Blog Posts - Paul's Franchise League

Paul's Franchise League

G-Mac is the Man! PFL 1988 Manager of the Year!

9/1/2020

What a day it is for the McGowan family.

Sure, they've known their share of successes, the McGowans. A happy marriage, great kids. A nice house in the Orlando suburbs. But can anything match being selected as the PFL 1988 Manager of the Year?

I think not.

When reached by phone, George "G-Mac" McGowan, the erstwhile Owner/GM of the Blue Jays became visibly emotional when hearing the news. "I've never... I thought I was just..." McGowan paused to wipe away the tears and compose himself before continuing. "I'm honored that my peers felt I deserved this honor."

And deserved it was. George's Blue Jays battled all season long with the Braves and Orioles in the knock-down environment that is the PFL Central. Smart roster moves and a strong lineup ultimately helped the Jays rise to the top, where they and the Orioles both qualified for the PFL playoffs.

To celebrate, George made a last minute pilgrimage to Citi Field in New York. "New York was where my love for baseball began," McGowan said. In the photo above you see him pointing to his family's brick at the entrance to the ballpark. In the second picture, Assistant General Manager I.M. Katt plans roster strategy for the coming season.

Congrats, George!

Voting was as follows. First place votes in parentheses.

George McGowan, Blue Jays (6) 15
Randy Partin, Yankees (3) 9
Dean Collins, Orioles (1) 6
Jeff "Yountfan" Kloster, Brewers (1) 4
Paul Wootten, Angels (1) 2

Tribe Takes Crown. Kummerer Takes Us Into His Batcave.

7/2/2020

Why don't I ever win PFL Championships? That's a question that's been bugging me for years. I look at the competition and know that I'm as smart as they are and smarter than most. I draft well, implement my strategy, and then... nothing.

Well, I finally know why I don't win. I don't have a secret cave with three screens and a bevy of baseball strategy guides. Most of my work is done from my green La-Z-Boy with the dog on my lap, pork rinds and Vienna sausages on the end table, and a binge-worthy Netflix series on the big screen. That's going to change. I'm going to become like my friend, Mark Kummerer, the owner/manager/GM of the 1987 champion Cleveland Indians.

Yep, the Tribe are PFL Champs for the third time. Their previous titles came in 1973 and 1979. They did it with a dramatic comeback, down three games to one, Most impressive, they had to win the last two games at County Stadium, where Yountfan's Crew is always hard to beat.

Caught in a quiet moment in his brain cave, Tribe Chief Mark Kummerer was quick to praise his team. "The players won this for us, they and the secret bunker where I crunch the numbers. It took both to bring the crown back to Cleveland. By the way, do you like my shirt? And how about this ball? It's signed by Charlie Spikes, my all-time favorite Indian."

Mark, congrats! And thanks for being a good sport.

On to 1988.

BoSox' Philipp Crowned PFL MOTY!

6/26/2020

Who is that masked man? None other than the 1987 PFL Manager of the Year, the Red Sox' Scott Philipp.

One-hundred wins ain't no easy feat, even with a powerhouse lineup. Prior to 1987 only three teams had achieved the century milestone. Well, this season, the Red Sox join that elite group. Scott kept his team on its toes to win the always-tough East Division. Not an easy feat when you also have to maintain a beautiful back yard and keep the pool clean. Scott's a renaissance man, though, so this is just another day for him.

When reached for comment, Scott, speaking through his surgical mask, said, "Mmmphhh, mphhh." Translation: this mask is starting to make my ears stick out.

Congrats, Scott. Well deserved!

Voting was as follows.

Scott Philipp, Red Sox (8) 18
Mark Kummerer, Indians (1) 9
Jeff Yountfan Kloster, Brewers (1) 5
George McGowan, Blue Jays (1) 2
Randy Partin, Yankees (1) 2

Brew Crew Takes Crown - Yountfan's Sixth

4/20/2020

When his Brewers left home after Game 5 with a 3-2 series lead, Owner/Manager/Raconteur Jeffrey "Yountfan" Kloster had a feeling the series was going his way.

"Sometimes you just know," Yountfan told PFL beat writer Ring Lardner prior to Game 6 in Montreal. The team is good, the manager is sharp, and it's been five years since we brought home a PFL pennant to the fine folks here in Wisconsin.

The Expos jumped out to a 2-1 series lead but stumbled in the last two games in County Stadium. Expos boss Geoff Brookes had high hopes for success in front of the home crowd, but it wasn't meant to be. "Two good teams collided in the playoffs," Brookes said. "Only one could win. I congratulate Mr. Yountfan and the Brewers.

Following a postgame celebration Yountfan returned home to his country estate. The photo below was taken during an early morning walk Yountfan took with his prize canines, Pomeranian Pedro Garcia and Labrador Larry Hisle.

