GREAT MOMENTS IN STRAT

NO-HITTERS, SPORTSMANSHIP AND UPSETS

The year was 2004 and the first round of our playoffs was beginning.  I, unfortunately, had to play “the king” as we call him.  He is known as “the king” because it doesn’t matter what players he has on his team.   Somehow he always manages to have a winning record and/or win a championship.  I won the first 3 games in a best of 7 series, but still did not feel comfortable. You guessed it: he won the next 3 and had Pedro Martinez on the mound for game 7.  After 8 innings I was losing 3-0 and Pedro was throwing a no-hitter.  “The king” then proceeds to tell me he is yanking Martinez to bring in Rod Beck.  I was stunned.  Our league rules say to use players as realistically as possible and since Pedro had not pitched a full season, he didn’t feel right keeping him in for the full 9 innings.  I argued with him and told him I didn’t care, thinking the series was over anyway.  Beck came in and I proceeded to score 4 runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the series.  I went on and lost in the next round, but somehow it didn’t matter.   I had beaten “the king” in a very memorable and unlikely way.

Joel Rosenberger, Quakertown, PA

COMPUTER COLLEGE FOOTBALL GREAT MOMENTS

(And Navy Appears to be The Team to Beat)

NAVY-GEORGIA

 I am playing a tournament in Strat College Football and an early first-round matchup pitted Navy at Georgia.  I coached Navy, and figured a ball control offense was the key to staying in the game, obviously.  I ran the ball down Georgia‘s throat, leading 14-3 at half.  Georgia didn’t score a TD until 1:42 to go in the third quarter. Georgia scored again with 7:34 to go in the fourth to take the lead on a 67-yard pass play.  I drove Navy down to the Georgia 4, and with 8 seconds to go, I decided to go for the glory and pass to the TE, whose number I didn’t call all game.  I thought it was the coaching move of the game, until I saw the 9 was rolled and Georgia intercepted in the end zone, ending the game.  I second guessed myself about the call, thinking I should have opted for the FG, but I wanted the upset.  I ended up running the ball 59 times and keeping the ball for 33 and one half minutes.

Henry Roman, Plumsted, NJ

NAVY-MARYLAND

I just received the new computer college football game as a Christmas present. I toyed with a few games with my alma mater (William & Mary) and then decided to play a rivalry game that should happen every year, but hadn’t for a long time until this year – Maryland vs. Navy. I played solitaire, easy mode. I called the offensive plays and let the computer handle defense for both teams.

Other than games I played with the 2004 baseball cards with my sons (I’ll send that next time) this game ended up being one of my most thrilling Strat experiences.

Navy threatened to make the game a blowout in the first half – they intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble, and blocked a punt – all in Maryland territory and four times got inside the Terps 10 yard line – but, since their kicker missed three field goals of 30 yards or less, Navy only led 10-3 at halftime.

Early in the 3rd quarter, Navy’s back-up halfback rolled off a 78-yard TD run for a 17-3 lead. Maryland started to move the ball a little, but kept stalling and needed two 40+ yard field goals from Nick Novak to close to 17-9 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Navy’s QB Polanco rolled off a 31 yard TD run on the option early in the 4th for a seemingly comfortable 24-9 lead. But, then Maryland‘s offense – mixing flat passes and runs – started to click. A long 14 play drive yielded a TD with just under 6 minutes left. Maryland now trailed 24-16 and needed to stop Navy’s grinding wishbone attack from running out the clock. The Terps stuffed the Mids and scored with just under 2 minutes to play to close to 24-22. They decided to run for the 2-point conversion and Josh Allen got exactly 3 yards. Miraculously, the game was tied 24-24.

Maryland stuffed Navy again and drove to the Mids’ 30 yard line with 30 seconds to go. Foolishly, I tried a short pass to get closer and Navy intercepted it (on a 2-4, 11 & 12 chance) – overtime. (The game engine handles the college OT rules extremely well!).

