The Joe Young story

The Joe Young you see on the field today is the best all around hitter the league of APBA baseball has ever seen. But baseball is only a small part of the story of Joe Young, a story of triumph over trajedy, of friendship, and above all, an unfulfilled desire to win at the highest level.

Joe was born in Africa, and while an infant lost his mother to a murderous poacher. A human girl, Jill Young, also lost her mother in the attack (she was trying to save the gorillas), and ended up raising the baby gorilla, giving him the name Joe Young. After Joe had grown to tremendous size, they moved to Los Angeles, but found trouble across the seas, fought the evil poacher again, and eventually returned to a nature preserve in Africa. Joe, however, could not leave aside one thing he found in the United States: His love for baseball. Joe and Jill returned to California in 1994, where Joe accepted a baseball scholarship to the University of Southern California. After his junior year where Joe hit .484 with 57 homers in 73 games, he was considered the top prospect in the land. His team, however, had fallen just short of the college world series. So Joe would have to make APBA wait. Returning for his senior year, Joe brought a championship to coach Mike Gillespie.

Joe spent the 1999 season in the APBA minors, and then was drafted #1 overall by the Las Vegas Gamblers. He was 24 years old as a rookie, a bit old for the debut of such a super talented ballplayer, but won the rookie of the year award by hitting .315 with 35 homers and 105 RBI, while throwing out 37 percent of opposing basestealers. Las Vegas, however, won only 73 games, and manager Roberto Ramos was fired after the season. Little do people realize how close the devastated Joe Young was to calling it quits, returning to Africa, and leaving the sport as one of the greatest one hit wonders of all time. Enter the new manager, Juan Alou.

Juan was a extraterrestrial bird who despised losing more than anything else. His first act as manager was to sit down with Joe Young, and convince him to stay. Juan helped Joe understand that the journey would not be easy, but together they could find a way to stop losing. And when they did that, it could mean only one thing: They would win. It sure wasn't easy. In 2001, Joe improved his numbers, hitting .328 with 38 homers, but the team was even worse, losing 105 games. Joe kept hitting the next 3 years, and the team kept improving, from 77 to 81 to 86 wins. While they had a winning record in 2004 finally, ownership had given up. They felt that they would never be able to surround Joe with the talent he needed to win a championship unless they dealt some veterans to bring in more young talent. And the biggest trade chit they held was none other than Joe Young. During the winter meetings, a trade was agreed to that would sent Joe to the Baltimore Colts in a blockbuster deal. Juan Alou would not have it though, he went to ownership, resigned on the spot, and said "if he goes, I go." Startlingly, his demand was agreed to, and a swap of managers became part of the deal, Juan going to Baltimore and Boba Fett taking over in Las Vegas.

In Baltimore, the now 29 year old Joe Young gave up catching. Baltimore had a promising young catching prospect in Jesse Myers, and convinced Joe that playing first base and DH would allow him to stay in the lineup more often. The move worked wonders. Freed from the nagging injuries that all catchers suffer, Joe set career highs with a .331 average and 46 homeruns. He won his first MVP award. He followed that with an even better year in 2006, .340 with 47 homers and 133 RBI, winning his second MVP award. Still, not all was right. Baltimore did not have losing records in his first 3 years there, but with no more than 85 wins each year, failed to make the playoffs. The 2007 season was especially frustrating as their 85 wins fell one short of the division leader.

This would change in 2008. Everything came together for Baltimore. Young outfielder Wellington Gehrig Bear won an MVP himself, teaming with Joe to produce the game's most fearsome 3-4 hitters. With slick fielding, power hitting shortstop Kobe Jones and 20 game winner Storm Morris, Baltimore won 106 games and cruised to a division title. In the playoffs, they disappointed, losing the SLCS to the Miami Stars. For 3 years running, the results were the same: the most dominant offense in the league, an easy division win, and a quick exit from the playoffs. Joe Young's game reached new heights, he hit .351 with 55 homers and 153 RBI in 2009, then .334 with 49 homers, 143 RBI in 2010. He won MVP honors each year, becoming the first four time MVP in league history. Joe had signed a free agent megadeal after the 2009 season, but had included the right to opt out if he failed to win the world series title.

He did so, and searched for a new place to show his talents, and above all, finally win a ring. Several teams have tried to make cases for him. The New York Cobra are always in contention for a world series, and have the highest payroll and most star studded roster in the sport. Bay Area, winners of the Major League west division, have a ton of young talent and the resources to be a league power. The Utah Utes have the history as the greatest multiyear championship run ever, and still have the talent to win another as they hope to team Joe with Frank Lewis in Battletrap's bases loaded offense. The Miami Stars have reached 2 of the last 5 world series and manager RJ Duke is convinced they are headed back.

Now we bring you live to The Herman Sports Network studios:

Joe Young, what's the decision?

Joe: I'm taking my talents to South Beach.

The deal is reported as a six year contract for 145 million dollars. Here to answer a few questions about his newest player is RJ Duke:

RJ, how do you like your team's chances for the world series next year?

RJ: We're going to win it. I guarantee it. If I'm wrong, then I will retire as manager. Joe Young is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.