Congratulations Jeff and Geoff. Now, on to 1987!

Jeffrey "Yountfan" Kloster at his rural Wisconsin estate, "Biltbetter".

1986 Manager of the Year (and COVID Poster Boy) is...

4/12/2020

The Expos' Geoff "Six-Feet" Brookes! Geoff managed the entire season from behind his mask. When players ripped it off during the team's post-season celebration, several were heard to yell, "Oh my goodness, I thought Billy Martin was our manager!"

Congratulations, Geoff! And thanks for the timely photo.

Voting follows. First place votes in parentheses.

Geoff Brookes (9) 19
Bill Mattis (1) 8
Jeff Kloster 5
Dean Collins (2) 4

O's-No! Expos Take PFL Crown!

2/8/2020

Goodness, gracious. It wasn't supposed to be so convincing.

The Expos were good. We knew that. One of the most well-balanced and talented teams in PFL history. We knew that, too.

But the Orioles weren't chopped liver, either. And that's what made the 1985 PFL World Series so surprising. The Expos took care of business in the first two games, but everyone expected an Orioles comeback when they reached the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium. But, O, were they mistaken.

Three of the games were close, but the Expos demonstrated their superiority throughout, and as a result we bow to Geoff Brookes and his Montreal Expos. If Geoff was as shocked as he appears in this candid shot taken of him in the Owner's Suite, he was the only one.

Somewhere, Coco Laboy is smiling.

Now on to 1986!

Brookes Cruises to MOTY Award!

2/2/2020

Canadians across that great country who are dancing in the street because of their beloved Expos returning to the 1985 PFL Playoffs received even more great news this morning with the announcement that Geoff Brookes was named 1985 PFL Manager of the Year by his peers. Brookes received six of twelve first place votes to edge out Orioles main man Dean Collins for the award. It was Brookes' first MOTY since 1965.

Brookes, on the left in the above picture was celebrating and talking strategy with his son, Sean when this picture was snapped. Immediately after this picture both were doused with tubs of poutine!

Voting was as follows. First place votes are in parentheses.

Manager
Geoff Brookes (6) 16
Dean Collins, Orioles (4) 14
Bill Mattis, Phillies (2) 5
Jeff "Yountfan" Kloster 1

Phantastic Phillies Take '84 Series!

11/26/2019

Santa is safe in the City of Brotherly Love this year, thanks to Bill Mattis and his Phillies.

The Phils, thought by many to be the dark horse team in this year's playoffs, pulled off a seventh game miracle behind the stellar pitching of Silent Steve Carlton. The Yankees season, energized by a red-hot streak near season's end, came to an end just one run short of a championship.

Bill Mattis, SOM veteran, is shown above with a picture of his ace. Mattis was euphoric following the game, and had a lot to say. This was good because, as always, Carlton refrained from talking to the media.

Billy, CONGRATULATIONS!

Now, on to 1985.

Randy "Bombers" Partin Named PFL MOTY!

11/18/2019

It wasn't even close.

Yankees Head Man Randy Partin was named 1984 Manager of the Year by his peers. The voting was unanimous, other than Randy of course. The Yankees made a late charge to take the East and earn the league's best record.

Randy was kind enough to send along a photo of Mets mascot and close friend of Fred Aaron, Mr. Met. He's in the photo on the right. Randy is on the left.

Voting was as follows. First place votes are in parentheses.

Randy Partin (11) 22
Jeff "Yountfan" Kloster (1) 11
John Recupero 3

BREAKING... YANKS TAKE CROWN!!

9/16/2019

1983 will go down as a season of offense. The team record for runs scored was eclipsed, while the team stolen base record was obliterated. Clubs were smashing doubles, triples, and homers, and a trend that started the previous season seemed to pick up momentum.

And in New York, the Yankees and Mets battled for superiority from opening day until Game 162. The Yankees combination of good hitting and good-enough pitching took them all the way, winning a first PFL world championship for veteran skipper Randy Partin.

After a 5-4 loss to the Braves in Game One, Randy's Bombers took control, winning Games 2 and 3 in convincing fashion. A nail-biter in Game 4 set the stage for a Braves win in Game 5, but it would prove too little, too late. Yankees ace Joaquin Andujar took the mount for Game 6, pitching his team to a 2-1 victory and the World Series Championship.

Team Owner George Steinbrenner was euphoric in the postgame clubhouse, lavishing praise on his second-year GM. "Randy was just what we needed after that debacle we went through with the previous GM," Steinbrenner said. "I suspect that we'll be tearing up his contract and writing a new one! A lifetime contract. I want Randy to know that New York will be his forever home!"

Congratulations to Randy and Carl for great seasons. And thanks to the rest of you for being part of the PFL. And now, on to 1984.