The MDTL was created in 1973 by Bud Funk and Glenn Hampton, two law students at William & Mary. The first season was an eight team League. All eight Managers were friends of Funk or Hampton. The APBA Baseball board game was chosen for League play.

 

The MDTL has evolved into a ‘family’ type arrangement where several Managers have resigned from the League for various reasons but have returned in subsequent years. Mangers that left and returned are Charlie Tibbs, Nick Sellman, Keith Riggs, Terry Evans, Pat Freaney, Mike Freaney, Liam Freaney, Gary Hartman, David Bardo, Jac Cales and Niel Sellman.

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After the first season it was decided to expand the League to 12 teams and some Managers dropped out so an ad was placed in the (now defunct) APBA Journal to fill the vacancies. Answering that ad and joining the League in Season Two was (now Commissioner) Mike McClurg Sr. During Season Two another vacancy occurred and that team was taken by Mike McClurg Jr. who was 14 years old at the time.

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Season 3 saw Jim Boylan join the League.

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After Season 3 a convention was held in Richmond, VA with Bud Funk hosting what became the annual event that continues today. The League Convention now includes voting on Rule changes proposed by the Managers as well as the Money Draft and Secondary Draft where the teams are formulated for the following season.

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Season 6 saw Howard Frey join the League.

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Season 8 welcomed Don Litewski, Charlie Tibbs, Keith Riggs and Elliott Atherholt.

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Season 9 the League expanded to 16 teams and Brian Devine came on board.

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Season 10 - Gary Hartman joined the league.

 

Season 11, Nick Sellman joined the league.

 

Season 12 - Greg Freaney joined the league.

 

Season 15,  Pat Freaney, Greg’s brother became a Manager.

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Season 20 - Niel Sellman joined the league.

 

Season 21 - Terry Evans joined for league.

 

Season 22 saw the League expand to 18 teams and 3 six team Divisions were formed. Steve Allen joined the League along with the expansion to 18 teams.

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Season 23 - Nellwyn Tibbs joined for her first season and the rivalry in the Tibbs household (Charlie) was born. 

 

Season 24 - Liam Freaney joined his dad and uncle’s and the MDTL at the age of 10.

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Season 27 saw another expansion of the League to the present total of 20 teams divided into 4 five team Divisions. Expansion Managers joining were Robbie Riggs and Dan Litewski.

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Season 32 saw new comers Scott Egge and David Bardo. entered the League for Season 32 and ..

 

Season 33 welcomed Mike McCoobery during the off-season prior to Season 34.

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Season 34, while the APBA Baseball Basic board game continues as the foundation of League play many adjustments have been incorporated into the General Rules as voted in by Managers at yearly conventions. Newer APBA products such as the Master Game and 66! are given consideration and are adopted or rejected by a vote of the League Managers at an annual convention. The new 66! Boards were voted in for use beginning with Season 34 along with MDTL enhancements.

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Season 35, sadly, Greg Freaney passed away in 2007. Greg was a MDTL manager for 24 years. His team, the Star City Giants, was taken over by his nephew, Liam Freaney.

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Season 36 weclomed new manager Tom Heiderscheit.

 

Season 37 welcomed new manger Todd Davis.

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Season 38, Gregg Hansen, Jimm Smedley along with Larry Wilson became Managers, replacing Nick Sellman, Mike McCoobery and Tom Heiderscheit.

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Season 38, following our Convention on February 28, 2010,, we received the terrible news that Don Litewski, a 30 year member of the League, had passed away in his sleep. The League will miss one of its most loyal participants. Don was a true southern gentleman and always made positive contributions to the MDTL. The League decided to rename the Tidewater Division to the Litewski Division, to truly honor Don and recognize his love for this baseball league and its Managers.

 

Season 39 welcomed new managers Larry Wilson and Ray Couch, along and the return of JAC Cales, a 10 year veteran of earlier seasons who twice was a World Series champion.

 

Season 40’s Manager roster adds new comers Ed Voshall and Rick Larson.

 

As season 40 season was starting (2012), we all received the devastating news that our leader, friend and commissioner for 38 years Mike McClurg Sr. lost his battle with cancer.  To honor Mike we have renamed the league, Mike McClurg Sr. Mason Dixon Tabletop League MM-MDTL.

 

Season 46 the Priewe brothers, Rob and Phil joined.

 

Season 47 Dan Pierce and Brad Richards joined.

 

Prior to the start of Season 48, Nov 2019, our hearts were broken to hear the news of 41 yr manager Howard Frey passing away.  Howard was a pillar of the MDTL and had hosted the convention at his home in Va Beach every year since season 21.  To honor Howard, the Central Division was renamed to the Frey division.

 

Season 48 saw the return of 20+ yr manager Terry Evans and additions of new managers Rick Chapman, son Rich Chapman and Bob Gordon as 1st year managers.

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COVID - little did we know that in the early part of Season 48, a pandemic struck the world.  The impact of this has introduced more technology to the MDTL with the use of Zoom, our first ever Winter Meetings virtual call and the first ever convention to be held all virtual and live on Feb 20, 2021 due to the need for social distancing.

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Season 49 – two weeks before our convention, we learned the news of long-time manager Jim Boylan Jr fighting a losing battle with liver cancer.  The decision was made to bring in a replacement manager for the Forest Hill team given the circumstances.  Sadly, Jim passed away on Feb 24 after 46 Seasons.  The league welcomed new manager Mark Rensch to his first season in a draft league.  Tom White took over the Reno franchise about mid season as Phil Priew stepped away.  The convention was our first virtual convention and went without issue but all agreed that when we could get back to a meeting place, we would.  The season closed with a 1st time Champion in Niel Sellman's DevLan Yankees.

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Season 50 - saw the arrival of 2 new managers.   The retirement of long time manager Nick Sellman and short term manager Bob Gordon led to new additions of Bill Weigel, who took over the New Bern team and David Kays, who took over the Dale City team.  Tom White, in his first full season, went on to become a 1st time Champion with the Reno Brewer franchise.

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Season 51 - there was no manager turnover to start the season and new rules allowed for the drafting of all hitter cards.  Draft was held in Va Beach with many in attendance and a few only getting to attend online.

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