Season 31 Hall of Fame Voting Results

Here are the complete results for Hall of Fame voting for season 31 (last season's votes in parenthesis):

Gary Blake - 14 (14)
Damaso Lopez -12 (10)
Geoffrey Blair - 11
Alfredo Valentin - 10 (8) 
Mitch Ledee - 8
Marino Tejera - 7
Todd Webster - 6 (5)
Domingo Pizzaro - 3
Pat Masao - 3 (6)
Don Yoshii - 3 (1)
Roger Heath - 2 (2)
Johan McInerney - 2 (3)
Tyrone Hamilton -2 (1) 
Omar Siqueiros - 2 (2)
Dick Orosco - 2 (2)
Kyle Stone - 1
Scott Hall - 1 (1)
John Blake - 1 (1)
Peter Pong - 1
Omar Flores - 1 (6)
Carlos Barcelo - 1
Tony Mendoza - 1

Season 30 Hall of Fame Voting Results

Here are the complete results for Hall of Fame voting for season 30 (last season's votes in parenthesis):

Gary Blake - 14 (14)
Damaso Lopez -10 (12)
Mark Parker - 10 (12)
Ahmed Sanford - 9 (13)
Alfredo Valentin - 8 (9)
Omar Flores - 6
Pat Masao - 6 (6)
Cesar Urbina - 5 (2)
Todd Webster - 5
John Kim - 4 (2)
Johan McInerney - 3 (3)
Dick Orosco - 2
Omar Siqueiros - 2 (2)
Roger Heath - 2 (1)
Esteban Moreno - 1 (1)
Dan King - 1 (1)
John Blake - 1 (1)
Dennys Franco - 1
Don Yoshii - 1 (3)
Yorrick Benard - 1 (1)
Tyrone Hamilton -1 (2) 
Midre Bonilla -1 (2)
Scott Hall - 1 (1)
Bey Meacham - 1 (2)
Jim Aurilia - 1 (1)

Season 29 Hall of Fame Voting Results

Here are the complete results for Hall of Fame voting for season 29 (last season's votes in parenthesis):

Vance Collier - 20 (14) (Elected)
Gary Blake - 14 (16)
Ahmed Sanford - 13 (12)
Damaso Lopez -12 (8)
Mark Parker - 12 (7)
Alfredo Valentin - 9 (8)
Pat Masao - 6 (7)
Johan McInerney - 3 (3)
Don Yoshii - 3 (3)
Cesar Urbina - 2 (3)
Omar Siqueiros - 2 (1)
John Kim -2 (1)
Tyrone Hamilton -2 (5)
Rob Becker - 2 (3)
Midre Bonilla - 2
Bey Meacham - 2 (1)
Scott Hall - 1 (1)
Dan King - 1 (1)
Esteban Moreno - 1
Roger Heath - 1
Harry Martinez - 1 (1)
Jim Aurilia - 1
Yorrick Benard - 1 (1)
Joseph Yoshii - 1
John Blake - 1
Pablo Ordonez - 1

No Cash in Trades Before Rule 5 Freeze Rule Adopted

An accepted (and subsequently vetoed) trade during the pre-season in Mantle season 29 in which cash was being included in the deal at the start of the free agency period led to a fair amount of discussion in the world chat.  A number of owners felt strongly that cash being exchanged in deals at this particular point in the season was giving the receiving owners an advantage during free agency.  This led to a proposed new world rule which was put up for a vote, and has passed.

Starting in season 30, cash cannot be included in any trade before the Rule 5 freeze day.  Any such trade that is offered and accepted should be vetoed by the other 30 owners in Mantle.

Final voting results are as follows:

Yes - 15 votes (65.2%)
No - 8 votes (34.8%)
No preference - 5 votes (not included)
Did not vote - 4

Results: PASSED - rule to be adopted starting in season 30

Commissioner's Challenge Award (S28)

The "Commissioner's Challenge Award" is given to the team that had the most wins during the season without making the playoffs.

I'm happy to announce the season 28 winner of a $5 WIS Gift Certificate is tecwrg of the Scranton Apollos, whose 88 wins was just two games short of earning a post-season appearance.

1) 88 wins - Scranton Apollos (tecwrg)
2t) 84 wins - Chicago Black Sox (tomq)
2t) 84 wins - San Francisco Oles (evegoe)
2t) 84 wins - Cincinnati Mini Men (raidersfan)
5) 83 wins - Oklahoma City Power Failure (coneheads)
6) 82 wins - Boston Minutemen (hawger)
7t) 79 wins - Colorado Springs Mile High Marines (brendanjod)
7t) 79 wins - Albuquerque Roadrunners (tedwmoore)
9t) 76 wins - Jackson Bootleggers (rugrat)
9t) 76 wins - Atlanta Blue (bkpeters)
11t) 72 wins - Iowa City Hawksux (bjschumacher)
11t) 72 wins - Washington D.C. Metros (jmaese)
13t) 71 wins - Baltimore Honey Nut Cheerios (iain)
13t) 71 wins - Toronto Eh's (mikeg740)
15) 70 wins - Buffalo Blizzard (sir_slamalot)
16) 63 wins - Rochester Rochy Road Rochstars (indiansrck27)
17) 61 wins - Richmond Generals (dgtrache)
18) 59 wins - Omaha Barn Owls (fireattack)
19) 57 wins - Pawtucket Patriots (dudejustice)
20) 56 wins - Florida Lockdown (welsh5)

