The APBA Community

I don’t think there’s a closer group of people who share the kinship and bonding of community than those who play APBA.

Sure, there’s probably other groups that have similar likes and have the comradery of togetherness. Sometimes, the more obscure the organization, the closer the members seem to be. I’m sure the Left-Handed Morticians Association of America group has a secret handshake and an offshoot group of the Flat Earth Society – some gathering of folks who think the earth is flat, but has rounded edges – probably sings a rousing club song together.

But the APBA community, in my opinion, has to be the closest collection of people there is.

And here’s my reasoning: Our people reach out to each other. Just the other day, a member asked me which season I’d like if I could chose one. I said I’d probably next get 1927 because of Babe Ruth and the Yankees. I’m working on a story for a magazine about how Ruth hit a spring training home run in Hot Springs, Ark., in 1918 that changed the perception of him from being a pitcher to a batter and I was interested in that era. I also mentioned that I would like to eventually buy the 1965 season set of cards since that was the Minnesota Twins’ first World Series year.

A week or so later, I came home to find both seasons on our dining room table. The APBA member, knowing of my financial pitfalls of the past couple of years due to being laid off and medical, etc., sent me the sets. There was Henry Aaron and Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle and Lou Gehrig on the table! I was stunned at the kindness.

Since I’ve joined the community, mostly chatting with members on the APBA Facebook page and emailing them after they’ve read this blog and sending me notes, I’ve received the 1961 season set of cards, a collection of some cards from 1962 and 1963, a football game, books, a framed display of the Twins’ logos and – the most stunning of all – a laptop computer on which I’m writing this now. A person who read of my ineptness with computers and how a laptop I bought in Northbrook, Ill., in 2016 was a junker sent me a refurbished one he had. The same fellow read a goofy blog I recently wrote about being particular to certain types pens for doing replays. He sent me a box of blue, black and red pens and highlighters. I’ll never have to sneak any pens from churches, banks or hospital information desks again.

This is not to say the closeness I receive from this group is only because I get things. It works both ways. I’ve sent books to other members and the 1981 card set to a fellow APBA player in Michigan. He was having a hard time with making ends meet, but his attitude toward his job and his devotion to his wife was one of the most inspirational things I’ve seen. I was glad to help in some small way. I’ve also told Holly that when I pass away, she should send all my APBA cards and games to our APBA minister friend in Michigan. I trust him with my more prized possessions to dispense them to other members who would like them.

Most of us have never met in person, but that doesn’t matter. When one APBA member announced his mother passed away a few years ago, the outpouring of prayers and condolences from the group was massive.We also wish each other happy birthdays and root on our replays. When someone has a no-hitter and writes about it on Facebook, the congratulations are akin to those given to new fathers.

I did get to meet a handful of APBA guys in 2015 when, during my constant driving to Chicagoland to see Holly, I went to a tournament held in a nearby town. I had never seen any of them in person before, but felt like I knew them.

I doubt the Left-Handed Morticians develop that quick of a bond. 

Is it like demographics? I was a geeky, nerdy kid growing up who mostly preferred the company of my cards and replays over hanging out with other kids. I was very inept at sports, but I loved keeping up with teams, standings and stats. The APBA world I created by doing replays filled that need.

So, are there similar characteristics of an APBA player? I’m not so sure. I’ve met outgoing players and more loner types, those who excel in sports and klutzes like myself, rich ones and poor ones, old and young.

I’m not sure what the bonding drive is for ABPA. Maybe it’s just the unsaid knowledge we have about the game and what it means to us. It’s like policemen who share the bonding of chaos and seeing crime all the time. They don’t talk about it, but they all know of it.

Whatever it is, I offer that the APBA group is an amazing eclectic group. We may have diverse backgrounds, but we share a common bond over the dice and cards and computer games that draw us close.