November 24, 2008
1939 All-Star awards announced
FRANKFORT, IN - SPB 1940 Managers, Again, thanks to all of you for voting on these All-Star teams. Here are your winners:

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL -STARS

Winners                                                   Close 2nd Place
C - Bill Dickey - Western Panthers
1B - Jimmie Foxx - Western Panthers       George McQuinn - Hoosier Thunderbolts
2B - Lonnie Frey - Hoosier Thunderbolts
3B - Red Rolfe - Pocono Tomahawks
SS - Leo Durocher - Baroda Barons           Joe Gantenbein - Schaumburg Hawks
LF - Augie Galan - Baroda Barons
CF - Joe DiMaggio - Brooklyn Royal Giants
RF - Enos Slaughter - Hoosier Thunderbolts
SP - Lefty Grove - Worcester Grays
RP - Joe Heving - Western Panthers           Harry Eisenstat - Kansas City Blue


AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL - STARS

C - Frankie Hayes - Odessa Files
1B - Hank Greenberg - Rock Island Arsenal             Johnny Mize - New Paris Mules
2B - Billy Herman - Rock Island Arsenal
3B - Mel Ott - Odessa Files                                   Stan Hack - Rock Island Arsenal
SS - Joe Cronin - Maumee River Carp                     Billy Meyers - Rock Island Arsenal
LF - George Selkirk - Rock Island Arsenal
CF - George Case - New Paris Mules
RF - Charlie Keller - Rock Island Arsenal               Ted Williams - River City Rugrats
SP - Bobo Newsom - Kansas City Blues
RP - Johnny Broaca - Rock Island Arsenal

There you have it your All - Stars for the 1939 season! For a conclusive look at every player who received a vote for the All Star teams, be sure to check out the SPB main
webpage for the voting results. See where your players finished in the voting.

November 24, 2008
1939 player awards announced
FRANKFORT, IN - Thanks to all of you for voting for the 1939 Award Winners and All Star teams! Here are the results:

It is my pleasure to announce that Hank Greenberg, slugging firstsacker of the Rock Island Arsenal captured the 1939 MVP trophy in the American League. His counterpart in the National League was the young hard hitting CF of the Brooklyn Royal Giants, Joe DiMaggio. With a contrast in styles these two heavy hitters had fantastic seasons!

The Cy Young Awards were taken by pair of crafty veteran pitchers, Bobo Newsome of the Kansas City Blues won the Award in the A.L., and old timer Lefty Grove of the Worcester Grays captured the trophy for the N.L. These two oldsters showed the leagues younger pitchers a trick or two, and proved they are still at the top of their game!

The top Firemen in each league had Johnny Broaca of the Arsenal taking the A.L. title, and Joe Heving of the Western Panthers won the N.L. Fireman award. Broaca won his in a close race with runner-up Clyde Shoun of the Odessa Files. A couple of veteran pitchers finally get the recognition they deserve. 

The featured rookie winners in the A.L. had rookie right fielder Charlie Keller, yet another Arsenal player edging out the much heralded Ted Williams of the River City Rugrats for the yearling hitters plaque. Keller was joined by teammate Marius Russo, who captured the 
rookie pitcher Award with a solid performance on the mound. Keller and Williams will battle for many other awards in the coming years. Russo looks like a very solid, though somewhat fragile pitcher who should contribute more wins in the coming seasons.

In the N.L., the Schaumburg Hawks smooth hitting centerfielder Barney McCosky won the rookie hitters award. Bob Bowman, a nice RH starting addition for the Pocono Tomahawks took the 1st year mound honors in N.L. rookie competition. McCosky is one of the best looking hitters in several seasons with his fluid hitting style. Bowman was a surprise for the T'Hawks in the Spring, and hopes to have a few more productive years left.

The Top Managers of the year saw crafty Terry Baxter win the A.L. leaders plaque while leading a virtual team of Award winners and All Stars called the Rock Island Arsenal.. Meanwhile in the N.L. hustling Hugh McElaney of the Worcester Grays took the N.L. crown, then turned around and defeated the favored Arsenal in the World Series. Hugh and Terry will remain as managers to be reckoned with, of this we are sure.

For a full look at every vote getter in all Award categories, be sure to check out the Voting Booth results from the main SPB webpage. 

October 21, 2008
Managerial Changes
FRANKFORT, IN - I am happy to announce that former manager Mike See has agreed to return to SPB III as manager of the former Pocono Tomahawks team. He will be taking over this team immediately, and has big plans to rebuild this franchise to his liking. He has renamed the team, and will henceforth be known as the Otsego Lake Monsters. He is leaving Boston's N.L. Bee Hive (Braves Field), and will be playing his home games in Chicago's A.L. Comiskey Park. Please welcome Mike back to SPB III. 