With the momentum, Maryland rolled for an easy score to start the OT. Navy, now trailing 31-24 in what should have been a cake walk, was in trouble. On 3rd and 8, Navy tried an end run and fumbled. But, a Navy lineman recovered – and got the magic split roll – rumbling 24 yards for the score. The poor kicker made the extra point to tie it at 31, but missed a 35 yard FG in the next round. Maryland cooly moved to Navy’s 10 and, after a QB sneak to get the ball to the middle of the field, lined up for a chip shot 27-yard FG to win it. Except, Novak rolled a “9” and missed!

Maryland got the ball first for the next round and Novak made a 34 yard FG for a 34-31 lead. Navy sputtered and, on 4th and 8 from the 14, I had no hope that the kicker (1-5 on FG attempts) could make a 32 yarder. So, I decided to go for it. Being a wishbone team, I called for the end run. The computer guessed right – but, Navy got the “Gain” reading on a lucky dice roll and rumbled in for the game winning TD – 37-34 – simply amazing!

Steve, Ellicott City, MD

ADD TODD ZEILE’S NAME TO THE LEGENDS

This happened quite a few years ago, I would guess about 1991.

Todd Zeile was on the opposite team versus my Pittsburgh Pirates.  He single-handedly destroyed my club by hitting four homeruns. Four homeruns is special, but what made this feat even more spectacular is that Zeile hit for the homerun cycle – solo shot, two-run shot, three-run shot, grand slam. Additionally, Darryl Boston hit a homerun off a lefty in that game.  For those who remember the left-handed hitting Boston, that in itself was quite a feat.

I’ve played thousands of games since, none have matched that one.

Tim Rock, Brookfield, WI

WITH BONDS OUT, PAVANO SAVES THE SERIES

Strato is so AMAZING! The Enfield, CT Strat league is forever. Division playoffs down 2 games to none to a power team. Carl Pavano my game 3 starter, CG 2 hitter. I fight back to game 7 which Pavano happens to start and pitches another gem: 8ip, 3 hits, 1er, the Sharks win the series and Pavano gets the MVP! I also had B. Bonds on my team and unbelievably he hit 66 HR, scored 156 runs and batted .330. He was injured in game 1 of the series and did not return. Nothing tops Strat-O-Matic board baseball. Keep the dice rollin’.

James Grigaitis

GREAT MOMENTS IN STRAT

FERNANDO AND PEDRO USED TO BE FRIENDS

This baseball game I played on my computer version of Strat had to be shared.  I put my two favorite teams of all time, the ’81 Dodgers against the ’88 Dodgers, against each other for the fun of it. And it turned out to be a classic.

With Fernando Valenzuela starting for the ’81 Blue Crew and Orel Hershiser on the mound for the ’88 Bums, it was bound to be a pitchers duel.  Hershiser scattered 8 hits over 8 innings and left trailing 2-0.  Valenzuela was magnificent. Through 8, he had struck out seven, walked four, and (most importantly) not given up a hit.

The first batter in the bottom of the ninth drew walk number five against Fernando, but the next two hitters both struck out.  That left the Stunt Man, Mickey Hatcher, as the last hope for the ’88 team.  The dice roll was nothing but dramatic … flyball RF-X.  Manning the right side of the outfield was none other than one of the worst defensive players in Dodgers history, Pedro Guerrero (pure opinion – not necessarily statistically factual).  If my memory serves me correctly, he was an RF4e16.  The split card was a single and an error … gone was the no hitter, gone was the shutout.  Steve Howe came in to record the final out and preserve the win, but the damage was done.

In relating the story to my close Strat friends from years gone by, the feedback was unanimous … how would you leave Guerrero in the game?  Where was the defensive replacement?  Saddened that I wasn’t on top of my game, I went back to research my options and found the irony … Guerrero’s defensive rating (both range and error) was as good and / or better than all other options.  So, once again, the Dodgers’ horrible defense did them in, even if it was years later.

Tom Holland, Encino, CA

WHERE’S THE FAT LADY WHEN YOU NEED HER?

