps the best player in FOOL-X history that everyone forgets, Mario Mota! Mota crushed the pitch for a Grand Slam to put Boston up 4-1 with his 7th home run of that postseason. One side note about Mota, he joined FOOL-X when the league started in 1961 at the age of 33. He won two straight Most Valuable hitter awards and was easily the best player in the game. He only played one more season however and retired at the age of 35. In his three FOOL-X seasons, he was a three time all star and retired with a .328 career batting average and 101 Home Runs. If only we had seen him in his prime!

Over the next three innings, Virginia Beach scratches back three runs to tie things up 4-4 after 6 innings, and both bullpens locked things down to prevent further scoring. The game remained that way through 9 innings, forcing the first extra innings game 9 of FOOL-X history. Virginia beach gets Boston out in the top of the 10th, 1-2-3. In the bottom of the inning, the Surf threaten with runners on 1st and 2nd but two outs. A wild pitch allow both runners to advance, and then the hitter Bruce Thurman lines one hard towards second, over the head of the second baseman. That allowed the run to score from third, claiming the title for Virginia Beach.

That was the first title in Virginia Beach history (and only second title in all of FOOL-X history). The Virginia Beach Surf would go on from there to win 3 more titles during that decade, claiming the title of the best team of the first decade of FOOL-X baseball.

[cgould43]

I remember that was a great first ten years for me. Just looking back over those teams now and I had forgotten about a lot of the players having been out of X for a while.

[Alan T]

#3 St. Louis come from behind to win three straight titles!

The Mexico Aztecs of the 1980s and 1990s were a cursed franchise. Over the course of 30 seasons between 1976 and 2005, the franchise made it to the playoffs 15 times. They were in the FOOL-X Classic 8 different occasions and had zero titles to show for it. Every original FOOL-X franchise had won a title by 1988 except for this one. Even one of the expansion franchises won two titles in 1997-1998 (Cumberland Defenders). Deeming to be cursed, the franchise picked up and moved North to St. Louis and became the Hops.

Finally in 2006, thanks in part to one of the best hitters the league has ever seen in Luis Huerta, St. Louis broke through and won their first title. They did not stop there however. Riding on the back of Huerta in his prime, they won the next title and were once again favorites in 2008 to win a third title. Three straight championships was a feat that no team had ever managed in FOOL-X however.

The 2008 FOOL-X Classic went back and forth between the New York Legends and St. Louis Hops. Neither team ever had more than a one game series lead. After 8 games, the Classic was tied up 4 games each, forcing a final game 9. In game 9, it appeared that luck was once again not on St. Louis's side as they gave up three solo home-runs in the 6th inning to go down 3-1. They gained one run back in the 8th but still trailed 3-2 entering the 9th inning.

Thanks to 3 walks and 5 hits in the top of the 9th, St. Louis came back with 5 runs to take a 7-3 lead, which ended up being enough to clinch it. The Hops became the first franchise in FOOL-X history to win three straight titles, and officially turned around a snake-bit franchise and made them the dominant team of the decade!

[ekcut]

I love this stuff!

We should post these on the OOTP site as well.

I don't frequent there much, but I can can only recall one other OOTP league that can boast a "Century list"

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by ekcut

I love this stuff!

We should post these on the OOTP site as well.

I don't frequent there much, but I can can only recall one other OOTP league that can boast a "Century list"

I'm planning on posting something over there for our 100th season celebration later this weekend. That is the one bad thing about having a healthy waiting list right now, I don't post much to advertise over there!

[hyde4us11]

Originally Posted by ekcut

I don't frequent there much, but I can can only recall one other OOTP league that can boast a "Century list"

I bet no other league commish can claim to have run 2 leagues at the same time and will have had reached at least 100 seasons running alongside each other. Testament to Alan's will to keep going. Just impressive IMO that both leagues have reached this point with no end in site. I am here for the life of it I know that.

[Alan T]

#2 Juan Macias pinch-hit heroics in the 2016 Classic

If you were looking for a FOOL-X version of a Kirk Gibson moment, this is it! The St. Cloud Raindrops had taken a commanding 4-2 game lead in the 2016 Classic, but just couldn't seem to put the Lions away. Spring clawed back game 7 and then game 8 (in 14 innings) to tie the series back up 4 games a piece to force a deciding game 9.

With the left hander Carlos Olhoa starting game 9 for St. Cloud, Spring went with a right-handed heavy lineup, including sitting the aging three-time all star Juan Macias. The Raindrops appeared to have things under control however, taking a 3-2 lead into the 9th. St. Cloud's closer Sid Arnold had pitched two innings in a game eight no-decision and was reporting arm fatigue. He apparently would not be available for the all-important game nine. The Raindrops instead turned to Setup man Jeff Crudge to tie up the game for them. Crudge had gone 8-2 with a 2.48 ERA during the regular season, but had struggled a bit during the postseason.

