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 you Great Moments in Strat to SOMTalkShow@aol.com. Please include your name and hometown. Readers like to see that and you deserve the credit.

The Greatest Moment Ever?

This happened 37 years ago, way back when I was 13 or 14. We had an eight-team neighborhood league without a draft, and I ended up with the 1969 Oakland A’s.  On opening day, I had to play the Orioles, who had won 109 games in ’69 before losing to the Miracle Mets. I started Blue Moon Odom and my offense generated only one run against Mike Cuellar. However, this was enough through eight innings as Odom was working on an Opening-Day no hitter. In those days, the cards were one-sided and pitchers didn’t get weak.  Odom opened the bottom of the 9^th by walking the first three hitters to bring up Boog Powell.  Think of it.  Bases loaded, no outs, one run lead on Opening Day, but working on a no-hitter.   I had to leave Odom in and the roll came up something like 3-2, “Line Out Into As Many Outs As Possible.”  A game ending triple play to preserve the win and no-hitter on Opening Day.   I didn’t win the league that year, but I still remember that game.

Steve Enke

Déjà vu in Another ‘60s Flashback

I have been a SOM Baseball fan and user since 1968. I shifted to the computer version a few years ago as I no longer have the time to painstakingly keep manual track of the schedules, standings, and stats. I have had my share of no-hitters, incredible comebacks, and exciting games, but nothing will ever compare with the very first game I ever played.

We flash back to 1968 in New York where my friend Kevin is a die-hard Mets fan, and I was and still am a die-hard Yankees fan (yes, I am in mourning these days). He introduces me to a baseball game called Strat-O-Matic. After discussing the rules and learning how to play, we decide to play a game. Needless to say he will manage his beloved Amazins while I choose the Phillies. We play an exciting game and little did I realize what was waiting for us at the end. We go to the bottom of the 9^th inning, his Mets ahead 4-2, and Dick Selma trying to shut down the Phils. I load the bases with no outs and who comes to bat, but no other than Richie Allen. Now we had adopted a format where we would throw the single white die first, then the two red dice in order to build up the drama and tension.  I roll a white 3 and with a hard laugh and huge smile begin to viciously shake the 2 red dice. This single-sided version card had the 3 column loaded for Allen. Visions of grand slams or, worst-case, two-run double came to mind. I shake, rattle and then roll while doing my best Orson Wells laugh. The result? Snake eyes or a total of 2, which on his card, 3-2 read: “Lined out into as many outs as possible.” Yes you guessed it, Triple play, game over, and he proceeds to laugh so hard I thought he was going to hurt himself.

Needless to say, I was hooked from that day and almost 40 years later still can’t wait for the new version to come out. I am always amazed when I meet other fathers or fellow co-workers who are baseball fans that they also have a passion for SOM.

Frank C. Garcia, Atlanta, by way of the Bronx

Computer Helps Him Relive His Earliest SOM Days

I took my old basic cards for the 1962 National League season, and entered the card readings into the 1962 advanced season computer roster, to play a modified basic season. It takes about an hour per team, using the old DOS SOM Utility with its wonderful copy left side to right feature, then copying the files on over to the CDROMBB directory. But the result is the best of both worlds – e-ratings, throwing arms, pitcher fatigue, the computer keeping all the stats and managing the other team – but using those great old basic cards, just the way they looked way back in the spring of 1963. A few additions were necessary – adding ten POW dots to each pitcher's card, filling in outfield locations for singles, that kind of thing. And, of course, the much beloved triple splits don’t fit into the new game. All minor stuff, and easily addressed.

Finally, this weekend, we were ready to play. The Giants opened at Candlestick – ballpark revised to look the way it did back then, thanks to an old picture found in a Giants yearbook. Juan Marichal against Warren Spahn; Mays vs. Aaron. The Giants won a slugfest, 8-7, but the thrill wasn’t in the game, as good as it was. It was in seeing and using those great old basic cards again, while still using the computer for dice rolls, player pictures, scorekeeper and umpire. The best of the old world, and the best of the new world! I do enjoy the lefty-righty splits, and most of the other advanced and super-advanced features, and I use them in most of my leagues and tournaments. But for this old-time gamer, there still is magic in those old basic cards! For 1962 at least, this year they live!

Jim Beauchemin, NY

Magic vs. Bird Couldn’t Have Been Better

This was part of a replay of my 1981-82 Los Angeles Laker replay. I took over after the 11th game, just as Pat Riley did in real life. What happened was perhaps the greatest Strat basketball game I have ever played. And I’ve been playing since 1984.

In my replay, I allow the computer to determine for both teams who is eligible to play. I was horrified to watch as the computer made Magic Johnson ineligible.

