ABLCS 2004: Windy City Showdown!

John C · 07-23-2003, 03:40 PM

The Chicago Barrons last won the ABL Championship in 1995. Since then, they have been second to everyone. They failed to threepeat in 1996, but managed to win the NL crown three straight times, from 1997-99. Three straight times, the ABLCS went to a decisive seventh game, and three straight times, the Barrons fell. They would fall again in 2001, and fall just short of the NL crown in 2002 and 2003.

With that in mind, GM Toby Tyson decided to add a little oomph to this year's team. He traded for Eric Ingles from Pittsburgh, a former MVP whose numbers fell while playing in a pitcher's park. He also made one of the biggest deals of the last decade, acquiring ace Marlon Prince from the Quakers. Prince teamed with living legend Jimmy Potts to give the Barrons a dominant 1-2 punch, the likes of which haven't been seen in years.

The Barrons overtook the biggest surprise of this year, the Boston Excelsiors, for first place the day before the All-Star break. They would never relinquish the lead, winning the NL title in late September. They would go on to face their cross-town rivals, the Chicago Pirates, in the ABLCS.

The Pirates were an offensively dominant team, a collection of massive hitters, and a pitching staff that was filled with overachievers. Percy Dolin had just one winning season as a starter before this year. He went 18-8 with a 2.38 ERA. Dan Larocco had a breakout year, going 19-9, losing both chances to win 20 games. But, surely, against Potts (28-3, 1.12) and Prince (21-8, 1.88), they wouldn't stand a chance in the ABLCS.

It looked that way, too, during the first two games. Potts gave up an early lead, but the Barrons fought right back, winning Game 1 2-1. Prince shutout the Pirates 2-0 in Game 2, behind Ingles' first-inning home run. Things looked bleak for the Pirates, as they headed back to their grounds on the south side of the Windy City.

Then, something happened. Their offense showed up.

The Pirates whipped Warren Monaghan, who will not return to the team next season, 5-2. The Barrons, not wanting this to become tied and force their hand with Monaghan or former Quaker Delbert Oyler in Game 6, went with Potts. The Pirates countered with Dolin, in a rematch of the classic Game 1.

This time, it went the other way.

Carmen Lantigua, the strong-armed rookie who led AAA in homers, doubled home the only run for the Pirates in Game 1, off of Potts. He did it to Potts again in Game 4, singling home the game's only run in the second inning. The Pirates tied the series by doing the (seemingly) impossible: they beat Potts 1-0.

The Barrons countered with Prince in Game 5. The Pirates tossed Larocco, the loser in Game 2. Larocco was no match for Prince and catcher Adolfo Beebe, who drove in two; Prince tossed his second shutout of the series, 4-0, and pushed the Pirates to the brink of elimination, as the series headed back to McMichael Field.

The Barrons, sensing their time was near, called on Jimmy Potts once again. Surely, Dolin edging him was a fluke. This time, things would be different. And, for the first six innings, they were. Potts was throwing a no-hitter. The crowd got louder and louder with each recorded out. As Potts wrapped up the second out in the seventh, the crowd was going nuts.

Potts hit Jeff Poteet, the former Gray. No big deal. Jose Munoz came in to pinch-run for Poteet; he quickly stole second. However, Potts induced a grounder to third out of Eddie Soucie, the Pirates left fielder. The rally was stopped.

Only...

Rookie 3B Sam Uriarte threw the ball away, allowing things to continue for the Pirates. And, on the very next pitch, the tide turned for good.

Potts served up a seeing-eye single to 1B David Hucks. The no-hitter was gone; so was the lead. And who would come up? None other than Lantigua.

Lantigua forced the count full, then fouled off six pitches in a row. Then, he got what he wanted. He took the Potts fastball up the middle, through the outstretched glove of shortstop Irving Harper. Chris Shigochiyo, pinch running for Soucie, rounded third. He would race home without a throw. Those cheers Potts had heard, and tried to ignore, just four minutes earlier had quickly turned into a defeaning silence.

