Jimmy Adams, 3B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Jimmy doesn't rank very highly on the career leaderboards anymore, but that is because he was 33 when the league began (he was the 26th overall selection in the dispersal draft). Over a four year span from '85-'88, Adams was arguably the most dominant hitter in the USBA; and he wasn't too bad in his final two seasons either. Adams hit 40 or more HR with 120 or more RBI in each of his first four seasons in the league on his way to two Silver Slugger awards. He led the Mavericks to playoff appearances in '85 and '89, but Philly won just one game in those two series and Jimmy was unable to bring home a title in his 6 seasons with the Mavericks. He was an All-Star in all 6 of his seasons and even hit for the cycle in '88 against New York at the age of 36. When Adams retired, he was the career leader in RBI and ranked in the top 5 in H, R, and HR. Adams has 22 more HR than anyone in the history of the league after the age of 32, proving what a dominant power hitter he was in his later years and raising questions on how good he could have been had the league opened its doors 8-10 years earlier.
USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: Silver Slugger x2 (1985, 1986) USBA All-Star: (6x) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 |
Gil Addison, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Signed by Houston in 1987, Addison was an instant success with 34+ HR, 100+ RBI, and 100+ R in 3 of his first 4 seasons, winning back-to-back Silver Slugger awards in '88 and '89. Addison was also a 7-time All-Star, earning selections in '87-'89, '91, and '95-'97. Despite being known for his power, Addison did win a batting title in 1988 (.358) and also led the LL in runs that season with 144. On July 2, 1998 Gil became just the 14th player in league history with 2,000 hits. Addison led the Apollos to the playofs in 7 of his 12 seasons, but Houston always seemed to struggle in the post-season. Finally, in '98, Gil got his elusive USBA Championship ring and called it a career at the age of 39. Gil is the top hitter in the history of the Apollos franchise and when he retired in 1998 he ranked 4th in RBI (1258), 6th in HR (346) and BB (889), 8th in R (1152), and 14th in H (2056).
USBA Championships: 1998 Houston AWARDS: Silver Slugger x2 (1988, 1989); 1990 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (7x) 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
Colin Boyer, RP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
When Colin Boyer was drafted in the 1985 dispersal draft by the Indiana Racers her was considered a long term project. By 1988 he was the franchises closer. By 2001 he had won three USBA Championships with the Detroit Sparkplugs. By the time he retired in 2002 he was the USBA's All-Time saves leader with 534 against only 93 blown saves. During the 1989 season Boyer posted a save in half of the team's 76 wins. He posted at least 30 saves in 13 consecutive seasons from 1989~2001 including a career high 45 in 1990. He was also one of the greatest strikeout pitchers in the history of the USBA finishing his career with 11.731 K/9 inning pitched, best of all time among pitchers with at least 900 innings. When he retired he had a 6/1 strikeout to walk ratio and a 1.00 WHiP, good for seventh all time. His best all around season was probably 1998 when he posted 30 saves, 2.43 ERA, 70 strikeouts, and just seven walks in 55+ innings pitched. (written by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1994 Detroit, 1997 Detroit, 2001 Detroit AWARDS: Iron Closer 2x (1990, 1994) USBA All-Star: (6x) 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001 |
Tom Brett, 1B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1996 |
Brett was not your typical first bagger. Not once in his 11 year career did he hit 20 HR, collect 50 extra base hits, or have more than 88 RBI. However, he did win three consecutive batting titles ('90-'92) and led the league in hits four times ('88, '90-'92). He was the first USBA player to hit .400 in a season and his .416 average in 1990 was the league's highest season total until 2011. When Brett retired after the 1995 season, he was 2nd in AVG, 5th in hits (2174), and 22nd in runs scored (864). As of 2017, his career .349 average is the highest among all inactive players.
USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: NONE USBA All-Star: (5x) 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994 |
Morris Briggs, SS
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
When Morris Briggs was selected in the 24th round of the 1985 dispersal draft by Chicago, he appeared to be a good prospect, but nobody could have foresaw a career of this caliber. Briggs would be quickly traded to Philadelphia where he would win the FL Platinum Rookie in 1987. The next year he would have his first of seven all-star appearances (and miss out on the Silver Slugger thanks to Cade Laurel's amazing 60 HR, .351 season) in arguably his best season: 216 H, 34 2B, 30 HR, 108 RBI, 119 R, 33 SB, .347/.406/.553. In 1989 Morris would make his first (and only) post-season appearance with Philly, hitting .455 as the Mavericks were swept out of the playoffs. He would have a short two-and-a-half season stint in New Orleans, where he had a great 1994 season, but would fall short of the Silver Slugger once again; this time to Roger Underhill (who was in the middle of a 5-year grip on the award). In '95 Briggs was shipped to Fort Wayne, then shuttled to Detroit less than 2 months later in what would turn out to be one of the highest profile trades in league history sending fellow Hall of Famer Kevin Hunter to the Wizards. In 1997, he would finally capture the Silver Slugger award and lead the Sparkplugs to their 2nd USBA title in club history. By 2001 he was a singles hitter with speed (not the all-around star he had been earlier in his career), but Briggs would drive in 8 runners in just 9 post-season hits, helping Detroit capture their 3rd title. After the 2002 season, at the age of 39, Morris announced his retirement from baseball. When he retired he topped all others in runs scored (1,559), was 4th in H (2,743), 7th in SB (682), 11th in BB (855), 13th in RBI (1,196), 23rd in HR (304), and ranked in the top 50 in AVG (.304), OBP (.372), and OPS (.834). Briggs still ranks in the top 5 among SS in hits, runs, home runs, RBI, and steals.
USBA Championships: 1997 Detroit, 2001 Detroit AWARDS: 1987 Platinum Rookie; Silver Slugger x1 (1997) USBA All-Star: (7x) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998 |
Ron Buckwalter, CF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2017 76.2% |
Taken 1st overall by Philadelphia in 1994, Buckwalter would be sent to Detroit later that year in a trade that looked good at first, but turned out to be one of the more lopsided trades with Philly getting Jermaine Delvalle and Brian Rosin in return. 'The Shepard', as he was affectionately called, went on to become one of the most well-rounded players in league history, as a top player at the plate, on the bases, and in the field. Buckwalter is one of only 2 players in the 400/400 club and has four USBA championship rings as a key piece to the Detroit dynasty that spanned a decade. Though he did win a Silver Slugger in 2005, a Gold Glove in 1996, and was selected to 3 all-star games; he is more known for his durability and consistent production. Ron averaged 154 games over the first 17 years of his career, and the first time he played in fewer than 140 games was his age 38 season in 2013. From '96-'08 he had 10 30/30 seasons and 3 40/40 campaigns.
When he retired in 2014, he ranked 2nd in R (1736), 3rd in RBI (1559), 5th in HR (484), 5th in SB (806), 11th in BB (1154), and 12th in H (2646).
USBA Championships: 1997 Detroit, 2001 Detroit, 2004 Detroit, 2006 Detroit AWARDS: Silver Slugger (x1) 2005; Gold Glove 1x at CF (1996) USBA All-Star: (3x) 1998, 2005, 2007 |
Lowell Burger, 3B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2019 75.0% |
Lowell was drafted 21st overall by Houston and would be traded to Alaska before he played a game in the majors. Burger spent twice as many seasons in Alaska that he did in any other stop along the way during a 17 year career, but he had the worst years of his career while up north, hitting just .258/.309/.474 with 2 all-star appearances in 7 seasons. In 2001 he was shipped off to Memphis at the age of 32 and would go on an eight year tear, accumulating more extra-base hits after the age of 31 than anyone else in USBA history (574) and he ran his all-star game total up to 5 with three appearances in four years between 2004 (age 35) and 2007 (38). Burger is best known for his longevity and ability to play at a high level in his advanced years more than dominance in any one season; but he did hit 30 or more HR 7 times, collected 200 hits twice, 100 RBIs 6 times (leading the league in 2007), and smacking 40 or more doubles two times. At the age of 38, Burger had arguably his best season, leading the league in RBI while winning the batting title and hitting 41 HR, 8 shy of the triple crown; falling short in the race for the Silver Slugger to Fred Cowley who hit 2 more HR and had a higher OBP, but fell short of Burger in nearly every other category. Burger made 4 post-season appearances, but his club failed to reach the USBA Championship Series each time. He was the 12th player to 2,500 hits; 3rd player to 1,500 RBI; and 17th player to reach 400 HR.
