BRIAN SCANTLAND’S HALL OF FAME SPEECH
John “Stray” Corrado’s Introduction Speech for Brian Scantland:
Briand Scantland has now been a member of the Mid-West Baseball League for 8 years. A very solid tenure in the league but what I’d like of each of you to do is to take a quick look at his Kentucky Head Hunters record. 830 – 466 for a .640% winning percentage. That in itself in a remarkable feat. But look closer his team has only missed the playoffs once in 8 years! Brian was a very integral part of the Mid-west Baseball Leagues formative years. Brian was always involved in the discussions for getting the League Guide, and every off-season he was wheeling and dealing like he was “Trader Jack”. Some of those sure turned out better than others, don’t you think Brian? Brian’s most important contribution to the Mid-West Baseball League was helping set up the Hall of Fame. Brian wrote the outline for the MWBL Hall of Fame and now it is with much pleasure that I ask you to stand and applaud as we welcome him into the MWBL Hall of Fame.
Brian Scantland’s Speech:
It was October 1999, at the Arizona Fall League, that I first met John “Stray” Corrado. He had glossy brochures and fancy business cards touting something or another. I didn’t pay much attention to that stuff. We watched several games together, and I was struck by Stray’s passion for baseball. The games and weather were fantastic, the conversation was better. Only then did I realize Stray ran an APBA league on the internet. I knew I had to join MWBL.
The idea of the MWBL was quite appealing — I played the APBA board game as a child, and in college played Earl Weaver Sim on really crappy DOS machines. I was impressed by the professionalism of the league, its ownership and structure, and its website. I was doing a ton of business travel at the time, and every spare moment was devoted to studying the league. If memory serves, the expansion draft was held in December of 1999 and the Kentucky Head Hunters were born. I could go on and on about each MWBL season, each draft (drafting Chase Utley in the 7th round or Grady Sizemore in the 9th round), and all the trades (promptly trading Utley for Bill Mueller or Sizemore for Cliff Floyd). But what I value most about MWBL is the fraternity. The brief escape delivered by each weekly game file. The Hot-Stove league conversations and the drafts. The owners that have been in the league since I joined. Those that have come and gone. The conversations.
I am humbled and in awe of being elected to the MWBL Hall of Fame. Luckily, my team has had some success despite my efforts to the contrary. But I find it difficult to look to the past. Instead, I am struck by the bright future of the league. The quality of league ownership has never been higher, the same for the league’s leadership. The drafts are tougher, the trade talks too. The future is bright.
I remember during the 1981 strike, KMOX in St. Louis had a super computer simulate a tournament of the all-time great teams in baseball history. I listened every night to the radio play by play of each game. I was hooked then, and still am to this day. Who should bat second? More speed or power? Trade defense for pitching? Youth or veterans? When to yank the starter?
The MWBL allows me to relive the possibilities of my youth. The anticipation of each season brings a renewal. My sincere appreciation to Stray for his tireless leadership, and to all those that help him run the league. My sincere appreciation to each owner for making this league so grand. Thank you all for making the MWBL, and thanks also for this great honor.