Countdown to the NFBC 2015

[Edwards Kings]

Well, you've got me trained Dr. Pavlov. Every morning I read your countdown from the bottom of the post up for some reason!



One of my favorite ballplayers by the way...the Crusty Slob...watching him in games in the early days of cable when WWOR was one of the "superstations".

[Le Grand Orange]

Yes Glenn! I was hoping Rusty would kick off the top ten countdown. Along with Doc, Sky King, Tom Terrific, and D Wright, my favorite Met of all time. The roar he would get from the crowd at Shea when he would pinch hit was unlike any other. I remember in 85 hoping the Mets would be tied or down one late in the game, so he could come up in a big spot. I did meet him once at a Big and Tall store in Jersey and had him sign my I heart Rusty hat, which I think he found pretty creepy. Anyway, nothing gets me pumped for a baseball season like thinking about Le Grand Orange and how much he meant to not one, not two, not three, but four great baseball towns. Play ball!

[Glenneration X]

Wayne, Marc, I had Rusty pegged to represent the Expos and for this spot in the Countdown for some time now as he's always been one of my personal faves as well. Ever since I opened my very first pack of baseball cards and pulled out the following...


My very first New York Mets baseball card.

I was a huge fan from that moment on. I actually lucked into one other Mets card out of that first pack. Wayne Garrett. Two red headed Mets with an Expos connection. What are the odds? Well, my father told me that Mets cards were the best cards to have. He was right. Still, I lost both the next day in school when I was introduced to the art of flipping cards, unaware of the golden rule of never flipping your All-Stars, Yankees, or Mets, as they were all too valuable for trading. I spent the rest of that season opening packs whenever managing to save a quarter to buy one, hoping to replace my long lost Staub and Garrett. Sadly, it was not to be.

Of course, many years later, as an adult, I bought that whole 1975 Topps set in a moment of nostalgia.
Now Staub and Garrett are forever back in the fold where they belong.

[Glenneration X]

Only 9 DAYS remain until the next opportunity to put our name up in lights as one of the greatest overall players among us....




Who is that greatest overall player among us? Honestly, who knows. There's so many incredible players who play these contests. I suppose if you asked enough people who are the best who've played the Main Event, many would say Juprinkawitz or Lindy. But if asking about Auctions, you might hear Dobies. But not if it's the AL Auction. That name might be Childs. But not if you ask Gekko. And Gekko might add his name to the conversation when DC's are discussed, and rightfully so. Heberlig's had an incredible recent run at 12-teamers. And has anyone padded his bank account more often in recent high dollar stand alone leagues than Bobby "Diamond" Particelli. And in regards to DFS, who among us wouldn't like to be Mr. Potts right now? Overall greatest player is a very tough call, but if you break it down to an individual format, maybe the debate gets clearer.





Who was the greatest baseball player who ever played the game? Is Ted Williams the best overall player in history? Probably not. That debate is typically left to Babe Ruth or Willie Mays, maybe a couple other legendary all around players. Williams was not DiMaggio in the field. He was not Mays on the basepaths. He didn't throw like Clemente. However, if you break it down to one individual aspect of the game, swinging a bat, there may have never been anyone better.

A .344 lifetime batting average. 521 lifetime HR's despite two tours during his prime as a hero in the American military. The last hitter to surpass .400 for a season in baseball history. A pair of triple crowns. A pair of MVP awards and four runner ups. An All-Star for every full season of his career after his rookie season. A 6-time batting champion. A .327 hitter with 31 HR's his rookie year at age 20. A .316 hitter with 29 HR's (including one in his last AB) his final season at age 41.

All this has earned Ted Williams the title of "The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived".

And as the greatest at that one so important part of the game, Ted Williams will always walk among the greatest who've ever played, and be respected by them all.


From his youth....



Through his prime....






Past his retirement....




And as long as he lived and beyond....

Ted Williams was and is "The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived", respected and revered not only by fans, but also by all the other great players throughout the history of the game he played so well.





He was John Wayne in cleats.


And the greatest to ever swing a bat.











Only 9 DAYS remain for our next chance to earn the respect of our peers as one of the greatest at any part of our game.

[jdryan]

Glenn, Great job .... waiting for #9 since you started this ... can you imagine sitting down and talking baseball/hitting
with Ted Williams ... I'm not a big All-Star game guy but I will never forget Williams going around Fenway that night.
I was born in 1969 I missed his career, but with all the stuff I get my hands on watch/read still my fav ballplayer ever.. Thanx for this post! he might not be the greatest player ever but when I think the science of hitting, I think Williams..