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: Golden Glove 2x at 2B (1998, 2002) USBA All-Star: (5x) 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007 |
Bill Burke, 3B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2017 71.4% |
The same year the Sparkplugs picked up Ron Buckwalter, they picked up another vital part of their dynasty, Bill Burke, from Sand Diego (who had taken him 4th overall a year earlier). Burke and Buckwalter would be tied together in Detroit lore. Both being acquired in the same season, both winning the Platinum Rookie, them being teammates for 3 championship celebrations, and the two being elected into the Hall of Fame in the same year. The pressure was high for Bill from the beginning. When he was called up in 1998, he replaced legend and Hall of Famer Jeremy Ellis, who was in the twilight of his great career. All Burke did in replacing him was hit 27 HR and win the rookie of the year award. Hitting home runs came naturally to Burke, who had 25 or more in 14 of his 17 seasons in the bigs. Nicknamed 'The Brick' because of his durability, Burke averaged 156 games played from 1998-2013. His selection is a little surprising because he didn't win a Silver Slugger or a Gold Glove, but he put together 16 very productive seasons and seemed to come through when it really counted, mashing 21 career post-season home runs. At the time of his retirement, Burke ranked 1st in RBI (1632), 5th in BB (1275), 7th in HR (473), 11th in R (1472), 12th in 2B (479), 16th in H (2521), and he is just one of 7 players with at least 1200 BB, RBI, and R.
USBA Championships: 2001 Detroit, 2004 Detroit, 2006 Detroit AWARDS: 1998 Platinum Rookie USBA All-Star: (6x) 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 |
Brent Calloway, CF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2019 65.0% |
Taken 4th overall by Memphis in 1994, Brent quickly became one of the best defensive players who could hit in USBA history. Not only is “Robber” one of only 8 members of the 300/300 club, but he also holds the league record for both Gold Gloves (8) and consecutive Gold Gloves (also 8). Only one currently active player has more than 5 Gold Gloves and the longest active streak is 4 seasons—nobody else has more than 5 straight in USBA history. Over his 18 year career, he made 7 trips to the post-season, hitting .343/.423/.535 with 8 HR, 27 RBI, 39 R, and 12 steals. He was dealt from San Diego to Houston in the middle of the 1998 season and would help the Apollos to the 1998 USBA title hitting .327 with 4 HR, 11 RBI, 14 R, and 2 steals in that particular post-season. He won all 8 of his Gold Gloves in an Apollos uniform and also made all 4 of his all-star trips while in Houston. Calloway retired after the 2011 season with 2329 hits, 429 2B, 302 HR, 1208 RBI, 1559 R (6th all-time), 1250 BB (5th all-time), and 725 steals (8th all-time). One of the best power/speed/defense combos in league history, Calloway will always have a place in the heart of Apollos fans.
USBA Championships: 1998 Houston AWARDS: Golden Glove 8x at CF (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) USBA All-Star: (4x) 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006 |
Luke Cassella, SS
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Selected 15th overall in the 1985 dispersal draft, Cassella made good on the high expectations winning 2 USBA titles with New Orlenas, 4 Gold Gloves at SS, while making 3 all-star appearances. Though he would win two titles in New Orleans, Cassella famously struggled in those post-seasons, hitting below .200, and didn't become a good playoff performer until after being traded away from the Cajuns in 1992. Luke was the prototypical lead-off hitter during his career, hitting .295 or better each season until 1995 (his age 35 season). In total, he hit .300 or better 14 times in 16 seasons, though he was never able to claim an elusive batting title. Like any great lead-off hitter, he was also an accomplished base stealer (swiping at least 25 bags in 14 of his 16 seasons) and seemed to always make contact (he struck out 50 times or less in each year and struck out in just 4% of his plate appearances). Though he never won any offensive awards and was selected to just three all-star games, Cassella will be remembered as one of the great lead-off hitters and for his natural ability to hit, even into his late-30s. Cassella retired in 2000 with a .306 career average and he was 2nd in hits (2743), 5th in 2B (459), 9th in 3B (91), 3rd in runs scored (1463), 7th in BB (940), and 3rd in SB (721). As of 2017, he still remains in the top 10 in hits and stolen bases while leading all players in BB/K.
USBA Championships: 1987 New Orleans, 1989 New Orleans AWARDS: Gold Glove, x4 at SS (1990, 1992, 1993, 1998) USBA All-Star: (3x) 1988, 1991, 1997 |
Jeb Clines, C
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2018 65.2% |
Taken first overall in 1989 by the Bandits, Clines would eventually live up to expectations and more playing his entire career in the Birmingham organization. Jeb showed his power potential early, reaching AAA as a 19 year old and making his USBA debut before he was old enough to buy a drink. Though he became the full-time starter at 20, he wasn't anything more than a slightly above average producer until his age 25 season in 1996. However, from 1996 through 2004, he hit at least 25 HR with at least 88 RBI and R, and was an all-star 6 times in those 7 seasons. Jeb won back-to-back Silver Sluggers in 1998 and 1999, falling just shy of the Triple Crown both seasons leading the league in HR and RBI in 1998 and leading in RBI with a batting title in 1999. He would go on to have another great season in 2003, but he fell just short of Patrick Dvorak in the race for the LL Silver Slugger. Clines was not only a great regular season player, but he also came through in the clutch often, winning two titles with the Bandits and collecting 1999 post-season MVP honors. In 119 career playoff games, Clines hit .280 with 24 HR and 65 RBI. At the time of his retirement, Clines led all catchers in hits (35th overall), HR (14th overall), RBI (7th overall), and R (14th overall); while ranking t3rd in OPS and 10th in batting average. He still leads all catchers in HR, RBI, and R.
USBA Championships: 1992 Birmingham, 1999 Birmingham AWARDS: Silver Slugger x2 (1998, 1999); 1999 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (7x) 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
Erik Cocca, 2B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Erik Cocca was a model of consistency during his 16 year USBA career. He won the Freedom League Platinum Rookie award in 1990 and never looked back. He cemented his place in USBA history on June 13, 2004 when he slapped his 3,000th career hit against Pittsburgh making him the first player to achieve that milestone. Not a power hitter, only 53 career homers, the speedy secondsacker always found a way to get on base and he always seemed to score when he got on. He finished his career as the USBA's All-Time leader in hits, runs scored(1708), total bases(4637), singles(2352), doubles(768), triples(179), and stolen bases(889) while finishing with the sixth best batting average of all time(.343). He won two USBA Championships with New York and was an All-Star 10 times. He collected five batting titles including three straight from 2002~2004 including a career best .401 in 2004 when he set the single season hits record with 260. He led the league in hits six times, doubles eight times, triples five times, and runs scored five times. He managed nine hit streaks of at least 20 games including a 32 game streak in 2003 and he had five or more hits in a game 20 times. To round things out he hit .353 in 448 postseason at bats. (written by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 2000 New York, 2003 New York AWARDS: 1990 Platinum Rookie USBA All-Star: (10x) 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
Tim Culp, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2018 65.2% |
Taken 4th overall in 1990 by Columbus, 'Thunder' Culp would become the top pitcher in Knights history and the first player to be enshrined wearing the black and silver. Despite being one of the more overpowering starters in the league (he had 200+ strikeouts in 13 seasons), Culp was forced to dominate USBA hitters in relative obscurity, playing for a team that won over 85 games just 4 times in his 18 year career. Culp was 43 games over .500 (209-166) on a team that was 319 games under .500 in those 18 seasons. In 1997, Thunder was the dominant pitcher in the LL, finishing 1st in wins (22) and ERA (2.02), just missing out on the pitching triple crown placing 6th with 224 Ks, and winning the Bronze Arm award. For nearly two decades, the Knights relied on Culp to consistently put an end to losing streaks and leaned on his left arm, all the while struggling to fill out the roster to complement him. Culp was rewarded for his loyalty and years of torment, winning 17 games (becoming the 17th player to 200 wins) in 2010 and finally winning the USBA championship at the age of 38. When he retired after getting his ring in 2010, Culp ranked t12th in wins (209), 1st in GS (640), 2nd in K (3799), 35th in ERA (3.33), and 18th in K/9 (9.42). Culp did struggle to find the strike zone at times though, finishing 3rd in BB with 1342. Had Culp played on a better team, or at least one with a better bullpen, he would have likely finished in the top 5 in career victories.
