The First 195 NFBC Participants: A Remembrance

[Greg Ambrosius]

I've often said that without the support of 195 owners who put their faith in a person they had never met, a contest that was untested, and in prize money that they trusted was guaranteed that the National Fantasy Baseball Championship never would have lived to see a second season. We needed their trust and support that first year to move forward with this plan and THEY are the reasons we are still here in 2013.

That's right, 195 owners trusted in us and believed in this live event format enough to put their money down and trust that the $100,000 grand prize would be there at season's end. We guaranteed the prizes based on 300 entries and even though we fell well short of our goal, we paid out in full and paid quickly during what turned out to be a fantastic debut season. We lost a lot of money that first year, but it was a great starting point and we proved to our owners that we were true to our word with the prize payouts. The next year we sold out the Main Event and we've sold it out now for 8 straight seasons.

It's a beautiful story, but it was definitely nerve-wracking that first season.

So who were those first 195 owners? Let's honor them here today and again in Las Vegas on March 22-24 at the live events. Many are still playing with us 10 years later (possibly 70 or more), while some stayed for a few years before parting ways. Still, it's great to look back and remember all of the names. Here are the lists and their draft orders for each 2004 Main Event:

Las Vegas League 1:
1. Charles Gallagher (Peggy Gallagher)
2. John Menna
3. Jessie Herron (Dustin Ashby)
4. Meat Loaf (Alan Driggers)
5. Steve Wells
6. Jason Krieger
7. Brett Washburn
8. Lewis Lipsey
9. Jeremy Chen (Tri Huynh)
10. Carl Lampley
11. Harold Goodman
12. Jeff Thomas
13. Scott Stauffer
14. Boaz Levey
15. Dohn Terrell Jr. (Jim Christie)

Las Vegas League 2:
1. William Tyrer
2. John Dean
3. Charles Papenfus (Toby Lee)
4. Michael Cameron
5. Christopher Stephenson (Andrew Nolan)
6. Perry Van Hook (Tom Loversky)
7. Henry Cantrell Jr. (Leslie Smith)
8. Alan Alpers
9. Eric Peden
10. Korey Gardner (Jimmy Gardner)
11. George Beason
12. Emmett Ruland (Michael Cohen)
13. Mike Williams (Scott Gunaca)
14. Rick Thomas
15. Bruce Barnard (David O'Connor)

Las Vegas League 3:
1. Terrance Haney
2. Todd Zola
3. Nate Ravitz
4. Gary Cowham (Tom Connors)
5. Phillip Barto
6. Richard Kloppenburg
7. Aaron Smith
8. John Crane
9. Heath Shaffer (Andrew Orozco)
10. Thomas B. Smith (Chris Worstell)
11. David Longood
12. Kevin Rogers
13. Scott Zeidman (Eric Ogaway)
14. Mark Yagan (Barry Fishman)
15. Scott Lambie (Kirk Vanden Heuvel)

Las Vegas League 4:
1. Raymond Freer
2. Lance Goebel (Herb Goebel)
3. Doug McCready
4. James Hoffstetter
5. Kenneth Norred
6. Rey Diaz
7. Norm Kent
8. Mark Lally (Daryl Williams)
9. Bradley Shairson (Willie Hoffman)
10. Shawn Childs (Kevin Deckel)
11. Wayne Edwards
12. James "Ken" Bayes (Jeffrey Rackliffe)
13. Rick Kanfer
14. Gene McCaffrey (John Menna)
15. Matthew Berry

Las Vegas League 5:
1. Kevin Dukesherer
2. Sharon Williams (Dan Williams)
3. Kenneth Magner (Bob Saxton)
4. Mike O'Connor
5. Michael Lewis
6. Clark Olson
7. John Swol
8. James Vassallo (Chris Schinker)
9. Larry Katz
10. Donn Johnson (Robert Berlin)
11. Richard Williams
12. James Malcolm (Jack Lyons)
13. Hojin Kyung (Aram Penaranda)
14. Adam Hollander (Tom Shelby)
15. J.T. Visco

