Maxim Yankees Baseball Club

2004 Wood Bat Amateur Wood Bat Team

San Jose Hot Stove Award Winner

Top Amateur Organizations - Summer Baseball

The Maxim Yankees, in the 10^th year of existence, made it to the 2004 NBC World Series on their first try!  We took 2^nd to the Santa Barbara Foresters in the California Cup NBC Qualifying tournament.  Since the Foresters were the 2003 NBC World Series USA #1 ranked team they got an automatic birth in the 2004 NBC WS making us the representative of the California Cup NBC Qualifying tournament.

The Maxim Yankees won the 2^nd annual Best in the West Invitational beating the 2004 NBC World Series Champions Aloha Knights from Portland OR 9-3 and then beating the SB Foresters in the first game 5-4 of the Championship round of the Tournament.  The Yankees went on the defeat the SLO Blues 5-1 to take the championship for the 2^nd time in the 2 years of the tournament! 

The Yankees are driven by Jack Gifford and Jeff Thomas (Player/GM/Manager).  With Jack Gifford’s' contacts and resources, along with Jeff Thomas' hard work and drive have built a top amateur wood bat summer league program! 

Jack Gifford, CEO of Maxim Integrated Product, is the figurehead for the team and one of the leading hitters for the Yankees over the past 10 years. In 2004 Jack compiled a .306 average and an OB% of .390.  Jack out hit many of the top players including Nic Crosta 17^th round draft pick SCU All WAC 2004 (.295 ave.), Jordon Bergstrom SJSU MVP 2003 (.284 ave.) and Archie Gilbert Cal State Hayward MVP and Div. #3 All American (.294).  Jack finished as the #5 hitter on the team playing over half the games.  Jack took the NBC World Series by a storm hitting .250 (1 for 4) but having an OB% of .571 with 3 BB and scoring 2 runs in 2 games.  Jack participation in the 2004 NBC WS officially made Jack Gifford the oldest players to play in the 70 years of the NBC WS surpassing Satchel Paige’s record.  The highlight of Jack’s appearance was getting a 1 out base hit with a full count against the Mat-su Miners (Alaska team finished #2 to Aloha Knights in the 2004 NBC WS final) starter Matt Manship (Stanford Jr.) and a walk in his 2^nd AB. 

The 2004 Maxim Yankees were also carried by the arms of Anthony Rea (SCU Sr.) 2004 and 05 All American with a 3-1 record, 2 saves and a .231 ERA, Corey Cabral (SJSU Jr.) 5-2 record in 50 innings, Vince Boyanich (SCU 94’-97’) 3-2 record with a .182 ERA., and finally Gary Daley (Cal Poly So.) 4-1 with a save. 

The 2004 MY leaders in the field and at the plate were:  Mike Hartman 2B (Chico St. 98’-99’) lead all hitters with a .372 average, Anthony Contreras SS (SJSU Sr.) .340 , Brandon Macchi  RF (SJSU 00’-02’  & Houston Astros draft pick 03’) at .323, Archie Gilbert CF (Cal State Hayward Sr.) .294, and finally Dave Ericson 3B/SS (SFSU 96’-98’) at .300.

Recent former Maxim Yankees in MLB:

John Hudgins (Stanford MVP 03’) Texas Rangers AAA 2004

Matt Durkin (SJSU 00’-04’) All American 2002 and 2003 – New York Mets 2^nd round pick #44 overall in 2004 MLB draft. 

Maxim Yankees are an independent summer wood bat team located in Sunnyvale CA.  We finished the 2004 season with a 30 – 14 record.  We unofficially won the Nor Cal Championship going 14-5 against the top summer amateur teams in Northern California.  Maxim finished #2 in the State of CA (also unofficial) second only to the Santa Barbara Foresters (finished 4^th in 2004 NBC WS and ranked #4 in the nation).  The Maxim Yankees finished 13^th in the 2004 NBC WS and ranked #13 in the nation!

Special Thanks go out to all the coaches and universities in the Bay Area and elsewhere that helped us in recruiting, hosting our 2004 games and tournament, and working with us to get to the level we have achieved in the 10 years of the team!  Much appreciation goes out to all of them for helping make it possible, and helping keep some of the top college players/talent from the Bay Area schools here at home for the summer!