In this year’s mail league IBL World Series, my Cancun team had a 3-2 lead in the series at home against Boston.  I had an 8-0 lead going into the 9th inning.  Starter Jaret Wright allowed three runs and was pulled for top closer Eric Gagne.  The Bozos rallied for 5 more behind David "Poppy" Ortiz’ Grand Salami off Gagne. They won it in the 12th on an error by "1" rated 2B Pokey Reese. Pedro Martinez was victorious over Roger Clemens in game 7 for a Boston Bozo World Championship win over the Cancun Coronas.  Even with an 8 run lead and only 3 outs away from a title, this just shows … “IT AIN’T OVER, TIL IT’S OVER!”

John Lawrence, Thompsonville, IL

WE MAY GET TO SEE THESE TWO ON TV

I’ve played two memorable baseball games recently.

The first pitted New York Mets against the Montreal Expos in a game featuring the 1982 card set. The Expos built up a 5-1 lead after 7 innings, thanks a 2-run homer by Al “Scoops” Oliver, a 2-run double by starting pitcher Scott Sanderson, and a solo shot by Gary Carter. George Foster hit a home run in the 8^th with the bases empty to bring the Mets to within 3 and set the stage for the dramatic 9^th inning.

Hubie Brooks and John Stearns led off the inning with singles. After pinch hitter Rusty Staub struck out, Mike Jorgensen walked to load the bases and end the day for Sanderson. Relief ace Jeff Reardon came in. Mookie Wilson greeted him with a single to score Brooks and make it a 5-3 game. Reardon walked Wally Backman to score Stearns and got Foster to line out to Doug Flynn. Dave Kingman now walked to the plate with the bases loaded, and the Mets down by a run. Kingman hit long drive, way back, and gone! A grand slam home run! The Mets won 8-5.

The other game was actually the first Strat-O-Matic Baseball game I played in 2006. It featured the San Diego Padres against the Houston in 1985 action. The game was scoreless until the 6^th, when San Diego’s Kevin McReynolds singled home Steve Garvey and Graig Nettles to give the Padres a 2-0 lead. The Astros got one run back on a solo home run by Jose Cruz in the bottom of the inning. Garvey hit a solo shot in the 8^th to restore San Diego’s 2-run lead.

So Lamar Hoyt tried to protect a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of 9^th. He struck out Cruz, but Jerry Mumphrey doubled. Out went Hoyt, in came Goose Gossage. He struck out Glenn Davis, then gave up a base-hit to Phil Garner to put runners on 1^st and 3^rd with two outs, and Mark Bailey the hitter. Bailey hit a shot that carried back, back, and over the wall! A three-run homer! Houston won 4-3!

P.S. After the game, ESPN Classic called, requesting my score sheets for these 2 games.

(no name provided)

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK

To the loyal Strat fans: I have seen no-hitters lost on a Double 1 flyball (RF) 2-20, a 4-homer game from Scott Hemond, triple plays by the multitudes, errors made by Omar Vizquel  and Matt Williams to decide playoff games. But I have never seen anything comparable to the love that Strat-O-Matic fans have towards their cards, their dice, their games. I tip my cap to all the fans, but I do believe that for each of us to be the TRUE sportsmen that we claim to be, we should send folks like Hal, Will, Glenn, and the rest of the Strat family a thank you, for if it wasn’t for their ceaseless work and efforts towards giving us the best baseball board game possible … to make it short, I think each and every Strat player should send a “thank you” this year.

In a GBBL game played last night, my son’s first-place Dublin Dingers tied a league record with two outs in the top of the first inning against Roy Oswalt by mashing four consecutive home runs (Luis Gonzalez, Sammy Sosa, Todd Helton, and Eric Chavez.)  The last time that this happened was many years ago, and the victim was John Smoltz.  You ran the story in STRAT FAN and pointed out how Strat parallels real life, because the Reds tattooed Smoltz for four homers (albeit not consecutive) in a game that same year.

