Strat-O-Matic

[538280]

I'm young and I have heard of Strat-O-Matic, but I'm not sure exactly what it is or how to play it. Could anyone explain it to me?

[leecemark]

--StratO was one of the first, and for a long time the leader, amoung baseball simulations. When I was your age it was a game with player cards, dice and a few charts. I spent many an hour playing it and thought it was the next best thing to the real thing.
--You can still get the board game, but like everybody else they are primarily a computer simulation (last season or past seasons). There are a number of newer simulations who have surpassed Strato in that arena. They just aren't doing cutting edge work. After 30 years as a StratO player I've switched to DiamondMind and don't imagine I'll ever switch back, except perhaps for nostagia if I were to get to know someone who enjoyed the old table version.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

When i was alot younger i liked to play statis pro baseball from Avalon hill. they stopped making the game around 1992 or 1993.i t was a good game. to bad they stopped making it. another good game i have been told is sherco granslam baseball. in the game the stadium you are playing in determines the out come of the game were as other games the stadium does not come into play. sherco is still being sold on ebay with the old stadium charts like the polo grounds, ebbets field, crosley field and the other classic ballparks. Donald

[catcher24]

SOM was the game I cut my baseball game playing teeth on. Spent many, many hours with the game. Basically, the player cards are derived using a player's season stats. There are many, many old timer teams, as well as the most recent years'. There are cards for position players, with columns numbered 1,2, 3 and 11 result possibilities for each column. Results are numbered 2 thru 12. There are cards for pitchers, with three columns numbered 4,5,6. Again, each column has 11 possible results, numbered 2 thru 12. You use three dice, one white, two red. If the white die comes up 1,2 or 3, you look in that column, combine the red dice to obtain a number 2 thru 12, and read the result. If the white die comes up 4,5 or 6, you look at the opposing team's pitcher card, again combining the red dice to obtain the correct result. As Mark mentioned, there are additional charts you refer to upon occasion. The cards have a basic and an advanced side. You can learn on the basic version, and add as many or as few advanced features as you want as you go along. The advanced side breaks the players down further into vs right and vs left sides. The game is very easy to learn and a lot of fun.

As far as the computer version goes, I have played it and like it, but really haven't compared it to anything other than Out of the Park 6, which is a totally different type of game. So I can't comment on how it compares to Diamond Mind. SOM has a web site, check it out (http://www.strat-o-matic.com/) . Click on products, then scroll down to Enter Online Store.

[Timbo]

personally, I have played Strat-o-matic since the 80's and have enjoyed it immensely. I would rather play cards and dice as opposed to computer, but I admit you can play more games on the computer. I just received their '57 season cards. I like the idea that I can go back in time and play with players long gone, but idolized by my father.

[JohnnysGhost]

I'm sure i am dating myself from long-ago,and even though i cut my teeth on APBA baseball,I have played many card-versions of Strat games,Basketball,and Hockey for 2.I guess the point is,that the card games,in any genre,are like a game on "radio",and the computer games are like on "tv".Free time at my age is at a premium,but i can vouch for how fun those games were,back in the day.:coffee

[Chisox73]

They still make Strat-O-Matic and APBA today.:D I saw the latest version(2004 stats) at Chicago's Water Tower Place last year.

They even have it updated where you can upload the software on your computer for Strat-O-Matic.

[catcher24]

Yeah, I still get the flyers for the new cards every year. Haven't bought any in quite a while. I've gotten into Out of the Park and away from Strat. Rather sad in a way, since I grew up with Strat and spent many enjoyable evenings playing with the cards and dice!

[JohnnysGhost]

Hi e-1,(Just recalling my favorite memories,when the box of cards,arrived in the mail,usually well in advance of spring-training,i would love to break open that fresh-printed box,then it was the norm to buy the first few baseball reviews and either make "winter-transactions"or replay a team from the pevious season.(Just 2 remind e-1 how old,i am this was way before computers,spreadsheets,et.al)also meant buying some/many notebooks,and getting stats in them..(Again,from APBA,always loved to see the New Pitcher ratings for the year,also bought lots of old-timer sets,after all these yrs,still was great to take the game on the poarch,tune tv/radio on,and roll the dice.

[tommybaseball]

If you enjoy the idea of playing a board game, then Strat-O-Matic Baseball, in my opinion, is unparalleled in the realm of simulated baseball. I've played APBA, Sports Illustrated, All-Star Baseball and Dynasty League (which is the off-shoot of Pursue The Pennant). Dynasty is the only one that is on par with Strat as far as realism but when it comes to "playability" Strat is less cluttered and the results are faster and easier to come by.
If you have the opportunity, read the January 13, 2006 article in the New York Times. Trip Hawkins, the founder of EA Sports (Madden and all of those) still regularly plays Strat.
By the way, leecemark has it wrong when he states that "like everybody else they (Strat) are primarily a computer simulation" The Times article verifies that "the old-fashioned version is still its biggest seller.
I haven't tried other computer versions of Baseball Sims other than Strat but you might want to consider weighing your decision by reading this article before making your determination:
http://www.strat-o-matic.com/whyplay.htm

I've been playing Strat for 28 seasons and one of the concerns in our gaming community is that younger generations who love baseball have no idea on what they're missing out on. Every youngster I've introduced the game to have all responded favorably to the game. Unfortunately, Strats greatest weakness is its lack of advertising of their own great product.
As their old magazine ads used to say: "Here is your seasons pass to hundreds of Big League ballgames". You won't be dissapointed.

[BadKarma]

I remember a game from my childhood that we used to play all the time was a dice and sheet game from the Sporting News, I believe. Been a long time, so not sure if I got the manufacturer right. We had team sheets from the 1971 season. These listed the batters on one side and the starting and relief pitchers on the other side. You kept score like an actual baseball scorekeeper would. The pitcher would roll the dice first, whatever number the dice totalled, you went to that corresponding box. It went from 12 to 39 for the numbers. A blue box would represent an automatic K for the batter up. A green box would allow the batter to "swing" (roll their dice) then match up whatever was in that corresponding box. The total amount of things that could happen in those boxes went off The player's actual stats for 1971. For example, Willie Stargill had more HR boxes then say Matty Alou. The scenarios in the boxes ranged from anything that the actual player was prone to do: sac fly, K, DP, 2b, etc.

The cool thing was that you set your own line ups. My brother and I were such geeks about this game that we would make up leagues (we would each run 3 or 4 teams). We kept track of season stats, and had our own stat leader board. We had pitcher rotations set and everything. Many, many hours of our young lives were taken up by this game. The only bad part about the game was fighting over who got the Oakland A's, of course, the "loser" always picked up the Baltimore Orioles ;) The real funny thing is that even all these years later, I can still remember some of my lineups and even that one of Willie Stargill's HR numbers was 35 :D

[1doug]

I dont know why this made me think of it, but when i was a kid, my cousin and a couple of friends would play our own baseball game. What we would do was write on a torn piece of paper an "X" for outs, then a few S, D, T, HR, Walk, HBP, SOE, DP. Then put them all in a bowl and pick our team. Then draw from the bowl to see what our player did at that at bat. We would play a whole game that way. Wierd? Maybe, but back then, it was a lot of fun.

[Food]

Sorry to resurrect a dead thread.

I played Avalon Hill's Statis-Pro Baseball in the 80s, and it was most cool. Today I play Strat-O-Matic on my PC, and I love it. The computer AI is impressive, and one game takes about 10 minutes. A full season, and most of the players do indeed perform very close to their real-life stats, unless I make an effort for a certain player to do something unusual.

I also play S-O-M Football, which is every bit as good; Basketball and Hockey, which are both pretty neat, although most of the decision are decision the players make on the court/ice, rather than coaching.

[wamby]

personally, I have played Strat-o-matic since the 80's and have enjoyed it immensely. I would rather play cards and dice as opposed to computer, but I admit you can play more games on the computer. I just received their '57 season cards. I like the idea that I can go back in time and play with players long gone, but idolized by my father.

I played out the entire 1957 season on Dynasty League Baseball and the results were interesting. I generally used the same lineups that the real teams used for each date that I played. It was intersting seeing how my races played out compared to the real races.

[T Rip]

Hey numbers, I play Strat all the time. I've played several others (and enjoyed them) but keep coming back to Strat. I play C&D, but have also played the computer. It's great for keeping stats and quick play but holding those cards and making your own lineups, it's awesome. I play a lot of tournaments, usually in bracket style. Really enjoy cross era games or replaying last year's series and playoffs. You'll enjoy it.

[JohnGelnarFan]

For us older guys that remember the card game,It was an addiction. I actually played in leagues every friday night with 3 other guys,every friday night and we were in our thirties. Even Snow storms didn't stop us.We even played the night that one of the guys wives delivered a baby!(She told him to go.) If you're a stats freak,it's a great way to learn about the history of the game.

[Budtaff]

For us older guys that remember the card game,It was an addiction. I actually played in leagues every friday night with 3 other guys,every friday night and we were in our thirties. Even Snow storms didn't stop us.We even played the night that one of the guys wives delivered a baby!(She told him to go.) If you're a stats freak,it's a great way to learn about the history of the game.

That guy's wife have any single sisters? :laugh

I too enjoy Strat tremendously. In fact I'm in the beginning of an All-Time retro league that started in 1901. We've played the first 4 seasons so far and it's been a blast. I got to know alot of the players I'd never even heard about and learned alot more about how good some of the others are. We just started our 1905 draft and the #1 pick was Ty Cobb......needless to say this guy is set at one of the outfield positions for the next 20 years. Upcoming drafts have Eddie Collins, Tris Speaker, Walter Johnson to name a few.

Our league just lost 2 players and we're looking for replacements. If any of you have a rich baseball history and a love of strat shoot me a message and I can get you some information.

You don't even need the individual seasons as the commisioner auto-plays all the games based upon a Computer Manager you set up for each block of games.

Chris

[Seattle1]

I'm young and I have heard of Strat-O-Matic, but I'm not sure exactly what it is or how to play it. Could anyone explain it to me?

Here's some info about Strat-O-Matic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strat-O-Matic

http://www.strat-o-matic.com

I played both Strat-O-Matic baseball and football when I was a kid, it was great fun. We had full leagues and schedules, and kept detailed stats and records.

[Dem Bums]

I have been playing Strat-O-Matic on and off for about 30+ years. I recently bought the 1955 Season and am attempting to replay the Brooklyn Dodgers schedule.

Although Strat now puts out a computer version, I refuse to play that version and have stuck with the old table top version. To me, the table top version is more realistic, interesting and enjoyable.

Strat still produces the player cards every year, + old time seasons and teams for it's still popular and in my opinion uncomparable table top version.

True story : I coach my daughter's softball team and this past season the manager of the team asked the girls if anyone knew how to keep the scorebook. My daughter was the ONLY one who could do it. When the manager asked her how she learned to keep a scorebook, she replied " from playing Strat-O-Matic baseball with my dad." :)


I've even created a 'Feild Of Dreams' for my Strat-O-Matic Table Game :

http://www.members.aol.com/nyscarface4/strat1.jpg

http://www.members.aol.com/nyscarface4/strat4.jpg


Dem Bums :cool:

[Seattle1]

Although Strat now puts out a computer version, I refuse to play that version and have stuck with the old table top version. To me, the table top version is more realistic, interesting and enjoyable.

Strat still produces the player cards every year, + old time seasons and teams for it's still popular and in my opinion uncomparable table top version.

True story : I coach my daughter's softball team and this past season the manager of the team asked the girls if anyone knew how to keep the scorebook. My daughter was the ONLY one who could do it. When the manager asked her how she learned to keep a scorebook, she replied " from playing Strat-O-Matic baseball with my dad."

Right on about the table top version, it just wouldn't be the same on the computer.

Cool story about your daughter!! When I was a kid, I thought for sure I'd go into a career of sports statistics with the Elias Sports Bureau because of all the detailed stats I always kept of our Strat-O-Matic leagues.

[soberdennis]

I grew up playing Strat-o-matic baseball and football table games and loved them.Even as an adult with a lot less time on his hands, I wouldn't mind having the game again.
I didn't realize they have come out with full season teams from yesteryear. It might be fun to play some of those teams from the 50's.

The descriptions of how the game worked given above are very accurate.

Thanks for giving me a fond flashback.

[catcher24]

Another gamer who cut my teeth on STrat. Actually, started on Ethan Allen All Star Baseball with the disks that fit over the spinner, but once I found Strat I never looked back. Have been playing computer games recently, Out of the Park and Diamond Mind, but still have my old Strat teams (well over 200). Computer games make it so easy to play in on-line leagues; I'm in two DM baseball leagues, and really enjoying it. Almost brings back the experience of the few times I had someone to play Strat with face to face. But Strat was a HUGE part of my growing years and will forever hold a place in my heart - kind of like a first love!:)

BTW, you know if use the computer game, you can still have it "roll" dice and use the cards, if you prefer.

