Championship & Awards History

  This post will serve as the record of all previous champions and award winners

All-Time Pitching Records

 This post will serve to share the all-time pitching records in a number of categories, beyond the top 10 that are usually posted on the back of the wall. To qualify for ERA & WHIP you've had to have thrown at least 30+ innings.

    

       

All-Time Hitting Records

 This post will serve to share the all-time hitting records in a number of categories, beyond the top 10 that are usually posted on the back of the wall. To qualify for Batting average and OPS you've had to have had at least 69 career at-bats and 90 plate appearances.

   

      

      

With External Contributions, Commissioner's Office Announces Facilities Upgrades to Fields for Wifflepalooza XX

 VINELAND - 

Over the past weekend, the Office of the Commissioner announced an extensive plan to upgrade and re-do the grounds of the Willie J. Huff Wiffleball Complex, in time for Wifflepalooza XX on August 8th. After discussions with all of the participating teams over the last six months, the league was able to obtain a substantial influx of cash to begin the purchasing of all new materials for construction of each of the two fields. 

    The plan is, to make Harry Kalas Field (Field 1)'s entire wall made of wood. The evolution of the wooden portion of this field has taken many shapes over the years, from the 5 panel upright "Black Mamba" starting in 2010, to the horizontal 5 panel wall the same height as the rest of the fence starting in 2023. Now, going forward the entirety of Field 1 will be wood. Discussions around the "fence rule" now that the entirety will be much more sturdy are yet to occur, but it is expected that the league will maintain it's previous rule about destruction or damaging of fences. The upgrade of Field 1 will include improved boundaries and dirt areas as well.

    Billy Mays Field (Field 2) will be upgraded as well, going from wooden stakes and orange fencing, to the nicer sturdier metal stakes and green wire fencing that was previously the composition of Field 1's balance. The boundaries and dirt areas will see improvements here as well.

    While there has been no talks of changing the back-stops, there is real traction around the discussion of expanding the strike zones. No vote has been made official, but based on discussions that occurred at the end of last season, there is the belief that the league has the votes to move forward with expanding the strike zones to 25x25, a symmetrical square, instead of the 24x23 shape that exists now. This will also include re-constructing the strike zones to be "stand alone" in that they will protrude out from the rest of the structure so as to take away the "leg" disputes that have plagued many games in the past.

    The final piece of the plan is to include full-time permanent Bullpen areas for pitchers to throw and warm up. As of the time of this writing, the league has no set location within the complex where the bullpen would be.

    It total, the league so far has purchased 17 new sheets of plywood, 25 metal stakes, 2 50x4 rolls of wire fencing, a bunch of PVC and 4 cans of chalkboard paint, with what is believed to be a small balance left over to clean up the odds and ends needed as the project evolves. The Office of the Commissioner would once again like to thank all of the team captains for the participation and efforts in collecting the contributions that make this type of infrastructure advancement possible.

Wifflepalooza XX & A Letter from The Commissioner of Wifflepalooza, Al Etter

To our team owners, captains, players, fans and sponsors, I wanted to address my thoughts on some topics and discussions at the end of our 2025 League Year. By the time you are reading this, I have reached out individually to some of you for personal thoughts, and I thank you for your input. Your words and friendship mean a great deal to me. 

RECAP, POLICIES & RULE CHANGES

Allow me to start with a recap of this year's tournament. Overall? Another smashing success. Six full teams, each got a minimum of four games in, and our playoffs brought new records, tremendous finishes, and an overall great ending to a long, great day. We started on time, and while we ran long for various reasons, I believe everyone left feeling they got their money's worth, and that is really the only broader goal we have as league management. Congrats to the Goodfellas on winning their fifth title.

Overall, the rule changes and policies that were put in place for 2025 were followed very well and added to an enhanced experience on the day. The fields held up better in '25 than they did in '24, and I appreciate everyone's help with that. We would like to take another step forward in '26 with this.

