Big League F Baseball presents
 
OWNERSHIP:  From A to Z
The Big League of Baseball has had a rich history, to say the least, of owners and franchises over the years. Each franchise owes their success or failure largely to their ownership, or lack of it. So as a service to our new owners and our forgetful old ones, here's a brief history on each franchise.  Just a note, the years indicated refer to the seasons within the game, not real years.  In no particular order....


LOS ANGELES BLUEBIRDS
1990-present
Ownership: Brian Lemler
Championships: 1992, World Series champion


BOURBON BOMBERS
1990-present
Ownership: Brian Feldman 1990-1997
                         Derek Ganshorn 1997-1998
                         no owner/league ownership 1998-2001     
                         Rob Salyer present     
Championships: 1990, regular season champion (only 1 league, no World Series)
                                    1993, World Series champion (defeated Chicago Crusties)
Comments: Brian Feldman is still the only owner, in 1993, to put two of his teams into the World Series in the same year. Revolutionized the early history of the game by converting a mediocre pitcher with some power-hitting skills, Phil Runyon, into a DH, then a fulltime 1st basemen.In his footsteps, at least half-a-dozen other players have also made the switch.


HAVANA DREAMS/WALLA WALLA WHITE TIGERS
1990-2000 Havana/Little Rock Dreams
2000-2001 Walla Walla White Tigers
Ownership: Scott Heckaman 1990
                         Mark Feldman 1990-1991
                         Kyle Gould 1992-1998
                         no ownership/league ownership 1998-2001
                          Rob Salyer 2001-present
Championships: 1996, Hamlet League champ (lost to Houston Heifers)
Comments: The first two owners are known mostly for controversial moves. Scott Heckaman DID craftily draft the original Dream roster, made up of 1990 Atlanta Braves. However, Scott never saw them play a single game, as he quit the league after his bid to create a stadium with "negative walls" was denied. Mark Feldman then took over the team, until the 1991 season, when he traded half the team for basically nothing to Kyle Gould's Thunder ballclub. However, one player the Dreams did receive would create another bigger, stormier controversy - Ken Benson (see Houston Heifers).


NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY BLACK SOX
1990-present
Ownership: Matt Lemler 1990-present
Championships: 1991, Metro Champ (lost to Brooklyn Thunder)
Comments: Spawned the first star, 3rd baseman Matt Lemler, and had a mighty seven-game tussle with the Thunder in the 1991 World Series.


BROOKLYN THUNDER
1991-present
Ownership: Kyle Gould 1992-1998
                          no ownership/league ownership 1998-2000
                          Jason Heckaman 2000-present
Championships: 1991, World Series champion
                                   1998 and 2000 Metro champs (lost to Nappanee Nubs both times)
Comments: Had the league's first pitching star, Steve Carlton, and were the recipients of the Dreams' 1991 Fire Sale.


ETNA GREEN AVATARS
1991-present
Ownership: Brian Lemler 1992-present
Championships: none


CHICAGO CRUSTIES/VINCENNES VIOLATORS/CHICAGO ORPHANS
1992-1997 Chicago Crusties
1997-1998 Vincennes Violators
1998-present Chicago Orphans
Ownership: Shawn Glingle 1992
                          Brian Feldman 1992-1997
                          David Sauer 1997
                          no ownership/league ownership 1998-1999
                          Bill Salyer 2000-present
Championships: 1993 Metro champ (lost to Bourbon Bombers)
Comments: Shawn's ONLY contribution was their name, the Crusties. Immediately afterward, Brian Feldman took possession.          


NAPPANEE NUBS
1992-present
Ownership: Matt Lemler 1992-present
Championships: 1992 Hamlet champ (lost to Los Angeles Bluebirds)
                                    1997-2001 World Series Champions
Comments: In addition to being the greatest dynasty in the game, the Nubs are the only team named after a single individual, Andy Knepp. Also, it should be noted, quite possibly the luckiest franchise.


BREMEN BOBCATS/BLUE COYOTES/FLINT STONES
1995-1996 Bremen Bobcats
1996-2000 Blue Coyotes (no town)
2000-present Flint Stones
Ownership: Brian Feldman 1994-1996
Derek Ganshorn 1996-1997
no ownership/league ownership 1997-2000
Jason Heckaman 2001-present
Championships: none

DALLAS LONESTARS
1994-present
Ownership: Kyle Gould 1994-1998
                         no ownership/league ownership 1998-2000
                         Jason Heckaman 2000-present
Championships: 1995 and 1996 Metro Champs (lost to Heifers both times)
Comments: One of the league's most loveable losers; have not contended since first two seasons. Once home of notable stars as the home-run duo of Mize and Doby, and starting pitcher Shawn "Bam Bam" Mullins, who allowed 75 homers in a single year. In the old Tony La Russa 2 game, their home park was the Baker Bowl (250 feet down the lines, 340 feet to the alleys).

 

 

HOUSTON HEIFERS
1994-present
Ownership: Phil Reed
Championships: 1994-1996 World Series
Comments: League's first dynasty, redefined the game with smart hitting and five durable, strong starting pitchers (rather than two great pitchers and two or three lousy ones).


COLORADO CAVEMEN
1995-present
Ownership: Matt Lemler
Championships: none


ABSAROKEE LYMPH NODES
1995-present

Ownership: Phil Reed

Championships: none

 


SANDFLY JABIRUS
1997-present

Ownership: Phil Reed 1997-present

Championships: none

 

 

MAPLE GROVE CRIMSON/CODY COWBOYS
1997-1999 Maple Grove Crimson

2000-present Cody Cowboys

Ownership: Chris Blackwell 1997-1999

                          Bill Salyer 2000-present

Championships: none