2005

Metro Division				Capitol Division
Bethesda	102	60	...	Woebegone	104	58	...
Pennsylvania	101	61	1	Innisfree	85	76	19
Newark	81	81	21	Norfolk	80	81	24
Beacon	74	86	27	Rapidan	71	91	33
Scranton	71	90	31	Gunpowder	62	100	42
Long Island	59	102	43	Silver Spring	61	101	43

Central Division				Atlantic Division
Mimosa	106	56	...	Binghamton	101	61	...
Horseshoe Bay	98	64	8	Portsmouth	96	66	5
Evanston	95	67	11	Kennett	93	69	8
Morgantown	74	88	32	Farmington	85	77	16
Bradenton	74	86	31	Allegheny	60	101	41
Waukesha	53	107	52	Fargo	53	108	48

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2005 Champion Bill Gettins

Comments –

Jeff Hobbs - 2005 was my rookie season in the TCBA. I'd been aware of the league since the mid-80s, when baseball became one of my childhood hobbies. Around 1989, my brother and I (along with David Braun and Jim Lafargue's son) started attending the annual meetings in Lancaster, PA. Those meetings became something we eagerly anticipated for months, and we even kicked around the idea of starting a "junior TCBA" for a couple of years, but never got it off the ground. Then, for part of one year in college, I took on the role as substitute manager for one of the struggling TCBA teams (I can't remember the name of the team). Finally, Dad asked me in 2004 or early 2005 if I wanted to take over a franchise for the upcoming season. Despite being pretty busy with the final stages of my Ph.D., I decided that if I was going to join any other leagues, it would have to be the prestigious TCBA. I accepted and took over a team in trouble called the Rhode Island Hawks, which I renamed the Fargo Fungoes.

I made the 7-8 hour drive from Blacksburg to Lancaster and arrived midway through the auction. My first-ever acquisition was Bobby Crosby for $114K (a disaster), and my second was Kevin Youkilis for $33K (a coup). My first-ever FA pick was Colorado catcher J.D. Closser (another disaster), but I got good long-term value out of 3rd round pick Marcus Thames. As bad as we were that first season - we put up a chilling 53-108 record - I have fond memories of playing several games in a cheap hotel room during what was my first year of teaching at Appalachian State University. The Pennsylvania Keystones ended up winning the championship that year, and I learned a lot about managing a team in the TCBA.

Craig Shifflett – Sometime in the next few days will mark exactly ten years since I wandered into my first TCBA Lancaster gathering. I wanted to say thanks to those who go the extra miles (or went the extra miles for years) to make it run as smoothly as it does. Without you all, I am positive my participation would not have lasted a decade. I DID come up with one question, is Stu the only guy with the same email address since 1995? My biggest question was if Bob Wood actually existed until I met him in Wrigley a few years back.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing you in Lancaster. If not this year, perhaps another year soon.

Future TCBA Hall of Famer Greg Maddux - Earlier this season, on March 10^th, Greg Maddux tossed a 4-hit shutout for his Philadelphia Keystones at Bradenton. It was the second win of the season for Maddux and the 327^th of his illustrious TCBA career, moving him past retired great Gaylord Perry into second place in career wins.

The shutout was the 70^th recorded in his career, just one behind Phil Niekro’s 71. The excitement of that notable win disturbed the normally unflappable Maddux, as he proceeded to lose his next three starts.

On April 17^th, however, Maddux tossed a 5-hit complete game win against the Braves in Beacon, upping his career total to 328, 38 behind all-time leader Phil Niekro. The complete game was Maddux’ 214^th of his career, 10 behind #5 all-time, Jim Palmer.

Other Maddux accomplishments:

# 2 in Career ERA – 2.60 as of the end of last season. (Koufax is the best at 2.05)

#9 in Innings Pitched – 4475 current

#10 in Starts – 580 current

#6 in Strikeouts - 3420 current

Congratulations, Greg!

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