GREAT MOMENTS IN STRAT

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OPENING DAY HEROICS I

I am really enjoying playing the 1971 baseball game (cards only). In my first game with the new set, Phil Niekro of the Braves nearly threw a no-hitter against San Diego.  He had walked two, but that was it for the Padres’ offense.  With two
out in the 7th, Gaston at the plate, the result was flyball LF (X). I knew there and then that the no-hitter would end!  Ralph Garr might have been the “road-runner” on the bases, but he was notoriously slow-footed on defense, and Strat has him, fairly, I think, rated as
a “4.”  Well, the result of the play ended up a double.  Niekro ultimately gave up a single in the ninth, and the Braves won on his two-hitter, 3-0.

A few years ago, using the 1966 game (cards only), Sandy Koufax faced the Mets.  First inning lead-off hitter Ron Hunt got an infield single. 27 batters later, Koufax finished his one-hitter.  In his next start, Koufax retired the first 26 Cubs he faced, in order, until pinch-hitter Ron Santo broke up the perfect game with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth.  Koufax had retired 53 batters in a row – no walks, no hits, no errors – and yet only had two one-hitters to show for it!

I have been playing Strat for years, and have probably had about a dozen one-hitters, but only one no-hitter (Joe Magrane vs Mets with 1987 set).

Jimmy, Jr., Lewisburg PA

OPENING DAY HEROICS II

One of my projects is a tournament, cards & dice, best-of-five series, using 128 teams.  Eight teams from each of the years 1969 through 1984 – 16 sets issued before the ballpark and clutch effects were created.  My most recent “great moment” occurred during the opening game between the '72 Cubs and the '74 Reds, Jenkins vs. Gullett at Wrigley.  As is my tradition, I was playing this series on the Major Leagues Opening Day, while waiting for the day’s games to start.

It started ominously for the Cubs.  Morgan led off with a double, Rose immediately singled him in.  Driessen then hit into a dp, but in the process, Jenkins was injured on a 6-12 roll!  On comes Rick Reuschel, a rookie at the time with the Cubs.  He fans Bench to end the inning, and he and Gullett pitch shutout ball into the 6th, Reds still leading 1-0.  Finally, in the 6th, the Cubs break through.  A walk to Williams, a single by Cardenal, and RBI hits by Hickman and Kessinger put the Cubbies up 2-1.  The Reds immediately tied it their 7th.

The bullpens then battled into extra innings.  Perez hit a 2-run homer of Bonham in the Reds 8th, but the Cubbies tied it in their bottom half, on RBI hits by Kessinger and Monday off Clay Carroll. The game went to the 11th, tied at 4.  With pinch-hitting, injuries (Kessinger hurt in the 10th) and defensive changes, the Cubs had very little left.  It would be Aker forever on the mound for the Cubs.

The Aker-Forever strategy looked dismal in the Reds’ 11th.  Bench walked, Perez singled, Foster hit a sac fly, and Geronimo tripled for the second time in the game.  6-4 Reds going to the bottom half. Still the Cubbies wouldn't die.  After a Beckert popout, Popovich and Santo singled.  Williams flied out, but Cardenal's single loaded the bases. J.C. Martin, due up, is a total zero against lefties, as is the rest of the Cubs remaining bench: Hiser has no obp changes, North and Hundley have barely more.  All three are W power.  So, Sparky replaces fatigued Clay Carroll with lefty Fred Norman.   

Leo Durocher looks down his scantily populated bench, and finds Milt Pappas snoozing in the corner.  Milt’s a 6N hitter, which isn't much, but still better than anybody else he's got left. I guess you know where this is going now:  2-12. Grand slam, and ballgame, 8-6 Cubs.

Jim Beauchemin, Altamont, NY

WHAT A RELIEF

After playing variations of simulated games for close to 35 years, I finally had my first no-hitter.  Three Cardinal pitchers combined to beat the Braves 3-0. Chris Carpenter pitched the first 6 innings, but was lifted for a pinch-hitter with Mark Grudzielanek at 2nd and two out in the top of a scoreless 7th.  The game remained scoreless until the 9th, when St. Louis finally broke through with 3 runs.  Jason Isringhausen pitched the final inning to notch the save in a thrilling and long-awaited game.

Don Johnson, Bourbonnais, IL

CLEMENTE’S AND KOUFAX’ DAYS

I got into the game of Strat from a friend who loved Roberto Clemente and asked me over his house. We played one game with Clemente going against Bob Gibson and the Cardinals and I was hooked. True to what 13- and 14-year-old boys wish for, my Bob Gibson gave up a 2-run home run to Clemente en route to a 3-1 Pirates win.

Ever since, I have collected a few select seasons and have played shortened 40-game schedules, usually with 10 teams. The first season I bought was 1964 and I have added 1927 and 1941.  My league allows for each present team in the league (I have used 1995, 1998, and 1999) to draft three all-time greats to boost their roster based, in order, on team needs, nostalgia (Willie Mays playing with Barry Bonds for the Giants, for example) and stats.  A few years back we had Mark McGwire go for 22 HR and 53 RBI with 34 walks and we had Dean Chance go 9-0 with a 1.04 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP (we have 4-man rotations) and we have had one no-hitter (Sandy Koufax out-pitching Juan Marichal 1-0 in a game that was won on small ball involving Willie Davis and Maury Wills).

Two days ago I had a moment that makes Strat stand out from any other simulation. Right now I have 20 1999 teams playing with their draft picks and the No. 1 starters pitched. The 1999 Cleveland Indians (with picks Sandy Koufax, Dick Radatz and Elston Howard) faced the 1999 Boston Red Sox (Babe Ruth, Yaz, Gaylord Perry) in Fenway with 1964 Koufax versus 1999 Pedro Martinez.  Both pitchers pitched 10-inning one-hitters with Martinez striking out 13 and walking 2 and Koufax only getting 4 Ks while walking none. The game was won on a Kenny Lofton double off Rich “El Guapo” Garces in the 11th, actually giving Koufax the win with the save going to “The Monster” Radatz.  Games like this make Strat so enjoyable and set it apart from any other simulation.  It answers the questions like how Ruth would do against Maddux and how Bonds would do against Lefty Grove. 

In my leagues, even though I am a Mets fan, the misery does not end for the Cleveland Indians. Back in 1997, the same year the Marlins beat the Tribe, the Indians lost in Game 7 to the Houston Astros when Ricky Gutierrez hit a two-run single in the top of the ninth to win the Series.

Rich Gapinski, Eastlake, OH

HOW MANY HOMERS?

In a game won by 1969 Kansas City, 13-8 over Seattle, Pat Kelly-Joe Foy-Ed Kirkpatrick-Bob Oliver went back-to-back-to-back-to-back against Marty Pattin in the top of the 7th. Pattin was the sacrificial lamb in this game as the Pilots’ staff was totally tired and depleted. He gave up 7 homers

HOME RUNS

Kansas City: J.Hernandez(2nd), P.Kelly(6th), J.Foy(6th), E.Kirkpatrick-2(10th),

B.Oliver(6th), C.Harrison(1st)

Seattle: M.Hegan(11th), W.Comer(4th)

Steve Napoli