With one out in the top of the 9th, Crudge's struggles continued. He gave up a single to Alfrao and the Spring dugout did not hesitate an inch. They called back first baseman Neil Townsend and send up Juan Macias to pinch hit with the tying run on first base. At 33 years of age, Macias had a fine season, hitting .320 with 19 Home Runs and 84 RBI. He came through here in the clutch though. He sent a pitch from Crudge over the wall, for a two-run pinch hit home run! Spring's closer Jesus Gonzalez came on in the bottom of the inning to put down the Raindrops in order, including two strikeouts. Macias was a hero to all of Texas, and a name Spring fans would never forget!

[Alan T]

#1 Doug McDonah pitches no-hitter in FOOL-X Classic

As a young pitcher Doug McDonah was brought up early by the Balzac Ticklers, hitting the majors as a starter at the age of 20. His first two seasons, he had a record of 14-37 with an ERA over 5.00. He finally settled down to become an average pitcher, but was allowed to become a free agent at the age of 25. Seeing some future promise in him, the New York Legends snatched him up, paying him more than 50 million dollars over a four year contract. The gamble paid off for them as he went on to become the most dominant pitcher in the league with three straight Morales Awards and three FOOL-X titles over his four seasons in the Big Apple.

The next chapter in McDonah's life happened at the age of 29 he once again hit the free agent market. This time it was New York's rival the Spring Lions that snatched him up for an additional five seasons at close to another 50 million dollars. His first season with Spring was solid but not spectacular, but McDonah started to show control problems that he never had with New York. Despite two straight losing seasons pitching for Spring, the Lions still overcame his weakness and made it to the 2030 Playoffs.

The favorite Lions dispatched the Cleveland Naps in the RLCS and set their sights on the CL Champion Plantana Pirates. McDonah's only apperance in the RLCS was a horrible affair where he gave up 7 runs in 4 innings of work and sported a playoff ERA of 14.54 after the series.

Suddenly in the FOOL-X Classic, suddenly a light switch went on for McDonah. He started game 2 of the FOOL-X Classic and suddenly seemed to regain his form from seasons past. He defeated the Pirates in a complete game no-hitter where he struck out 8 and only faced 30 batters the entire game! He wasn't done just yet, however. He returned in game 6 with Spring up 4 games to 1, and once again showed brilliance. In 8 innings, he struck out another 8 hitters but gave up 0 runs on only 6 hits to claim a second Classic win and clinch the championship for Spring.

In McDonah's two Classic starts that season, he went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, and struck out 16 while only giving up 6 hits. He was named the Classic MVP and for a brief moment in time had regained his glory years of his youth. McDonah would never again have two straight winning seasons, and other than two remaining seasons would never again show signs of his old days, but the 2030 Classic will go down as the best pitching performance in the history of the FOOL-X Classic.

[Afino]

Originally Posted by Alan T

I'm planning on posting something over there for our 100th season celebration later this weekend. That is the one bad thing about having a healthy waiting list right now, I don't post much to advertise over there!

100th season expansion?

[Chief Rum]

This is an amazing thread. Thank you, Alan, for the trip down memory lane.

I would love to talk about some of my beloved Hibbies players of the past. Unfortunately, it's hard without a working computer. So I'll just read along for now. Fun stuff.

[hyde4us11]

Originally Posted by Afino

100th season expansion?

No expansion, last time I lost 17 players and it took me forever to get back to respectable.

[Alan T]

I posted a quick announcement on the ootp boards about our upcoming 100th season celebration. If you want to check it out, its here:

FOOL-X celebrating its upcoming 100th season! - OOTP Developments Forums


As for expansion, most likely the next league to expand will be the other FOOL league. We have more people on that waiting list than this one, plus I desperately need to get it to even number of teams in each league to make my scheduling nightmares go away

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Alan T

I'm planning on posting something over there for our 100th season celebration later this weekend. That is the one bad thing about having a healthy waiting list right now, I don't post much to advertise over there!

Grats to Alan and FOOL-X. This is an awesome idea.

Oh and the waiting list sucks.

[Afino]

I just got a friend on the wait list too - that's why I wanted expansion!

[Chief Rum]

FOOL-Trio!

(J/K Alan...)

[Alan T]

Top 5 Rivalries

#5 - St. Cloud - Spring (2016)

I probably shouldn't even fix a date to this rivalry. This is probably my favorite rivalry from an owner perspective and it makes me sad that they have only faced each other once in the league's history. There is nothing quite like the form of trash talk that Teach throws at Tasan. At least in the one time these two did meet up, we got perhaps one of the best FOOL-X Classics in our league's history.

