I have been playing Strat solitaire from when I was a young teen, had braces and could even still read Hebrew following my Bar Mitzvah. Interesting sidebar, I chose orange colored skullcaps as a tribute to the Houston Astros. Over the years I have some amazing moments, every dice roll is a portal to excitement and intrigue. Over the years I have been elated by no-hitters tossed by the likes of Mike Cuellar, Steve Carlton, Pedro Martinez and Sam McDowell. Just the other night, Willie Mays hit 4 taters in 4 at bats as the 1965 Giants lost a heartbreaker to the 2000 Chisox.

            My most exciting moment came a short while ago when the 2010 Rangers faced the mighty 1990 Oakland squad. Tommy Hunter entered the 9th inning with a one-run lead and not having surrendered a hit. Hunter kept his poise but lost his control: He issued 4 walks and then Terry Steinbach hit a walk off sac fly. Poor Tommy Hunter, he pitches eight and two thirds innings of no-hit ball and winds up being saddled with a loss. Maybe I should have pulled a Seattle and used several hurlers. What can you do – you can’t look back can you? Ask Satchel, he will tell you. While my heart still goes out to Tommy Hunter, I never regretted my skull cap choice for a second, I thank you wholeheartedly for the plethora of pleasure your game has given me for so long.

 

            I have been playing since 1965. Here is a first: In my 1959 as played league, the Indians’ Mudcat Grant gives up a leadoff single to the Orioles’ leadoff hitter, Willie Tasby (1-5 on Tasby’s card), then throws 9 no-hit innings for the CG shutout victory.