The time had finally come to play some real games.  Teams with names such as Bob, Emilio, Eunice, The Damasco Garcias, and Chico’s Bail Bonds took the field.  And it didn’t take long for history to be made.  In Mike’s twenty-first game, J.R. Richard tossed the new league’s first no-hitter.  This was a feat that had only been accomplished twice in all of the previous leagues combined (once by Rick Reuseuel and once by Burt Hooten.  Both managed by Louis in the original Holbrook league).

A total of four hundred games were played in Season I.  But the one most remembered is game number 399.  This was the game known as “The Frank Howard Game.”  The game that began what is known as “The Curse of Frank Howard.”  Now to understand the significance of “The Frank Howard Game,” one must fast-forward several seasons, noting that Mike failed to make the playoffs in Seasons I, II, III, IV, V, and VI.  And that’s a whole lotta I’s and V’s my friend.  How did Frank Howard contribute to this streak you ask?  Well, as difficult as it is for me to re-live this memory, I’m going to tell you.

In a five-team league, the top three teams qualify for the post-season.  As this particular season was drawing to a close, Joe had wrapped up first place, Louis had clinched second, and all that needed to be determined was: would the third place team be Mike’s or Dan’s?  Both entered their last game in identical situations: a 79-80 record, with one game remaining against Frank.  Mike played first.  A victory would, at the least, ensure a one-game playoff with Dan to decide third-place.  It was a tight game throughout and a one-run game as Mike came to bat in the bottom of the ninth.  The details are a little sketchy after all these years, but these facts remain as clear as the nose on John Deodato’s face: there were two outs and one runner on when Frank Howard came to the plate.  Frank Howard was a man of great power with 1-5, 1-6, and 1-7 homeruns.  And a homerun in this situation is exactly what Mike needed.  The dice were rolled…..and the result was…..a 1-4.  A 1-4, a stinking 1-4.  Game over.  You lose.  Wait ‘til next year.  Of course no one realized at the time that next year was actually six seasons away.  Dan beat Frank in the season’s final game, and Mike was left out of the post-season party.  Was Mike cursed?  If one breaks a mirror, superstition states that they will have seven years of bad luck.  If one rolls a 1-4 on Frank Howard in a critical situation, will they have seven seasons of bad luck?  Only the Strato Gods know.   

The playoffs went on and Louis beat Dan in six games.  Louis took Joe to a deciding seventh game in the World Series, before Joe put him away.  And thus, Season I was in the books.  Damn you, Frank Howard.  Damn you.