In the long cold lull between the World Series and Draft Day, what better time to sit back and ponder the history of the Diamond Mind Baseball League!

You already know all the league records have been updated through the end of the 2006 season. But did you know who holds one of the most obscure records in league history -- most franchises played for?

A Man Of Many Hats

When he retired in 1999, Gregg Jefferies held the record for having played for the most DMBL franchises. Jefferies played for nine separate franchises -- in just eight DMBL seasons! He played for the Columbia Crusaders (1991-1992), Arkansas Golden Falcons (1992, 1999), Waikiki Keys (1993-1994), Jerusalem Rabbis (1996), Honolulu Sharks (1997), Newark Sugar Bears (1998), Carolina Mudcats (1998), Vancouver Ironfist (1999) and Hawaii Volcanoes (1999). He played for at least two teams in three different seasons -- Arkansas and Columbia in '92, Newark and Carolina in '98, and Arkansas, Vancouver and Hawaii in '99. He also is one of the few players to have played for all three teams based in the nation's 50th state. The lifetime .285 hitter topped 400 ABs just once in his career -- 1994, when he hit .330 (.852 OPS) with 227 H, 30 2B, 17 HR, 19 SB and 114 RBI. Jefferies was usually just good enough to be signed as a free agent when a slugger got injured, but not good enough to keep once the original player came off the D.L.

But a review seven years later reveals Jefferies has lost his status as the league's most celebrated "frequent flier."

A Team For Each Finger

The new record holder is Jay Bell, who retired in 2002 after having played for 10 teams in 10 years. Bell, who came up as a shortstop but later played second and third, has the following jerseys hanging in his locker: Columbia Crusaders (1992), Waikiki Keys (1993-1994), Toledo Mutthens (1996), Honolulu Sharks (1997), Vancouver Ironfist (1998), Newark Sugar Bears (1999-2000), Arkansas Golden Falcons (2001), Kentucky Hillbillies (2001), Philadelphia Endzone Animals (2002) and Wanaque Wolverines (2002). Bell had a few seasons as a full-time player -- his best year was probably 2000, when he hit 38 home runs and knocked in 111 RBIs despite hitting just .244 -- but, like Jefferies, got to play in a lot of different places as a roster fill-in when a team's starting infielder got hurt. With four of his 10 teams, Bell saw less than 100 ABs.

Two retired players are now tied with Jefferies, having played for nine franchises. Joe Girardi played for the Newark Crimewave (1991), Cheyenne Warhawks (1993-1994), Norfolk Ewes (1996-1997), Columbia Crusaders (1998), Newark Sugar Bears (1998), Honolulu Sharks (1999), Arkansas Golden Falcons (2000, 2003), Stanhope Mighty Men (2001) and Wanaque Wolverines (2002). Joltin' Joe was another perennial free agent -- he topped 400 ABs in just three of his 11 seasons, and in 1998 he played for two teams but had just 44 ABs -- combined!... The other player with nine franchises is Rafael Palmeiro, who wasn't in the running until the final three years of his career, when he played for five different teams. Overall, Palmeiro played for Austin (1991-1993); Charleston (1994); Toledo (1996-1999); Kentucky/Tijuana (2000-2002); Philly (2003-2004); Arkansas (2005-2006); Las Vegas (2005); Hoboken (2005-2006) and Vancouver (2006). Palmeiro also is one of just three players to have played in every DMBL season -- but the other two, Craig Biggio and Roger Clemens, are eligible for 2007. Palmeiro is not.

Eight was enough for a number of retired players, including Edgardo Alfonzo, who, like Palmeiro, started racking up the odometer as his career wound down. The Fonz played for Columbia (1996), Austin (1997-2000), Harrison (2001-2002, 2003), Newark (2003, 2005), Westwood (2004), Tijuana (2005), Hoboken (2005) and Philly (2006). He isn't eligible for 2007, but at age 33, it's possible he'll resurface in 2008 with a ninth team... Other retired players with eight teams: Andy Benes (Arkansas, Vancouver, Norfolk, Hillsborough Destroyers, Hawaii, Phoenix, Vatican City, Hoboken); Jose Canseco (Arkansas, Austin, Carolina, Hillsborough Destroyers, Maine, Newark Sugar Bears, San Antonio); Al Leiter (Sacramento, Norfolk, Hillsborough Destroyers, Vancouver, Austin, Harrison, Arkansas, Westwood); Dan Plesac (Scranton, Norfolk, Hillsborough Destroyers, Austin, Carolina, Arkansas, Stanhope, Tijuana); Cal Ripken Jr. (Newark/Tampa Bay, Arkansas, Vancouver, Jerusalem, Hawaii, Arizona, Hoboken, Brooklyn); Benito Santiago (Tampa Bay, Columbia, Lisbon, Philly, Honolulu, Harrison, Stanhope, Westwood); Jose Vizcaino (Charleston, Toledo, Arkansas, Newark Sugar Bears, Columbia, Carolina, Harrison, Hillsborough Hired Hitmen); and Matt Williams (Arkansas, Vancouver, Scranton, Charleston, Toledo, Jerusalem, Austin, Harrison).

