Vol. IV,
Issue #6 - August 2016
**
Interview with Gary Davis
(Commish
of the Jack Edwards Memorial League)
**
(A face-to-face league that the commissioner is rotated,
what will they think of next?)
(Notes from the Wolfman:
I
found Gary, the same as I have found quite a few other league commissioners on StratDraft, where
he was announcing an opening in his league. This is a
relatively new league and one of the few face-to-face leagues we
have talked to since we began this new column. So enjoy as here
from another amazing league ....)
Wolfman:
Today we introduce our members to a new face-to-face baseball
league known as the Jack Edwards Memorial League (JEM).‚
Representing this league, one of the oldest having been in
existence for 41 years (Wow) is Gary Davis who is one of the
original managers of the league. Although he is not the current
commissioner (as they rotate this job) being one of the founding
members he has a lot to share with us.
Gary, I want to thank you for accepting my invitation to speak
to us. Welcome to the Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter.
Gary, I normally ask questions first to give our members a
chance to meet you and know a little bit about your background
before we talk about Strat.‚ So first, which part of the world
do you live in right now and is this where you grew up? So
then, this is the area where your league meets in then, yes?
Gary:
Our league is centered in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.‚ I grew up
in Akron, Ohio, but have lived here almost my entire adult life.
Wolfman:
So then,this is the area where your league meets in then, yes?
Gary:
Yes.
Wolfman:
When you were younger - did you actually play baseball and if so
what was your
best position?
Gary:
I played Little League, mostly second base, although I did get
to pitch once.
Wolfman:
What about which MLB team did you root for when you were younger
and are
you still a fan of this team.‚
Gary:
I grew up an Indians fan, and while I now follow the Twins, I
still feel allegiance to Cleveland.
Wolfman:
Are there any ball players you really followed or were your
favorites?
Gary:
Rocky Colavito and Sudden Sam McDowell. I am hoping the Curse
of the Rock ends this year.
Wolfman:
How did you hear about SOM Baseball?
Gary:
A college friend, Jack Edwards, started our league back in
1973.‚ He put together 8 teams and rounded up a bunch of us to
play.‚ The teams were a mishmash of cards from 1961, 1962,
1966, 1967.
Wolfman:
When did you first begin to play the game?
Gary:
1973 and still playing in the Jack Edwards Memorial
Strat-o-Matic Baseball League.
Wolfman:
What is your history participating in leagues (face-to-face or
computer based)?
Gary:
All of our games are face-to-face.
Wolfman:
Have you ever played in any tournaments?
Gary:
Yes, I did play in one tournament that was held in Bloomington,
MN many years ago.‚ Would like to do it again but I think I'd
have to organize it as no one has held one up here in a long
time.
Wolfman:
What
is the name of the team you manage?
Gary:
The Halifax Privateers.‚ We play at Stan Rogers Field, named
after a famous Nova Scotian folksinger.
Wolfman:
Can you describe the structure of your league and how the
playoffs work?
Gary:
We currently have 12 teams in 2 divisions, having expanded from
10 3 years ago.‚ We play an 84 game season, 12 against
in-division team and 4 against the other division teams.‚ We do
a ladder playoff format in each division, all 7 game series.‚
4th place vs 3rd place, winner vs. 2nd place, winner vs. 1st
place.‚ The 2 winners from the divisions play the World
Series.‚ Home advantage in the World Series follows MLB rules,
determined by the winner of our All-Star Game.‚ We all play
real baseball (No DH).‚ You want Davis Ortiz, he plays first
base.
Wolfman:
How do you create your teams - discuss the rules of your league
and how you build you team (players you keep from year to year
and your draft and trades).‚
Gary:
We can keep up to 8 players from year to year, but track how
many years a players has been kept.‚ Your keepers cannot exceed
a sum of 16 kept years.‚ Players on rosters from the previous
year not kept are in a re-entry pool draft.‚ Once that is done,
we have a general draft, selecting from the Twins, the pervious
year World Series winner and 12 other teams nominated by our
owners.‚ We have liberal trading rules, but traded players
cannot be kept vthe next year.‚ Thus effectively eliminates
dumping one year to be better the next.