[johnph77]

I remember a game from my childhood that we used to play all the time was a dice and sheet game from the Sporting News, I believe. Been a long time, so not sure if I got the manufacturer right. We had team sheets from the 1971 season. These listed the batters on one side and the starting and relief pitchers on the other side. You kept score like an actual baseball scorekeeper would. The pitcher would roll the dice first, whatever number the dice totalled, you went to that corresponding box. It went from 12 to 39 for the numbers. A blue box would represent an automatic K for the batter up. A green box would allow the batter to "swing" (roll their dice) then match up whatever was in that corresponding box. The total amount of things that could happen in those boxes went off The player's actual stats for 1971. For example, Willie Stargill had more HR boxes then say Matty Alou. The scenarios in the boxes ranged from anything that the actual player was prone to do: sac fly, K, DP, 2b, etc.

The cool thing was that you set your own line ups. My brother and I were such geeks about this game that we would make up leagues (we would each run 3 or 4 teams). We kept track of season stats, and had our own stat leader board. We had pitcher rotations set and everything. Many, many hours of our young lives were taken up by this game. The only bad part about the game was fighting over who got the Oakland A's, of course, the "loser" always picked up the Baltimore Orioles ;) The real funny thing is that even all these years later, I can still remember some of my lineups and even that one of Willie Stargill's HR numbers was 35 :D

Emphasis mine.

I thought I was the only person in the world crazy enough to do something like that. I didn't have any of the board games, so I set up a baseball game using a deck of cards. Set up a league with eight teams and a 140-game season, kept all the stats (by hand - no calculator, even) and put them in a notebook. Fascinating.

Then, when we got our first computer in the late '70s, I built a BASIC program that randomized the deck so it would be shuffled after each card was drawn. I obtained stats from a major league season and tweaked the code to give the outcome a closer approximation to actual stats. Never did much with it until after I retired, but now I'm running two leagues, one with the original code and one with the tweaked code. I still derive a lot of pleasure from that.

[Food]

That's hard-core, Dem Bums. Nice!

[blslivewire]

I never played the card version but I've played the computer version for several years now and I'm very much addicted to it.

It's still run by a small group who are dedicatd to the game and to the quality of its realism. It's not just a branch of some video game conglomerate.

If you're looking for a Playstation game with graphics then this is not for you.

If you want to match up the 1927 Yankees with the 1998 Yankees then this is where you go.

My favorite thing to do in Stat is create an all time legends league. I use the Hall of Fame disk(which contains 2000 HOFers with their 7 best years averaged) along with other all stars throughout the years and set up a 30 team draft.

[ChuckBrown]

I started out playing APBA in the late 70s. I played APBA for about 20 years (switching to computer in the mid 80s). I lost interest for a few years but for some reason I decided to give SOM a try earlier this year. I got hooked again! I live in an isolated area where interest isn't very high in baseball. So playing SOM on the net has really been the way to go.

I'm in a 1954 retro league (which by the way is looking for a manager) (http://home.cfl.rr.com/gabl/) and just started in a 1962 retro league. Lots of fun!!! :)

[ChrisInOregon]

I was a kid in the 60's and played this game for countless hours with my big brother, Tom. Mostly because of this game, me and my brother Tom formed a bond that has transcended decades.

To this day, we both deliver a knowing wink and grin whenever either of us mentions the word "Strat-O-Matic".

I haven't played this game since 1970. I just now started thinking about it again, and I'm wondering about online Strat-O-Matic, mostly because I dont have any friends anymore who would be interested. Anyone have any experience/opinions with the online game?

[reviewboy]

I just started playing Statis Pro Baseball recently. It's a really fun game.

Avalon Hill no longer sells the game, but various people sell seasons for the game or variants, usually more advanced, of the game. Also, there are some seasons and charts available for download for free.


When i was alot younger i liked to play statis pro baseball from Avalon hill. they stopped making the game around 1992 or 1993.i t was a good game. to bad they stopped making it. another good game i have been told is sherco granslam baseball. in the game the stadium you are playing in determines the out come of the game were as other games the stadium does not come into play. sherco is still being sold on ebay with the old stadium charts like the polo grounds, ebbets field, crosley field and the other classic ballparks. Donald

[chicagofan71]

I'm also looking for players for a strat league if anyone's interested :)

[penncentralpete]