 

OFFICIATING 

Another topic I want to address is the overall mindset of participants when addressing officials of individual games. This has been a long-running problem. One that dates back to our very first event over a decade and a half ago. Look, we have no better option for officiating. None. If we did, we would have exercised it by now. To acquire two umpires (and seemingly, two additional persons to keep the stat books for each game) would incur a cost of around $50 per game on average, which totals up to over $600 for the day, not even including playoff games or scorekeepers. We simply do not have that in the budget for a tournament where the total purse is typically around $1,000 total. If anyone is willing to step up and offer that type of donation, I am certainly open to the idea. As has been the case every time I have mentioned this over the last fifteen years, I do not see many folks lining up to foot that bill.

This is all to say, take a moment to consider the big picture. Four teams play at the same time; two teams are off. There is never a case where the same two teams are off in back-to-back windows. I give your schedule to your team, at least two weeks in advance, sometimes as early as months ahead. You have more than enough time to plan out your day, as far as restroom breaks, getting food/drink, and just taking a rest. You know in the window your team is off, at least two of you will be asked to officiate or keep score of a game. If you approach it prepared, knowing what's going on, with an attitude that you are in charge and do a good job, this operation is more than good enough. There are multiple ways to do this. Plan to have someone pick up food for you, make sure you have enough beverages in advance. Plan. Ahead. If everyone does that, the overall tone of this process will change for the better. 

Additionally, tackle this from the other side. If you are the on the wrong end of a bad call, take it, deal with it, and move on. If an umpire is doing their best and paying attention and they get a call wrong? Too bad. You'll get the next one. Stop bitching and complaining for the next three hours to any poor soul that'll hear about it. No one else cares. Unless you are involved in the game in question, literally no one else cares what happens to you in that game. We are so sick of hearing about how bad the umpires are when YOU ARE THE UMPIRES. We're sick of hearing about how the stats are wrong when YOU KEEP THE BOOKS. You want it to be better? Start by DOING IT BETTER YOURSELF when asked instead of complaining. If you don't know how to keep the book, ASK. I will show you. Someone will show you. There's plenty of people that know how to do it. If that's too much to ask in your opinion, maybe this tournament isn't for you.

 

STATE OF PLAY

And lastly, but maybe most important piece. I had the opportunity to hear from a number of participants about complaints about the quality of play. While I would be inclined to totally ignore this nonsense, since most of it is from people who've complained about any and everything for years and yet have participated pretty much every year, I did want to address the idea that quality of play has changed.

See the table below. This tracks all numbers from each tournament over the last 6 years. Between 2022 & 2023, the mounds were moved from 40 feet back to 42 feet.

As you can see, in the 3 years since the mounds changed, hits are up 8%, runs are up almost 19% (!), walks are up 5.5% but down this year from the last two years, strikeouts are down 20%, and home runs are up 5%. What does everyone want? Action, right? Less walks, less strikeouts, more homers, hits and runs. I agree. I like action. I do not enjoy a game with 25 walks. I get nothing personally from taking 4 balls and going to first. I like to hit; I have my entire life. 

That being said, the team that won this year won in no small part to their ability to walk. They take their bases. Is it the most aesthetically pleasing way to play? No. Does it work because their guys who can't slug well take their walks and get on base for their guys who do? Hell yes! If you don't like that and don't want to play that way, then don't play that way. But if you have a problem with how the Goodfellas played, instead of complaining to me, or Jake, or Ryan Ricci, or Pat Ney, none of whom are members of the Goodfellas, why don't you throw the fucking ball over the plate. The only team that has any control over you getting them out, is you. Throw more strikes. Throw better strikes. It can be done, I've seen it. I understand if you feel it is not as fun of a way to play, but we are not going to turn our rule book and tournament format upside down to try to change the way one team plays.

In the 3 years since we made the mound change, we have seen a 15% increase in balls in play. In 2022, 69.3% of all plate appearances ended in a walk or a strikeout. This past tournament, that number fell all the way to 54.2%. Would I like that number to go even lower? Sure. And that is why I do not want to be dismissive of this topic. I am making a call to all participants for ideas. Let’s make this thing better. I am open to any ideas no matter how stupid you may think. I do not want to change our sport dramatically, but if there is something we are currently missing that would make things better, we'd be foolish not to consider it.

