Fantasy Baseball 1999
The Season In Review

Spring Training

Big money! $1,000 in loot up for grabs.

Decision to use head-to-head scoring system is made. Controversy ensues. Some like it. Some don't. (It will be an interesting vote next year.)

The #1 and #2 finishers in 1998 (Rick Clark and Chris Kelly) decide not to play. Both cite the long grueling road to victory in 1998 as the cause for their leaking out on us in 1999. It just goes to show how long a season fantasy baseball is and how hard you have to work at it to do well. It took a lot out of Rick and Chris, that's for sure. They're still talking about it.

The first multi-owner team joins the league. Jeff "the Mouth" Christensen, Kurt Miller, and Jason Allen purchase Shantytown Team 48574875 (or whatever). Jeff becomes the most hated man in all of fantasy sports.

The first woman ever to play fantasy baseball joins the league. She finishes 9th in the regular season standings.

Draft Days... Plural

The first draft is held and most of us meet at Jack's office. Java-applet-chat and verbal jousting ensues between Colin and Team Jeff. The bantering continues throughout the season.

The Friday Night Massacre, a.k.a. the Draft Debacle, sends the league into a tizzy. A good time is had post-draft at the bar and at Wayne's place, but otherwise, everyone is pissed off about the "half-a-draft." Eventually, ESPN.com gives us all new teams. We form a new league, redraft, and everything works out okay. Let's hope that doesn't ever happen again.

Bonehead (a.k.a. John Tracy), true to his name, drafts Bob Wickman as the number one overall selection during our second draft. Luckily, the boo-boo is easily fixed and the draft goes off without a hitch -- thank God!

Jeff's quest to become the most hated owner in fantasy sports history begins by coining the phrase "25 Superstars!"

Play Ball!

Matt A. ruins his season by brokering the Randy Johnson trade with Colin. The deal is official when the goat, Matt, gives Colin a paper bobble-head Randy Johnson at the June 11 Milwaukee Brewer game.

The "Good Ol' Boy Network" is created during a secret underground meeting along the Wisconsin/Illinois border. The original name, the "Screw Over Jeff Network," is abandoned after we realize that might be a little too obvious.

Despite the "Good Ol' Boy Network" plan to do whatever it takes to keep Team Jeff out of the playoffs, they win the wild card race with Matt A. and enter the playoffs as newcomers. Matt kisses $100 and any chance of ever beating Jack in a fantasy sport again good-bye.

Matt M. charges ahead of Colin in the final week of the regular season to win the division and $40. Colin prevails in the playoffs, however, and takes home the silver medal.

The Mets and Reds play an additional regular season game to decide who goes to the playoffs. MLB calls it the "NL Wildcard Playoff" game but the statistics count toward the regular season. Before the game is played, Bonehead is beating Matt A. 11-9. As soon as Rickey Henderson crosses the plate in the first inning, Matt A. moves into a 10-10 tie with Bonehead. And because of the tie-breaker (best overall record), Matt A. wins and takes the fifth place... crown, no ah... trophy, no ah... Well, he doesn't get anything, but his pride is less hurt than it would've been.

Matt M. and Team Jeff end their two-week playoff game in a tie. The overall record tie breaker puts Matt M. on top and screws Team Jeff out of $80. Woo hoo!

Jack wins a record $410!

Bulletin Board Bonanza

Say what you want about Jeff's antics, and many of you did, they sure made for some interesting bulletin board material. Never has the board been so active. As a tribute, I've saved the board as it stood toward the end of the season. You can see it here.