Dolin went 7 2/3, holding the Barrons in check. Joe Hafley came in and did his job, getting the final out in the eighth. Pirates closer Nick Kemper came in during the ninth, and recorded a quick save. The Barrons fans were in shock, wondering where all the time went. All of a sudden, Potts lost twice, the series was tied, and another Game 7 would take center stage.

Pirates fans talked about how this was fate, their destiny. They won the only other series that mattered against the Barrons, the 1981 ABLCS. They had the Barrons' number.

They didn't have Marlon Prince's, however.

They also didn't figure on the Barrons offense, which had rung up a whopping total of 11 runs in the first six games, to double their production over 27 outs.

The Barrons used homers by Ingles and Uriarte (25 homers this year), and another homer by Jerry Bowen, as part of an awe-inspiring seven-run second inning. And, right there in the middle, was series MVP Prince. His successful squeeze bunt, and even more successful dash to first, took the air out of the Pirates. He had single-handedly killed the Pirates, and brought the ABL Championship banner back to the North side of Chicago. The Barrons won 11-0, and took the ABL Championship banner back to the north side. Prince's third series shutout has never been achieved in the league's 104-year history.

With their entire team, minus Monaghan, returning next season, it's quite possible that the Barrons will win again...and again. After a decade of playing second fiddle, the Barrons and owner Jarrod Rollins are second to nobody.

The Professor · 07-23-2003, 03:44 PM

Great read! The ABL's long history is something special...fun league to follow...

John C · 07-23-2003, 03:47 PM

Thank you. The league appreciates the kind words.

I hope (always say hope) to embellish on the league's history within the next two weeks. I have something of a vacation coming up, and will begin the ABL version of the Bill James' Historical Baseball Abstract. Of course, it won't be done in two weeks...but at least the ball will get rolling.