 

ROAD TO WIFFLEPALOOZA XX

Lastly, I cannot wait for next year. Not just to get another shot at winning, but to be able to put on this tournament for the 20th time, is one of the most sentimental and interesting things I've ever done. I say this often, but if you went back in time and told Jake & I in 2008 when we began planning the first one, that almost 20 years from now you'll be putting on this tournament for the 20th time, we'd have said absolutely no way. We are putting out a call now, to any and every person that's ever been a part of our tournament, to please come out to next year's tournament. We plan to have an extended introduction, where we will call each person out by name and allow them to get the recognition they deserve. The best part of this tournament is that it's fueled by you, the participants. We'd have stopped a long time ago if you all stopped coming. I know some have over the years for one reason or another, but there's an unspoken bond among the 238 people who've played in this thing. It's unique, and a shared experience, and we'd love to have you out there. We will announce some other exciting things related to this tournament going forward, and we'll decide on a date (either August 1st or August 8th) as soon as we can. But that's the first part of it is inviting everyone who's ever played back home. If you still are in contact with people who haven't come out in a while, but you know they've played before, please reach out to them on my behalf. 

Looking forward to hearing from as many of you as possible, and we'll see you soon.

 

Thank you all, 

Sincerely,

 

Alfred B. Etter

Office of the Commissioner

Major League Wiffleball / Wifflepalooza

Back On Top; Goodfellas Overcome Adversity to Win Fifth Title

 VINELAND - Who would've thought that adding back one of the games all-time greats, as well as calling up your top prospect would be all you'd need to go on a legendary run. The Goodfellas on Saturday, by returning Brian Stanzione, adding Anthony Lopez, getting an historic day on the mound from Justin Geri and; with one of the most stunning swings we've ever seen in this tournament, did just that. It's difficult to say that a 6-0 team needed some things to come together to end up champions, but this team will tell you it's true. After jumping out early on the PA Pork Missiles to win their first game, the G'fellas narrowly escaped the Goondingos with some controversy about their application of the time limit rule to win 5-3. They then were the beneficiary of a bad throw by Flapacs 1B Al Etter, allowing a very aggressive Brian Stanzione to score the winning run of a 2-1 win. "Just trying to make our own luck a little bit" said Stanzione, who's return to the tournament was sorely needed by the Goodfellas, as he would go on to drive in 11 runs and win Title Game MVP. "We just felt like that was a moment to push things and luckily for us it worked out."

By the time they reached their final regular tournament game, it was clear the Ironballs were out of pitching and the Goodfellas pounced, defeating them 14-0 on their way to the division title and #1 overall seed in the playoffs. They would go on to a re-match with PA Pork Missiles, who by then had sorted themselves out and were looking quite dangerous. They gave the Goodfellas all they could handle. Leading 7-6 in the bottom of the 6th, after an incredible play by Justin Baeringer to throw out Billy Jackson at home, the G'fellas were in dire straits. Down to their last out, winning run at 1st and team captain Rocco Lombardo at the plate. Lombardo had talked earlier in the week about how many times their season had ended like this. Something had to change. Lombardo, with his first hit of the day, let alone HR, drove a 3-run walk off shot over the wall in left, stunning the Pork Missiles and the crowd watching and delivering the G'fellas to their first title game since 2020. 

"I just decided that was it, we had to win it there. I've got a walks record I'm proud of, and I'm sure I couldve gotten on and passed it along to the next guy. But sometimes you have to just make a choice, and thankfully that thing got over. I still can't believe I did that", said Lombardo amidst the champagne celebration in the locker room of the Willie J. Huff Complex afterward. It was a remarkable finish to one of the best semi-finals we've seen in a long time. It's the first walk-off in an elimination game since WP12, when teammate Jeff Lunsford hit a walk-off home run off Flapacs RHP Eric Bomenblit. 

