GREAT MOMENTS IN STRAT

 

THE FAMILY GAME

This June I accomplished something I’d wanted to do for decades: play Strat against my oldest brother Roy, who lives out of state. Back in the mid-seventies – he is a huge baseball history and White Sox fan – when he visited we would play All-Star Baseball as well as him taking me to a handful of White Sox games.

We had a week-long family reunion in mid-June and, having mentioned Strat to him several times in the past, I had hoped we would be able to find time to play some games so I could introduce him to game, especially the historical aspect of it. Sure enough, the planets aligned, and we were going to have a few free hours the last day of the trip – I suggested it to him and he was game! (Pun intended.)

Since he had never played before we went the basic route. First up was his ‘57 Braves (he was also a big fan of them) against my always-favorite ‘53 Dodgers. The game was close until Dem Bums broke it open late to win, 8-4.

Our next game was his ‘77 South Side Hit Men against my Sox ‘05 World champs. His guys built a steady lead and I mounted a comeback, but it was too little, too late and he won, 5-3. Game three pitted his ‘19 (Black) Sox vs. my ‘27 Yankees. I wanted him to experience Ruth & Gehrig in action but neither of them did much. Murderers’ Row still won handily, 7-1. For our final contest he picked the ‘59 Sox while I fielded a team of Negro Leaguers, who prevailed, 3-1 (it was a shortened seven-inning contest because we ran out of time).

What a great experience! Roy enjoyed himself and was impressed with Strat. Next up: someday playing my nephew (Roy’s son) who asked for and got the game for Christmas last year.

Chris Bacchi

MY KINGDOM FOR A RUN

I am replaying the 1978 St. Louis Cardinals season (trying to reverse one of the worst seasons in Cards’ history) and brought the team into San Diego on July 28 with a 47-54 record. That night, the Cards and Padres locked horns in scoreless duel into the 19TH inning – at which point Ted Simmons tripled home Keith Hernandez for the game’s first run, followed by an insurance run when John D’Acquisto uncorked a wild pitch (an insurance run which was needed, as Pete Falcone – the last pitcher I had available – permitted a San Diego tally for a 2-1 final).

I’ll spare you the lengthy box score (you might not have room for it anyway), aside from mentioning that Garry Templeton suffered through a 1-for-9 night. I still had a way to go to catch the record for a scoreless contest – the Astros’ 1-0 win over the Mets in a 24 innings in 1968 – but I didn’t want the game to end!

Doug Feldmann, Villa Hills, KY

Expansion Expos at it again with an 8-run bottom of the 9th!

Fairly’s Grand Slam Caps Remarkable Rally!

Game 1 1968 Tigers (E.Wilson 13-12, 2.85) vs. 1969 Expos (M.Wegener 5-14, 4.39)

The expansion Expos were down 8-1 in the bottom of the 9th when Detroit’s bullpen imploded. Darryl Patterson and John Hiller allowed 8 runs, capped by Ron Fairly’s grand slam as the Expos stun the Tigers 9-8 in the first of two. Al Kaline, Willie Horton and Jim Northrup had 2 RBIs each for the Tigers. Starter Earl Wilson could be seen fuming in the bullpen: 8 IP, 3 hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks, 1 earned run…. an 8-1 lead, and he doesn’t get the “W”!
For the Expos, it was just their 12th win against 39 losses.

1968 Tigers 000 100 502 8 14 2
1969 Expos  010 000 008 9  7 1

W-H.Reed(2-2,6.35) L-J.Hiller(1-2,3.83)
HRs: Mon- R.Fairly(7th)(Grandslam)
Errors: Det- Oyler, Cash. Mon-Wills
Injured: Mon- M.Wills (+2 Games)

Frank Albidone