Stress is not our friend. Ive spent the better part of the morning engaged in school-related activities for the upcoming year and reached frustration with one portion in particular, so much so that I decided I had to get my mind off it for a bit and come back to it after a break. Enter APBA Baseball. I took a look at the schedule and my face lit up when it revealed the next game on tap. Two of the top teams from the 1970s were set to do battle, with the 1970 Orioles (Cuellar 8-8) visiting the 77 Yankees (Guidry 9-3). Yes please. I blocked every non-APBA related thought out of my mind during those first few scoreless innings. My world at that moment consisted of two legendary AL East foes going head to head, the Orioles in a three way tie for first and the Yankees three games back, trying to make up some ground on Baltimore, Detroit, and Milwaukee before the upcoming All-Star break. Part timer Curt Mottons solo homer in the 5th opened the scoring and triggered a WOW! from yours truly, and shortly thereafter Boog Powell singled in Frank Robinson from second to give the Birds a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the 6th Reg-gies double plated Randolph and sent Cliff Johnson to third with just one down, but Cuellar managed to reach back for something extra and struck out Nettles and Chambliss to end the threat. As the game reached the latter innings I paused. I looked over at the paperwork to my left. It was awaiting me. I felt it there. Stress be d*mned! I was in the middle of a wonderful game of APBA Baseball! I shunned it, turned it upside down and cursed it under my breath, then looked back at the cards in front of me and smiled. Yes, it took one glance to bring me right back to where I wanted to be. Cuellar continued his excellence into the 9th, where he now stood just three outs from victory. He retired the Yanks first batter (Chambliss) on a simple 41-24 grounder to short. One down. Two to go. Roy White stepped in and after he swung and missed at strike three (56-34) Cuellar pumped his fist at battery mate Etchebarren. One out to go. Pinch hitter Lou Piniella stepped in. Cuellar delivered and Piniella punished his offering, rolling a 22-0, 54-7 for a solid single. Fred Chicken Stanley came on to run for Sweet Lou and the Yanks set another pinch hitter to the dish. It was the captain, Thurman Munson. The plan was to give Munsons knees a much needed day off but Martin now summoned him from the bench. New York was in danger of falling four back and they needed their captain to come through. Cuellar got the sign and yours truly sat tense in his pc chair. Could Munson deliver a clutch two out double? Could he maybe go deep? Or would Cuellar finish the job? The dice were rolled. When I saw the red six first I had the same thought any long time APBA player would have: 66 to win the game?!? but within a millisecond I then saw the 5. 65-35. Pop out. Another game in the books in the most incredible solo project and season of my life to date. 2-1 Orioles. The paperwork is still to my left. I dont want to look at it. Or think about it. Or do it. I want to play another game. However, I know it has to be done so Ill post this now and reach back for a little something extra myself, just like Cuellar did. And when I get it done APBA Baseball will be here for me again, just like it has been for the past 38 years and counting. Stress is not our friend. But APBA is always there to eliminate it when I need it to be.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 18:50:47 +0000
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