New York League 1:
1. Leonello Savo Jr.
2. Peter Lukowicz (Reed Turrin)
3. Artie Rastelli
4. David Zwickel
5. John Rundle (Tom O'Connor)
6. Howard Rubin
7. Donald Haworth
8. Patrick Tremaglio (Kevin Sullivan)
9. Steve Siniski (Jason Kessler)
10. Don Mathis (Judy Mathis)
11. Eddie Gillis
12. James Bores
13. Glen Schroter
14. Matthew Ross
15. Paul Weber

New York League 2:
1. Wilbur Soto
2. Christopher Fleming
3. Leonard Ringle
4. Eric Price (Nick Cassavetes)
5. Alexander Hayden
6. Michael Fishman
7. Mark Janik (Vito Luongo)
8. Michael Edelman (Mike Cuellar)
9. Brom Keifitz
10. Kevin Grady
11. John Hogan (Rafael Toro)
12. Lenny Diveglio
13. John Bolcato (John Kadubec)
14. Scott Renda (Dajan Prorokovic)
15. Andy Shane

New York League 3:
1. Matthew Fleming
2. Lawrence Edelman
3. Will Robertson
4. Ray Murphy (Scott Monroe)
5. Joey Liner (Lee Pollack)
6. Martin Bedell (Nick Malatesnic)
7. Al Riccobono (Rocky DiFeo)
8. Brian Ross
9. George Vagelokos (Jake Rie)
10. Douglas Jaffe (John Franchi)
11. Jing Feng (Jerry Tu)
12. Bill Begley (Jim)
13. Michael Pisano
14. Salvatore Vella
15. Gregory Paley

New York League 4:
1. Kevin Cummings
2. Rick Cordella
3. Chris Plouffe
4. Yoni Bornstein (Sammy Zahler)
5. Stephen Jupinka
6. Brian Oldenski
7. Scott Israel (Jason Kass)
8. Michael Samuels
9. Ari Benjamin (Lauren Benjamin)
10. Jeff Dobies (Jonathan Friedman)
11. John Wojtowicz (Eric Pallotti)
12. Brian Walton
13. Joseph Saporito (Chris McGowan)
14. Mike Ladd (Brian O'Donnell)
15. Scott Alpers (Jeff Goeke)

Las Vegas/New York League:
1. Jay Bufis, NY
2. Michael Warren, NY
3. David Fox, NY
4. David Cushard, LV
5. Rob Wolf, NY
6. Charles Cart, NY
7. Joe Esposito, LV
8. Shane Pullen, LV
9. Scott Jordan, LV
10. Brant Goldsmith, NY
11. Jeff Rackliffe, LV
12. Rob Conti, NY
13. Steve True, NY
14. Larry Chialli, NY
15. Chris Jones, NY

Chicago League 1:
1. Tony Silvia (Troy Agler)
2. David Bowen (Scott Jordan)
3. Aaron Seefeldt
4. Gerry Scotto di Marco
5. Shawn Lechner (Chris Litsey)
6. Phillip McDonald
7. Christopher Hyden
8. Jeff Howard
9. Ryan Zeid (Jerry Sloan)
10. Carl Mische
11. Win Murray
12. Frank Perez (Jeff Husserl)
13. Steve Glover (Tyler Burgess)
14. Vern Newman
15. Craig Neustadt (Glen Brown)

Chicago League 2:
1. Nathan Noy
2. Steve Kraut
3. Stanley Kaye (Mike Kaye)
4. Dave Gawron
5. Bob Miggliozzi
6. Thomas Greenwald (Greg LaBonar)
7. Keith Guilian (Andy Mullett)
8. Dominic Cirigliano
9. John Engstrom
10. Glenn Florczak (Jeanne Florczak)
11. Chad Meyer (Parnelli Baker)
12. Greg Morgan (Dale Morgan)
13. Thomas Wachter (Terry Kent)
14. Charles Gillespie (Brian Rudd)
15. Todd Nord