GREAT MOMENTS IN STRAT

SLEEPING THROUGH YANKEE THUNDER

What can I say, this is truly a great moment in Strat that almost wasn’t!  I just received my 1957 computer disk with the cards (of course).  I have been looking at the cards for about two weeks, trying to figure out what teams I like and whether I should create a draft, or maybe put Ted Williams on the Yankees to see if that would turn the tide against Milwaukee. I pretty much got fed up tonight and decided to just play a couple of games.  I did know I wanted to pit Herb Score against anybody, so why not the Yankees (Human manager Yankees vs. Computer manager Indians). Maybe lightening will strike twice and Herb Score will get slammed again, or based on his card maybe threaten a no-hitter; I was looking for the unusual. No such luck.  Cleveland wins the first game 3-2 behind Score, and than Don Larsen wins game two 5-1 on a four hitter, (certainly aware that Larsen pitched a perfect game in the 1956 World Series, and he does not give up many hits on his 1957 card).  Maybe another No-No?  Not this time, only a well pitched game. In game three Johnny Kucks faces Ray Narleski. Narleski’s card is intriguing because he could wreak havoc on any opponent’s lineup (several small percentage chances on his card), but not today, Narleski wins easily as Kucks gets hammered, but nothing memorable.

So I played another game.  Game four matched two future Hall of Famers, Whitey Ford versus Bob Lemon.  The Yankees are on fire as they light up Lemon for 12 runs on sixteen hits in the first six innings.  Cal McLish finally relieves Lemon after 152 pitches (Computer Hal appears to have a dark side). Meanwhile, I’m focused on the Yankees’ opportunity for 20 hits as Ford deals a shutout.  I get to the top of the eighth needing two more hits for the magic 20!  The second batter for the Yankees is Whitey, and I consider, albeit briefly, about pinch-hitting, and than dismiss it because Ford’s got a shutout going.  Whitey did not come through with a hit, but Enos Slaughter delivers in the clutch (not the two-out thing) by putting up the 20th hit in the top of the ninth (by the way each of the nine Yankee starters had at least one safety).  Now for the jugular, the shutout!  Ford gets the first batter in the ninth, and I’m thinking cake. Colavito and than Maris, but what’s this, I set my eyes to the hit column of the “Large Scoreboard” and Ford’s got a no-hitter going.  Where the heck have I been?  The Yankees have 13 runs and 20 hits and Whitey’s got a no-hitter going.  WAKE UP!!!  I have been playing Strat-O-Matic since 1970, thirty-seven years, possibly 10,000 games.  And I have been involved in only one no-hitter (I figure sometime in 1972 against my Cousin David, with Mike Cuellar’s elementary card from 1969) until today.  Can I do it?  How hard can it be?  Whitey completes the gem easily by retiring the last two Indians.  Can you imagine if I hit for him in the eighth?  Let’s not go there.  I immediately thought of you.

Larry Grogan. Boca Raton, FL

SOM MAKES D.C. BALL TWICE AS GOOD

One of the best things about Strat-O-Matic is reliving baseball memories. At the absolute top of my list was being at RFK Stadium last April for Opening Night when baseball returned to Washington, D.C. I was one heart-broken 9-year-old when the Senators left for Texas after the 1971 season. Over the years, my hopes baseball would return waned, but never disappeared. Then, I somehow got tickets to Opening Night and watched the Nationals win, cheering loud and often, in childlike joy. It still seems like a dream.

So, after returning from Opening Day 2006 at Strat-O-Matic, it was no contest what game I would play first with the 2005 cards. My 3-year-old son and I put the Opening Night line-ups together (Washington vs. Arizona) and played basic style, with the dice and cards. The Nationals won 3-1, in the 8th with 2-out, 1-1 game, none on, Jose Guillen singled, then Ryan Church hit a “6” split on a Triple 1-6, scoring the go-ahead run – I could imagine the sell-out crowd making RFK shake and sway – then Vinny Castilla singled in Church for a 2-run lead with three outs to go.

Livan Hernandez had pitched well the whole game (as did Arizona’s Javier Vasquez – he had 8 K’s), yet I thought of bringing in Chad Cordero to close out the 9th (but, oh, those HR’s allowed – ruins an otherwise devastating closer card) – so I stayed with Livan and my son, Christian, rolled 3 K’s off Hernandez’s card (turns out they’re all K’s on Cordero’s basic card too) and the Nationals had a win on my table-top “Opening Night” as well as real life. Playing Strat as my little son jumped up and down over the board was not nearly the same as being at RFK that glorious night, but it’s still a neat memory for me on a lot of levels – so much so that it’s my greatest Strat moment in 34 years of playing the game!