LEAGUE STANDINGS FOR 1953 National League

WON LOST PCT GB MAGIC# ACTWON ACTLOST ACTPCT
1953 Brooklyn BRO 77 31 .713 ---- 38 105 49 .682
1953 Milwaukee MIL 67 40 .626 9.5 92 62 .597
1953 St. Louis STL 63 46 .578 14.5 83 71 .539
1953 New York NYG 52 56 .481 25.0 70 84 .455
1953 Cincinnati CIN 52 58 .473 26.0 68 86 .442
1953 Philadelphia PHI 45 57 .441 29.0 83 71 .539
1953 Chicago CHI 39 63 .382 35.0 65 89 .422
1953 Pittsburgh PIT 32 76 .296 45.0 50 104 .325



OVERALL RECORD
Team WON LOST PCT HOME ROAD LEFT RIGHT EXTRA 1-RUN LAST 10 STREAK
BRO 77 31 .713 41-15 36-16 25-15 52-16 7- 4 19- 9 9-1 Lost 1
CHI 39 63 .382 17-31 22-32 14-27 25-36 5- 1 11-15 3-7 Won 1
CIN 52 58 .473 21-32 31-26 12-17 40-41 4- 9 14-14 6-4 Lost 1
MIL 67 40 .626 39-20 28-20 19-17 48-23 4- 2 17-12 7-3 Won 1
NYG 52 56 .481 26-23 26-33 18-27 34-29 7- 2 17-13 2-8 Lost 2
PHI 45 57 .441 27-25 18-32 18-21 27-36 4- 6 16-25 4-6 Won 1
PIT 32 76 .296 21-36 11-40 11-32 21-44 5- 8 13-14 4-6 Lost 1
STL 63 46 .578 33-20 30-26 15-14 48-32 3- 7 14-19 6-4 Won 2
TOTAL 427 427 .500

TEAM -APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT+
BRO 13- 4 23- 6 15-13 23- 7 3- 1 0- 0
CHI 9-11 15-13 7-17 7-20 1- 2 0- 0
CIN 5-15 17-14 15-14 13-14 2- 1 0- 0
MIL 13- 8 16-10 21- 9 15-12 2- 1 0- 0
NYG 11-10 14-15 14-13 12-16 1- 2 0- 0
PHI 11- 7 9-20 13- 9 11-18 1- 3 0- 0
PIT 6-14 6-24 9-18 10-18 1- 2 0- 0
STL 11-10 15-13 13-14 22- 8 2- 1 0- 0


WINS ARE ACROSS, LOSSES ARE DOWN:

TEAM BRO CHI CIN MIL NYG PHI PIT STL
BRO - 12 10 10 13 12 13 7
CHI 2 - 7 2 7 7 8 6
CIN 4 11 - 5 5 4 14 9
MIL 8 12 13 - 9 8 10 7
NYG 5 5 9 5 - 11 11 6
PHI 4 3 10 4 7 - 9 8
PIT 1 8 4 8 3 5 - 3
STL 7 12 5 6 12 10 11 -

· Go to Strat-O-Matic Homepage

[penncentralpete]

BOXSCORE: 1946 Philadelphia Phillies At 1946 Brooklyn Dodgers

Phillies AB R H RBI Dodgers AB R H RBI
J.Wyrostek CF 2 1 1 0 A.Galan LF 3 2 3 1
S.Newsome SS 5 0 1 0 E.Stanky 2B 5 0 1 0
D.Ennis LF 5 1 1 2 D.Walker RF 3 2 1 0
R.Northey RF 2 0 0 0 P.Reiser CF 4 1 0 2
A.Seminick C 3 1 1 0 E.Stevens 1B 5 2 2 4
F.McCormick 1B 4 0 0 0 P.Reese SS 4 1 1 1
J.Tabor 3B 4 0 1 0 C.Lavagetto 3B 4 1 1 2
E.Verban 2B 4 0 1 1 B.Edwards C 3 1 0 0
B.Donnelly P 2 0 0 0 K.Higbe P 4 1 2 0
C.Schanz P 0 0 0 0
A-V.Dinges PH 1 0 0 0
-- -- -- --- -- -- -- ---
Totals 32 3 6 3 Totals 35 11 11 10

A-Pinch Hit For Schanz In 9th Inning

Phillies........ 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 6 2
Dodgers......... 0 3 1 1 0 5 1 0 - 11 11 0

Phillies IP H R ER BB SO HR
B.Donnelly LOSS 6 11 11 9 6 4 1
C.Schanz 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 8 11 11 9 6 4 1