Las Vegas/Chicago League:
1. Edward Mick, Chi.
2. Howard Markowitz, LV
3. George Kleeman, Chi.
4. Chris Deffendahl, LV
5. Jay Gray, LV
6. Greg Glukhovsky, LV
7. Jim Ruland, LV
8. Matt Pike, LV
9. Robert Mauri, LV
10. John Piontek, LV
11. Edgar LaTorre, Chi.
12. Jeff Price, LV
13. Anthony Swain, LV
14. Chris Liss, LV
15. Jeff Dietz, Chi.

Does anyone remember anything about these leagues? Any fond memories that you can share from Draft Day 2004?

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here were the 3 auction leagues from that season:

LAS VEGAS NL AUCTION LEAGUE
1. Charles Gallagher (Peggy Gallagher)
2. Jesse Herron (Dustin Ashby)
3. Rick Tiegs
4. Terry Haney
5. Dale Tobias
6. Jeff Rackliffe (Ken Bayes)
7. James Hoffstetter
8. Wayne Barber
9. Aaron Seefeldt
10. Ken Magner (Gaetan Lovoie)
11. Bruce Barnard (Meat Loaf)
12. James Vassallo (Chris Schinker)
13. John Menna

LAS VEGAS AL AUCTION LEAGUE:
1. Dohn Terrell
2. Ken Norred
3. Greg Glukhovsky
4. Shawn Childs
5. Gene McCaffrey
6. Perry Van Hook
7. Ken Magner
8. Clark Olson
9. Todd Zola
10. George Beason
11. John Crane
12. David Cushard

New York AL Auction League:
1. Eddie Gillis
2. Alan Zimmerman
3. Peter Lukowicz
4. Rusty Tinik
5. Jeff Dobies
6. Bryan Anderson
7. Michael Pisani
8. Glenn Schroter
9. Bob Sherman
10. Andy Shane
11. Gary Sobov
12. Ralph Boscaino

[Greg Ambrosius]

It's an interesting list of owners from 2004. They included:

Rock star Meat Loaf live in Las Vegas
Aspiring fantasy sports writer Matthew Berry who now is now on ESPN
Nate Ravitz, head writer at RotoTimes.com in 2004 and now the fantasy sports editorial director at ESPN.com
Michael Fishman, who got a job with the New York Yankees in 2005 and I believe is still with the organization

Rey Diaz was our very first official NFBC signup
Artie Rastelli was our very first $100,000 grand champion, drafting out of New York League 1

Andy Shane
Nathan Noy

Ohhh, so many great memories.

[KJ Duke]

In the NL auction, Dale Tobias was just a silent partner - I was in doing the auction! The main event draft was fun but the auction totally hooked me for coming back year after year. I sat next to Terry Haney and talked to him a lot, as we continued to do for several years after that during and after the season. Likewise, I remember talking to Bruce but was surprised that I didn't see him much after that in future drafts, but I would get used to seeing Schinker and Magner in almost every league I did for the next 9 years. I recall Hoffstetter and his bizarre honesty about looking for a foreign bride/gf, although it might've been year two when we discussed that. Lis especially never forgot that, and we presumed he was successful because he didn't seem to have time for FB after that.

Also, I remember Greg was very gracious about letting Lis sit in on all my drafts without paying a co-mgr fee ... good business decision!

[Edwards Kings]

No surprise, but the thing I remember most was having my ass handed to me by Shawn Childs. My first pick was Miguel Tejada, which turned out to be great. I really liked my draft (no surprise) and was talking with Shawn about it after we finished. I got Chipper Jones for a good "value". Shawn says "...never did like Chipper much...he could be a gamble..."

Gamble? Man, this guy don't know nuttin about fantasy baseball. Chipper hadn't hit less than .295 since his rookie year! What a maroon. Of course, that year, Chipper hit .248, lowest of his career.

