2024 73+ American
Submitted by Dan Gooris, Fire manager
The 2024 MSBL World Series was the first year that the Chicago Fire entered a 73+ team. In order to have a full and competitive roster, the Fire merged with Steve Faigin’s Mudville 9 team and took advantage of Steve’s familiarity with the other 73+ teams.
First year growing pains were apparent from the start and our pitching staff showed it until Billy Smith faced the St. Thomas team in our second game. Billy pitched a complete game shutout allowing the Hurricanes just two hits with five K’s and only three walks.
We were fortunate enough to make the American Division playoffs where we defeated the Fresno Grizzlies in the semi-finals and then St.Thomas in the finals.
I’m not a baseball genius, but we had Billy Smith start the big game. Billy wasn’t as dominant, but allowed the St. Thomas team just two runs in eight full innings of work. Joel Polakoff game in and closed out the ninth, giving the Fire a 13-2 championship.
We had two MVP’s, Billy Smith and our shortstop, Ron Oates. The ‘Iron Man Award’ went to Frankie DiMaria who played every inning in center field and hit an incredible .636, 14 for 23.