-John

07-23-2003, 03:40 PM	#1
John C Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Albion, RI Posts: 2,286 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	ABLCS 2004: Windy City Showdown! The Chicago Barrons last won the ABL Championship in 1995. Since then, they have been second to everyone. They failed to threepeat in 1996, but managed to win the NL crown three straight times, from 1997-99. Three straight times, the ABLCS went to a decisive seventh game, and three straight times, the Barrons fell. They would fall again in 2001, and fall just short of the NL crown in 2002 and 2003. With that in mind, GM Toby Tyson decided to add a little oomph to this year's team. He traded for Eric Ingles from Pittsburgh, a former MVP whose numbers fell while playing in a pitcher's park. He also made one of the biggest deals of the last decade, acquiring ace Marlon Prince from the Quakers. Prince teamed with living legend Jimmy Potts to give the Barrons a dominant 1-2 punch, the likes of which haven't been seen in years. The Barrons overtook the biggest surprise of this year, the Boston Excelsiors, for first place the day before the All-Star break. They would never relinquish the lead, winning the NL title in late September. They would go on to face their cross-town rivals, the Chicago Pirates, in the ABLCS. The Pirates were an offensively dominant team, a collection of massive hitters, and a pitching staff that was filled with overachievers. Percy Dolin had just one winning season as a starter before this year. He went 18-8 with a 2.38 ERA. Dan Larocco had a breakout year, going 19-9, losing both chances to win 20 games. But, surely, against Potts (28-3, 1.12) and Prince (21-8, 1.88), they wouldn't stand a chance in the ABLCS. It looked that way, too, during the first two games. Potts gave up an early lead, but the Barrons fought right back, winning Game 1 2-1. Prince shutout the Pirates 2-0 in Game 2, behind Ingles' first-inning home run. Things looked bleak for the Pirates, as they headed back to their grounds on the south side of the Windy City. Then, something happened. Their offense showed up. The Pirates whipped Warren Monaghan, who will not return to the team next season, 5-2. The Barrons, not wanting this to become tied and force their hand with Monaghan or former Quaker Delbert Oyler in Game 6, went with Potts. The Pirates countered with Dolin, in a rematch of the classic Game 1. This time, it went the other way. Carmen Lantigua, the strong-armed rookie who led AAA in homers, doubled home the only run for the Pirates in Game 1, off of Potts. He did it to Potts again in Game 4, singling home the game's only run in the second inning. The Pirates tied the series by doing the (seemingly) impossible: they beat Potts 1-0. The Barrons countered with Prince in Game 5. The Pirates tossed Larocco, the loser in Game 2. Larocco was no match for Prince and catcher Adolfo Beebe, who drove in two; Prince tossed his second shutout of the series, 4-0, and pushed the Pirates to the brink of elimination, as the series headed back to McMichael Field. The Barrons, sensing their time was near, called on Jimmy Potts once again. Surely, Dolin edging him was a fluke. This time, things would be different. And, for the first six innings, they were. Potts was throwing a no-hitter. The crowd got louder and louder with each recorded out. As Potts wrapped up the second out in the seventh, the crowd was going nuts. Potts hit Jeff Poteet, the former Gray. No big deal. Jose Munoz came in to pinch-run for Poteet; he quickly stole second. However, Potts induced a grounder to third out of Eddie Soucie, the Pirates left fielder. The rally was stopped. Only... Rookie 3B Sam Uriarte threw the ball away, allowing things to continue for the Pirates. And, on the very next pitch, the tide turned for good. Potts served up a seeing-eye single to 1B David Hucks. The no-hitter was gone; so was the lead. And who would come up? None other than Lantigua. Lantigua forced the count full, then fouled off six pitches in a row. Then, he got what he wanted. He took the Potts fastball up the middle, through the outstretched glove of shortstop Irving Harper. Chris Shigochiyo, pinch running for Soucie, rounded third. He would race home without a throw. Those cheers Potts had heard, and tried to ignore, just four minutes earlier had quickly turned into a defeaning silence. Dolin went 7 2/3, holding the Barrons in check. Joe Hafley came in and did his job, getting the final out in the eighth. Pirates closer Nick Kemper came in during the ninth, and recorded a quick save. The Barrons fans were in shock, wondering where all the time went. All of a sudden, Potts lost twice, the series was tied, and another Game 7 would take center stage. Pirates fans talked about how this was fate, their destiny. They won the only other series that mattered against the Barrons, the 1981 ABLCS. They had the Barrons' number. They didn't have Marlon Prince's, however. They also didn't figure on the Barrons offense, which had rung up a whopping total of 11 runs in the first six games, to double their production over 27 outs. The Barrons used homers by Ingles and Uriarte (25 homers this year), and another homer by Jerry Bowen, as part of an awe-inspiring seven-run second inning. And, right there in the middle, was series MVP Prince. His successful squeeze bunt, and even more successful dash to first, took the air out of the Pirates. He had single-handedly killed the Pirates, and brought the ABL Championship banner back to the North side of Chicago. The Barrons won 11-0, and took the ABL Championship banner back to the north side. Prince's third series shutout has never been achieved in the league's 104-year history. With their entire team, minus Monaghan, returning next season, it's quite possible that the Barrons will win again...and again. After a decade of playing second fiddle, the Barrons and owner Jarrod Rollins are second to nobody. __________________ Facebook \| My Videos

07-23-2003, 03:44 PM	#2
The Professor Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East of East Posts: 3,020	Great read! The ABL's long history is something special...fun league to follow... __________________ History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are."

07-23-2003, 03:47 PM	#3
John C Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Albion, RI Posts: 2,286 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	Thank you. The league appreciates the kind words. I hope (always say hope) to embellish on the league's history within the next two weeks. I have something of a vacation coming up, and will begin the ABL version of the Bill James' Historical Baseball Abstract. Of course, it won't be done in two weeks...but at least the ball will get rolling. -John __________________ Facebook \| My Videos