Dave Steel managed Charlie's Bar to the GPMABL Championship -- Dave's first championship since he was a junior at Cheltenham HS in 1979 (he was All-Suburban-one senior year). Dave Played two years at the University of Tampa and transfered to Widener University. He played six years in the Pen-Del League 1980-86, and one year in the Atlantic County League, NJ in 1990. He served as Assistant Coach for the Abington Friends HS baseball team in 1985 and 1986. After a 10-year hiatus, Rip Van Winkle came back to steward the expansion CB to its first championship after a see-saw 2001 year, 8-9 record. Dave led team this year in pinch hits, going 6-for-13 overall with one HR and four RBI. In game two of the championship series, he lined a pinch-hit single to key a 3-run rally to re-gain the lead before the Blue Rocks bounced back for a thrilling comeback victory.  Dave works for an 85-year-old precision parts company in Philadelphia and is married with two kids.

Mike Ganley pitched for only his second appearance this year and went nine strong innings for the complete game victory over the powerful Blue Rocks in game one of the championship series.  Mike grew up in Hilton, NY, lived and played seven years of MABL baseball in Boston, and moved to Philly in January of this year.  Mike is 30 and joined Charlie's Bar through the draft as a catcher. He is an independent software engineering consultant.

Joe D'Alessandro had five big hits to help eliminate the Indians in the GPMABL Semi-Finals.  Joe, Hardball Magazine's Summer cover boy, grew up in Drexel Hill and played for several teams in the Philadelphia area. He played short stop for Bonner. Joe joined the Blue Rocks team in 1996. He now has the longest tenure (seven years) of any Blue Rocks player. Joe, 28 was married to his wife, Sandy, at the end of 2001.  He is an "Outside plant technichian" for Verizon and keeps in shape in the off-season by playing ice hockey, a sport in which he has competed in several national tournaments.

Dave DeRuchie responded to a promotion to the second spot in the batting order with his best day of the season, reaching base six times as the Comets opened postseason play. In the day's first game, Dave had three hits and a walk to lead the Comets past the Colt .45s and into the second round of the playoffs. He added another hit and a walk in the opening game of the semi-final series against Charlie's Bar. He also played his usual superb defense in the outfield. Dave rejoined the Comets this year after having previously played for the team in 1996. Dave works for Radian Guaranty, in their Information Technology Department as a Senior Business liaison and lives in Sewell, NJ with his wife Kris and daughter Megan. He is an avid baseball fan an amateur guitar player, and an active golfer and swimmer.

Eddie Bobb proved he belonged at the GPMABL All Star Game, drawing walks in both of his plate appearances and making a nice sliding catch in rightfield. Eddie stepped in to replace injured teammate Ben Ludwig on the All Star roster and fit right in as Phillies players starred in the rain-shortened game. Phils shortstop Matt Curry ripped a pair of doubles and made two nifty defensive plays, pitcher Tom King tossed a scoreless inning, the injured Ludwig led cheers in the dugout with his good arm, and manager Rich Callahan kept the pitchers warm and the baserunners headed for home as an All Star coach. Eddie joined the Phils just in time for the start of the season and quickly took over centerfield and found a home in the middle of the lineup. Ed is a bagel man for the Philadelphia Bagel Company and lives in Cinnaminson, NJ.

Jimmy Jackson worked overtime to earn his first career win, pitching 11 outstanding innings in the Comets' 4-3 thriller over the Indians. He also made a key defensive play, nailing a runner at the plate after covering firstbase on an infield grounder. In the nightcap, he ripped a big single and stole two bases. Jimmy began tagging along to games with big brother Tommy seven years ago, serving as the team's unofficial batboy and foul ball chaser. He joined the Comets as an 18-year-old rookie infielder this spring, but has quickly established himself as the team's most consistent pitcher. Meanwhile, little brother Robert has taken over Jimmy's former role as batboy, and has his eye on becoming the third Jackson on the team a few years from now.  Jimmy lives in Warrington, PA.
 

CJ came to the Indians from Puerto Rico where he was a champion pro wrestler.  He now body slams GPMABL pitching and uses his glove to place the opposition in a sleeper hold.

Bill's hitting, and alert play, helped the Comets squeeze past the Phillies in a double-header sweep.  In game one, he singled in the top of the 7th to move the winning run into scoring position. In game two, he drove in four runs and saved at least one more. First, he gave the Comets the lead with a three-run homer in the 1st inning. In the top of the 5th, with the Phillies up three runs and threatening to score more, he alertly pointed out that the baserunner tagging from third base had left the bag early on an apparent sacrifice fly, taking a run off the board and preventing any further damage as the umpires upheld the controversial appeal play. In the bottom of the same inning, he capped off the game-winning rally by doubling in the tying run and then scoring the winning run. Bill rejoined the Comets this year after having played for the team in 1998 and 1999. Prior to that, he played at Philadelphia Community College and Father Judge High School. Bill is a Philadelphia Police Officer. He is 23 and lives in Northeast Philadelphia with his wife Danielle and children Chelsea and Liam.
 

