Matt Shepherd Wins 2023 NFBC Auction Championship & $30,000

[Greg Ambrosius]

Matt Shepherd of Napa, California won the 2023 NFBC Auction Championship title and the $30,000 grand prize as he bested a record field of 195 teams for the title. Matt competed in Las Vegas on Thursday, March 23rd and won his league title and then won his first NFBC overall title.

Matt finished 41 points ahead of NFBC Hall of Famer Dave Potts for the overall title, while Doug Gruber finished third overall. Matt and Doug were in the same Las Vegas $1500 Auction Championship League and Matt edged Doug by 4 points for that league title. Dave won $7,500 for his runner-up finish, while Doug won $5,500 for his third place finish. Rounding out the Top 5 in the overall were Mark Northan ($4,500) and Emilio Cutaneo ($3,500). We paid the Top 12 teams overall and the Top 3 teams in each league.

Matt's winning total of 1,636 points was 83.9 percent of available points in this 195-team field. This was such a tough battle that the winning percentage of points was only the 9th highest in our 12-year history of this national championship. Eight teams were within 121 points of the top spot. Matt finished with 127.5 points to win his league title.

Great job everyone and we look forward to another big auction championship season in 2024. Our live auctions will be limited to Las Vegas this year, but we'll have offerings from Wednesday, March 20th through Wednesday, March 27th. We'll also include NFBC $1500 Auction Championship leagues Online as we filled two of those this past season. Thanks all and congrats to all of our money winners in this format.

Here's the final standings:

2023 NFBC Auction Championship Top 75 Teams:
1 Matthew Shepherd MORONS $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/23 @ 4:00 pm PT #1325 1,636.00
2 David Potts Vandelay Industries $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/27 @ 10:00 am PT #1331 1,595.00
3 Douglas Gruber Dougs Dawgs AUC1 $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/23 @ 4:00 pm PT #1325 1,570.00
4 Mark Northan Northan $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/26 @ 10:00 am PT #1330 1,554.00
5 Emilio Cutaneo Billy Batts $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/28 @ 8:00 pm ET #1609 1,536.50
6 Zach Bettencourt Manbearpig $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1323 1,527.50
7 Toby Guevin BatFlip Crazy AC1 $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1327 1,519.00
8 Andy Saxton Saxton $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/28 @ 8:00 pm ET #1609 1,515.50
9 Michael Mager Bronx Yankees AC2 $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1326 1,465.50
10 Robert DiPietro Podcasting & Pontificating A1 $2,500 Auction Championship New York 3/17 @ 2:30 pm ET #1216 1,451.00
11 Scott Waggener Friday AM Vegas Auction $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1324 1,449.00
12 Zachary Waxman Waxman $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1323 1,444.50
13 Justin Salinger Globbery Robbery $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1322 1,441.50
14 Matthew Davis mattywood $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1322 1,431.50
15 Douglas Gruber Dougs Dawgs AUC3 $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1322 1,429.50
16 Andy Saxton SaxStone $1,500 Auction Championship New York 3/17 @ 9:00 am ET #1215 1,415.00
17 Donald Warner Warner $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1324 1,407.50
18 Kelly Uganski LONG GONE $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/26 @ 10:00 am PT #1330 1,399.50
19 Daniel Semsel Dan Vogelbach's Diet Plan A1 $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1327 1,397.00
20 Steven Weimer Only Spenders $1,500 Auction Championship New York 3/17 @ 9:00 am ET #1215 1,389.50
21 Jason Duponte Cue the Duckboats 2500 $2,500 Auction Championship New York 3/17 @ 2:30 pm ET #1216 1,383.00
22 Harry FACIANE HemisWayOrTheHighway $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1326 1,379.50
23 Anthony Palavis Chico Linds Hermanos AUCTION $1,500 Auction Championship New York 3/17 @ 9:00 am ET #1215 1,375.50
24 Jeffrey Zimmerman TB_JZ_AC $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1326 1,369.50
25 Zach Bettencourt Murmaider $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/23 @ 4:00 pm PT #1325 1,365.00
26 Jody Ryan Ryan Juilo is in Stride $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1327 1,364.00
27 Brian Jenner Rotoholic AUC1 $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/23 @ 4:00 pm PT #1325 1,360.50
28 stephen fiore Sultans of Smack $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/27 @ 10:00 am PT #1331 1,355.00
29 Gregg Martin Martin_AC $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/26 @ 6:00 pm ET #1267 1,339.50
30 Donald Warner Warner $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/27 @ 10:00 am PT #1331 1,338.50
31 Robert Giese Meh $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1329 1,335.50
32 Jason Gill Law Firm of Turner and Turner $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1324 1,335.00
33 Jenny Butler Butler $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/26 @ 10:00 am PT #1330 1,324.50
34 Toby Guevin BatFlip Crazy AC2 $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1329 1,316.50
35 Alan Holmes Thurman15 $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/23 @ 4:00 pm PT #1325 1,305.00
36 Ariel Cohen Robins $1,500 Auction Championship New York 3/17 @ 9:00 am ET #1215 1,304.00
37 Jacob Halusker Cleveland Dustmites $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1324 1,299.00
38 matt bruinix Bru-Crew $2,500 Auction Championship New York 3/17 @ 2:30 pm ET #1216 1,285.50
39 Ian Hubbard Hubbard $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/28 @ 8:00 pm ET #1609 1,273.50
40 Jason Duponte Cue the Duckboats 1500 $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/27 @ 10:00 am PT #1331 1,267.50
41 Marc Winokur Le Grand Orange AC $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1323 1,264.50
42 Mike Rothe KINGS OF BERRY RD J&R EDITION $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/26 @ 6:00 pm ET #1267 1,257.50
43 Scott keikoan keikoan $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1329 1,247.50
44 Jay Tannehill So Cal WanderLust $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1324 1,246.50
45 Robert Giese Tigers Slappy $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1323 1,239.50
46 Errol Thompson Thompson $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1326 1,239.00
47 Jody Ryan Ryan Bluejays $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1329 1,231.00
48 Ben Zamfino Renegade $2,500 Auction Championship New York 3/17 @ 2:30 pm ET #1216 1,222.00
49 John Pausma JP AUC1 $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1323 1,217.00
50 Eric Albright Thunder Auction $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1323 1,213.50
51 Anthony Mezzatesta We're Going Out Out-LV2 $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1329 1,203.50
52 Jon Stadtmueller Mudhens $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/27 @ 10:00 am PT #1331 1,201.50
53 Ante Meich Fiziev 2500 auction $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1329 1,193.50
54 Michael Lins Poopy Tooth Auction $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/26 @ 6:00 pm ET #1267 1,188.00
55 Brandon King BK1NG $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/28 @ 8:00 pm ET #1609 1,175.50
56 Dave Taylor Taylor $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/28 @ 8:00 pm ET #1609 1,171.50
57 Vlad Sedler Auction Gut $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1327 1,169.50
58 Eddie Gillis Killebrew HOF $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/27 @ 10:00 am PT #1331 1,166.50
59 Kyle Brinkmann JK ALL THE WAY Auction $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/26 @ 6:00 pm ET #1267 1,163.50
60 James Gabal Gabal $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/26 @ 6:00 pm ET #1267 1,160.50
61 Bill Gaffney Rhodium's Best $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1327 1,159.00
62 Lindy Hinkelman Hinko d Mayo $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/26 @ 10:00 am PT #1330 1,156.00
63 Dave Smith High Hopes $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/28 @ 8:00 pm ET #1609 1,148.50
64 Zachary Waxman Waxman $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/26 @ 10:00 am PT #1330 1,139.00
65 Matthew Shepherd THE MIND FLAYER $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1329 1,138.50
65 Richard Gordon Gordon $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1324 1,138.50
67 Brian Jenner Rotoholic AUC2 $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 4:00 pm PT #1322 1,126.50
68 Robert Giese Tigers Slappy $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1324 1,107.50
69 Michael O'Brien WAR Games AC2 $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1326 1,107.00
70 Glenn Schroter King of Queens $2,500 Auction Championship New York 3/17 @ 2:30 pm ET #1216 1,094.50
71 Marc Winokur Bronx Win AC $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/24 @ 10:00 am PT #1324 1,094.00
72 Joseph Reagor Las Vegas A's Big Auction $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1326 1,093.50
73 James Maples Maples $1,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1326 1,091.00
74 Mark Srebro William Kinney $2,500 Auction Championship Las Vegas 3/25 @ 4:00 pm PT #1329 1,086.50
75 Aaron Seefeldt e92 Nadja Caramel Ty Cobb $1,500 Auction Championship Online 3/26 @ 6:00 pm ET #1267 1,082.50