[Glenneration X]

Glenn, Great job .... waiting for #9 since you started this ... can you imagine sitting down and talking baseball/hitting
with Ted Williams ... I'm not a big All-Star game guy but I will never forget Williams going around Fenway that night.
I was born in 1969 I missed his career, but with all the stuff I get my hands on watch/read still my fav ballplayer ever.. Thanx for this post! he might not be the greatest player ever but when I think the science of hitting, I think Williams..

No doubt Jody. Sitting down talking hitting with the great Ted Williams would be akin to talking relativity with Einstein, gravity with Newton, literature with Shakespeare, porn with Massotto, ummm..... well you get the idea.

[mlbbug]

Glenn, Great job .... waiting for #9 since you started this ... can you imagine sitting down and talking baseball/hitting
with Ted Williams ... I'm not a big All-Star game guy but I will never forget Williams going around Fenway that night.
I was born in 1969 I missed his career, but with all the stuff I get my hands on watch/read still my fav ballplayer ever.. Thanx for this post! he might not be the greatest player ever but when I think the science of hitting, I think Williams..

No doubt Jody. Sitting down talking hitting with the great Ted Williams would be akin to talking relativity with Einstein, gravity with Newton, literature with Shakespeare, porn with Massotto, ummm..... well you get the idea.

Nice work, Glenn. I had the privilege of seeing him play several times late in his career in the late 50's at Yankee Stadium( grew up just a few blocks from there). When he came to bat nobody left their seats so they could watch a master at work.You know, early in his and Joe DiMaggio's career there had been a brief discussion between the Yankees and Red Sox about swapping these two HOF players. Can you imagine Ted Williams with that short porch in Yankee Stadium and DiMaggio putting multiple dents into and over the Green Monster . Allow me to add a few more facts about the great Ted Williams. He NEVER struck out more than he walked in ANY season. In fact, for his career he had a 2021/709 BB/K ratio(almost a 3/1 BB/K) and only had 27 K's in '41 when he hit .406. That's just a hair more than 1 K/week!! He had a career OPS of 1.116 and .290 ISO power. Who knows what he would have done if not for nearly 5 years of service as a pilot in both WWII and Korea. As you already stated, he was a true American hero.
Btw, just could not resist grabbing one of the last spots in main Event draft in NY so I signed up today. Will do Main Event and then double down with live auction that night! Look forward to the rest of your NFBC countdown.
Rich McCormick

[Glenneration X]

Glenn, Great job .... waiting for #9 since you started this ... can you imagine sitting down and talking baseball/hitting
with Ted Williams ... I'm not a big All-Star game guy but I will never forget Williams going around Fenway that night.
I was born in 1969 I missed his career, but with all the stuff I get my hands on watch/read still my fav ballplayer ever.. Thanx for this post! he might not be the greatest player ever but when I think the science of hitting, I think Williams..

No doubt Jody. Sitting down talking hitting with the great Ted Williams would be akin to talking relativity with Einstein, gravity with Newton, literature with Shakespeare, porn with Massotto, ummm..... well you get the idea.

Nice work, Glenn. I had the privilege of seeing him play several times late in his career in the late 50's at Yankee Stadium( grew up just a few blocks from there). When he came to bat nobody left their seats so they could watch a master at work.You know, early in his and Joe DiMaggio's career there had been a brief discussion between the Yankees and Red Sox about swapping these two HOF players. Can you imagine Ted Williams with that short porch in Yankee Stadium and DiMaggio putting multiple dents into and over the Green Monster . Allow me to add a few more facts about the great Ted Williams. He NEVER struck out more than he walked in ANY season. In fact, for his career he had a 2021/709 BB/K ratio(almost a 3/1 BB/K) and only had 27 K's in '41 when he hit .406. That's just a hair more than 1 K/week!! He had a career OPS of 1.116 and .290 ISO power. Who knows what he would have done if not for nearly 5 years of service as a pilot in both WWII and Korea. As you already stated, he was a true American hero.
Btw, just could not resist grabbing one of the last spots in main Event draft in NY so I signed up today. Will do Main Event and then double down with live auction that night! Look forward to the rest of your NFBC countdown.
Rich McCormick

Thanks Rich. It must have been something to see Ted Williams step to the plate. There's so many great players I wish I had the chance to see.