[Alan T]

#4 Balzac - London (1961 - 1970)

In the first decade of FOOL-X, these two teams represented the Continental League in the Classic 6 of the 10 seasons. Balzac made it to the postseason 6 times and London made it to the playoffs 8 times. With the exception of London's failure of a 1964 season (perhaps the worst effort by a championship calibre team of all time), both teams were ultra-competitive each season during this decade.

Balzac was led by Hall of Famer Jose Reyes and 2-time pitcher of the year Xavier Flores during this time. Despite never finishing worse than 4th place a single time during the decade, The Ticklers never could manage to overcome strong opposition in the CLCS, nor could they win in their two apperances in the Classic that decade. It would take them two decades longer before they could finally claim their first title.

London was built around an offensive lineup featuring 5 time All-star Alfredo Castillo, and 8 time all star and 1965 Hitter of the Year Pedro Perez. The pitching staff could be better described as a sum of the parts. They had several all stars such as Augusto Carrillo, Carlos Juarez and Matt Hicks. The real strength in the pitching staff however was a revolutionary 4-man rotation that leaned heavily upon a very deep and talented Bullpen. London during this decade successfully claimed many top relief pitchers at bargain prices and built a team around it. London got the better hand of the rivalry with Balzac however as they were only kept out of the postseason twice during the decade and managed to claim three titles by 1970.

[TeachEnEspanol]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Top 5 Rivalries

#5 - St. Cloud - Spring (2016)

I probably shouldn't even fix a date to this rivalry. This is probably my favorite rivalry from an owner perspective and it makes me sad that they have only faced each other once in the league's history. There is nothing quite like the form of trash talk that Teach throws at Tasan. At least in the one time these two did meet up, we got perhaps one of the best FOOL-X Classics in our league's history.

Aww, come on. I don't give Tasan that much crap, do I?

[TeachEnEspanol]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

FOOL-Trio!

(J/K Alan...)

Does that mean only three people get to play?

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by TeachEnEspanol

Aww, come on. I don't give Tasan that much crap, do I?

I am pretty sure he deserves it.

[Tasan]

Originally Posted by TeachEnEspanol

Aww, come on. I don't give Tasan that much crap, do I?

Its a give and take. Plus, the summer is finally here and I can talk more trash!

[Tasan]

Originally Posted by Alan T

I am pretty sure he deserves it.

Pretty much.

[TeachEnEspanol]

Originally Posted by Tasan

Its a give and take. Plus, the summer is finally here and I can talk more trash!

Seriously, I'm a little rusty on my trash talk. But in all fairness, I haven't earned the right with either team to actually be talking trash as if other people are going to suck worse than us for a while now!

[Alan T]

#3 St. Cloud - Washington 2018 - 2029

What happens when two classic rebuilding strategy GMs hit the pinnacle of their rebuild at the same time in the same division? Towards the middle to late 2010's both St. Cloud and Washington had very young clubs with a truck load of talent. All signs pointed to St. Cloud however being the heir apparent to the winding down Havana and St. Louis teams that had been fairly dominant for years. St. Cloud however struggled when it was their turn in the Classic, losing to an upstart Waikiki team. That all seemed to be ready to change in 2019 however for the Raindrops. The franchise recorded a 100-win season for the first time since 1964 and they appeared to be the cream of the crop. That is when the Washington Freedom struck. In an epic 7 game CLCS, Washington upset the favored Raindrops and then went on to win the Classic out of no where that season. Washington would then continue to make the playoffs 10 out of the next 11 seasons. St. Cloud would finally get their first title after moving cites the next season, but what could have been the start of a great dynasty was thwarted by a dangerous rival.

St. Cloud had a fairly non-descript lineup during this time period and were not by any means a good hitting team. Their pitching staff however was simply incredible. They featured three pitcher of the year award winners in Bob Stokes, Vince Blondell and Ricardo Castro. Their fourth starter was the five time all-star John Martin.


Washington took a balanced team approach. They featured one of the best hitters of the era in Gil Field and the 2021 hitter of the year Marc Parrish. They also had two Pitcher of the years in Henry Glass and a rare closer winning the award in Abera Zouabri on the team!

[TeachEnEspanol]

Originally Posted by Alan T

#3 St. Cloud - Washington 2018 - 2029

Washington took a balanced team approach.

Balanced approach! Hah! Borrrrrrrrring. I choose pitching every time and I will obstinately defend that decision even to my demise!

[Alan T]

#2 Havana - New York 2039 - 2049

Who was the most dominant team of the 2040s in FOOL-X? You could get several teams that would like to claim that title. The two front runners would be Havana and New York, both of which made the FOOL-X Classic at least 6 times in the decade and both recording two titles a piece. The two teams faced off against each other four times in a six year span with the Banana Sluggers getting the upper hand three of the four times.