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: Bronze Arm x1 (1997) USBA All-Star: (6x) 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 |
Patrick Dvorak, 1B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Plucked off a local sandlot by expansion Birmingham in 1987 and traded to San Antonio in 1989, Dvorak burst onto the scene with one of the great rookie seasons in league history hitting 38 HR with 90 RBI at the age of 21. He would go on to have a very nice career with San Antonio averaging over 30 HR a season in his 8+ years with the Gunslingers, but he was never on a playoff team until he was traded to Houston, propelling the Apollos to their 1st league championship. Despite winning a league championship, the Platinum Rookie, 6 Gold Gloves, and 6 all-star appearances, Dvorak may not have been enshrined had it not been for an amazing late-career resurgence. After posting his worst season in 2002 at age 33, it appeared he was done as a player, but he exploded to in 2003 earning his 6th all-star appearance and winning the Silver Slugger during the year and he carried that success on through 2005. Before that 2003-2005 stretch, Dvorak had less than 2,000 hits and 400 HR, but he would hit .297 (including his first two .300 seasons) with 89 HR, and 340 RBI. It appeared that he would go on to become the first player to reach 500 HR but the Apollos released him after a terrible first two months (despite him having 3 years remaining on his deal), nobody picked him up, and he retired later that year. At the time of his retirement, Dvorak was 2nd in HR (482), 1st in RBI (1540), 13th in hits, 8th in 2B, and 13th in R (1289).
USBA Championships: 1998 Houston AWARDS: 1990 Platinum Rookie; Silver Slugger X1 (2003); Gold Glove x6 at 1B (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998); 1998 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (6x) 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003 |
Jeremy Ellis, 3B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2000 |
Jeremy Ellis was known as the consumate team player around the USBA. Taken in the fifth round in the 1985 USBA dispersal draft by the Indiana Racers the 26 year old firstbaseman immediately became a team leader. Drafted as a power hitter Ellis moved to the leadoff spot for some bad Racer teams due to his ability to get on base including that 1985 season in which he led the Liberty League in Runs Created(156.8), runs scored(134), and walks(127). In 1990 he led the Detroit Sparkplugs to 98 wins and the team's first Yankee Division crown and USBA postseason appearance. The 'Plugs would go on to win eight consecutive Yankee titles and make nine consecutive post season appearances winning two championships along the way. He was clutch in the postseason winning the 1994 Post Season MVP with a .397 batting average and 10 RBI in 15 games. For his career he hit .340 with 39 RBI and 43 runs scored in 74 playoff games. His best individual season came in 1992 when he finished in the top four in the three triple crown categories: .346 BA(4th), 39 HR(2nd), and 119 RBI(3rd) while leading the LL in runs scored, OBP, SLG%, and OPS. Jeremy Ellis put up some great numbers during his 15 USBA regular seasons but he will always be remembered as a clutch post season performer that would do anything to help his team win. (written by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1994 Detroit, 1997 Detroit AWARDS: 1994 Post Season MVP USBA All-Star: (9x) 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
Michael Faulk, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Faulk was drafted 17th overall by San Antonio in the 1985 dispersal draft and was a key player in Gunslinger and Bandits history. He had a wonderful career in San Antonio (averaging 45 HR per season) and was an integral part of the trade that would bring fellow Hall of Famer Patrick Dvorak to San Antonio in 1989. Faulk had a great rookie year with 49 HR, 110+ RBI and R, and a .262 average, but no Platinum Rookie was named in 1985 due to it being the first year of the league. He would become the 6th player in league history to top 50 HR in 1988, leading the league with 51 (he would lead the league a 2nd time in 1990 with 48). Michael took the career HR lead in 1990 and didn't relinquish his hold on the record until Cody Tobin and John Sims passed him in 2008. Michael played a key part in Birmingham's 1992 championship run hitting .351 with 4 HR and 13 RBI during the playoffs but he would be unable to replicate that performance in 4 more post-season runs with the Bandits, batting under .200 with 0 HR and 13 RBI over 171 AB during those 4 years. After parting ways with Birmingham after the 1996 season, he would bounce around the FL, signing 1-year deals with Denver (1997) and Los Angeles (1998) before retiring after the 1998 season, just 13 HR shy of becoming the 1st USBA player over 500 HR. When he retired Faulk led all players in HR (487) and RBI (1397), and was 4th in R (1243), 15th in SLG% (.523) and H (2056). He was never acknowledged as the top hitter in any given season, but he was still one of the most feared run producers over the first 10 years of the league.
USBA Championships: 1992 Birmingham AWARDS: NONE USBA All-Star: (4x) 1988, 1989, 1992, 1997 |
Pruden Fernandez, RP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2019 90.0% |
Selected 25th overall in the 2nd round in the 1993 draft, Pruden Fernandez proved to be a steal for one of the worst teams in the league. Fernandez made his Major League debut in his draft campaign and put up decent numbers in just 5 games of work. The Suns would try and use him primarily as a starting pitcher in 1994 and 1995, but the experiment backfired as Pruden would post his worst, then 3rd worst ERAs of his 20 year career in 94 and 95. Late in 95 he was moved into the closer role and was a instant success, racking up a total of 178 saves in just over 5 seasons for a club that would post a winning record just one time in those 5 years. Despite winning the Iron Closer award in 2000 with 43 saves and a 1.88 ERA, the Suns let Fernandez walk rather than shell out a big contract to a closer. He signed with San Antonio and made 6 all-star appearances in his first 8 years with the club, won another Iron Closer award in 2003 (the last time the award would be given before being brought back 15 years later), and help the Gunslingers to 5 division titles in those 8 seasons. He allowed 0 runs in 3 of those 5 postseasons and was a key component to San Antonio’s 2005 LL Pennant. When he retired, he ranked 3rd in saves (510) when he retired with a 3.29 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: Iron Closer x2 (2000, 2003) USBA All-Star: (9x) 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 |
Chad Fore, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2017 81% |
The 30th overall pick in 1987, Fore made his USBA debut 5 years later at the age of 23. After a rough rookie campaign, Fore posted 13 consecutive sub-4.00 ERA seasons for the Surf (including 7 sub-3.00 seasons). The righty won two Bronze Awards, each in his two 20-win seasons ('97 and '99), and he made two all-star appearances, though neither of them came in his award winning seasons. He tops the Surf list in career ERA and Win%, and falls just short in wins and strikeouts. Fore and the Surf came up just short of post-season immortality by losing in the 1995 and 2000 FL Championship series, with Fore posting a 3.87 ERA and 5-4 record in 14 post-season starts. San Diego would let him walk after the 2003 season, and though the aging vet had lost a little, his 32-32 record in 3 seasons for the Scorpions is a solid mark considering the club was 33 games under .500 during his time there. At the time of his retirement after the 2007 season, Fore ranked 11th in W (209), 13th in ERA (3.09), 21st in K (2608), 27th in Win% (61.3), and 35th in WHIP (1.14).
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: Bronze Arm x2 (1997, 1999) USBA All-Star: (4x) 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004 |
Marc Francois, RP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1997 |
The Quebec Comet was taken 223rd overall in the 1985 dispersal draft and made his major league debut that year. He would go on to play all 12 of his seasons for Los Angeles, appearing in 6 all-star games. Francois was one of the truly dominant closers of the early era of the league, finishing in the top 6 in saves each year except 1986 (10th). He would become the league's saves king in 1988 and would not relinquish his crown until nearly a dozen years later. He was the 1st closer with 200 saves, 1st to reach 300, and also the 1st to reach 400. Marc added 9 post-season saves to his resume, though he had an ERA over 4 and the Crazed Natives failed to win a title in their 7 playoff appearances during his tenure. When he retired after the '96 season, Francois had the most saves (433) and was 8th in games played (851), while totaling 73 wins with a 3.32 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: Iron Closer x1 (1992) USBA All-Star: (6x) 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992 |
Brett Giovacchini, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1997 |
The 1st overall pick in the 1990 draft, the G-man was advanced to AAA in his first pro season but would spend the next 2 years stuck at that level. He hit the ground running when he was finally called up though, hitting .276 with 16 HR in just 337 at-bats. He would avoid a sophomore slump in 1993, posting the first of back-to-back .900+ OPS seasons concluding in the 1994 Silver Slugger (.315/36/124). The following season (1995), Giovacchini led the Stingrays to the USBA crown with the best post-season effort of his career (.264, 3 HR, 10 RBI). He would earn his 5th and final all-star appearance in 2001 after a hot start, but he would cool off and hit just 7 HR after the break to finish with his lowest HR total in 7 years. Brett had 25+ HR in 11 of his 15 seasons and didn't hit less than 16 until his final year in the majors. When Giovacchini retired after the 2006 season at the age of 37 he ranked 11th in HR (418), 3rd in RBI (1398), 17th in R (1249), and 7th in BB (1078). He also had 2070 hits with a career .473 SLG%.
