Interesting Observations

While I had to make changes to my APBA Tournament of Champions bracket, I had came up with the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays as the replacement for the 1969 Atlanta Braves, noting that there was no team from Florida that was represented... which made me think of APBA not having the 1997 Florida Marlins team for their Greatest Teams of the Past volumes. While I felt that was an interesting observation, I couldn't help notice some other obvious absences so far from the 3 Greatest Teams volumes (that each consist of 20 teams), so here's some ideas for Volume 4.

20 years ago, the Jays were on top of baseball.

• The (1992 or) 1993 Toronto Blue Jays - The only franchise not named the New York Yankees to at least repeat since 1976 has no team in any of the GTOP volumes for APBA... but for some odd reason they have the 1985 Toronto Blue Jays. Sure, those Jays were good with that trio of outfielders in Jesse Barfield, George Bell, and Lloyd Moseby... plus the first group of really good Jays and fan favorites are well represented with Jim Clancy, Jimmy Key, Tom Henke, Tony Fernandez, Willie Upshaw & Ernie Whitt. The 85' Jays were also managed by the great Bobby Cox, before he would take the Braves on one of the most impressive runs in MLB history. But let's also not forget that this group can be considered major "choke artists", this 85' team would lose a 3-1 series lead to the eventual World Champion Kansas City Royals (who by the way, do not have the 85' KC team in the GOTP volumes, but the 1980 team that lost to the Phillies in the World Series). This group of Jays also choked in 1987 when they lost the division to the Detroit Tigers, yet there is no love for Joe Carter, Devon White, Roberto Alomar, and John Olerud!

• 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks - The D-Backs of 2001 that derailed the New York Yankees dynasty and won the World Series is not represented; A Yankees dynasty that won 4 World titles in 5 years and was on the verge of a four-peat, but yet it's the 1999 Arizona team that gets love from APBA? Sure, they made the playoffs in only it's second year of existence, winning a surprising 100 games... but this team also lost in the Divisional Series 3-1 to the New York Mets.

• The 1923 New York Yankees & 1941 New York Yankees - Before Gehrig would join them in 1923, the Babe Ruth-led Yankees were a dominant bunch with Ruth having 12 more HRs than other player in the game (led the league with 40 HRs), the 1941 Joe DiMaggio-led team is one of the less-heralded Yankees teams of the past, and happened to only be forgotten because of the more recognizable teams such as the 1927, 1937, 1953, 1961 & 1998 teams. Then again, do we really need more Yankees teams added to the GTOP for APBA, when there is 6 teams among the 3 volumes?!

• 1995 Atlanta Braves - I'm an Atlanta Braves fan (as well as a Detroit Tigers fan), so when I noticed that the 1998 Atlanta Braves was represented (instead of the World Champs of 1995), it's going to naturally make me scratch my head. The 98' bunch would get upset by Kevin Brown & the 1998 San Diego Padres, who the Padres would get swept by the Yankees. Those same Yankees in 1999 would sweep the Atlanta Braves of 99', relatively the same bunch of 1998 that is in the GTOP for APBA. While the 1995 Braves defeated a loaded Cleveland Indians team that won 100 games in a shortened 144 game season, finally breaking through for their only Atlanta title to date. Plus not to mention, Greg Maddux's dominating 19-2 record with a ridiculous 1.63 ERA!

The first Philly dynasty under manager Connie Mack, the 1910 Athletics.

• 1910 Philadelphia Athletics - Led by Frank "Home Run" Baker (remember this is the "Deadball Era") and anchored by their two aces Jack Coombs & Chief Bender, the team would win the American League by 14.5 games over the New York Highlanders, and would win the World Series over the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 1. The Chicago Cubs, were a team that won 3 of the last 4 National League Pennants (including World Titles in 1907 & 1908 over Detroit). The 1910 Philadelphia A's were part of the franchise's first dynasty that won 6 American League Pennants (1902, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1913 & 1914) while winning the World Series in 1910, 1911 & 1914. The teams during this stretch also featured Eddie Collins (second base), and Rube Waddell (starting pitcher) in the early 1900's. The 1910 A's are considered one of the best teams of all-time, but at the moment are not part of the GTOP volumes.

• 1966 Baltimore Orioles - The 1969 Baltimore Orioles that would be upset by the "Amazing" New York Mets is represented, but not the 1966 bunch that would go on to win their first American League Pennant since 1944 (when they were known as the St.Louis Browns), and it's first World Title in franchise history, as they swept the pitching-rich 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers!

One of the stars for Baltimore in the late 1890's.

• 1894 - 1896 Baltimore Orioles - The Orioles of the National League (before they moved to Milwaukee) and formerly of the American Association, dominated with three consecutive titles! The team was considered one of the dirtiest teams on the field, with the most colorful players the game has ever seen. The team sported John McGraw, Hugh Jennings, Willie Keeler, Wilbert Robinson & slugger Dan Brouthers. Now I won't blast APBA for forgetting this team, because they actually weren't considered a MLB team, but APBA has used players from the 1890's such as Hugh Duffy, Kid Nichols, Billy Hamilton & Jake Beckley for the all-time franchise sets, so I think it would be pretty cool if they surprised baseball fans with a pre-1900 team for the GTOP sets. Another team to consider, Cap Anson & the Chicago White Stockings.