I also got Jason Giambi three or four rounds after I thought he should go. Who cares about PED? 2003 - 41 HR with 134 runs and 107 RBI. How bad could it be? Shawn didn't like that pick either. There was just no pleasing that guy. Giambi 2004? 12 HR with 55 runs and 40 RBI with a .208 BA.

I listened to Shawn very closely after that. Baaaaa.

In short, my team was not good, though I did pick up David Wright when he was called up. By some magic, I climbed up to third place with three weeks to go. I think I bumped Lance Goebel (RIP) out of the spot temporarily before I totally collapsed back to finish 7th.

I remember the night before with the meet and greet with Marty Barrett and the the panel (had a nice conversation with Eric Karabell). Also, only one team I think was late to the draft, not making the switch from eastern time. I wonder if they ever came back?

[Greg Ambrosius]

In the NL auction, Dale Tobias was just a silent partner - I was in doing the auction! The main event draft was fun but the auction totally hooked me for coming back year after year. I sat next to Terry Haney and talked to him a lot, as we continued to do for several years after that during and after the season. Likewise, I remember talking to Bruce but was surprised that I didn't see him much after that in future drafts, but I would get used to seeing Schinker and Magner in almost every league I did for the next 9 years. I recall Hoffstetter and his bizarre honesty about looking for a foreign bride/gf, although it might've been year two when we discussed that. Lis especially never forgot that, and we presumed he was successful because he didn't seem to have time for FB after that.

Also, I remember Greg was very gracious about letting Lis sit in on all my drafts without paying a co-mgr fee ... good business decision!

I believe he did marry a Russian woman!!

I was investing in Liss!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

No surprise, but the thing I remember most was having my ass handed to me by Shawn Childs. My first pick was Miguel Tejada, which turned out to be great. I really liked my draft (no surprise) and was talking with Shawn about it after we finished. I got Chipper Jones for a good "value". Shawn says "...never did like Chipper much...he could be a gamble..."

Gamble? Man, this guy don't know nuttin about fantasy baseball. Chipper hadn't hit less than .295 since his rookie year! What a maroon. Of course, that year, Chipper hit .248, lowest of his career.

I also got Jason Giambi three or four rounds after I thought he should go. Who cares about PED? 2003 - 41 HR with 134 runs and 107 RBI. How bad could it be? Shawn didn't like that pick either. There was just no pleasing that guy. Giambi 2004? 12 HR with 55 runs and 40 RBI with a .208 BA.

I listened to Shawn very closely after that. Baaaaa.

In short, my team was not good, though I did pick up David Wright when he was called up. By some magic, I climbed up to third place with three weeks to go. I think I bumped Lance Goebel (RIP) out of the spot temporarily before I totally collapsed back to finish 7th.

I remember the night before with the meet and greet with Marty Barrett and the the panel (had a nice conversation with Eric Karabell). Also, only one team I think was late to the draft, not making the switch from eastern time. I wonder if they ever came back?

That was the Mad Russians, Gregory Glukhovsky and his brother Phil. They have been back almost every year since and will be in Las Vegas for the 10th anniversary celebration.

That Shawn sure can be a pain in the ass, can't he? Especially when he's right.

[Lunatic]

I remember the AL Auction in Vegas sitting with Dohn Terrell and Brady running that Auction; it is all over and Brady tells Dohn he has the best team and that was the kiss of death as I believe Dohn finished in last place.
On Saturday, I sit with Emmett Ruland and this was the league where the Worst Russians Ever was late for. I don't know how many rounds they missed (maybe 3) and Greg (I believe) would come over and make a pick based on the rankings from the Fantasy Baseball magazine. I believe Emmett won that league.
It was my inaugural trip to Vegas and returned every year except for 2011 when I drafted out of NYC. After the auctions were complete, I did ask Meat Loaf for a picture together and he was nice enough to do so; have that photo in my office. What I remember is Meat says, "wait till I take off my glasses." I was hooked!!!