It brings to mind Russ' Top 5 lists, specifically the one on favorite baseball movies. I offered Ken Burns' Baseball as possibly my favorite sports movie ever (though it may not technically be considered a "movie"). I just loved that series. One of the big reasons is that when it came out, though I had previously been able to read about or seen short black and white clips showing these great players who played before my time, this movie gave me my first extended look at some of them in living color. I was in awe. I still love that series and always stop when flipping the channel if I run across it on the tube.

[Glenneration X]

Only 8 DAYS left 'til we get to test our skills on fantasy baseball's national stage, the NFBC Main Event....






This will be my 7th straight attempt at the NFBC Main Event. All 7 years having drafted live for the East Coast weekend, whether in Manhattan, Citifield, Atlantic City, or even Mahwah. My 4th straight year having also drafted live in Las Vegas.

For the most veteran and dedicated of the NFBC family, this will be their 12th straight NFBC....


Whether 12 year veteran, 1st year rookie, or somewhere in between, we'll have the same goal in 8 Days. To draft a team that at year's end will result in an NFBC Main Event Championship.







Last year's NFBC Champion was the father-son tag team of Greg and Dale Morgan. Greg is a great player and a great guy who often takes on a partner. He and I even teamed up on a NFFC football online championship team a few years back. However it was great to see him win with his Dad.

There are many father son families that have become part of the NFBC family. The Morgans, the Hinkelmans, the Magners, the Dobies, many others. It's one of the truly special things about the NFBC. The ability for a father to share an experience he loves with his son, or daughter.

I introduced my own father to the NFBC a few years back. He now plays each and every season. Some of you met him a few years back in New York when we shared a live football auction team. Others have gotten to know him in slow DC's. He's just as passionate at this game as I am and I love that he's become a part of the experience. My brother will be trying the NFBC for the first time this year with an Online Championship team. This should just add to the family gettogethers, where sports and fantasy sports are already a big part of the conversation.

What I truly look forward to though is the day that my already sports obsessed son is old enough for me to take to an NFBC draft, to share a team with him, to share the NFBC experience.

I've seen Ken at the draft table with Chip, or Lindy draft alongside Gabe, I've traveled to these drafts with my friend and neighbor, Jeff and his boys Jordan and Justin, and now I've gotten to witness Dale and Greg win a Championship together. Each time I look forward to when I can share these same experiences with my own son, or my daughters.

3 Glennerations.jpg (93.5 KiB) Viewed 6442 times

My family as part of the NFBC family. I look forward to 8 Days from now and this year's NFBC. I look forward to the day my son becomes a part of the experience even more.

[ALL-IN JD]

Awesome picture except for the Mets T-Shirt!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

Awesome picture Glenn. Soon enough that boy will be towering over you and telling you to stop picking so many Mets in the NFBC Platinum Draft!! He looks like the future brains and brawn of this operation. Great to see Martin there, too.

This is DEFINITELY a Hall of Fame thread. So many great, great pictures. Kudos to you for taking the time to do this over the last 30 days before we convene in Las Vegas for our signature event on Saturday, March 28th. Just a fantastic thread. Thanks man.

[Quahogs]

Geez... 1st Lowry post I can't mock, pan or summarily dismiss.

[Edwards Kings]

What a great looking family. Like three peas in a pod.

[mlbbug]

Very nice family photo Glenn. It is always wonderful to see generation shots like that. Never got the chance to do that type of photo with my dad as he passed when I was a kid. But I have been blessed to have had both my son and my daughter( who is an avid baseball fan and accomplished fantasy football champ) accompany me as co-manager to different NFBC Main Events in recent years. They are now both married and as such no longer have time to go with dad to these events. There is nothing better than sharing this great game that we all love so much with those that are near and dear to us.

[Glenneration X]

Thanks Guys. I won't hesitate to admit that my son, as well as my baby girls, are the prides and joys of my life.
As for my Dad, well let's just say that while growing up, he helped teach me what it is to be a Dad.

And you're right Greg. My boy's so sports obsessed, he probably could outdraft me already... and Massotto for sure.
Still think I could out-FAAB him though...well at least for a little while longer.

Congrats on yet another Main Event sellout Greg, well deserved. Only 8 more days and I cannot wait.

