Great Moments in Strat – May, 2011

 GREAT MOMENTS IN STRAT

 
Have you experienced a game of Strat-O-Matic so thrilling, unique or bizarre that you just HAVE to share it with someone? That would be us. Send your Great Moments in Strat to SOMTalkShow@aol.com. Please include your name and hometown. Readers like to see that and you deserve the credit.
 
 
 
No More Miracles for These Mets
 
            Prior to heading out to Citi Field on April 8 for Opening Day, my friend Kev and I played a best-of-seven series between the 1986 and 1969 Mets. In a startling turn of events, my ‘86 team swept his ‘69 squad in four games. Gary Carter was the series MVP, sealing the deal with an 11th– inning home run off Don Cardwell in the final game.  The most noteworthy match-up was a pitcher’s duel between Sid Fernandez and Gary Gentry in Game 3.  Fernandez allowed a one-out solo homer to Ken Boswell in the first inning, but went on to pitch the next 9 2/3 innings without allowing a hit.  Gentry surrendered only one run in 10 innings of work, an RBI single by Lenny Dykstra in the 6th inning.  Gentry and Fernandez both left the game after 10 innings with the score tied at 1-1.  Ron Darling came on in relief to get the win for ‘86 while Ron Taylor was saddled with the loss, courtesy of a pinch-hit RBI single by Kevin Mitchell in the 12th inning.  Jesse Orosco closed it out for one of his three saves in this classic series.

Gord Tep in Queens, NY
 
A’s No-Hit – by an A’s Pitcher
 
            Dave Stewart of my 1990 Athletics, pitched a No-Hitter against the 1927 Athletics (Cobb, Simmons, Collins, Cochrane) to clinch a spot in the World Series at the 1994 Lyman Bostock Memorial Tournament.  I have played Strat-O-Matic since around 1982, and my father (who won the ‘82 LBMT Football) has played since 1967, and this is the ONLY no-hitter either of us has ever pitched.  Stewart allowed only one walk, the lead-off hitter in the 9th, or I’d have had a perfect game.  I then faced the 1993 San Francisco Giants, who routed me in four games, even hitting back-to-back homers off Dennis "ECK" Eckersley (his 1990 card may be the best pitchers card EVER made).  The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat!
 
Rodd "Ming the Merciless, Jr." Peck, Hamilton, Ohio
 
 
Back into Strat-O, Big-Time
 
            I just completed a fabulous 32-team quadruple elimination tourney with 126 games in 36 days. Cards and Dice basic version with three-man rotations and DH.  It was a phenomenal return to Strat-O, with magical moments and the greatest names in the game coming to life.
 
            The 1961 Yankees proved their worth as perhaps the greatest team ever as they finished as 12-2 champions against top shelf competition.  I had four brackets with three different Yankee teams and feared that the finals would be all Yankees but that was not the case as the 1962 and 1941 Bombers were nowhere near as good.  I thoroughly enjoyed the 1962 Giants with their great offense and great names. The 1965 Dodgers were another favorite as the runner up team with absolutely phenomenal big-name pitching.  The 1965 Twins garnered plenty of hard-earned respect for their fight against the ‘61 Yanks while the 1946 Red Sox with Ted Williams were my favorite old-timer team.  Loved the 1964 and 1967 Redbirds as well. My two favorite teams from growing up, the Royals and A’s, did not fare well although the 1972 A’s made a decent run while the 1971 A’s bombed out pretty bad.
 
            I am playing the computer version of baseball with current teams (2011 rosters with 2011 cards) and I’ll report to you when I get that done. I am managing the Brewers and Yankees and occasionally the Royals, lost cause that it is. I had never used the card and dice version of the computer game until now and it is a major factor in my coming around to it.  I love the SA fielding chart popping up on it, brings fielders to life. 
 
I am usually busy in the fall so I am going to start a card and dice football tournament featuring teams from the 1960s and early 1970s to complement my computer baseball league.  My Stram-era Chiefs are on the Warpath with 1969 and 1966 (Strat Fan) teams.
 
Eric Stessman, A Kansas Citian in Milwaukee