Matt had a hit and knocked in a run while playing his usual solid defensive game at shortstop as the Phillies battled the Colt .45s to the wire, eventually coming up short in a 14-12 loss. Matt has been a threat in the middle of the Phillies lineup all year and leads the Phillies in most offensive categories.  He is currently the GPMABL's home-run leader.  In addition to playing a smooth shortstop, he has also filled in as a pitcher. Matt played on the South Carolina University practice baseball squad while getting his bachelor's degree in sports management. He will attend graduate school this fall at Temple University.  Matt is 25 and lives in Sea Isle City, NJ.

Many proud GPMABL dads had little ones -- showing off their "My Dad Plays GPMABL Baseball" balloons -- on hand for the big Fathers' Day celebration.

Joe Beyer led a double-header sweep as Charlie's Bar ran its record to 11-1.  In the first game, he went three-for-four and scored two runs. In the second game, he hit a triple and a home run and earned the victory with a four-hitter, notching eleven strikeouts. Joe is the captain of the team and is setting the pace in several pitching and hitting categories while still recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined him two years ago. Prior to that, he played NCAA Division I baseball at Ohio University, and was a first-team, all-state selection at Boyd High School in Texas. Joe recently moved to the area to work as a Hydraulic Territory Manager for Parker Hannifin Corporation. He is 25 and lives in New Jersey.

James Buddy Nix was the winning pitcher in game two of the Colt .45s' double-header, pitching out of several jams including a bases-loaded-no-outs pickle.  At the plate he went three-for-three with a run and an RBI to help his own cause.  James grew up in Florida and played MABL baseball locally before joining the GPMABL through the league draft in 2002.  A network engineer, James lives in Collingdale, PA with his wife, six-year-old daughter, and nine-month-old son.
 

Tom King bounced back from a rough start in the first game of the Phillies' double-header - to earn a save in the nightcap. After starter Ben Ludwig suffered an injury, King came on to toss three scoreless innings as the Phillies hung on for a 4-1 win. He also helped out on offense with a key two-out RBI double and a stolen base. But the biggest play he made may have been in the 6th inning, when he snagged a hard liner back to the box and started a triple play to end a comeback threat. Tom was the second overall pick in the league draft this year and has had an eventful debut season so far. Despite having dislocated his shoulder in the first scrimmage of the year, he fanned eight on Opening Day to lead the Phillies to their first GPMABL win. The following week, he held the Tigers hitless but lost 2-0 on a pair of unearned runs. Tom graduated Washington College in 2000 and played MABL baseball in Baltimore, Maryland for the last two years. He works for Cendant Mortgage in Mount Laurel, New Jersey and lives in Center City Philadelphia.

Fred Shaefer had a day for Charlie's Bar -- going seven-for-nine with three home runs and four RBI in CB's double-header sweep.  Shaefer hails from Castro Valley, California and attended college in Claremont, California where he played baseball for Harvey-Mudd College (NCAA Div. III).  This is his first year with Charlie's Bar and the GPMABL.  He is not only making his mark on the field with impressive statistics, Fred is earning praise as a good-natured teammate.  Fred is a 23-year-old data analyst living in Plainsboro, NJ. 

Rick Turner is one the three remaining Indians from the team's first season in 1994.  He pitches and plays short, third, and outfield.  This season he has taken over full time at shortstop and has made some outstanding defensive plays.  His best play came this past Sunday in game two against the Phillies.  In the bottom of the seventh with the score tied 1-1 and runners on second and third, he made a diving stop of a grounder in the hole and from his knees threw out the winning run out at the plate. Rick also had a hit and run scored in the game 2 as the Tribe went on to win in 10 innings.  Rick is 28 years old and lives with his wife, Debbie, in Drexel Hill.  Rick played baseball at Cardinal O'Hara high school and graduated from Saint Joseph's University.  He currently works for the Lincoln financial group in Philadelphia.

Marcus Spero had a six-for-seven day, scoring three runs, and knocking in five -- quite a way to make his GPMABL debut.  This is his first year with the Blue Rocks.  He previously played Jersey Shore Baseball and MABL Baseball in Charlotte, NC.  As an undergrad, Marcus played for Rutgers University.  Of the field, Marcus is an Institutional Trade Operations Manager for Wachovia/Evergreen Asset Management Company.  Marcus is 29 and lives in Manayunk.