All SPB I Managers,  My best congratulations is saved for the following divisional winners for 1969.  These 4 managers will be matching wits soon in the coming LCS series, the first ever for SPB I.  The winners of course will meet in the big match for all the bananas in 1969:  the SPB I - 1969 World Series.  As always, the LCS and World Series managers are asked to play these game using NetPlay.

 

Without further ado, here we go with our winning teams:

 

Hats off to:

 

Greg Stillwagon of the Lincoln Grays!  He came in very early in the season replacing Paul Kenyon (awarded a marginal assist here) as manager of the Grays and coaxed the team to a very solid 105 victorys to capture the A.L. East pennant.  Finishing a distant 2nd (15 games) was the Flushing Rats, managed by Joe DeZarlo.

 

Hats off to:

 

Gary Plunkitt of the Frankfort Tigers!  He charged to the front in the opening month of the year and hung tough all the way leading the A.L West straight through, while capturing another Tiger flag, with 105 wins on the year.  In the closest divisional race of '69 (and it was not all that close), the Rossville Cubs, managed by Rick Ryan finished 8 games off the pace for 2nd place.

 

With 105 wins each, it should be a wild and wooley LCS series for these two excellent teams for the A.L. crown.

 

Hats off to:

 

Rich Applegate of the Asheville Tourists!  He came on strong with 100 seasonal victories to nail down the N.L. East flag.  A strong team, the Tourists beat the Tennesee Smokies, led by Steve Ehresman (with an assit to Wade Mitchell early on).  The Smokies ran out of gas the last couple of months, after hanging tough most of the year.  They wound up 13 games off the pace.

 

And last, but certainly not least,

Hats off to:

 

Don Zminda of the Hollywood Stars!  Last years champs (68), are making a bid again, as they captured 112 wins, leading all teams with the best record of 1969, to capture the N.L. West title.  This powerhouse team just keeps grinding away, and is the odds on favorite to take all the marbles.  But, as we all know anything can happen in a short series.  Finishing tied for 2nd place were the two Las Vegas teams.  The Tarantulas, managed by Marshall Tom, and the Thunder, led by Mike See both won 95 games.  But amazingly they were 17 games off the pace in the West.

 

Should be a great LCS series for the N.L. pennant!  The Tourist will face the challenge of taking on the favored Stars. 

 

Good luck to each of our division winners in the post season!

 

The files for the LCS games will be sent out to these managers in the very near future.

 

Best,

Gary