In a Sim Auction flush with iconic teams—the 1930 Cubs, 1977 Phillies, 1985 Yankees, 1992 Blue Jays, and 2002 Angels—five GMs battled through a classic balance of strategy and variance. From splashy signings to lineup depth dilemmas, the competition ultimately produced one clear victor.
⚾ The Auction Breakdown
Here’s how each manager approached the auction battlefield:
💥 Andy Palomino – Controlled Chaos with Star Power
- Key Hitters: Hack Wilson ($38), Greg Luzinski ($30), plus OPS-surge part-timers Ron Hassey ($3), Riggs Stephenson ($8), Tim McCarver ($5)
- Pitching Core: Ron Guidry ($32), Pat Malone ($24)
Andy struck a near-perfect equilibrium: maximum value with minimal bloat. Hack Wilson—arguably the top overall player in the pool—was acquired below projected value and delivered a monstrous 50 HR, 154 RBI, 1.160 OPS season. Luzinski proved the perfect co-star, and Andy’s bench production from platoon OPS specialists created matchup nightmares.
On the mound, while others scrambled to plug back-end holes, Andy’s rotation was anchored by Guidry and Malone. Though his remaining arms weren’t flashy, none were liabilities—an auction feat unto itself.
🧨 Steve Andrusko – Top-End Talent, Bottom-Line Troubles
- Key Hitters: Gabby Hartnett ($32), Mike Schmidt ($34)
- Pitching Duo: David Cone ($29), Jarrod Washburn ($28)
No one questioned Steve’s eye for elite talent—Schmidt and Hartnett were the best at their positions, and his two top starters were excellent bets. But he failed to build around them. Most damaging? The $28 he left unspent. In Sim Auction economics, that’s the equivalent of leaving a staff ace sitting on the sidelines.
The result: a team with excellent components but insufficient glue.
💸 Derek Bain – All-In on Offense
- Key Hitters: Rickey Henderson ($45), Roberto Alomar ($33)
- Pitching Staff: John Lackey ($13) and… not much else
Derek swung for the fences—literally. Spending a whopping $191 on hitters (more than any other manager), he secured two of the decade’s most dangerous bats. But Henderson and Alomar came at a premium, and the cost left Derek without a pitching engine. The rotation beyond Lackey quickly unraveled, and the team couldn’t compete over a full Sim season stretch.
🔁 Ed Hebscher – Relief Riches, Starter Starved
- Key Hitters: Kiki Cuyler ($30), Dave Winfield ($18)
- Bullpen: Dave Righetti ($16), Gene Garber ($18), Brian Fisher ($20)
Ed executed the most restrained and efficient hitting draft of the auction. He avoided overbids and walked away with a lineup that consistently performed. But pitching? While his bullpen was the best in the league, the spending on relievers ($50 total) left him light on starting arms.
Despite this, Ed’s team soldiered through simulations to finish second, though the -101 run differential suggests his squad skirted around real flaws with clever bullpen deployment and timely offense.
🧱 Mark Wendling – Built on Pitching… and $1 Hitters
- Key Hitters: Tim Salmon ($22), Woody English ($30)
- Pitching Focus: Steve Carlton ($40), Juan Guzman ($24)
Mark took the opposite approach from Derek: full throttle on pitching. Carlton was the gem of the auction and Guzman offered a solid No. 2. But the heavy investment led to a famine on the offensive side. Six of Mark’s hitters were $1 pickups, and depth became a fatal weakness. Even strong showings from English and Salmon couldn’t rescue the team from inconsistency.
🏆 The Sim Auction World Series
The simulations themselves delivered a dominant storyline. Andy’s team didn’t just win the Sim Auction World Series—they swept it 4–0. Over the span of the four seasons played:
| Team | Avg. Wins | Run Differential |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Palomino | 97 | +239 |
| Ed Hebscher | 81 | –101 |
| Steve Andrusko | 75 | +69 |
| Derek Bain | 69 | -75 |
| Mark Wendling | 69 | -131 |
Steve’s positive run differential suggests some simulation bad luck—perhaps the second-best team by metrics—but Andy’s results were emphatic.
🔑 Keys to Victory
- Hack Wilson: 50 HR, 154 RBI, 1.160 OPS
- Ron Guidry: 23 Wins, 3.04 ERA (league leader)
- First in OPS, First in ERA: The deadly combo
Andy’s team wasn’t just star-driven—it was steady. His part-time players maximized their platoon value, and his pitching staff avoided implosions. When you finish first in both OPS and ERA, the result isn’t fate—it’s formula.
Download the results of the Sim Auction:
Download the statistical compilation of the results of the Sim Auction World Series: