SCABS History 1988
1988 was a monumental season for the Synthetic Chemicals American Baseball Society. The
league expanded to eight teams, welcoming Lou Valente's New Yanks and Dave Maxim's
Particle Reducers. SCABS also divided into two divisions called the Soda and Pop Divisions.
The rationale behind the names derived from the fact that New York City and other parts of our
state referred to soft drinks as Soda while the western region dubbed such substances Pop.
league expanded to eight teams, welcoming Lou Valente's New Yanks and Dave Maxim's
Particle Reducers. SCABS also divided into two divisions called the Soda and Pop Divisions.
The rationale behind the names derived from the fact that New York City and other parts of our
state referred to soft drinks as Soda while the western region dubbed such substances Pop.
We again purged our rosters and made 25 new seasonal picks for what turned out to be the last
time. It was also a season of partnerships as Leo added Dave Baker to his Rebels, Lou enlisted
brother Ron for his Yanks and Dave added Ken Krebs to his Reducers. This season also saw
the advent of the computer as a tool for keeping standings and statistics. We also tried the
"Snake" method of drafting in which the last drafter in the first round becomes the first picker in
the 2nd round, etc. Later, the Blue Crew added George Thompson to the front office and the
Yanks enlisted the services of Jim Huson.
time. It was also a season of partnerships as Leo added Dave Baker to his Rebels, Lou enlisted
brother Ron for his Yanks and Dave added Ken Krebs to his Reducers. This season also saw
the advent of the computer as a tool for keeping standings and statistics. We also tried the
"Snake" method of drafting in which the last drafter in the first round becomes the first picker in
the 2nd round, etc. Later, the Blue Crew added George Thompson to the front office and the
Yanks enlisted the services of Jim Huson.
Using the snake, old favorites like Don Mattingly, Cal Ripken, Tony Fernandez and Wade Boggs
were selected. Newcomers George Bell and Roger Clemens were added to the first round and
defending champion Mike Weinpress scooped up Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden for his
first two picks. The 25th round was populated by names like Pecota, Fischer, Stanley and Mr.
Irrelevant Joaquin Andujar (a.k.a. Walking Underwear).
were selected. Newcomers George Bell and Roger Clemens were added to the first round and
defending champion Mike Weinpress scooped up Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden for his
first two picks. The 25th round was populated by names like Pecota, Fischer, Stanley and Mr.
Irrelevant Joaquin Andujar (a.k.a. Walking Underwear).
The season began with a 4-0 run that subsequently stood at 6-2 by the rookie Reducers, they
added some trash talk as they declared, "Hey man, we can split our team into two squads and
win both divisions of this league!" Shortly after this quote, the Penguins moved into a first-place
tie with the Reducers and when Pens owner Randy was asked he replied, "It feels like an old
shoe, comfortable!
added some trash talk as they declared, "Hey man, we can split our team into two squads and
win both divisions of this league!" Shortly after this quote, the Penguins moved into a first-place
tie with the Reducers and when Pens owner Randy was asked he replied, "It feels like an old
shoe, comfortable!
For the first year in league history we staged an all-star game midway into the season. A team
from the Soda division and a team from the Pop division were selected by a kind of consensus
process. The Soda division demonstrated its superiority with a 162-141 win over the Pop-stars.
Kirk Gibson, Don Mattingly and Julio Franco paced the Soda hitters, while pitcher Ted Higuera
recorded 2 wins and gave up 3 runs in 15 innings for a 32 point effort. The Popsters picked up
24 points from outfielder Kevin McReynolds.
from the Soda division and a team from the Pop division were selected by a kind of consensus
process. The Soda division demonstrated its superiority with a 162-141 win over the Pop-stars.
Kirk Gibson, Don Mattingly and Julio Franco paced the Soda hitters, while pitcher Ted Higuera
recorded 2 wins and gave up 3 runs in 15 innings for a 32 point effort. The Popsters picked up
24 points from outfielder Kevin McReynolds.
There were several trades this season as teams sought to improve their rosters and hopefully
embarrass their rivals. At the end of 15 games, the Particle Reducers and the Penguins
remained in a tie for first place atop the Pop Division at 9-6. In the Soda Division, the Yanks
began their domination reminiscent of the storied Bronx teams of yore finishing with a league
best 11-4 record.
embarrass their rivals. At the end of 15 games, the Particle Reducers and the Penguins
remained in a tie for first place atop the Pop Division at 9-6. In the Soda Division, the Yanks
began their domination reminiscent of the storied Bronx teams of yore finishing with a league
best 11-4 record.
In the 1988 playoffs, the New Yanks blew by the Doinx and the Particle gang "reduced" the
Penguins as Randy's franchise once again succeeded in the regular season only to fail in the
post.
Penguins as Randy's franchise once again succeeded in the regular season only to fail in the
post.
The first game of the championship series was won by the Reducers 157-134. The Blenders
had three players (Dave Winfield, Wade Boggs and Andre Dawson) at 20 or more points and
pretty much matched the Yanks pitching. The Yanks lost in spite of a 24 point effort by outfielder
Mike Greenwell.
had three players (Dave Winfield, Wade Boggs and Andre Dawson) at 20 or more points and
pretty much matched the Yanks pitching. The Yanks lost in spite of a 24 point effort by outfielder
Mike Greenwell.
We don't have the exact scores for the 2nd two games of the 1988 championship series, but Lou
V. was good enough to send me the above screenshot of his point totals and the game results.
As you can see on the bottom line, the Yanks won the last two games (indicated by the letter W).
Keep in mind that the point totals include his starters plus his bench players.
V. was good enough to send me the above screenshot of his point totals and the game results.
As you can see on the bottom line, the Yanks won the last two games (indicated by the letter W).
Keep in mind that the point totals include his starters plus his bench players.
Regardless of the actual scores, the New Yanks were the deserving champions of 1988 – a
remarkable feat for Lou's first season.
remarkable feat for Lou's first season.
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