Season 28 Hall of Fame Voting Results

Here are the complete results for Hall of Fame voting for season 28 (last season's votes in parenthesis):

Bill Hewson - 19 (Elected)
Gary Blake - 16 (9)
Vance Collier - 14 (12)
Ahmed Sanford - 12 (10)
Damaso Lopez - 8
Alfredo Valentin - 8 (7)
Pat Masao - 7 (2)
Mark Parker - 7 (9)
Tyrone Hamilton - 5
Don Yoshii - 3 (6)
Rob Becker - 3 (5)
Cesar Urbina - 3 (8)
Dick Orosco - 3 (3)
Johan McInerney - 3
Omar Siqueiros - 1 (2)
Scott Hall - 1
Bey Meacham - 1 (2)
Bronson Gibson - 1 (1)
Yorrick Benard - 1 (1)
Philip Ray - 1 (2)
Harry Martinez - 1 (1)
John Kim - 1
Paul Ishii - 1 (2)
Dan King - 1 (1)

Mantle World Owner Interview - silentpadna

In our latest "Meet Your Fellow Owner" interview of season 28, we chat with silentpadna, the new owner of the Seattle People's Republic franchise.  The Evil Panda takes over a franchise that has gone through a lengthy rebuild but has not been able to get over the hump to the promised land of a World Series title.  Padna is actually a returning owner, having won three Mantle World Series titles in a previous 13 season stint with the Norfolk/Pittsburgh (currently Pawtucket) franchise.  Lets find out a little bit about him.

Tec: Tell us a little about yourself.

Silentpadna: I just turned 50, but have a young family which keeps me young and wears me out at the same time. I work in a technical profession because I can and it's what I’ve done. I'd rather be in business and finance, but I haven’t found that door to open yet. I'm from the Atlanta area now, but grew up in Seattle. That’s where my sports allegiances are. When I heard that Forbes report about a year or two ago that Atlanta was the "Second most miserable sports town in the US", as measured by local teams' sports success, I was happy. Why? Because I had just moved away from the most miserable….I'm still tied to my Seattle teams anyway.

Tec: Outside of Hardball Dynasty, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?

Silentpadna: Hardball Dynasty takes all of my time of course. Nah, actually I like to follow my teams, I like to golf, bowl, play a little hoops when my ankle lets me. I like the Xbox as an outlet – the Madden, NCAA and sports games. I would not classify myself a "gamer" though in any sense. I enjoy political and philosophical discourse and sometimes the debate parts of that. I enjoy coaching my kids in sports when time allows, teaching them how to hack on the guitar (which is about my ability level – I hack by ear…).

Tec: Did you play any sports growing up?

Silentpadna: I was a decent basketball player and played a little bit of that. I’m not an athlete per se – no natural speed or jumping ability. But I did have good hand-eye coordination and was able to develop skills through technique, practice, and game study. By the time I got later into high school, I was too busy with outside work, so even though I was good enough to make the team, I didn’t actually play varsity sports. I got better at that while in the Navy and played quite a bit in my 20s. I also was an avid bowler as a teenager (got way way way better later in life).

Tec: Who are your favorite all-time players?

Silentpadna: I like high character guys who get every last drop out of their abilities, but aren't "above everyone else". Locally, Steve Largent and Edgar Martinez qualify. The guys on my list are guys that I remember watching, not just guys my dad (a sports beat writer) liked before I even followed sports. My favorite guys to watch in terms of sheer athletic ability were Barry Sanders, Michael Jordan, Barry Bonds (even before the 'roids), Peyton Manning. Felix Hernandez is another high character guy with positively filthy stuff. I was following him when he was a 17 year old in rookie ball. You knew he was special, even then.

Tec: What has been your favorite real-life sports experience or memory?

Silentpadna: I mentioned earlier that I was an avid bowler who got much better later in life. I actually toured with the PBA for one summer (1995). Never made the TV show. Although I was marginal on a national level, I was good enough to make money in regional events quite regularly and beating some of my "heroes" in match play in some of the tournaments was probably the best thing. My first 300 game (of many) back in 1984 also has to rank right up there. At that time, they were not nearly as common as they are today.

Tec: What's been your most memorable non-sports experience in your life?

Silentpadna: Being a family man, my wedding and the births of our three kids all rank right at the top.

Tec: If you were an HBD player, what position would you play and what would your ratings be?

Silentpadna: I'm kinda built like a catcher these days, so I'd have to pick that. I'd be a catcher with an accurate, but not super strong arm, very high PC. I'd have moderate hitting ability as a switch hitter and gap power.

Thank you silentpadna for participating in our latest Mantle World Owner interview, and good luck to you this season.