USBA Championships: 1995 Seattle AWARDS: Silver Slugger x1 (1994) USBA All-Star: (5x) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001 |
Marvin Goode, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Goode was a selection in the 1985 dispersal draft. He was quickly traded to the Alaska franchise. He wasn't quite ready when he first came up with Alaska/Anchorage and was sent to Wichita where he broke out in 1989. Alaska rethought the trade and brought him back in 1990 and Goode helped the Pipeliners along to a USBA title that year. After a solid 1992 season, he was sent to Pittsburgh where he became an extreme innings eater for the Piranhas, pitching at least 230 innings in his 5 years in the steel city. Don't let the innings eater tag fool you though, in 5 seasons Marvin won a Gold Glove, Bronze Arm, tossed a no-hitter, had two 20+ win seasons, and was selected to 3 all-star games. Following an injury-marred 1999 season, Goode was traded for the final time, landing in Chicago. He pitched very well--especially for a guy in his late 30s--for a poor Chicago team going 23-24 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. Curiously, after a 14-win, 3.84 ERA, 156 K, all-star (his 6th) 2001 season, Goode retired at 38. Through his 15 year career, Marvin had 12 seasons of 13 or more wins. When Goode retired he ranked t3rd in wins (211), 5th in innings (3023.1), 7th in K (2680), plus a top 40 ERA (3.34) and WHIP (1.11). He also had a 7-9 post-season record with a 3.61 ERA if you remove his lone 1988 start where he was shelled.
USBA Championships: 1990 Alaska AWARDS: Bronze Arm x1 (1994); Gold Glove x1 at P (1995) USBA All-Star: (6x) 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001 |
Casey Grissom, SS
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1996 |
One of the top offensive shortstops in league history, Grissom was taken with the 19th overall selection in the '85 dispersal draft by Albuquerque. He was 29 when the league formed and made an amazing 10 trips to the all-star game in 11 seasons, collecting a Silver Slugger in 1990 and a Gold Glove at shortstop in his final season at the age of 39. Grissom was sort of a mercenary playing for 5 teams in those 11 years, representing 4 of those 5 teams in the all-star game (he was an all-star in his half season with FW, but went to the game just before being traded there). He finished with double-digit home runs 10 times and had 20+ in 7 seasons. He wasn't just a power hitter though, hitting .310 or better 9 times and putting together a .296 average at the age of 39. Four times he topped 200 hits, including a then record 251 in 1987 (which would be broken in 1990 and still ranks as the 5th most, 9 short of the record). He would sign a free agent contract with Detroit before the '92 season and help them to the 1994 USBA title at the age of 38. Among shortstops, Grissom ranks 1st in AVG (.338), 2nd in OBP (.385), 2nd in SLG (.498), and 2nd in OPS (.883). At the time of his retirement in 1995, he ranked 6th on the career leader board in hits (2131), 7th in RBI (1013), 11th in R (1014), and 22nd in HR (232).
USBA Championships: 1994 Detroit AWARDS: Silver Slugger x1 (1990); Gold Glove x1 at SS (1995) USBA All-Star: (10x) 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
Devon Haskell, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2015 78.1% |
One of the greatest pure hitters in the history of the USBA, Haskell would spend his 20 year career toiling in obscurity. Hawaii has only made two post-season trips in their 30 year history and though Devon would only play in 5 post-season games, he would make the most of them hitting .435/.458/.696.
Devon had 200 or more hits in nine of his seasons, including a six year stretch from 1994-1999. Despite being a great hitter with a career .323 average (10th best among inactive players), he won only one batting title in 2005 at the age of 35. Was the oldest position player to step onto the field, with 125 plate appearances in 2012 at the age of 42.
When he retired after the 2012 season he ranked 2nd in H (3204), 5th in R (1626), and 10th in AVG (inactive-.323). He is also one of only 6 members in the 300/300 club, and is the only player in USBA history with 3000 hits, 300 HR, and 300 SB.
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: Silver Slugger x1 (2003); Gold Glove x3 at LF (1993, 1995, 1997) USBA All-Star: (7x) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
Raymond Hendley, 2B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2015 84.4% |
Regarded as one of the top power hitters and second basemen of all-time, Hendley was selected 3rd overall by the Gunslingers and played his 17-year career in San Antonio. From 1999 through 2006, Hendley hit at least 40 HR (he led the league in HR 7 consec. seasons 99-05) with 100 RBI each season, including back-to-back Silver Slugger awards in 2000 and 2001.
San Antonio would make six playoff appearances between 2000 and 2007, but they could never break through, making the USBA World Championship series only once, getting swept by Boston in 2005. You can't blame Raymond though, he hit .292 with 15 HR but was still unable to bring a title home to San Antonio.
When Hendley retired after the 2011 season he ranked 2nd in HR (527), 8th in RBI (1466), and 12th in R (1446). At the time of his induction he is one of only 6 members of the 300/300 club, only 3 in the 400/300 club, and the only player in USBA history with at least 500 HR and 300 SB.
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: Silver Slugger x2 (2000, 2001); Gold Glove x1 at 2B (2008); 2000 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (5x) 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 |
Hilton Hightower, RP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Taken by Birmingham in the 1st round of the 1987 draft, Hilton played 16 seasons with the Bandits, winning two Iron Closers (reliever of the year award), two championships, 1992 post-season MVP, and went to 4 all-star games before closing out his career with a title in Detroit in 2004. Hightower twice led the league in saves with 44 in 1992 and 41 in 1995. He posted 3 seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA, including a 1.19 ERA in 1999, and had another 4 seasons with an ERA under 2.50. Hightower (along with BOyer) is considered one of the top closers in the league from 1992-1999 and is well known for his post-season dominance (2.54 ERA with 31 saves in 63 games). When he retired in 2004, Hightower ranked 6th in saves (429), 19th in ERA (3.06), and 27th in WHIP (1.10). It's difficult to quantify closers outside of saves, but Hightower was certainly one of the more dominant closers the league has seen over an 8 year stretch.
USBA Championships: 1992 Birmingham, 1999 Birmingham, 2004 Detroit AWARDS: Iron Closer x2 (1992, 1995); 1992 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (4x) 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999 |
Raleigh Hoover, SS
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2018 82.3% |
Despite not winning a single Silver Slugger award, he was the model of consistency and arguably the top shortstop of the late 90s and 2000s. He had no standout, dominant season but played 17 seasons, winning Gold Gloves in 1995 and 1997, and appearing in 9 all-star games over an 11 year stretch (1997-2007). 11 times in his career he hit .280 or better with 20+ HR, 80+ RBI, and 20+ doubles. Hoover had his share of struggles in the playoffs (as did LA), but in 2003 he had his best post-season performance by far, hitting .349 with 2 HR and 12 RBI leading the Crazed Natives to within 1 game of the USBA Championship Series, as LA fell to New York in the FL Championship Series for the 2nd time in 3 years. When he retired after 2011, Hoover led all SS in RBI (1411), was 2nd in H (2586), HR (376), and R (1352); while also sitting 5th in OPS (.838). One of the most consistent players in USBA history, Hoover certainly ranks as one of the top players of the late 90s and 2000s era.
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: 1995 Platinum Rookie USBA All-Star: (9x) 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 |
Kevin Hunter, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2015 100% |
Kevin Hunter is the most decorated player in the history of the USBA. No one could have predicted the level of success he would have, especially the Detroit Sparkplugs who drafted him seventh overall in the 1990 ammy draft only to trade him to division rival Fort Wayne in 1995 after five unremarkable minor league seasons. From 1996 to 2008 he dominated the Liberty League going 234-74 with a 2.33 ERA and a .94 WHIP. He won an amazing seven straight Liberty League Bronze Arm awards, from 1999 ~ 2005 (splitting the 2001 award with Jarvis Turnbow). He posted six 20 win seasons, four sub 2.00 ERA seasons, and 11 sub 3.00 ERA seasons during his career. He helped the Wizards to seven postseason appearances including five Yankee Division titles. He may have held on a little to long posting a 35-61 record with 4.54 ERA the final four seasons of his career.
When he retired following the 2012 season Hunter ranked in the top 10 of several key pitching categories including ERA(7th/2.85), wins(2nd/265), win%(6th/.667), GS(4th/540), CG(1st/79), SHO(2nd/23), IP(2nd/3967.1), strikeouts(9th/3268), and BB/9IP(6th/1.18).(written by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 2002 Fort Wayne AWARDS: 1996 Platinum Rookie; Bronze Arm x7 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) USBA All-Star: (8X) 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
Bernardo Ibanez, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2019 90.0% |
Drafted with the first overall pick by San Diego in 1992, Ibanez would join a stable of young hitters (Ronnie Pickles, Langford Becker, and Stuart Etienne) that would propel San Diego during the most successful run in the history of the Surf. From 1993-2000, the Surf would make the playoffs 7 times in 8 seasons, winning the division title each of the 7 times they made the playoffs, and Bernardo would make 3 all-star appearances in those 8 seasons. In 2004 he signed with Boston and was the key hitter for a club that made 5 postseason appearances (including the 2005 Championship) in 6 years from 2005-2010, earning his final 2 all-star game appearances during that stretch. For all of his regular season success, Bernardo struggled in the postseason, hitting .250 with 7 HR, 31 RBI, 49 R, and 16 steals in 88 playoff games and in 12 trips to the second season, his teams won just 1 pennant and 1 Championship in 12 trips. When he retired after the 2012 season, Bernardo ranked 4th in hits (2975), 3rd in 2B (566), 6th in 3B (109), 9th in HR (448), 6th in RBI (1534), 1st in R (1884), 1st in BB (1492), 17th in steals (575), and he is one of only 2 members of the 400/400 club (with Ricky Booth being the only active player within range of joining the club). Bernardo may have never been the most dominant hitter in the league, but his durability and consistency are legendary and his all-around ability (power, batting eye, speed, glove) make him one of the best hitters of all time.