Havana's lineup featured Hitters of the Year Arturo Caro, Michael Peppers, and Felix Medina in a dangerous offensive minded team. In the pitching staff, even though there were numerous all-star selections between the trio of starters Tsuruki Yamaguchi, Wicaksono Layar and Hector Sanchez, their staff was really focuses around three time pitcher of the year Carlos Galindo who won a career high 18 games in 2043.

New York's team was perhaps the opposite. Their lineup featured a Hitter of the year in Mike Hayes (2040) as well as numerous other all stars, but the focus of their team was built around pitching which was a direct contrast to the hitting heavy New York legends teams of the 1990s-2000s. Heading up the pitching staff was three time pitcher of the year Emilio Martinez, two time pitcher of the year John Wilson, the 2045 Pitcher of the year Andres Perez and the 2040 pitcher of the year Sam Vernon. If you managed to get past their dominant pitching staff, you had to face 12-time all star closer Michel Roy whose 413 saves are 9th most all time in league history.

[hyde4us11]

Originally Posted by TeachEnEspanol

I choose pitching every time and I will obstinately defend that decision even to my demise!

Yah we know


Note: Because of the last instance of me making a funny and not being taken as that I was scared to send this message but figure if you found out later that this was the case I may get in more trouble. Hope your laughing at some friendly banter.

[TeachEnEspanol]

Originally Posted by hyde4us11

Yah we know


Note: Because of the last instance of me making a funny and not being taken as that I was scared to send this message but figure if you found out later that this was the case I may get in more trouble. Hope your laughing at some friendly banter.

You're a goof. You can make fun of me whenever you want. I'm tough so I can take it!

P.S. I <3 My Pitchers! (I had a bumper sticker made up and everything!)

[Alan T]

[TeachEnEspanol]

Originally Posted by Alan T

LOVE IT!!!

[hyde4us11]

Here is the sign I am required to put on my van when I drive.

[TeachEnEspanol]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Hey, Birthday Boy, why are you wasting your time making/finding fabulous bumper stickers? You should be busy celebrating YOU!!!

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by TeachEnEspanol

Hey, Birthday Boy, why are you wasting your time making/finding fabulous bumper stickers? You should be busy celebrating YOU!!!

I've had a nice long three day weekend celebration of my birthday. I'm pretty ready to just relax and chill out now

[Alan T]

#1 St. Louis - New York (2005-2008)


Making the FOOL-X Classic four consecutive seasons is a rare feat. Prior to 2005, only one team had ever done so, Maricopa back in 1982-1985. So for both New York and St. Louis to make at least four straight FOOL-X Classics against each other, it was a rare chance at what became the best rivalry in FOOL-X history. Not only did four future Hall of Famers play in this rivalry, despite St. Louis coming out on top 3 out of 4 times, this series went a full 9 games 3 out of 4 seasons and could easily have gone either way.

New York sported perhaps the most famous player in FOOL-X history. The All time Home Run King Kien-lung Teng was a 13 time all star and 7 time Hitter of the year for the Legends. For a few years, the Legends had an excess of riches at the Catcher position. In addition to Teng, they also had the second best catcher in the game at the time and perhaps the second best catcher of all time in future Hall of Famer John Stout. Their pitchers were nothing to sneeze at either. They enjoyed veteran leadership from future Hall of famer George Wilson (albeit past his prime) and they depended on the ace of their staff the future 2-time pitcher of the year Justo Harper. Closing things down for the Legends in late innings was 14 time all star closer Miguel Hernandez.

While New York was a hitting heavy squad, St. Louis helped prove the old saying that great pitching will usually beat great hitting. They had three pitcher of the year award winners in Tony Hernandez, Mark Burns and Gilberto Rojas heading up an extremely strong staff. They wern't without key hitters in the lineup however, including future hall of famer and 10 time Hitter of the Year Luis Huerta! Joining Huerta in the lineup was their own all star catcher Corey West, whom managed to claim an all star apperance in each of his six seasons with the Hops.

[MattG]

Curse that '05-'08 NY team.

Portland went back to back in '09-'10 and easily could have played in a few more before that. We just couldn't get past NY though.

[TeachEnEspanol]

Originally Posted by Alan T

I've had a nice long three day weekend celebration of my birthday. I'm pretty ready to just relax and chill out now

I'm glad you had a great weekend! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[hyde4us11]

Happy Birthday Alan

[mattcubs]

Happy B-day Alan. Thank you for the constant reasons to stay near a computer to check the league message board.

[CleBrownsfan]

Happy B-Day Alan!!