Wolfman:
I understand the job of commissioner is rotated, tell us how
this works in JEM?
Gary:
At our winter meeting, we select a Commissioner, usually by
acclimation.
Wolfman:
Gary have you ever been the champion of JEM?
Gary:
We (my adult son and I share the team) have only one once,
although we usually make the playoffs.
Wolfman:
What type of team do you like to create?
Gary:
We like defense, on-base percentage, speed and good bullpens.
Wolfman:
What type of team did you have in your last season?
Gary:
That pretty much describes last year (and this year's) team.
Wolfman:
When you have had a successful (champion/playoff bound team)
what were the keys to your success with this team (or teams)?
Gary:
We had excellent pitching, defense up the middle and a couple of
boppers.
Wolfman:
Is there special strategies you use to build your team?
Gary:
We will sacrifice power for average/OBP and defense.
Wolfman:
And special strategies you use when playing your games?
Gary:
We like to run and we probably hit and run more than most.
Wolfman:
We always ask those we interview if they have any tips or advice
for our members that could help them with success with their
game playing?
Gary:
I would just say build a team the way you think the game should
be played.‚ I love a 3-2 game much more than a 9-6 game.
Wolfman:
Have you ever tried to play in the on-line baseball leagues that
Strat-o-matic offers, other leagues (face-to-face or via the
internet)?
Gary:
Actually, 5 of us play in an 8 team league that plays a 54 game
season as well.‚ The MSPSL.‚
http://mspslbaseball.com/MSPSL/Home.html
Wolfman:
What do you like about JEM?
Gary:
We have a great, diverse set of guys that all love the game.
Wolfman:
What are the members like in this league from your perspective?
Gary:
People I am happy to call friends.
Wolfman:
What is the key for the longevity of your league?
Gary:
We still have 3 of the original owners and a couple more from
year 2 or 3, Most of the teams have been with us 15 years or
more.
Wolfman:
How do you organize league play - do you have a day during the
week when all the members meet perhaps?
Gary:
All series are arranged between the two teams playing.‚
Sometimes life gets in the way and we get bogged down, but we
always finish.
Wolfman:
Have you had any special experiences (certain games that stand
out in your mind that you played or series you played) being a
manager in JEM that were amazing
or very unusual games, or something you are proud of. Maybe some
key trade you
made ...
Gary:
In year 1, I had Joe Nuxhall.‚ He went 4-13, but threw a
perfect game against the Fort Wayne Farmers. It is the only
no-hitter in franchise history.
Wolfman:
You told me in an email an interesting tidbit, that in 1976 one
of the strat wives wanted to burn Strat-o-Matic as a
bicentennial salute. Can you talk more about what happened,
who's wife wanted to do this - and burn what exactly?
Gary:
Not much to tell.‚ The wife of the owner of the Peioria
Pizzabellies [named after Ron Santo] wanted to put all of the
strato cards in pile, douse them with gasoline and light the
match.
Wolfman:
Why do you personally like playing SOM - do you try other
baseball games like SOM?
Gary:
Played APBA when I was younger. Strato is more realistic.
Wolfman:
Finally is there anything else you would like to share with our
members that
I didn't ask you before that you think is important to let them
know about?
Gary:
We added my 7 year old grand-daughter as a manager this year.‚
She mstly likes to roll for weather.
Wolfman:
So thanks Gary for spending time with us. Good Luck in the next
season
of JEM (do you think you will be their 2016 champ?).
Gary:
Our starting pitching is horrid, so making the playoffs is a
stretch.
Wolfman:
And if a member of the newsletter wanted to contact you or had
some
questions for you, is this possible and if so what is the best
way to do it?
Can we share your league website?
Gary:
http://www.marykwright.com/marykwright/jemstrat/jemstrat_home.cfm
You can enter notes on the site, or contact me at
garyfdavis3@gmail.com
Wolfman:
Thank you Gary for joining us