It is also with a heavy heart that I announce long time SPB III manager Mike Galbreath tendered his resignation as manager of the Baroda Barons yesterday. Mike has been in SPB III for many seasons dating back to the early 1930's. He will be missed. He is staying aboard as a manager in SPB IV though.

It is my pleasure to announce that former SPB III manager Steve Ehresman will be assuming the command of this team. He will be changing the team name to the Lafayette Blue Sox, and will keep the team in Cincy's Crosley Field. Welcome back Steve!

October 7, 2008
Manager Carousel begins
FRANKFORT, IN - The 1939 World Series is now over with the crowning of the 1939 champion Worcester Grays in an exciting 5 game series win over the Rock Island Arsenal. You say it could not have been too exciting if it only went 5 games? Well, 3 of the wins were very, very close ones. For the full story of this World Series, be sure to check out the game reports, stats, boxscores, scoresheets, play by play, etc. which will be put up on the SPB III webpage very soon by our estimable webmaster John Turnbull.

Congrats to Hugh on his World Championship in 1939. Further congrats to Terry Baxter for his League Championship Arsenal team.

The 1940 files should be released within the next two weeks.

September 28, 2008
Manager Carousel begins
FRANKFORT, IN - Terry Buchanan has resigned his post as manager of the Pocono Tomahawks, effective at the conclusion of the 1939 season. His reason for resigning is due to time constraints which did not allow him to manage his team correctly. Terry was an SPB III manager for 2 full seasons after taking over the Tomahawks. Terry will be continuing as an SPB manager in the other leagues he is in. 

John Saunders, manager of the Odessa Files notified me about a month ago that he would be leaving after the 1939 season. So now we have two openings for 1940. John is leaving because his job has taken on a bigger amount of time and this is his cutback. He will be remaining in SPB V. John has been a manager in SPB III for many seasons. New SPB manager Jim Scott will be taking over the former Odessa Files, from former manager John Saunders. Jim will be remaining in the same home park, Philadelphia's N.L. Shibe Park. But he will be changing the team name to the Baltimore Natti Bohs.

His managers bio information will be posted to the SPB III league webpage within the next few days. If you get the time, and the inclination, please take a moment to welcome Jim to SPB III. He can be reached at: 

September 28, 2008
1939 End of season reports
DAYTON, OH - With the end of the season now upon us, it is time for our beloved Commissioner to present to you the use or lose and overusage reports for the 1939 season.  

September 28, 2008
1939 Final stats posted
DAYTON, OH - The stats and power rankings for September of 1939 are now posted. Congratulations are extended to both Terry Baxter of the Rock Island Arsenal for his winning 1939 effort in the American League, and to Hugh McElaney of the Worcester Grays in capturing the National League flag for '39! Terry's team beat the 2nd place Kansas City Blues by a scant 2 game. Rich Applegate, Blues manager fell just short. The Grays though easily won their flag besting the 2nd place finisher, Rick Ryan's Western Panthers by a huge 14 game difference.

February 10, 2008
Team name change
FRANKFORT, IN - Lynn Miller is changing the name of his team for the coming 1939 season. The Elkhart RV'ers are now a name from the past. The team will now be known as the New Paris Mules.

February 10, 2008
1939 Call for protected rosters
FRANKFORT, IN - With the 1939 draft now less than two weeks away, it is time to prepare and send your protected rosters to me. As has been the case for the last few SPB III protected rosters, the 4 teams with the best 1938 records can protect 17 players, the middle 6 teams can protect 18, and the worst 4 records can protect 19 players. Here is how many players each team this season may protect:

17 PLAYERS
Maumee River Carp (Chris Williams)
Kansas City Blues (Rich Applegate)
Worcester Grays (Hugh McElaney)
Western Panthers (Rick Ryan)

18 PLAYERS
Hoosier Thunderbolts (Gary Plunkitt)
Schaumburg Hawks (John Ungashick)
Odessa Files (John Saunders)
Baroda Barons (Mike Galbreath)
South River Muckdogs (Joe DeZarlo)
Pocono Tomahawks (Terry Buchanan)

19 PLAYERS
Elkhart RVers (Lynn Miller)
River City Rugrats (Jerry Cada)
Brooklyn Royal Giants (Don Rahn)
Rock Island Arsenal (Terry Baxter)

The deadline due date for all protected rosters will be Saturday, February 16 by 9P.M. Eastern time. After that time, only protected players and draft picks will be allowed to be traded, as all unprotected players are not tradeable untill after the 1939 Phase II is complete. Please be on time or the league office will decide your teams list. 

January 24, 2008
1939 Rookie draft date set
FRANKFORT, IN - Thanks to everyone for getting their picks in on the SPB III draft date. The most popular date by far is February 23rd. Only one manager had this date as his least favorite. This date also was picked by the most managers as their favorite one. March 1st finished a distant 2nd in the popularity level. So the date will be February 23rd for the 1939 rookie and P2 drafts.