[Lunatic]

Great post!!! As the father of four girls who were not interested in baseball or football, I had to enjoy my passion by myself (except for all my friends here). My grandson, little Jimmy, turns four tomorrow and my hope is to have him by my side at a draft or auction someday. I have watched as Chip Magner has grown into an exceptional young man and a sports enthusiast who loves these games and is very good at them.

Glenn, it's so cool your dad and brother have joined the NFBC family; again, great post!!!

[Glenneration X]

Great post!!! As the father of four girls who were not interested in baseball or football, I had to enjoy my passion by myself (except for all my friends here). My grandson, little Jimmy, turns four tomorrow and my hope is to have him by my side at a draft or auction someday. I have watched as Chip Magner has grown into an exceptional young man and a sports enthusiast who loves these games and is very good at them.

Glenn, it's so cool your dad and brother have joined the NFBC family; again, great post!!!

Jeez, four girls Jimmy?? How often did you have to clean your shotgun while meeting potential suitors?
Thanks Bud and catch you soon.

[Glenneration X]

Only 7 Days, that's right, one single week remains until the NFBC Main Event and an opportunity to add to our Hall of Fame resumes....




Just prior to the start of the Main Event at the Bellagio, Greg will likely take the podium for a few words. Within those words, will be a congratulatory announcement and introduction of our newest NFBC Hall of Famer, David DiDonato.





At that time, David will be formally added to the current roster of NFBC Hall of Famers, Steve Juprinka, Shawn Childs, and Lindy Hinkelman. Well deserved David and congratulations once again.






With David's induction, it remains a small group of current and former honorees. Only 4 entered in the 5 years since its creation and the first since 2012. Like MLB in recent years, the NFBC has been very deliberate to bring new inductees within its hallowed halls. MLB due to a backlog of candidates caused by the eligibility and resulting argument over a number of steroid era candidates. The NFBC due to its incredibly high standards for induction.



Now I'm not suggesting that either MLB or the NFBC let every Tom, Dick, or Massotto in, but MLB shouldn't exclude a worthy candidate simply because of rumors unsubstantiated by hard evidence, and in regards to the NFBC, maybe they should loosen their standards just a tiny bit. After all, if the standard is Juprinka, Childs, Lindy, and DiDonato level, who else will ever get in? And I hear they're even considering taking Juprinka's away! Well, I kinda get that.




After all, if MLB never lowered its standards for induction off its initial classes, these guys would still be the only members.


Either way, I love the NFBC and I love that they have a way to honor their most accomplished members.
In just 7 Days, we welcome David to that group, and just after we get a our next chance to add our own names to the conversation.

[Lunatic]

Jeez, four girls Jimmy?? How often did you have to clean your shotgun while meeting potential suitors?
Thanks Bud and catch you soon.[/quote]

Glenn, no shotguns, but I did have to forcibly remove a few from my home; no joke, true. Fortunately, all four have wonderful men at this time.

[Doctor Who]

Glenn, I'm glad you decided to save number 7 for a Killer B. It has been a long time coming for him to get in.




Now I'm hoping that the voters will finally open their eyes to the other one I got to watch growing up. Both of these guys have the utmost respect for the game, played day in and day out, never wanting to be out of the lineup, and both had the grit and humility you want from your leaders.



Finally, my Astros are finally on their way back up after a miserable decade, but I'm glad that I got to grow up with these guys.

I don't know how many games Biggio would start off with a patented double..



Then Bagwell would clean it up and do one of these...



Just some numerish stats on the two, since we all like numbers.

372. That's how many of Jeff Bagwell's 1,529 career RBIs were scored by Craig Biggio. 372 times. 24.3% of Bagwell's RBIs were runs scored by Biggio and 20.4% of Biggio's 1837 career runs were driven in by Bagwell. Biggio has been on base for 93 of Bagwell's 449 homers - nearly 21% of them - and Biggio was the runner scoring from third on 29 of Bagwell's 102 sacrifice flies. And of those 372 times Bagwell drove in a Biggio run, 31 of them were after Biggio reached base on a plunk. These guys will be forever connected, and will hope they will be connected at a later date in the Hall.