Once they reached the title game, Justin Geri set the tone. He set the tone all day. Geri threw 17 innings, striking out 27 and giving up just a single run (a solo HR by Etter) all day long. He was tremendous, and steadied the squad at times when they needed it most. Historically, the Goodfellas, like most teams, play well when they're ahead. Geri's title game start gave them that opportunity. Anthony Lopez, who had an exceptional rookie season (finished 2nd in ROY voting), drove in 2 early with a double. The G'fellas were off and running. After Stanzione homered in the 4th to make it 3-0, Geri had finished his 4 innings he was eligible to pitch and handed it off to Mike Tedesco. Ted struggled a bit at first, allowing back-to-back homers to Ken McCormick and Jake Guglielmi, to allow Bert Brigade back in front. Bert, seeking back-to-back titles for the 2nd time, were in the driver's seat now. But after Tony Donato had to exit after his 5 innings, the G'fellas went to work on McCormick. 3 walks to start the inning brought Stanz back up. He had his signature moment. A Grand Slam in the bottom of the 6th put the Goodfellas head for good. Even after Taylor Cheli homered to make it 7-5, Ted slammed the door shut by striking out McCormick to end it, and the G'fellas had their 5th title. It ties the Flapacs for the most titles in WP history. "It's great to win and reach the top with the boys again" said Tedesco. "Really, we've worked at this a long time and we've come up short too often recently. We think we're the best to ever do this and it's good to see that pay off this time".

Facts & Figures-

- G'fellas and Flapacs are tied with 5 Championships each, but the Goodfellas 8 title game appearances are the most by any team. They have appeared in 47% of the title games out of the 17 tournaments they've played in, going back to their time as "Rip City"

- Goodfellas also posted the 2nd ever undefeated run to a championship. The only other? Also the G'fellas, back in WP13 in 2019

- Rocco Lombardo reached both the 100 career walks and 100 career games played marks, the first to reach both

- Jeff Ronchetti reached 90 career hits. He also became the first pitcher to reach 200 innings pitched in a career.

- Dustin Graiff reached 20 career home runs, the 16th member of that club

- Ryan Ricci reached 40 career home runs, the 3rd member of that club

- Sawyer Brown reached 40 career hits, 50 career runs scored and 20 career home runs as well

- Allen Cruz reached 70 career hits and 50 career RBI

- There have now been 238 different players to participate in the 19 Wifflepaloozas

- Pat Ney recorded his first pitching victory, since throwing a perfect game to defeat Goon Squad all the way back during WP3 in 2010. It's the longest stretch between pitching wins in tournament history, at 5,523 days, or 15 years, 1 month and 14 days.

- Tony Donato became just the 3rd pitcher to reach the 200 career strikeout mark

- Al Etter became the first player to reach 100 career runs scored

- Wifflepalooza XIX saw 4 different pitchers record saves. That is a single tournament record.

- 249 total runs scored are the most in a single 6-team tournament in Wifflepalooza history.

- Bert Brigade's 75 runs scored are the most by any single team in tournament history, and their 38 runs in the semifinal game v. Ironballs are the most runs scored in a single game by any team in tournament history.

- Wifflepalooza XX is expected to be considered a week+ long event, with the actual wiffleball championship tournament taking place either August 1st, 2026, or August 8th, 2026, with an official decision to be announced at a later date. There are expected to be other events as a part of this grand spectacle, such as a HR Derby, Legends Game, golf outing, luncheon and more. Stay tuned for updates.

Stats & Awards - Wifflepalooza XIX

HITTING AND PITCHING STATISTICS FOR WIFFLEPALOOZA XIX 

WIFFLEPALOOZA XIX AWARDS

MVP - Jake Guglielmi, Bert Brigade

Cy Young - Justin Geri, Goodfellas

Title Game MVP - Brian Stanzione, Goodfellas

Most Improved - Izayah Quinones, Ironballs

Top Rookie - Luis Sauri, Bert Brigade

WIFFLEPALOOZA XIX ALL-STAR TEAM

P Justin Geri, Goodfellas

P Tony Donato, Bert Brigade

P Kenny "Ballbag" Weber, PA Pork Missiles

IF Connor Viglianti, Goondingos

IF Luis Sauri, Bert Brigade

IF Izayah Quinones, Ironballs

OF Jake Guglielmi, Bert Brigade

OF Ryan Hutchings, Goondingos

OF Sawyer Brown, Bert Brigade

UT Brian Stanzione, Goodfellas

UT Al Etter, Flapacamingos

UT Anthony Lopez, Goodfellas

STANDINGS / TEAM TOTALS