Steve Walker, Ellicott City, MD

SLUGGERS HAD TO PLAY SMALL BALL

After reading all of the interesting and unusual moments in fellow gamers Strat experiences, I finally decided to submit the game that was for me, the wildest finish ever. We were playing with the ’86 season set with six gamers in a draft league. My team ran away with the league by winning 100 games in a 154-game season behind Mike Scott and Roger Clemens and a powerful offense. This allowed my team a “bye” into the World Series with the second and third place teams squaring off to see who got to play me.

My friend Jim managed to advance to the Series. I had dominated the season, never having been swept in any three game series and holding a winning record over each opponent, including Jim. I figured I’d win it in five and looked like I’d be right as I soared to a 3-1 lead behind Scott’s two wins and had Clemens going in game five. As all of us know, Strat can be fickle. I lost that game and the next to force a game seven. Still, with Scott on the mound (He had an almost un-hittable card that year) I felt good. However, the game was tied 1-1 in the 13th inning and relievers had long taken over when Jim pushed a run in on a hit by a lefty on his own card, whose name I don’t remember, off Bruce Ruffin of the Phillies, who gave up no hits to lefties on his card.

I had one last chance to save a great season being ruined by getting upset in the Series. Mitch Webster led off the bottom of the inning with a single to give me hope. I then pinch hit with Vince Coleman (first time all year he pinch hit) and tried a hit and run. Coleman missed the pitch but Webster stole second by rolling an 11 on the 20-sided dice. Coleman then walked. Up comes Chris Brown, a third baseman for the Giants who had a really weird card. Even though he hit right, he had no hits vs. lefties on his card but killed righties. Jim naturally leaves in his lefty reliever and my bench was empty, so Brown had to hit. I considered bunting (he was a C) but decided to try another hit and run (he was a B). I rolled a 5 for a single to tie the game and put runners at first and third. Ozzie Smith then was up and, with the infield in, I rolled a 2 on a squeeze play to plate the winning run! After my team led the league in homers, I had to resort to this to win the championship! Even almost 20 years later, I can still remember that inning as if it happened yesterday. Jim still won’t talk about it!

Al Van Vreede, Green Bay, Wi.

PITCHING GEMS WORTH REMEMBERING

Three recent great moments for me:

1)1911 Rube Marquard shatters my nine-inning strikeout record (15 – held by many pitchers) by fanning 18 of the 1911 Philadelphia Phillies … he strikes out at least one Phil every inning;

2) Tommy John loses a perfect game in the ninth inning and winds up with a one-hitter;

3) ’98 David Cone pitches a one-hitter against the ’99 Yankees – the only hit was a lead off double by Chuck Knoblauch.

R.E. Boaz, South Carolina

HOW TO LOSE A NO-HITTER – THE HARD WAY

Our FTF draft league has endured many a dramatic moment in its 25-year history, but one of the most memorable took place a few years ago, in the 162nd game of the season. Then-ace Greg Maddux took a perfect game into the 9th inning, and after easily recording the first two outs, the opposing manager rolled a GB-X to the pitcher. I confidently picked up the 20-sider … and flipped a “1” onto the table. And yes, this occurred in the season immediately BEFORE pitchers were given individual defensive range ratings, so Gold Glover Maddux – like every other pitcher in the set – was a 2.

A.G. Block, Sacramento, CA

HOW TO COMPLETE A NO-HITTER – THE HARD WAY

This was one of my all-time classic games. The biggest decision was whether or not to leave Wakefield in for the 10th inning since he had already thrown 125 pitches. Luckily, Kevin Millar saved him with a homer in the bottom of the 10th.

Kevin Freund, Clarksville, IN

The box score Kevin sent shows that the 2005 Red Sox beat the 2005 A’s, 1-0 on Kevin Millar’s two-out home run in the bottom of the 10^th against reliever Jose Cruz. Wakefield threw a 10-inning no-hitter, walking five and striking out five. The Red Sox had stranded 11 against starter Dan Haren and reliever Justin Duchscherer.