Mantle World Owner Interview - wilhitec

In our next "Meet Your Fellow Owner" interview of season 28, we chat with wilhitec, the new owner of the Monterrey Jacks franchise.  Wilhitec brings a solid track record with him as one of our newest owners.  Lets find out a little bit about him.

Tec: Tell us a little about yourself.

Wilhitec: ...live in Cincinnati OH...mid 30's, married w/ 2 daughters...work as a finance manager for Coca Cola.

Tec: Outside of Hardball Dynasty, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?

Wilhitec: I'm a big sports nut, especially football, college hoops, and NASCAR. I am also a Divison II college football official.

Tec: Did you play any sports growing up?

Wilhitec: I dabbled in baseball...but primarily Basketball, and Junior Olympic Volleyball for a couple of years.

Tec: Who are your favorite all-time players?

Wilhitec: Fred McGriff...doesn't get the respect he deserves!

Tec: What has been your favorite real-life sports experience or memory?

Wilhitec: I was in attendance at Tom Browning's perfect game for the Reds. There was a 2 hour rain delay before game, probably wouldn't have stayed, but by Dad had gotten suite tickets through his work. There may have only been less than 10k people truly there at the end of the game!

Tec: What's been your most memorable non-sports experience in your life?

Wilhitec: Birth of 2 daughters.

Tec: If you were an HBD player, what position would you play and what would your ratings be?

Wilhitec: RF...anybody can do it...right???!!!

Thank you wilhitec for participating in our latest Mantle World Owner interview, and good luck to you this season.

Mantle World Owner Interview - bjschumacher

It's a new season, and we've got a new crop of owners joining (or rejoining) Mantle, so it's time to get to meet the new guys.  In our first "Meet Your Fellow Owner" interview of season 28, we chat with bjschumacher, the new owner of the Iowa City Hawksux franchise.  Lets find out a little bit about him.

Tec: Tell us a little about yourself.

Bjschumacher: Been a structural engineer since 1982. Recently started my own structural engineering firm. I have a loving wife, 3 grown sons, and one grand daughter. Live in eastern Iowa. Fan of the Iowa State Cyclones, along with the Kansas City and Chicago professional sports franchises.

Tec: Outside of Hardball Dynasty, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?

Bjschumacher: Stock trading, golf, home brewing, Hawaii.

Tec: Did you play any sports growing up?

Bjschumacher: Some baseball and football, but not good enough to carry it into high school. Tiddlywinks - does that count?.

Tec: Who are your favorite all-time players?

Bjschumacher: Wow, tough one. Always loved watching the Chiefs and Royals growing up, so Len Dawson, Otis Taylor, Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, Fred Patek, Amos Otis, Lou Piniella, George Brett, just to name a few. Oh, and have the ultimate respect for the late Walter Payton. The Fridge - not so much.

Leon Durham muffs it

Tec: What has been your favorite real-life sports experience or memory?

Bjschumacher: Watching the Royals win Game 5 in St Louis in the 1985 World Series. Also will never forget the Cubs blowing a 2-0 game lead in the 1984 National League series to the Padres. Leon Durham, right though the legs ala Bill Buckner. And following the Bears in their 1985 1-loss Super Bowl season. Damn Dolphins.

Tec: What's been your most memorable non-sports experience in your life?

Bjschumacher: Obviously raising my 3 boys, and my wedding day. Got way too drunk the night before, and almost missed it.

Bill James

Tec: If you were an HBD player, what position would you play and what would your ratings be?

Bjschumacher: Statistician would be my best position. Love building spreadsheets and crunching numbers.

Thank you bjschumacher for participating in our latest Mantle World Owner interview, and good luck to you this season.

Commissioner's Challenge Award (S27)

The "Commissioner's Challenge Award" is given to the team that had the most wins during the season without making the playoffs.

I'm happy to announce the season 27 winner of a $5 WIS Gift Certificate is deathinahole of the Wichita Judy Garlands, whose 85 wins was just three games short of earning a post-season appearance.

1) 85 wins - Wichita Judy Garlands (deathinahole)
2) 84 wins - Boston Minutemen (hawger)
3) 82 wins - San Francisco Oles (evegoe)
4) 81 wins - Scottsdale Fighting Artichokes (MikeT23)
5) 80 wins - Richmond Generals (dgtrache)
6) 78 wins - Atlanta Blue (bkpeters)
7t) 77 wins - Detroit Tigers (repsher)
7t) 77 wins - Pawtucket Patriots (dudejustice)
7t) 77 wins - Vancouver Fighting Skeletons (diryn)
10) 76 wins - Arizona Arachnophobia (ericsomsel)
11t) 73 wins - Burlington Catamounts (dwoolery)
11t) 73 wins - Florida Lockdown (welsh5)
13t) 72 wins - Baltimore Honey Nut Cheerios (iain)
13t) 72 wins - Oklahoma City Power Failure (coneheads)
15) 71 wins - Little Rock Cigars (shanklsa)
16) 70 wins - Milwaukee Suds (battmann)
17) 69 wins - Toronto Eh's (mikeg740)
18) 68 wins - Scranton Apollos (tecwrg)
19) 65 wins - Durham Bulls (bertrand93)
20) 63 wins - Omaha Middle Americans (coachmoss)