USBA Championships: 2005 Boston AWARDS: 1993 Platinum Rookie; Gold Glove 1x at RF (1996) USBA All-Star: (5x) 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006 |
Mark Jacoby, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1995 |
Mark Jacoby was the dominant pitcher of the LL in the 80s and he gave Lawrence McDonald a run for his money as the top pitcher of the decade as well. The 4th overall pick in the 1985 dispersal draft, Jacoby was a key component of a Memphis team that won 4 division titles in the 80s, the 1985 Championship, and had the 2nd highest win total in the LL in the decade. After another all-star season in 1990, he started breaking down. Surgery to remove bone chips in his shoulder cost him the majority of his 1991 season and facilitated a move to the bullpen in 1992, when he became one of the top closers in the league, finishing 8th in saves (26) and posting a 2.18 ERA. His stuff and control were never the same after the surgery though, and after a failed attempt to put him back in the rotation in 1993, Mark struggled to a 6.40 ERA in AAA and made just one USBA start in 1994 before retiring. Jacoby was the first pitcher to reach 100 wins and the first to 1500 Ks. He was already 29 when the league formed and only played 10 seasons, the final 4 marred by injury. When he retired after 1994, he was 3rd in wins and ERA, 2nd in CG and SO, 6th in K, 4th in WHIP, and 1st in Win%. He still ranks 1st in Win% among all players and 2nd in ERA among retired players.
USBA Championships: 1985 Memphis AWARDS: Bronze Arm x3 (1985, 1986, 1988) USBA All-Star: (6x) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 |
Joel Jefferson, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1993 |
Because of his age (31) at the start of the league, Jefferson played only 8 seasons but he was one of the top hitters of the 80s. He toiled on a poor team but earned 5 all-star appearances in the decade with a Silver Slugger award. In the 80s Jefferson averaged nearly 43 HR and 127 RBI with a .317 average. Before the 2008-12 offensive explosion, Jefferson's 1988 season was one of the top single seasons in the history of the league for power hitters. His 58 HR is the 3rd highest number before 2008, as were his 157 RBI. He just missed the Triple Crown that year, leading the league in HR and RBI but he needed 12 more hits to raise his average enough to pass Rickey Pierce for the batting title. Joel had a terrible start in 1990 and, as a result, Albuquerque sent him packing. The trade ended up working out for both sides as Albuquerque (Phoenix) received 3 players who would log 9000 total at-bats while Jefferson helped Boston to the 1991 USBA title and appeared in his 6th (and final) all-star game. After the 1991 championship, Boston put him out on the streets. He tried to hang on with Pittsburgh but he had a terrible start (though it was better than his 1990 start) and was sent down to AAA. He hit well in AAA (.262 with 18 HR), but decided to hang it up at the age of 38.
USBA Championships: 1991 Boston AWARDS: Silver Slugger x1 (1988) USBA All-Star: (6x) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991 |
Bill Johnson, 1B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Bill Johnson burst on the USBA scene in 1991 winning the Liberty League Platinum Rookie award as a member of the Yankee Division winning Detroit Sparkplugs. Johnson would go on to win three USBA Championships and a silver slugger while appearing in seven USBA All-Star games. Playing in the shadow of the great Roger Underhill, Johnson was often considered the second best player in the USBA. He managed to wrestle one Silver Slugger Award away from Underhill in 1996 when he hit .337 with 45 homers and 128 RBI. He knocked in at least 94 runs in nine consecutive seasons with a high of 132 in 1996 while cracking no fewer than 39 doubles in any one season during that some stretch. A slap hitter with surprising power, he didn't take many walks(448) but he also didn't strike out much(483). From 1992~2002 he posted 88 more walks than strikeouts with a full season low of 20 whiffs in 566 AB in 1998. He finished his USBA career with over 1200 RBI and 500 doubles while falling one homer shy of 350. (written by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1994 Detroit, 1997 Detroit, 2001 Detroit AWARDS: Platinum Rookie x1 (1991); Silver Slugger x1 (1996) USBA All-Star: (7x) 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 |
Jeffery Larkin, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2000 |
Quite possibly the top lead-off hitter in the history of the USBA, Jeffery Larkin owns the top OBP (.435) and 2nd best average (.347) among retired players. The one knock on him as a lead-off hitter was his lack of steals (117 in his career), but he showed in 1996-98 that he may have had the speed but was just never allowed to run, stealing 51 bases at a 96% clip, when he was in his late 30s! Taken 2nd overall in the inaugural draft, Larkin was the 1991 Silver Slugger winner and his 12 all-star appearances are tops in league history. In his 15 seasons in the league, the right fielder had 13 seasons with 180+ hits, 8 seasons with 200+ hits, 14 seasons with an average over .315, 7 batting titles, 14 seasons with an OBP of at least .400, and 13 times he lead the league in OBP. Although his power dropped off as he hit his 30s, Larkin still sits 12th in OPS among retired players. When he retired in 1999, he had more hits and runs than anyone else in USBA history, falling just 30 hits shy of becoming the first player in USBA history to reach 3,000. A solid post-season producer (.304 average with 6 HR and 24 RBI), Larkin helped Alaska to the 1990 USBA title only adding to his legacy.
USBA Championships: 1990 Alaska AWARDS: Silver Slugger x1 (1991) USBA All-Star: (12x) 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 |
Cade Laurel, 1B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1995 |
Taken with the 3rd overall pick in the inaugural draft, Laurel was one of the top hitters in the 80s, but was unable to help Los Angeles over the hump for a USBA title. In 1987 Cade set a record for HR in a season (60) that would stand for 21 years and he is still one of only four people to hit 60 HR in a season. That feat is amazing, and he did have the highest OPS in the decade (1.020), but the 60 HR is 23 more than he had in any other season and he had just one 30 HR season in the 90s (he had 5 total 30+ HR seasons). Laurel's steady regular season play in the 80s and drop-off in the 90s carried over to the post-season as well. In the 80s he hit 8 HR with 13 RBI in 31 games, but in the 90s he hit 0 HR with 6 RBI in 17 games as LA failed to make it out of the divisional series in 2 of 3 attempts. When he retired in 1994, Laurel ranked t9th in hits (1774), 5th in HR (324), 5th in RBI (1006), 3rd in R (1113), and his .936 OPS currently ranks 5th among retired players. The counting numbers do not stand out, but Laurel was one of the dominant hitters of the 80s and a deserving member of the USBA Hall of Fame.
USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: Silver Slugger x1 (1987) USBA All-Star: (4x) 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990 |
Alberto Macedo, 2B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2019 75.0% |
Like Lowell Burger, Macedo was traded to Alaska in the early 90s before he ever played in a USBA game (drafted 61st overall by PIT in 1991 and traded in 1993). Also like Burger, Macedo played longer in Alaska than anywhere else but didn’t see his biggest successes until heading south and would have the best years of his career in his 30s. Macedo averaged over 23 HR and 108 RBI with 5 all-star appearances and 3 Gold Gloves while in his 30s. In all, Alberto went to 6 all-star games, 5 after the age of 33 and only 1 in his 7 years with Alaska. Macedo made 5 post-season appearances, hitting .386 with 6 HR, 23 RBI, and 5 steals. In 2002 his Scorpions made it to the USBA Championship series, but they fell to Fort Wayne in 6. Macedo did his part that post-season though, hitting .412 with 3 HR, 14 RBI, and 4 steals. When Alberto retired after 2010, he ranked 7th in hits (2768) and 8th in runs (1493) overall; ranking 3rd among second basemen in hits, 6th in doubles, 3rd in HR (311), 3rd in RBI (1208), 2nd in runs, and 4th in extra-base hits. Macedo is one of the top 5 second basemen of all time, ranking with the likes of Erik Cocca, Toju Shino, and Raymond Hendley.
