API is pleased to announce a group former major league players that will lead you through your team workout, hang out in the clubhouse and dugouts, sign autographs and just talk baseball at all hours of the day - and night! The pros we are bringing in have been chosen based on their personalities as well as their playing credentials in hopes of making your experience as memorable as possible. They will attend the parties and will be visible and accessible during your workouts and games. Additional pros are in the process of being confirmed and will be announced in the coming weeks. Please check back here often for updates and announcements. An announcement will be made every time we get a confirmation.
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 Former all-star Matt Williams has signed on to appear at the API Baseball Fall Fantasy Classic September 3-7, 2008, in Peoria, AZ.
Williams, a five-time all-star and four-time Gold Glove winner, played 17 seasons in the big leagues with the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks. He was an original member of the Diamondbacks and a part of their 2001 world championship team. For his career Williams hit .268 with 378 home runs and 1,218 RBI. He belted more than 30 home runs and drove in more than 90 runs in a season on six occasions, including an amazing strike-shortened 1994 campaign in which he led the league with 43 home runs and managed 96 RBI even though a third of the season was cancelled. Williams finished second to Jeff Bagwell in that year’s MVP voting. Williams led the National League with 122 RBI in 1990 and was second in the N.L. with 142 RBI in 1999 despite setting the Diamondbacks’ single-season record.
One of the premier defensive third basemen during his major league tenure, Williams won for Gold Gloves between 1991 and 1997 and concluded his career with a .952 overall fielding percentage. Although he primarily was a third baseman, he also played 121 games at shortstop and 13 at first base. In addition to being named the top fielder at his position four times, Williams also captured four Silver Slugger awards.
Now a part-owner of the Diamondbacks with the title of Special Assistant to the General Partner, Williams played in three World Series with three different teams. In addition to the 2001 Diamondbacks, Williams played for the 1989 Giants in the famous series that was marred by an earthquake and for the 1997 Indians. He hit .279 with three homers and 11 RBI in 18 World Series contests. |
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 Ken Gerhart will be joining us for the entire API Baseball Fall Fantasy Classic September 3-7, 2008, in Peoria, AZ. Gerhart has been a regular for several years at the Orioles Fantasy Camp in Florida, and also has participated in three Ripken Baseball Minor League Experience Fantasy Camps. In addition, he has served as an instructor at Ripken Baseball Camps since 1999.
Gerhart was one of the top prospects in the Baltimore Orioles’ organization during the early-to-mid 1980s after being selected in the fifth round of the1982 amateur draft out of Middle Tennessee State University. He landed a spot on the Orioles’ roster in 1986 and remained with the Birds until he was traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1988. A good defensive outfielder with great speed, Gerhart, who made his big league debut on September 14, 1986, seemed to come into his own during the 1987 season, smacking 14 home runs and stealing nine bases in just 92 games before his season – and ultimately his career – was derailed when his wrist was broken by a Doug Jones pitch. He finished his career with 24 home runs, 64 RBI and 16 steals in 215 games.
Described as an “all-everything player” in college, Gerhart was inducted into the MTSU Hall of Fame in 2002. He was a two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference selection for the Blue Raiders and was named the OVC Player of the Year in 1982. He led MTSU in almost every offensive category that year, recording 69 hits, 49 runs, 12 home runs and 17 steals in just 48 contests. After signing with the Orioles he went on to receive Carolina League (Class A) All-Star honors while leading the league in home runs with 31. |
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Jeff Tackett |
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 Jeff Tacket will be on hand for the entire API Baseball Fall Fantasy Classic at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria. AZ. Another veteran of the Baltimore Orioles Fantasy camp, he was drafted by the Orioles in the second round of the 1984 amateur draft. Tackett made his big league debut on September 11, 1991, against the New York Yankees and went on to serve as the Orioles’ back-up catcher until 1994. He is one of a handful of major league players to have hit a home run in his final big league at-bat. Tackett also has a career ERA of 0.00, having appeared in one game as a pitcher with the Orioles in 1993, surrendering no runs on a single hit while walking one.
He appeared in a career-high 65 games in 1992, notching five home runs and 24 RBI while hitting .240. For his career Tackett had seven home runs 42 RBI and scored 35 runs scored in 136 games played. He committed only five errors in his big league career, good for a .992 fielding percentage, and appeared as a catcher in 134 of his 126 contests. In addition to his one outing on the mound, Tackett also played one game at third base. He is known throughout Birdland for his Karaoke singing ability. |
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 Chris Hammond, a veteran of 14 big league seasons as both a starting pitcher and a reliever, will be participating in the entire API Baseball Fall Fantasy Classic. Hammond began his career as a starter after being drafted in the sixth round of the 1986 amateur draft out of Alabama-Birmingham. He recorded a career-best 11 wins in 1993 with Florida and spent two more years as a starter before settling into his role coming out of the bullpen. Shoulder problems sent Hammond into a premature retirement following the 1998 season, but he returned to put together a remarkable comeback campaign with the Braves in 1992, going 7-2 and posting a sparkling 0.95 ERA. He remains one of only four pitchers in MLB history to have recorded a sub-1.00 ERA while averaging more than one inning per appearance. Hammond turned in five successful seasons as a reliever following his comeback before retiring after the 2006 season. He pitched in the 2003 World Series for the Yankees.
During his 14 years in the big leagues Hammond played for Cincinnati, Florida, Boston, Atlanta, the New York Yankees, Oakland and San Diego. He made his major league debut on July 16, 1990, vs. Montreal. Hammond concluded his career with a 66-62 record and a 4.14 ERA. A good hitting pitcher, his career batting average was above .200. |
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