I will never forget their magical 05 run to the WS. Even though the end result could have been the worst ever, the ride there was incredible. I went to every playoff game that year and MMP had some memorable games that year. It started with Wayne's Braves who I STILL HATE to this day for all the first round exits from Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz with Chipper always killing us on the other side of the ball. Everyone knew if the Astros didn't win game 4, they wouldn't win game 5 in Atlanta. Up 6-1 and looking like they would be on their way back in Atlanta, Berkman (Another killer B, isn't it amazing how many killer B's we had?) hit a grand slam to bring us to 6-5 and then Ausmus hit a game tying 2 out 2 strike pitch to tie the game on a ball that nobody knew it was gone until the umpire was circling his right hand. Then 9 more innings played out. I was pissed because it seemed every other inning Chipper was somehow up, then Roger came out of the bullpen (who wasn't even at the ballpark to start the game), then the Chris Burke (Another Killer B, okay maybe not so much) homer, which probably still haunts Wayne to this day.

Then the Cards, who we again always played in the playoffs and a very underrated rivalry that I miss being in the stupid AL. Thanks Bud for screwing us again. That series was back and forth as the Cards were always scrappy. I remember the huge play at the plate with Pujols in the 9th and then the double play to end it that shouldn't have been one because it was so in the hole. But this year was our year, our turn to get all the breaks. Then game 5 came, the Astros had gotten a grand slam from Berkman again in the 6th, I was going to be at the game that got the Astros to their first World Series. You couldn't hear your buddy next to you from the minute he hit that grand slam, to the 9th inning. Nobody sat down, everyone was ready to rush the field and party all night long. Then it happened. Pujols belted a ball that still hasn't landed off a Lidge slider. I was in right field for that game, and the minute he hit it, it went from you couldn't hear your buddy, to the only thing you heard in the stadium was the Cardinals bench. Most demoralizing moment in my Astros history (We wont talk about the 86 Stros, ok Glenn? ). Then game 6. My dad was working in St. Louis at the time. He knew that Game 5 had been demoralizing, so he surprised me with a late flight and some tickets to the last game at Busch stadium. Oswalt was promised a tractor by our owner Drayton if he won (He got it by the way), and when Jason Lane caught that ball, one of the best memories was getting to celebrate our first WS trip with my dad. Two grown men crying and hugging each other in an opponents house. I will give it to the Cards fans though. They were respectful not only to us, but knew how much it meant to every Stros fan and Biggio and Bagwell. They wanted us to win because everyone knew their wouldn't be that many more chances for BGO and Bags, especially since Bags already couldn't throw a grounder to 3B in between innings at this time. Although we got swept in that Series, the games were only decided by a combined 6 runs, but the run to the WS might have been one of the most magical times ever. One of the songs that played in Houston during the WS is attached below and actually is worth the listen sounds from Milo Hamilton and the Astros broadcast played between the song. You can get a good feel of Houston from that first song (only 4 mins, don't have to listen to rest as doesn't have Astros broadcast in it.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRh6Dh9Q4Mo

[Glenneration X]

(We wont talk about the 86 Stros, ok Glenn? ).

Thanks for the happy memory Dustin.




And thanks also for your own happy memories of your Killer B's. Great thing about this great game of baseball I've seen posted over and over on this thread and other threads on our boards. The indelible memories baseball has left in our mind's eye. We see them over and over again in those memories, and relive them each time with the same joy from when we saw them the very first time.

Now how about posting some more memories...this time of the undercover Juprinka strategy sessions on the Platinum.

[Doctor Who]

I'm pretty sure we are surprising everyone and selecting Coors Field for our first round selection. I'm sure that pick will always be remembered as the first ever pick of a stadium. I don't see it not in the rules.

[Quahogs]

Poor Dustin's been riding me for our strategy... so I finally caved and sent it to him.
Truthfully the only thing I have down so far is to bid up Glenn Lousy's Met players. Lordy knows he's loyal and stubborn to a fault and his team will be loaded with them...

[Glenneration X]

Truthfully the only thing I have down so far is to bid up Glenn Lousy's Met players.

Gasp! That's what I get Juprinkie for petitioning Greg to let you keep your HOF status??
No good deed goes unpunished.

Ok then, I'll play. Wheeler for $1.

All bustin' aside, less than a week 'til Vegas my friend. Can't wait.

[MadCow Sez]

Truthfully the only thing I have down so far is to bid up Glenn Lousy's Met players.

Gasp! That's what I get Juprinkie for petitioning Greg to let you keep your HOF status??
No good deed goes unpunished.

Ok then, I'll play. Wheeler for $1.

All bustin' aside, less than a week 'til Vegas my friend. Can't wait.

Bidding up Mets players? Let's see how many come from the 8-hole in the All Star event....