WHO IS THE SPB TEAM OF THE 50’S

Thanks to an idea from Mike Cascarano and Bob Calicchia, and piggybacking on what USA Today did a few years back, a “special” tournament was put together to determine who the best SPB-1 team of the 1950’s really is. All pennant winners were elegible from the six seasons with seedings based upon record. The top four seeds each got a first round bye, in this single-elimination best-of-nine format. The highest seeded team got 5 home games in any given series. The 12 teams entered were seeded as follwed:

(1) 1956 Frankfort Tigers: Winningest SPB-1 team ever with 100 victories. Mantle’s

66HR season.

(2) 1955 Schaumburg Saxons: Only other 100-win team. Balanced team with Klu,

Kaline, and Spahn.

(3) 1954 Mountain Park Minors: Avila, Minoso, Hodges, and Roberts upset in 54

Series.

(4) 1959 Lafayette Blue Sox: Surprise of 59 with Wynn, Pierce, Lown, Pinson and

Moon.

(5) 1955 Frankfort Tigers: earliest of the 3 tiger teams in tourney.

(6) 1954 Heartland Bluebirds: Inaugural SPB-1 Champion. Ashburn, Boone, Garver,

Sullivan.

(7) 1959 Rossmoor Rifes: Latest SPB champ. Excellent starters with Pascual and Law

1-2 in league

(8) 1958 Schaumburg Saxons: 58 Champions. Given #8 seed over Cubs due to pitching

(9) 1957 Rossville Cubs: 57 Champs with Mathews, Mays, Banks, and Nixon

(10) 1958 Frankfort Tigers: Last team of Hoosier Dynasty. 3rd pennant winner without

a title

(11) 1956 High Desert Mavericks: Brewer, Antonelli, Musial and company shocked

Bengals for flag.

(12) 1957 Gurnee Falcons: Ted Williams’ .400 season carried team to pennant.

No real surprises in the tournament as the top 4 seeds all moved on to the semi-finals as the numbers 1 and 2 seeds met for the mega-championship. The Tigers did get a scare in the semi’s as they had to battle back from a 4 games to 3 defecit to move on. Would the Tigers finally get their due??

In round 2, the 1954 Minors and Bluebirds met in a rematch of the first-ever World Series. This time the Minors got revenge as they moved on to the semi-final round.