Boston came in with a 37-8 record. After a somewhat slow start (I was 4-5 my first nine games as Pat Riley), my Lakers were 33-13. This was the match up of the season! Best in the West against overpowering Celtic team. At Boston Garden. No Magic? Anyway, Boston opens up a 13-point lead early in the first half and I figure, oh well, just play it out and regroup with Magic next game. Then Norm Nixon goes dazzling mad. He finished with 21 assists, and I think darn near every one of them was a dazzler. I get a 9-point lead with 7:24 left in the game and I’m praying I can hold on. But Larry Bird is at his best. He scores eight points in the final four minutes to bring the Celtics back.

Bird hits two free throws with 1:26 left and Boston leads by two points. Nixon got a dazzler basket from Eddie Jordan. Bird made an outside shot. Jim Brewer scored on a dazzler from Nixon. Then with the game tied, Boston held for the last shot with 19 seconds left. The computer kept giving the ball to Bird and then saying it was holding for the last shot. I could envision Bird dribbling with Michael Cooper playing up on him. Then with two seconds left, I expect the final shot from Bird but Mike McGee stole the ball and drove in for a fast-break basket as time ran out. What a game! Incredible. I don't suspect Johnny Most would have yelled, “McGee stole the ball! McGee stole the ball!” But I did!

I’ve played literally thousands of games in Strat hoops. This has to be the best ever for a variety of reasons. It’s Boston vs. L.A. in the ‘80s. I was disappointed I did not have Magic Johnson, but watched my Lakers gut it out over the hated Celtics. I fell behind by 13 points and thought the game was over having no idea what was in store.

Tom Gantert

198182N 532 Sunday, February 7th 1982 LOS ANGELES at BOSTON

----FG--- ---3PT--- ---FT--- REBOUNDS
NAME MIN MD AT PCT MD AT PCT MD AT PCT OF DF T AS PF ST TO BK PTS INJ
K.ABDUL-JABB 30 10 15 67 0 0 3 3 100 2 7 9 3 5 1 3 3 23 0
J.WILKES 32 9 17 53 0 0 2 4 50 0 2 2 2 6 1 2 0 20 0
N.NIXON 42 7 15 47 0 0 3 3 100 0 3 3 21 3 2 5 0 17 0
M.COOPER 27 3 7 43 0 0 4 4 100 1 2 3 3 4 1 2 0 10 0
K.RAMBIS 13 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 0 3 1 2 0 2 0
M.LANDSBERGE 10 1 3 33 0 0 0 0 2 2 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
E.JORDAN 25 9 11 82 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 8 4 3 1 0 18 0
J.BREWER 5 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
M.KUPCHAK 38 10 19 53 0 0 1 2 50 2 4 6 1 5 3 1 0 21 0
M.McGEE 18 2 7 29 0 0 1 2 50 2 0 2 0 2 1 0 0 5 0
LOS ANGELES 48 53 96 55 0 0 14 18 78 11 23 34 38 34 13 16 3 120

----FG--- ---3PT--- ---FT--- REBOUNDS
NAME MIN MD AT PCT MD AT PCT MD AT PCT OF DF T AS PF ST TO BK PTS INJ
L.BIRD 42 14 23 61 0 3 0 9 10 90 2 6 8 9 2 1 4 0 37 0
R.PARISH 35 8 13 62 0 0 3 4 75 3 8 11 3 4 2 3 1 19 0
C.MAXWELL 35 3 8 38 0 0 8 13 62 3 8 11 4 5 2 5 1 14 0
K.McHALE 24 3 5 60 0 0 2 2 100 0 7 7 1 2 0 2 2 8 0
T.ARCHIBALD 30 5 7 71 1 1 100 0 0 0 1 1 8 3 0 5 0 11 0
G.HENDERSON 20 6 6 100 0 0 1 2 50 1 0 1 3 4 1 1 1 13 0
C.FORD 18 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
R.ROBEY 13 2 4 50 0 0 5 6 83 1 2 3 0 4 1 1 0 9 0
D.AINGE 15 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 4 1 1 1 0 0 0
T.DUEROD 8 3 7 43 0 1 0 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
BOSTON 48 44 76 58 1 5 20 29 41 71 10 33 43 32 26 8 22 5 118

SCORING SUMMARY 1 2 3 4 OT T
LOS ANGELES 18 40 31 31 120
BOSTON 28 25 30 35 118

TEAM STATISTICS
LOS ANGELES BOSTON
Fast Break Pts 20 Fast Break Pts 34
Points in the Paint 42 Points In the Paint 26
Biggest Lead 10 Biggest Lead 13

STAR OF THE GAME
K.ABDUL-JABBAR