[Lunatic]

OK, looks Like I sat with Dohn for the Main Event also; hmm, I know I wasn't drinking and thought for sure I sat with Emmett at the Main Event and Dohn in the AL Auction. Oh well, it was a blast!!!

[Bob Enzyte]

And the legend of Every League Luny was born.

[Sack]

Jim, tell us the story about the NFBC and Ferguson Jenkins.

I'm going to call Dohn and Emmett and see if they would be willing to take you back. Damn, Potter really
Stuck me good with this move. Never realized, the guy owes me big time.

GREG: Jim decided to save $20 that year on his flight. He took a connection to avoid the extra cash. The non- stop arrived without problems. Poor Jim got spun off to Atlanta and another location and it took him twice as long to arrive in Vegas. Thus, we have always reminded him of his.......shall we say......" frugal " nature.

[Lunatic]

Jim, tell us the story about the NFBC and Ferguson Jenkins.

I'm going to call Dohn and Emmett and see if they would be willing to take you back. Damn, Potter really
Stuck me good with this move. Never realized, the guy owes me big time.

GREG: Jim decided to save $20 that year on his flight. He took a connection to avoid the extra cash. The non- stop arrived without problems. Poor Jim got spun off to Atlanta and another location and it took him twice as long to arrive in Vegas. Thus, we have always reminded him of his.......shall we say......" frugal " nature.

Ferguson Jenkins Story:

Sack, Chip and I are in Phoenix area for spring training last year. We arrive for a night game between Texas and KC (what a beautiful venue). Fergie is one of 4-5 ex drug addicts, er, ball players signing memorabilia.
I have told friends over the years about the time I was in Arlington for a game when ABC televised Monday Game of the Week back in ’79 or ’80. I went to the game late and got a single box seat 2nd row right behind the Rangers on deck circle. First inning, Fergie gets thrown out for arguing with the umpire. Now, I wasn't drunk yet and I wasn't doing any crystal meth which was my drug of choice back then and I wasn't hallucinating.

Therefore, we all go up to have a chat with Fergie and I ask if he remembers this episode and he responds, “It never happened, I have never been thrown out of a game.” I said, something like, “you sure?” and he responded, “Sir, it never happened.” I have not heard the last of this from Sack. My thoughts, you going to take my word or that of cocaine addict trafficker?

Sack and Chip searched the web for Fergy stats, stories etc. but could not verify one way or the other. I actually thought Fergie could have been a bit more cordial or at least think it was funny, but he just acted defensive like I questioned his character; that said, his character was already in question. Maybe that Monday in Arlington, he was in a black-out, which could explain it.

This is my story and I am sticking with it.

[Sack]

MLB doesn't have Mr Jenkins ever being tossed from a game. I had to pull Mr Christie away from the autograph booth before security locked his tall skinny ass up. I wasn't bailing him out.

I love the Luny, but I'm trusting Mr Jenkins on this information!

[DOUGHBOYS]

Jim, just for your own piece of mind, Ferguson Jenkins WAS thrown out of one Major League game. I haven't found the date, but he was tossed for throwing bats on the field.
Tough life off the field besides the drugs.
Lost his wife in a car accident.
Two years later his girlfriend seatbelted his three year old daughter into their car in the garage and committed murder/suicide.
I'll look for the date of when he was tossed. It's a tough nut, because being tossed isn't exactly a highlight in a Hall of Fame career.

[ToddZ]

Retrosheet.org tracks ejections.

The ONLY time Jenkins was tossed was May 27, 1996 while serving as pitching coach for the Cubs.

The reason listed is "Balls and Strikes".

[DOUGHBOYS]

'Jenkins was always one of the most gentlemanly of ballplayers and was thrown out of a game only once, when he threw a few bats onto the field in a pique.