Still In The Running

A number of active players still have a shot at Bell's record. Tom Glavine is very likely to start 2007 with his ninth franchise, a feat made even more remarkable by the fact that he spent his first nine years in the DMBL with just three teams (Vancouver, Arkansas and Austin). But he's made up for lost time since 2001, having played for Harrison (2001, 2002-2003), Stanhope (2003), Columbia (2004-2005), D.C. (2006) and Westwood (2006). He was taken by the Sardine City Straphangers in the 2007 dispersal draft; if he plays for them this year, they will be his ninth franchise... Mike Cameron also could be joining his ninth team in 2007. The 34-year-old outfielder has played for eight franchises -- Vancouver (1998, 2003), Newark (2000), Vatican City (2001), Wanaque (2002), Tijuana (2004), Arkansas (2005), Westwood (2005) and Hoboken (2006) -- and likely won't be protected by Hoboken this off-season... Another eight-teamer active for 2007 is Vinny Castilla, who has been in the league for 10 years. Castilla has played for Arkansas (1996, 2004), Louisiana (1997-1998), Keystone (1999), Carolina (1999-2000, 2003), Columbia (2002), Hoboken (2003-2005), Stanhope (2004) and Las Vegas (2006). He's a free agent heading into 2007... Damian Miller has been with eight teams in just seven seasons -- Arkansas (2000), Vancouver (2000), Hillsborough (2000), Philly (2001, 2005), Honolulu (2002), Tijuana (2003), Westwood (2004) and Hoboken (2006) -- and will likely be a free agent in 2007. Like Girardi, he's mostly been a short-term pick-up, having reached triple-digits in ABs just three times.

Carlos Beltran is about to turn 30, but he's played for seven franchises in his seven years in the DMBL: Hawaii (2000), Philly (2001-2003), Kentucky (2001), Hoboken (2001), Brooklyn/Westwood (2003-2004), Harrison/Las Vegas (2004-2005), and D.C. (2006). But after spending most of his early career being shuffled between rebuilding teams, Beltran likely has found a long-term home in D.C., as he heads into the 2007 season on the Bushslappers' protected list... Also settling in with his seventh franchise is Omar Vizquel. After playing for five different franchises (Arkansas, Sacramento, New York, Keystone, Arizona) in his first seven years in the league, Vizquel has been with Hoboken since 2001, save a 13-game stint with the Sugar Bears in 2004. He's likely to return to the Cutters next year... However, these seven-franchise veterans might be on a new team in 2007: Craig Biggio (Vancouver, Kentucky, Honolulu, Columbia, Philly, Carolina, Westwood); Mark Loretta (Carolina, Hillsborough Destroyers, Philly, Kentucky, Wanaque, Hillsborough Hired Hitmen, Newark Sugar Bears); Reggie Sanders (Waikiki, Toledo, Kentucky, Carolina, Harrison/Las Vegas, Columbia, D.C.); Rudy Seanez (Philly, Hawaii, Arizona, Hoboken, Carolina, Arkansas, Vancouver); Mike Stanton (Arkansas, Vancouver, Waikiki, Carolina, Jerusalem/Stanhope, Newark Sugar Bears, Hoboken); Woody Williams (Louisiana, Hawaii, Arkansas, Carolina, Newark Sugar Bears, Brooklyn/Westwood, Vancouver).

Also of interest: Roberto Alomar played for seven franchises -- despite playing almost his entire career under the same contract! Alomar was initially drafted by Maine in 1991 with the 73rd pick. He spent the next 13 years on a protected list, even though his teams kept getting sold out from underneath him. Maine became San Antonio in 1992; it then became Sacramento (1993-1997); then New York (1998); and then Hawaii (1999-2000). Hawaii and Arizona were sold in 2001 and Alomar was taken by Hoboken in the dispersal draft (#20) and remained with them from 2001-2004. He was traded for the first and last time on May 11, 2004, to the Stanhope Mighty Men, and retired at the end of that season.

The opposite of all these well-traveled players are the guys who have called the same place home for the most seasons. That record is shared by Arkansas's Barry Bonds and Vancouver's Greg Maddux; each has played in 14 seasons with his team and could return for a 15th next year. (Bonds's 2006 season, which he missed entirely due to injury but was still on Arkansas's roster, is not counted; a player must appear in at least one DMBL game.)

What is a 'franchise', anyway? A franchise is a team that has been contiguously owned by the same person, even if the team name has been changed. For example, the Harrison Rats and Las Vegas Rat Pack are considered one franchise; owner Eric Wickstrom simply changed the team's name. However, the Austin Outlaws -- the team Wickstrom bought that became the Rats -- is considered a different franchise, because that team was owned by Steve Zajac.

On the other hand, an owner who leaves the league and then returns after a hiatus is considered to be owning a "new" franchise. For example, Paul Barbosa's Newark Crimewave/Tampa Bay Sweat Sox are considered the same franchise, but that franchise ended when the team folded in 1994. The Lisbon Diabos -- which he founded after returning in 1997 -- is considered a separate franchise for its one year of existence. In fact, Barbosa is the only owner to have operated three DMBL franchises, as he returned in 2000 to run the Kentucky Hillbillies/Tijuana Banditos/South Boston Gang franchise.

In addition, teams that were based in the same city, but were not owned by the same person, are considered distinct franchises. The Newark Crimewave (Paul Barbosa) and Newark Sugar Bears (Craig "Butch" Garretson) are separate franchises, as are the Hillsborough Destroyers (Scott Boehler) and Hillsborough Hired Hitmen (Brent Campbell). But the Columbia Crusaders and Columbia Rattlesnakes -- owned contiguously by Brian Dissler -- are the same franchise.

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