1977 APSPL Champions
In 1977, Detroit dominated the new league with an APSPL best record of 42-14, two games ahead of the Kentucky Bourbons 40-16 mark. The opening series against the Chicago Storm got attention in the league as the Caesars hit 49 home-runs in winning 3 of a 4-game series in Chicago (28-21, 25-27, 31-18, 46-24). Chicago owner Lou Knudston observed about the Caesars, "they've got a bunch of guys who stand 6'4" and weight about 280, and they walk up there and whack it out of sight." He proposed modifying stadiums and deadening balls after the first weekend.
Detroit and Kentucky received first-round playoff byes and the Caesars beat the Cleveland Jaybirds 2-1 to advance to the first professional softball World Series against the Baltimore Monuments. The Caesars would dominate the series and win 4-0 with Mike Nye taking the MVP trophy having batted 12-20 with 2 home-runs.
Six Caesars made the all-league team (Mike Gouin, Ron Ford, Mike Nye, Bert Smith, Tony Mazza, and Doug Gerdes) and only a triple-crown performance by league MVP Chicago Storm catcher Benny Holt could overshadow the individual performances by various Caesars. Mike Nye finished second in the batting race and Ron Ford and Doug Gerdes finished in the top 10. Ford was second in home-runs to Holt with Al Gibson, Bert Smith and Gerdes of the Caesars all in the top-10. RBIs were similar with Ford finishing second in the league and Gerdes, Smith and Gibson in the top-10.
Detroit and Kentucky received first-round playoff byes and the Caesars beat the Cleveland Jaybirds 2-1 to advance to the first professional softball World Series against the Baltimore Monuments. The Caesars would dominate the series and win 4-0 with Mike Nye taking the MVP trophy having batted 12-20 with 2 home-runs.
Six Caesars made the all-league team (Mike Gouin, Ron Ford, Mike Nye, Bert Smith, Tony Mazza, and Doug Gerdes) and only a triple-crown performance by league MVP Chicago Storm catcher Benny Holt could overshadow the individual performances by various Caesars. Mike Nye finished second in the batting race and Ron Ford and Doug Gerdes finished in the top 10. Ford was second in home-runs to Holt with Al Gibson, Bert Smith and Gerdes of the Caesars all in the top-10. RBIs were similar with Ford finishing second in the league and Gerdes, Smith and Gibson in the top-10.
1977 APSPL Regular Season Final Standings
Eastern Division
Baltimore Monuments (BAL) 33-20 .623
New York Clippers (NYC) 20-36 .357 14.5
Pittsburgh Hardhats (PIT) 17-37 .315 16.5
New Jersey Statesmen (NJ) 16-38 .296 17.5
Central Division
Kentucky Bourbons (KEN) 40-16 .714
Cleveland Jaybirds (CLE) 32-24 .571 8.0
Cincinnati Suds (CIN) 30-25 .545 9.5
Columbus All-Americans (COL) 16-40 .286 24.0
Midwestern Division
Detroit Caesars (DET) 42-14 .750
Milwaukee Copper Hearth (MIL) 39-17 .696 3.0
Minnesota Goofys (MIN) 24-30 .445 17.0
Chicago Storm (CHI) 22-34 .393 20.0
APSPL Playoffs 1st Round
Baltimore beat New York 15-14, 10-9; (2-0)
Cleveland beat Milwaukee 11-10, 5-9, 14-7; (2-1)
Detroit and Kentucky (both received a 1st Round Bye)
APSPL Semi-finals
Baltimore beat Kentucky 6-17, 10-4, 15-10; (2-1)
Detroit beat Cleveland 4-7, 22-5, 8-6; (2-1)
Playoff MVP - Johnny Dollar, Baltimore (.750)
APSPL World Series
Detroit beat Baltimore 18-16, 13-8, 25-16, 28-11; (4-0)
World Series MVP - Mike Nye, Detroit (12-20, 2 HRs)
Eastern Division
Baltimore Monuments (BAL) 33-20 .623
New York Clippers (NYC) 20-36 .357 14.5
Pittsburgh Hardhats (PIT) 17-37 .315 16.5
New Jersey Statesmen (NJ) 16-38 .296 17.5
Central Division
Kentucky Bourbons (KEN) 40-16 .714
Cleveland Jaybirds (CLE) 32-24 .571 8.0
Cincinnati Suds (CIN) 30-25 .545 9.5
Columbus All-Americans (COL) 16-40 .286 24.0
Midwestern Division
Detroit Caesars (DET) 42-14 .750
Milwaukee Copper Hearth (MIL) 39-17 .696 3.0
Minnesota Goofys (MIN) 24-30 .445 17.0
Chicago Storm (CHI) 22-34 .393 20.0
APSPL Playoffs 1st Round
Baltimore beat New York 15-14, 10-9; (2-0)
Cleveland beat Milwaukee 11-10, 5-9, 14-7; (2-1)
Detroit and Kentucky (both received a 1st Round Bye)
APSPL Semi-finals
Baltimore beat Kentucky 6-17, 10-4, 15-10; (2-1)
Detroit beat Cleveland 4-7, 22-5, 8-6; (2-1)
Playoff MVP - Johnny Dollar, Baltimore (.750)
APSPL World Series
Detroit beat Baltimore 18-16, 13-8, 25-16, 28-11; (4-0)
World Series MVP - Mike Nye, Detroit (12-20, 2 HRs)
1977 APSPL League Leaders
Batting Average |
Home Runs |
RBIs |
.690 - Benny Holt, CHI |
89 - Benny Holt, CHI |
187 - Benny Holt, CHI |
.659 - Mike Nye, DET |
85 - Ron Ford, DET |
184 - Ron Ford, DET |
.622 - Gene Parrish, MIN |
61 - Al Gibson, DET |
131 - Phil Higgins, MIL |
.611 - Phil Higgins, MIL |
60 - Doug Gerdes, DET |
129 - Larry Hutcherson, BAL |
.607 - Ron Ford, DET |
55 - Ron Olesiak, CHI |
129 - Tom Spahn, CHI |
.605 - Buddy Haines, CHI |
53 - Bert Smith, DET |
127 - Bill Gatti, KEN |
.603 - Doug Czaplewski, MIL |
52 - Tom Miller, PIT |
124 - Doug Gerdes, DET |
.602 - Tom Pappas, COL |
49 - Tom Spahn, CHI |
124 - Tom Miller, PIT |
.599 - John Copenhaver, BAL |
48 - Bill Gatti, KEN |
122 - Bert Smith, DET |
.599 - Doug Gerdes, DET |
45 - Larry Hutcherson, BAL |
119 - Al Gibson, DET |
1977 APSPL All Pro Team
P - Phil Schroer, Kentucky, Tom Gorski, Milwaukee, Tony Mazza, Detroit
C - Benny Holt, Chicago (MVP), Mike Applin, Cincinnati, Bill Gatti, Kentucky
1B - Doug Gerdes, Detroit, Joe Russell, Minnesota, Tom Miller, Pittsburgh
2B - Buddy Haines, Chicago, Doug Czaplewski, Milwaukee, Don Rardin, Kentucky
SS - Ron Ford, Detroit, Tom Pappas, Columbus, Ricky Linz, Cincinnati
3B - John Copenhaver, Baltimore, Jim Dillard, Milwaukee, Bill Speaks, Columbus
OF - Mike Nye, Detroit, John Spadaccino, New Jersey, Bert Smith, Detroit, John Dollar, Baltimore, Gene Parrish, Minnesota, Ken Parker, Milwaukee, Mike Gouin, Detroit, Fred Cammailere, New York, Phil Higgins, Milwaukee, Rick Petrunyak, Cleveland, Jay Smith, Baltimore, Bobby Reid, Cleveland, Lawrence Hutcherson, Baltimore
P - Phil Schroer, Kentucky, Tom Gorski, Milwaukee, Tony Mazza, Detroit
C - Benny Holt, Chicago (MVP), Mike Applin, Cincinnati, Bill Gatti, Kentucky
1B - Doug Gerdes, Detroit, Joe Russell, Minnesota, Tom Miller, Pittsburgh
2B - Buddy Haines, Chicago, Doug Czaplewski, Milwaukee, Don Rardin, Kentucky
SS - Ron Ford, Detroit, Tom Pappas, Columbus, Ricky Linz, Cincinnati
3B - John Copenhaver, Baltimore, Jim Dillard, Milwaukee, Bill Speaks, Columbus
OF - Mike Nye, Detroit, John Spadaccino, New Jersey, Bert Smith, Detroit, John Dollar, Baltimore, Gene Parrish, Minnesota, Ken Parker, Milwaukee, Mike Gouin, Detroit, Fred Cammailere, New York, Phil Higgins, Milwaukee, Rick Petrunyak, Cleveland, Jay Smith, Baltimore, Bobby Reid, Cleveland, Lawrence Hutcherson, Baltimore