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: 1993 Platinum Rookie; Gold Glove 3x at 3B (2000, 2001, 2004); 2002 Post-Season MVP USBA All-Star: (6x) 1996, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 |
Neil Maddux, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2015 89% Veteran's Committee |
The 16th overall selection in the 1985 dispersal draft, Neil had a great run despite being 31 in the league's innagural season. Maddux collected 58 wins in 4 seasons with Denver posting a 2.97 ERA and 0.94 WHIP, but he became a
super-star over a 14 month sretch with Hawaii. In February of 1989 he signed a 5-year contract with the Tsunami and went on to win the Bronze arm that season with an 18-1 record, 1.98 ERA, and 0.85 WHIP. He threw two no-hitters for the Tsunami; 4/20/89
against his former team and 5/19/90 against Pittsburgh. Sadly, a month after his second no-hitter, Neil began having shoulder and elbow troubles that would plague him the rest of his career. He had surgery to remove bone chips twice in three seasons and made four
trips to the DL between 6/90-6/92. When he retired Neil was 5th in W (103), 5th in WHIP (1.02), t5th in SO (8), 8th in CG (18), and 9th in ERA (3.28). Neil was never on a serious playoff contender, but when the 1987 Diamond Demons made the playoffs (possibly
the worst team in USBA history to make the post-season), he played well giving up just 1 ER in 7 IP with a no-decision. Had the league formed in 1980 instead of 1985, Maddux may be talked about in the same breath as players like Turnbow, Hunter, Pacifico, and
McDonald; but instead he is thought of as a great player who's time was cut short.
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: Bronze Arm x1 (1989) USBA All-Star: (3x) 1985, 1986, 1989 |
Jason McDaniel, 1B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1997 |
A great value pick, going 98th overall to Las Vegas in the 1985 dispersal draft, McDaniel was a career Scorpion and is the team's career leader in H, R, TB, 2B, 3B, and SB while ranking 2nd in AVG, HR, and RBI. Jason was one of the early league's best hitters but he was forced to toil on one of the worst teams of the time period--LV posted more 90 loss seasons (4) than winning seasons (2). McDaniel posted a .900+ OPS in each of his first 9 seasons in the league and had at least 200 hits in 8 of those 9 seasons with 10 total seasons over 190 hits. He also topped the century mark in runs scored in his first 8 seasons. Although he was a very good hitter that made a ton of contact, had a solid eye, had a high slugging percentage, and had speed, he lead the league in an offensive category only once in his career, winning the 1993 batting title at the age of 35. McDaniel had 7 all-star appearances (funny enough he wasn't an all-star the two years LV had a winning record) and when he retired he ranked 3rd in hits, 5th in 2B, 4th in 3B, 5th in R, 8th in RBI, 15th in SB, 5th in AVG, 10th in OBP, 17th in SLG, and 12th in OPS. Not an elite power hitter like many first basemen, McDaniel was still a very gifted hitter.
USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: NONE USBA All-Star: (7x) 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 |
Lawrence McDonald, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1997 |
Lawrence McDonald has to be considered as one of the greatest pitchers to ever toe a USBA mound. He was the number one overall pick in the 1985 USBA dispersal draft and he didn't disappoint winning six Bronze Arm Awards in an eight year span from 1986~1993. The ten time all star was the first USBA pitcher to register 200 wins propelled by his five 21+ win seasons. He led the league in ERA nine times including 1987(1.32) and 1992(1.42) which still rank as the top two, single season ERA marks in USBA history. He holds six of the top 18 single season ERA marks of all time. His career ERA of 2.30 ranks second in league history. He reached the USBA Championship series in back to back seasons in '87 & '88 with Pittsburgh but his team's were never good enough to take home the ring. McDonald himself pitched lights out in those two series combing for a 2-2 record and a 0.82 ERA in 32+ championship series innings. His 78 complete games and 38 shutouts ranked the best all time when he retired in 1996 and they are still tops in USBA history. Already 26 years old at the leagues inception, McDonalds career numbers could have been even better had he started his career just a few years earlier. (written by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: Bronze Arm x6 (1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993); 1987 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (10x) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
Carson McGraw, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Enter bio here
USBA Championships: 1990 Alaska AWARDS: Silver Slugger x2 (1992, 1996) USBA All-Star: (10x) 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
John Miltenberger, RP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
23 year old John Miltenberger was the 965th selection in the 1985 USBA Dispersal Draft by Richmond. As a 49th round pick he wasn't given much of a chance by prognosticators to make it to the USBA. Miltenberger was traded to the expansion Seattle Stingrays before their inaugural season in 1987. He would pitch two seasons in long relief before taking over the closer role in 1989 saving 22 of the teams' 38 wins. He lost the closer job in 1990 but pitched well enough to make his first all star team before sharing the job in 1991. In 1992 he would again be named the Stingray's closer and hold the job for the next seven seasons adding four more all star appearances in the process. He was at his best in the post-season especially in 1995 when he appeared in 11 of Seattle's playoff games and recorded a save in seven of their 11 victories. Miltenberger remains the Stingray's career leader in saves(286) and games pitched(1257) and was a member of the 1995 USBA Championship team. (by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1995 Seattle AWARDS: NONE USBA All-Star: (5x) 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
Elijah Mohammad, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Enter bio here
USBA Championships: 1991 Boston, 1993 Boston AWARDS: 1993 & 1998 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (4x) 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998 |
Nick Nieponski, 1B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1997 |
Juice, as he was affectionately called by those close to him, was taken by Anchorage 191st overall in the 1985 dispersal draft and he would prove to be a huge steal. Like fellow Hall of Famer Tom Brett, Nieponski was an atypical first bagger. He hit with little power (career .398 SLG%, never hitting more than 3 HR in a season) but was a great pure hitter, never having his average drop below .300 in any of his 12 seasons. After posting a .359 average in 2+ seasons with Anchorage, he was shipped out to New Orleans where he would help lead the Ragin' Cajuns to two championships in three seasons. As an example of his pure hitting ability, Nick collected his first batting title in 1994 with a .401 average at the age of 36. As an encore, he collected his 2nd consecutive batting title in 1995 at the age of 37 and finished out his last year in 1996 with a .334 average. At the time of his retirement, Nieponski was 2nd in hits (2378), t3rd in average (.345), and 7th in OBP (.397).
USBA Championships: 1987 New Orleans, 1989 New Orleans AWARDS: NONE USBA All-Star: (3x) 1987, 1994, 1995 |
Luke Noonan, RP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Luke Noonan was as reliable as they come. Only twice in a 14 year span as the closer for the Pittsburgh Piranhas did he fail to save 30 games. In 2003 he became just the second pitcher in USBA history to record 500 saves, posting 31 in his last season in the Steel City. As the 15th pick in the 1987 ammy draft Noonan made the big club in 1988 and was the team's full time closer out of spring training in 1990, a job he would hold for 14 seasons. He led the Freedom League in saves twice(1992 & 1995) and he was named to three USBA All-Star teams. Even when the Piranhas were bad Noonan was still good. During a four year stretch from 1997~2000 Pittsburgh won only 249 games combined. Noonan would record 125 saves over that same span. (by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: Iron Closer x1 (1995) USBA All-Star: (3x) 1994, 1995, 1999 |
Cesar Nunez, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2015 78% Veteran's Committee |
The 41st overall selection in the dispersal draft's star shined bright but burned out quickly. Between 1985 and 1990, Cesar posted double-digit wins and single-digit losses each season, only once posting an ERA over 2.95. During that same stretch he had a solid 3.12 ERA in 5 playoff starts, but got little run support and was just 1-2. Oddly, everything fell appart in 1991. He had a rough start to the year (5.02 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 2-2 record) and he was demoted to AAA. In AAA that year, he had an ERA higher than any of his seasons in the majors. Pittsburgh let him walk and he was picked up by Columbus, but never made it to the majors. After sustaining just the 2nd injury of his career in August of '92, Nunez hung up his spikes about 18 months after his final USBA start. During a 5 year span, he was selected to be an All-Star 4 times, including the year just before his collapse. He retired 4th in ERA (2.79), t5th in SO (8), t10th in CG (17), 17th in WHIP (1.16), 21st in W (89), and 27th in K (1023).
USBA Championships: None AWARDS: None USBA All-Star: (4x) 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990 |
Randy Oaks, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1997 |
This Oak Ridge, TN native was selected 35th overall in the inaugural draft in 1985. Randy quickly established himself as a solid pitcher and he won 10 or more games each of his first 9 seasons, and did not have a losing season until 1995. Oaks had his best seasons from 1987-1990 when he won 15 or more games each year, threw 16 complete games, had 10 shutouts, won his only Bronze Arm award, was selected to four straight All-Star games, and won two USBA championships. In 1988 he led the league in wins and strikeouts; he led the league in innings pitched, complete games, and shutouts in 1990; and led the league in complete games for the 2nd time in 1995. He had two sub-par seasons in Wichita before calling it quits after the 1996 season. Because of his relatively short career, you will not see his name at the top of many of the leader boards, but he does rank 10th in career shutouts with 16 and 15th in career complete games with 33.
