Marquette Suns/Madison Wolves
The Marquette Suns (original version) took the field from 1973-1983. Their first GM lasted just one season, as you'll see much of across the league. Joe Allen led the team to a 80-82 record that year, and then was removed from power.
Travis McDermott, one of the great GM's and later Vice-Commissioner, took over in 1974. That was a magical year for Travis and the Suns, as he took them all the way to the LMS, only to lose to the New Orleans Crawdads in 7 games. That would be the first of five consecutive playoff appearances, led by great pitching and a weak offense. They wouldn't make it back to the LMS, though.
1981-1983 was one of the worst three year stretches any team had been through (48-114, 54-108, 60-102). Following 1983, McDermott announced the team would be leaving Marquette, to move to Madison, WI and become the Madison Wolves.
1984's debut season brought the club back up to the 70 win mark, and a third place finish. There were flashes of life again in this franchise. However, following two seasons that were also mediocre, McDermott was out after the 1986 season.
David Klein, former Honolulu GM and the first LMS champion, took over the franchise in 1987. Immediately, he got the club back over .500 and then in 1988, won the division. In 1989, they missed the playoffs by just one game. Then in 1990, the club exploded to a 101-61 record, only to lose in the first round. 1991 brought another division title and another first round exit. In 1992 and 1993 Klein's Wolves finished in last place, and that was it for Klein.
Jason Poppe took over in 1995, and also finished in last place.
Best GM: Travis McDermott
Best Position Player: Dave Manzanillo, IF html
Best Pitcher: Johan Schmatzhagen html
Phoenix Talons-
(old logo not currently available, though I do have a couple somewhere)
Six playoff appearances, two Cartwright Cup appearances, but no visits to the Landis for the Talons. They were up and down, mostly down, throughout the first run of the MBBA. They had four GM's throughout their history. The first, Matthew Bornac, lasted just one year but would make appearances in our other leagues throughout the years.
Brett Rose is remembered as the "original" GM of this club due to his strong personality and gambling nature. He lead the club from 1974-1976. In 1976, he was just one game away from the LMS but his Talons couldn't pull it off and that was it for Rose. Rose struggled with meeting participation requirements at times, but at other times was among the most active GM's in the league.
Ray DeRoy took over the Talons in the 1977 season and stuck around through 1986. He had three division titles during that time, playing mostly sub .500 ball. His last season, 1986, resulted in a strange 75-87 record that won the division. He lost in the first round, and that was the end of Ray's run with the Talons. "Squiz" was a fantastic, friendly GM who was an active participant.
Ryan "Cliche" Scott took over in 1987, and ran the club through 1994. He only finished over .500 once, in 1993 when they won the division and were promptly swept out of the playoffs. Scott was a popular, active GM who is well missed.
Best GM: Ryan Scott
Best Position Player: John F. Kennedy, Jr., LF html
Best Pitcher: Marcellus Conley, SP html
Chicago Black Sox-
The Chicago Black Sox. Recent history has them in memory as one of the dominant teams of the 1990's. However, the 70's and 80's weren't very good to this franchise or their fans.
Mike Giovacchini ("Fearbobafett") was the long time GM of this club. He ran the team from 1973-1978. These six years were pretty nondescript. Bad offense and even worse pitching. This was the end of Mike's first run with the club.
From 1979-1981, Woody Woodbury ran the club. Starting with one of the worst single seasons ever in 1979, the Black Sox went from 47 to 84 wins over Woody's three year tenure.
In 1982, Mike Wilkinson took over and began four straight second place finishes, including the Black Sox first ever playoff appearance in 1984. Wilkinson left after the 1985 season, having never had a losing record in Chicago.
Brad Browne sighting! I honestly didn't remember Brad being in the original MBBA, but here he is! A one season stint in 1986 saw the Black Sox sink back below .500.
In 1987, Mike Giovacchini came back home and stayed here through 1994. In 1992, he led them to their first ever first place finish. In 1993, he topped that by leading the Black Sox to the LMS title!!! The Black Sox again won the division in 1994, but couldn't close the deal.
Best GM: Mike Giovacchini
Best Position Player: Archie Ayrault, SS html
Best Pitcher: Heath Rockefeller, SP/CL html
Omaha Barnstormers-
Four different GM's in the first eight seasons before finding "some" stability. Jordan "JWay" Gillis was the first. He's still a big part of the OOTP Forums and was a pleasure to have in the MBBA. He led Omaha to the division title in the first season and then finished third in his second.
Dan Kotaska, who I honestly can remember nothing about, had the most successful regular season in Omaha history at 98-64 and a division title. And then he was gone...
Matt Bornac, who previously led the Black Sox in 1973, came back in 1976 for a one season stint in Omaha (his second team of many). 64-98 and he was gone.
From 1977-1980 Matt Callahan led the team to consistently miserable results.
Finally a long term GM showed up in 1981. Larry Gold took over the Barnstormers. He won the division from 1981-1985!!! In 1986, he finished in last and then was out as GM.
Lee Honigsfeld, ousted as Valencia GM after the 1982 season, came back in 1987 to head up the Barnstormers and stayed put through 1994. During this time he had three playoff berths but never made it to the LMS, leaving the Barnstormers as a perennial bridesmaid.
Best GM: Larry Gold
Best Position Player: Randy Spratt, 1B html
Best Pitcher: Tex Avery, SP html