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here was Matt Shepherd's winning roster after the live Las Vegas $1500 auction:

MORONS:
C - Salvador Perez $18
C - Mike Zunino $1
1B - Josh Bell $9
2B - Isaac Paredes $2
SS - Fernando Tatis Jr. $34
3B - Gunnar Henderson $15
CI - Ryan Mountcastle $9
MI - CJ Abrams $3
UT - Ryan McMahon $9
OF - Ronald Acuna Jr. $46
OF - Cody Bellinger $7
OF - Jarred Kelenic $4
OF - Austin Meadows $2
OF - Lane Thomas $1

P - Jordan Romano $21
P - Framber Valdez $20
P - Luis Severino $13
P - Jesus Luzardo $9
P - Nestor Cortes $13
P - Freddy Peralta $9
P - Lucas Giolito $11
P - Giovanny Gallegos $1
P - Aroldis Chapman $1

Reserves: Yan Gomes, Rich Garver, Manuel Margot, Charlie Blackmon, Jose Urquidy, Kyle Bradish, Rafael Montero.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here were Matt's winning FAAB bids:

MORONS
March 26:
Zack Greinke 6

April 2:
Jake Bird 5
Kutter Crawford 18

April 9:
Stone Garrett 75
David Villar 35
Akil Baddoo 35
German Marquez 18
Josh Fleming 9

April 16:
Hayden Wesneski 155
Jose Siri 55

April 23:
Rich Hill 9

April 30:
Giovanny Gallegos 21
Christopher Morel 21
Oscar Colas 15

May 7:
Pierce Johnson 76
Kyle Bradish 40
Yoan Moncada 36
Reese McGuire 3

May 14:
Tanner Scott 15
Elehuris Montero 9

May 21:
Bryan Abreu 27

May 28:
Nick Lodolo 15

June 4:
Justin Lawrence 32

June 11:
Ryan Noda 22
Trevor May 9
Gary Sanchez 41

June 18:
Jordan Hicks 12

June 25:
Griffin Canning 21
Brandon Williamson 5

July 2:
Oscar Colas 5

July 9:
Tarik Skubal 79

July 30:
Brandon Williamson 18
Jon Berti 5

August 6:
Jose Urquidy 27

August 20:
Wade Miley 9
Harold Ramirez 8

September 3:
Kyren Paris 4

September 10:
Jose Alvarado 1
Dallas Keuchel 1
Travis d'Arnaud 1

September 17:
Jorge Soler 1
Javier Baez 1

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here was the prize pool for the 2023 NFBC Auction Championship:

Overall Prizes:
1 - $30,000
2 - $7,500
3 - $5,500
4 - $4,500
5 - $3,500
6 - $3,000
7 - $2,500
8 - $2,250
9 - $2,000
10 - $1,750
11 - $1,500
12 - $1,000

$1500 League Prizes:
1 - $7,750
2 - $3,500
3 - $1,500

$2500 League Prizes:
1 - $20,000
2 - $6,000
3 - $2,500

[Greg Ambrosius]

Matt Shepherd becomes our 12th different champion in the 13 years of the NFBC Auction Championship.

Here's the list of past champions:

2010 - Jeff Dobies
2011 - Richard Gordon/Charles Levitz
2012 - Andy Saxton/Jeff Dobies
2013 - Alan Greenberg
2014 - Bob Particelli
2015 - Anson Chan
2016 - Dave Taylor
2017 - Jeffery Cox/Bill Culver
2018 - Vince Clemente
2019 - Jacob Halusker
2021 - Philippe Dussault
2022 - Steven Cozzolino
2023 - Matt Shepherd

[Thurman15]

Congrats Matt. Well done. Your only weakness was your failure to obtain Yandy Diaz. See you on line pretty soon.