USBA Championships: 1987 New Orleans, 1989 New Orleans AWARDS: Bronze Arm x1 (1987) USBA All-Star: (5x) 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 |
Sandy Pacifico, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Sandy Pacifico defected to the United States from his native Cuba at the age of 19. At 20 he was a star in the USBA. By the time he retired at the age of 38 he was a baseball legend. The star of the Cuban National Team since he was 14 years old, Pacifico quickly became a workhorse for the Boston Pilgrims posting double digit victories in his first eight seasons including 1995 when he won the Pitching Triple Crown(25-3, 1.84 ERA, 355 k) and won the first of two Bronze Arm Awards. Before that he helped lead the Pilgrims to two USBA Championships in three seasons('91 & '93). He was traded to LA during the 2000 season and won his second Bronze Arm with them in 2001(20-6, 2.15, 348) missing a second triple crown by a couple of wins. The 10 time USBA All-Star led the Freedom League in strikeouts a record 15 times including 14 consecutive seasons from 1989~2002. He also led the FL in WHiP 10 times, ERA twice, wins twice, and innings pitched once. He pitched two No-Hitters and struck out 15 batters in a game 14 times including a career high 18 Seattle Stingrays in October of 1994. His name is all over the USBA record books ranking first with 274 wins, 50 more than second place at the time of his retirement. He is also first all time in games started(638), IP(4268) strikeouts(5534), and WHiP(0.88). He is second in K/9 IP, third in shut outs, tenth in complete games, and thirteenth in ERA. He owns nine 300 k seasons including six of the top 10 single season strikeout marks of all time. 14 of his 19 seasons resulted in playoff appearances where he posted a 14-18 record and 3.53 ERA in 262+ IP. When all is said and done there is no doubt that Sandy Pacifico has earned his spot among the best players in the history of the USBA! (written by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1991 Boston, 1993 Boston AWARDS: Bronze Arm x2 (1995, 2001); 1994 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (10x) 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004 |
Greg Palms, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2016 77.3% |
Selected 20th in the 1989 draft (quite possibly one of the deepest pools in USBA history with fellow Hall of Famers Devon Haskell, Joseph Zander, and Colton Swift; along with HOF candidates Jeb Clines and Cody Tobin), Palms would move up through the Pipeliners system a year at a time, making his USBA debut in 1992, less than 2 seasons after Alaska last won it all. He would not win rookie of the year in 1992, but would bounce back with a great sophomore season, earning his first of 4 all-star appearances in 5 years. Between 1993-98 Palms would go 103-55 in the regular season, but just 1-2 in the playoffs as the Pipeliners would only make two trips to the post-season in that span. He would walk away from Alaska in search of a league title, signing with Boston before the 2001 season, but he was traded less than two years later to the barren, title-less land of San Antonio where he would toss his only no-hitter in 2003, earn his 7th all-star appearance, and become just the 10th player to reach 200 wins. The Gunslingers cut him lose with one year remaining on his contract after the 2006 season and he signed with Detroit in one last attempt to claim a ring before hanging up his glove. He went 0-2 as a reliever and pitched just 2 1/3 mop-up innings in a 1st round blowout as the Sparkplugs would go on to lose to the Scorchers in 5. When Palms retired after 2007, he ranked 7th in wins (212), 4th in K (3,401), 21st in ERA (3.15), 14th in WHIP (1.06), and 27th in K/9 (9.10). At the time of his induction, he still ranks in the top 10 in W and K.
USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: Bronze Arm x1 (1996) USBA All-Star: (8x) 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 |
Rickey Pierce, 2B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1995 |
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USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: Gold Glove x1 at 2B (1989) USBA All-Star: (7x) 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
Demarion Rhodes, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2017 81.0% |
Rhodes was hands-down the best pitcher in the USBA from 2007 through 2010. Over that span he had an 85-18 record with a 2.80 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 11.14 K/9 (1209 Ks). During those four seasons, he won 3-straight Bronze Arm awards (his 4 total are 3rd all-time), led the FL in wins 3 times, ERA twice, and Ks twice; winning the pitcher's triple-crown in 2007 (with only the emergence of strikeout king Aric Beuhring keeping him from winning again in 2009). Demarion was taken with the 1st overall selection in 1999 by the Pirhanas and didn't disappoint, becoming arguably the best #1 overall selection in the history of the league. He went 89-53 with a 2002 Bronze Arm in 6 seasons with a Pittsburgh team that was a collective 431-541 with just one playoff appearance. Amazingly after the 2005 season, Pitt and Rhodes couldn't come to an agreement. The young ace was signed by Denver and went on a tear, winning the 3-straight Bronze Arms, culmunating with the 2009 championship. As good as he was in the regular season, he seemed to struggle in the post-season, but did save his best two seasons for the championship runs with Denver in 2009 and New York in 2012. When Rhodes retired he ranked 2nd in Ks (3914), 5th in W (226), t5th in SO (20), 5th in K/9 (10.60), 13th in IP (3322), 15th in CG (36), 17th in win% (62.4), and 24th in ERA (3.21).
USBA Championships: 2009 Denver, 2012 New York AWARDS: Bronze Arm x4 (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009) USBA All-Star: (6x) 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 |
Nick Rolston, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
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USBA Championships: 1991 Boston, 1993 Boston AWARDS: Bronze Arm x1 (1990) USBA All-Star: (4x) 1988, 1990, 1994, 1997 |
Paul Russell, 1B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1996 |
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USBA Championships: 1990 Alaska AWARDS: Silver Slugger x3 (1989, 1990, 1993); 1990 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (5x) 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
Toju Shino, 2B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
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USBA Championships: 1991 Boston, 1993 Boston AWARDS: Gold Glove x2 at 2B (2000, 2001) USBA All-Star: (5x) 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 |
John Sims, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2015 93.8% |
Taken 12th overall in the 1992 amateur draft, Sims would become the best power hitter to grace a USBA diamond. Sims would hit at least 20 HR in 16 consectuive seasons from 1995 through 2010 on his way to becoming the USBA HR king with 538 career round-trippers. Sims was the FL's most feared hitter between 2002 and 2006 hitting 40+ HR with over 110 RBI & R each year, leading the league in HR three straight seasons (02-04), and winning the FL Silver Slugger in 2004 and 2006. His regular season success would carry over into the post-season with a career .866 OPS in the playoffs, including an OPS over 1.000 in the 2003 and 2004 playoffs, helping to propel the Gothams to the 2003 USBA championship. During the 2004 campaign he led the league in OBP, SLG, OPS, HR, R, and BB while finishing 2nd in RBI.
When Sims retired after the 2012 just before his 40th birthday, he ranked 1st in HR (538) and RBI (1580), 2nd in BB (1396), 4th in R (1640), 14th in OBP, 16th in H (2484), and 17th in OPS.
USBA Championships: 2003 New York AWARDS: Silver Slugger x2 (2004, 2006) USBA All-Star: (10x) 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 |
Margarito Solorzano, RP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
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USBA Championships: 1990 Alaska AWARDS: NONE USBA All-Star: (1x) 1988 |
Morgan Sommerset, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
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USBA Championships: 1992 Birmingham, 1998 Houston AWARDS: Silver Slugger x1 (1994) USBA All-Star: (3x) 1995, 1998, 1999 |
Mark Stewart, C
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1996 |
Mark Stewart was the best catcher in the USBA for the early part of the league's existence. The third round pick of the Richmond Cannons in the USBA dispersal draft in 1985, Stewart averaged 34 homers and 118 RBI during his first six years. Not only was Stewart talented but he was durable and dependable as well. He caught at least 146 games in all of his 10 full seasons. He broke his hip on May 1, 1995 in what would the final game of his career at the age of 37. He was also great in the clutch hitting .313 with five homers in 26 post-season games including 1988 when he helped the Cannons to their only USBA Championship. The seven time all star also won a gold glove in 1991 and posted a 26 game hit streak in 1989. Stewart still is a prominent member of the Cannons record book appearing in the top ten in several offensive categories. (by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1988 Richmond AWARDS: Gold Glove x1 at C (1991) USBA All-Star: (7x) 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993 |
Colton Swift, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
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USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: Bronze Arm x1 (2003) USBA All-Star: (4x) 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Ty Thrasher, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
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USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: NONE USBA All-Star: (7x) 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 |
Jarvis Turnbow, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2015 100% |
What Jarvis Turnbow did during his 15 regular seasons with the Detroit Sparkplugs makes him a sure fire Hall of Famer. What the right hander did in the postseason makes him a USBA Legend!