"Fergie, I'm sorry," said the umpire. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Jenkins had one other incident of greater notoriety. In August 1980, he was arrested in Toronto on a charge of carrying in his luggage small amounts of hashish, marijuana and cocaine.'

This from a Chicago Tribune story, about the same time frame Jim referred to.....

[DOUGHBOYS]

In a world of lists, you'd think they'd have an 'ejections list'

[ToddZ]

'Jenkins was always one of the most gentlemanly of ballplayers and was thrown out of a game only once, when he threw a few bats onto the field in a pique.

"Fergie, I'm sorry," said the umpire. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Jenkins had one other incident of greater notoriety. In August 1980, he was arrested in Toronto on a charge of carrying in his luggage small amounts of hashish, marijuana and cocaine.'

This from a Chicago Tribune story, about the same time frame Jim referred to.....

Hmm..

Not sure if I stand corrected or not, details were pretty vague.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Agreed Todd.
It's the only thing I can find and I don't see any games that match what Jim describes in Jenkins game logs.

[ToddZ]

The date was August 15, 1973

There are newspaper reports of the incident

from http://athomeatfenway.wordpress.com/tag ... n-jenkins/

The one time he was ejected: (paraphrased) 1972. I was going to pitch to Henry Aaron, whom I had great success against. I gave up 2 HR to Hank in 11 years of pitching to him. (Seaver, in 7 years yielded 11 HR to The Hammer.). With a game on the line, two on, and Aaron at the plate, Whitey Lockman yanked me…I just knew I would have gotten Aaron out. Of course, the reliever yielded a 2 rbi double on his second pitch. Game over. And I just lost it. I chucked 6 bats onto field and was ejected. The Cubs sent me to a therapist.

[DOUGHBOYS]

The AHA! moment!
Good work, Todd.....and sorry, Jim.

[Sack]

Poor Jim wasn't taking no for an answer. He kept after Fergie. I ushered him away by tempting him away
By pointing to the Ice Cream stand. Told Jim I saved him from being locked up in Arizona and he had to
Pay for the ice cream. Jim has come along way since that frugal first trip, he picked up the tab. When
Fergie saw Jim coming towards the end of the game, he ducked into the bathroom to avoid the Governor!

[Lunatic]

It was a great seat though at old Arlington Stadium. The best of times in Texas and my worst of times. Can I mention when I almost got in a fight with Harvey Martin at a club called DaVinci's in Dallas? All these years thinking Fergie was ejected; now I wonder who it was because someone got ejected and it wasn't me!!!

[Lunatic]

Thanks Todd and Dan for your research. I know I wasn't drunk when arriving at the game.

[ToddZ]

Date Ejected Umpire Reason
4-18-1979 BOX Billy Sample Ted Hendry Called third strike
5-18-1979 BOX Ed Farmer George Eshelman Balls and strikes
5-20-1979 BOX Pat Corrales Dave Perez Call at HP
6-19-1979 BOX Pat Corrales Derryl Cousins Spit ball
6-23-1979 BOX Johnny Grubb Bill Kunkel Balls and strike
8-12-1979 BOX Richie Zisk Mike Reilly Called third strike
8-14-1979 BOX Pat Corrales Fred Spenn Length of mound meeting
8-23-1979 BOX Frank Lucchesi Durwood Merrill
9- 5-1979 BOX Pat Corrales Jerry Neudecker Call at 2B
9-23-1979 BOX John Ellis Dave Phillips Called third strike (Threw bat)
5-24-1980 BOX Pat Corrales George Maloney Balls and strikes
5-26-1980 BOX Bob Babcock Bill Haller Throwing behind batter after warning
5-26-1980 BOX Buddy Bell Bill Haller Charging mound
5-26-1980 BOX Johnny Grubb Bill Haller Fighting Bruce Kison after HBP
7-15-1980 BOX Pat Corrales Fred Spenn Call at 1B (on pick off)
8-18-1980 BOX Bump Wills Jim McKean Called third strike