Every team in the USBA passed on Turnbow, twice(some three times) in the 1990 ammy draft until Detroit selected him with the 55th pick overall, seventh in the 3rd round. He spent six full seasons in the minors before earning a spot in the Sparkplugs' rotation in 1996 posting 12 wins as a rookie. He would go on to post double digit wins in each of his 15 USBA seasons. He would go on to post 11 sub 3.00 ERA seasons including 10 in a row from 1997 ~ 2006. Upon his retirement following the 2010 season he ranked in the top 10 all time in wins(T2nd/253), Win%(3rd/.691), CG(4th/55), SHO(3rd/23), IP(6th/3527), and strikeouts(9th/3222). For his regular season success he was awarded the Liberty League Bronze Arm award three times('98, '01, '06) and nine All Star teams. Turnbow's teams never won fewer than 85 games during his 15 year career making the playoffs a remarkable 12 times including seven Yankee Division titles.
For all of his regular season success Turnbow was downright dominating during the postseason. From 1996 ~ 2006 Turnbow went 18-3 with a 2.07 ERA in 29 playoff starts winning four USBA Championships during that span('97, '01, '04, '06). The Sparkplugs never lost a Championship series game that he started, six in all. He was 4-0 in those six games with a 1.33 ERA and more strikeouts than innings pitched. His best performance was the 2001 postseason where he pitched games one, four, and seven against the New York Gothams winning two games and getting a no decision in game seven giving up just four earned runs in 24 IP. He was awarded the Postseason MVP that year going 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA in seven games.(written by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1997 Detroit, 2001 Detroit, 2004 Detroit, 2006 Detroit AWARDS: Bronze Arm X3 (1998, 2001, 2006); 1997 & 2001 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (9x) 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 |
Roger Underhill, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Roger Underhill is a USBA legend. With six Silver Slugger Awards he is the most decorated hitter in the league's history. He played for five different teams but it was in Birmingham that he found the majority of his success. For five consecutive seasons from 1991~1995 he won five Silver Sluggers, was named to the Liberty League All-Star team each season, and appeared in three USBA Championship Series taking home the trophy in 1992. It is likely the greatest five year stretch of any player to ever grace a USBA field. His career also landed him in New York (where he won his sixth Silver Slugger in 1998,) Las Vegas, Memphis, and Seattle but he never matched the success of his days in a Bandits uniform. During his career he won two batting titles(1993 & 1996), led the league in homers and RBI three times each, and posted one of only 26 30 homer/30 stolen base seasons in 1996(44 HR/30 SB). On three other occasions he had 30+ homers and 25+ stolen bases. He had six consecutive seasons with an OB% of over .400 from '91~'96 despite averaging just 60 bases on balls per season. He also had five hitting streaks of at least 20 games during his career. At the time of his induction Underhill ranks second all time in RBI(1537) and total bases(4563), fourth in hits(2782), and eighth in runs scored(1382) and homers(424). (written by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1992 Birmingham AWARDS: Silver Slugger x6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998); 1995 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (9x) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
William Vansant, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
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USBA Championships: 2000 New York AWARDS: Bronze Arm x1 (1995); 2000 Post-season MVP USBA All-Star: (8x) 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 |
Bill Williams, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Way back in 1985, Columbus took this 21-year-old fireballer with the 22nd overall pick in the inaugural draft and promptly traded him to New Orleans later that summer. Williams would pair with then 27-year-old Randy Oaks to form one of the most feared 1-2 punches in USBA history and lead the Cajuns to two championships in three seasons. Bill had one of the most dominating 5-year stretches ever witnessed from 1989-1993, totaling 94 wins, only 28 losses, 1307 strikeouts, a 2.73 ERA, and a 1.16 WHIP in 924.2 innings. He won over 20 games twice and posted a sub-2.00 ERA three times during his 16 year USBA career. During his first 11 seasons as a full-time starter, he posted double-digit wins each year. Williams was the 2nd player in league history to reach 200 wins and became the career win leader for a short time in 2000 before Sandy Pacifico passed him the next year. Unfortunately, we will never know how good Williams’ career numbers could have been because New Orleans aged rapidly and the Cajuns finished above .500 only once in the last 9 years of his career. Despite having a poor supporting cast, Bill continued to pitch very well, posting a WHIP of 1.12 or less each year from 1994-1999. His skills deteriorated rapidly though. He posted his first ERA over 4.00 as a full-time player in 2000, had an ERA over 6.00 in 2001, being demoted to the pen, and he held his retirement tour in the minors during the 2002 season. When Williams retired in 2002, he ranked 3rd in wins, 4th in strikeouts, 8th in ERA, and 11th in shutouts.
USBA Championships: 1987 New Orleans, 1989 New Orleans AWARDS: Bronze Arm x2 (1989, 1993); 1987 Post-Season MVP USBA All-Star: (6x) 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
Chris Williams, 1B
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
Chris Williams was a durable, all around player that play everyone of his 2226 games with the Seattle Stingray's. The six time all star won five gold gloves and one silver slugger capping it off with a USBA Championship in 1995. Williams developed surprising power having hit no more than 17 homers in any of his three minor league seasons. He would go on to hit 48 in his Silver Slugger season of 1997. At six foot two inches he possessed sneaky speed stealing double digit bases eight consecutive seasons from 1994 to 2001. He would struggle in the playoffs hitting just .201 in 61 post-season games. (by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1995 Seattle AWARDS: Silver Slugger x1 (1997); Gold Glove x5 at 1B (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002) USBA All-Star: (6x) 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002 |
Howard Williams, OF
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 1994 |
OF Howard Williams was 30 years old when the USBA began. The 13th overall pick in the 1985 dispersal draft, Williams quickly became a crowd favorite of the then Virginia Beach Breakers. Williams won the franchise's only Silver Slugger award in 1987 with his second consecutive 30/30 season. With 43 homers and 59 steals(both career highs) Williams became the first player to hit 40+ homers and steal 40+ bases in the same season. An All-Star his first seven seasons, Williams retired following the 1993 season at the age of 38. After 34 USBA seasons Williams still ranks highly in Jacksonville history in several offensive categories including tops in hits(1726) and AB(5541). Had Howard Williams been a few years younger when the USBA started there is no doubt he would be remembered as one of the greatest of all time. (by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: NONE AWARDS: Silver Slugger x1 (1987) USBA All-Star: (7x) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
Tim Youngblood, C
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2015 78% Veteran's Committee |
The 51st overall selection in the dispersal draft, Youngblood was a run producing machine, ranking 8th in RBI (663) at the time of his retirement in 1990. Youngblood was a very powerful catcher leading all backstops with 202 career dingers at the time of his retirement. His 1987 season, (when he hit .321/.376/.654 with 47 HR, 137 RBI, 125 R, and 99 XBH) was arguably one of the best for a catcher in the history of the league. He was no one-hit wonder either, posting 30+ HR and 100+ RBI in 4 of his 6 seasons (he hit 'only' 28 HR in '86 and 27/93 in '89). Tim was often seen in the All-Star game, making the mid-summer classic roster in 4 of the league's first 5 seasons.He did win a title with the Pipeliners in 1990 before calling it quits, but he did not play a key role in the victory hitting just .096 with 1 HR in the '90 post-season.
USBA Championships: 1990 Alaska AWARDS: None USBA All-Star: (4x) 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989 |
Casey Zaks, SP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
For a nine year period between 1995 and 2003 Casey Zaks would toe the mound for the Denver Diamond Demons as one of the best starting pitchers in the USBA. During that stretch he would post a 160-62 record and win two Bronze Arm awards all while helping the Demons to their first USBA Championship in 1996. He would win no less than 15 games during that time while appearing in five all star teams and made the playoffs five times. Denver would select Zaks as the 13th pick in the first round of the 1988 ammy draft and he would wear only the Diamond Demons uniform for his entire career. The “Silent Storm”, as he was known in the Denver clubhouse, let his play do the talking as he was known as a lead by example type of guy. He would suffer a torn rotator cuff in August of 2003 and would never be the same, posting just 15 wins combined in 2004 and 2005 before deciding to retire at the age of 36. (by Herb DeSpain)
USBA Championships: 1996 Denver AWARDS: Bronze Arm x2 (1998, 2000) USBA All-Star: (5x) 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 |
Joseph Zander, RP
OOTP 6.5 Player Card 2007 |
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USBA Championships: 1998 Houston AWARDS: Iron Closer x3 (1996, 1997, 1998) USBA All-Star: (6x) 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 |