Dodgers IP H R ER BB SO HR
K.Higbe WIN 9 6 3 3 5 10 1
Totals 9 6 3 3 5 10 1

ATTENDANCE- 45,699 TIME- Day WEATHER- Good
T- 2:26
LEFT ON BASE- Phillies: 9 Dodgers: 7
DOUBLE PLAYS- Phillies: 1 Dodgers: 0
ERRORS- J.Tabor, E.Verban
DOUBLES- A.Galan, P.Reese, C.Lavagetto, K.Higbe
HOME RUNS- D.Ennis, E.Stevens
STOLEN BASES- D.Walker
SACRIFICE HITS- B.Donnelly
SACRIFICE FLIES- P.Reese
WALKS- J.Wyrostek-3, R.Northey, A.Seminick, A.Galan-2, D.Walker-2, P.Reiser,
B.Edwards
HIT BY PITCH- R.Northey
STRIKE OUTS- S.Newsome, D.Ennis-3, A.Seminick, F.McCormick, J.Tabor-2, E.Verban,
B.Donnelly, E.Stanky-2, P.Reiser, B.Edwards
GIDP- E.Stanky
WILD PITCHES- K.Higbe

· Go to Strat-O-Matic Homepage

[Death to Crawling Things]

Something I have always wondered is it possible to create/edit players? (even if it would be a pain in the bleep)

[catcher24]

I seem to recall that in the computer game it is possible to create players, and I think they can also be edited. But don't take my word for it - I haven't played computer Strat in over ten years, so the version I used was certainly much older than the one you're using and this capability may have been removed - or may have only existed in my mind, for that matter!:)

But I seem to recall creating a player or two - and yes, it was an incredibly tedious process.

[reviewboy]

Are you asking about the board game, the PC game, or both?

There are some unofficial, reverse-engineered card formulas such as this one:

www.geocities.com/gls84/sominfo.html

although I would defer to the earlier responder's comments about whether the PC game allows creating new players, since I've never played the PC game.
[
QUOTE=Death to Crawling Things;1283888]Something I have always wondered is it possible to create/edit players? (even if it would be a pain in the bleep)[/QUOTE]

[Food]

Computer Strat does allow for creation/editing of players. I don't know if it's any good, though, because I never use it.

[penncentralpete]

Something I have always wondered is it possible to create/edit players? (even if it would be a pain in the bleep)

When I'm feeling frisky, I "edit" my boxscore(s) and add MYSELF into the game. Simple to do.

[milladrive]

After years of contemplation -- I played the board game a lot as a kid -- I finally invested in the PC Strat-O-Matic (w/card image) and about 30 seasons, as well as ballparks, play-by-play disks, and special Oldtimer/HOF fame sets.

I'm actually considering going all out for every season left available, which would run me a little over $1,100.

My question is, do the folks at BBF think my compulsive self may be overdoing it a bit, or that I'd never have time to play each season to satisfaction?

[reviewboy1]

That's a lot of seasons, although some guys have a lot more.

In answer to your question, it depends upon what your replay plans are. If you're planning to do season replays with your favorite team, then it will be hard to get through 30+ seasons unless you are going to live a lot more years.

On the other hand, if you plan to dabble, say by replaying world series and all-star games, then move on, then you can use all of those seasons. Or, if you plan to do a lot of cross-season play, then it would make sense to get more seasons.

Or, if you are part gamer, part collector, as many are, then you should go ahead and get all of the seasons, in both PC and C&D version.

Here's a guy, Purplemoose, who has all of Strat's board and PC baseball seasons:

www.stratfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50292&highlight=poll+seasons&page=4

and here's a guy who has 77 on PC:

www.stratfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50292&highlight=poll+seasons&page=6

Tossing in other sports besides baseball, I wonder if there's a guy or two who has 'invested' over $5k in games.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

I have been playing and collecting SOM since 1969. I have bought sold and rebought or upgraded sets. I currently have everything printed from 1964 on including 18 of the 20 teams from 1963. I have copies of original 1962 and 1960 and not original 1961. Note someone can say they have every season ever printed but for the 1960s for instance, all ten seasons have been re-released in new formats (called recreated). Someone can say they have all 1960s seasons but only have stuff recreated and produced in the last 25-20 years and not the original seasons released 45 years ago.

I also have very rare sets including original black ink 1920-30 oldtimers (6 teams), "gold/tan" card 1920-30 (6) oldtimers and 1940 (6) oldtimers and red ink 1950-60 oldtimers. I also have the ultra rare red ink 1931 A's oldtimer team.

And there have been "expansion" sets in 1968-69, 76-77 etc as well as "corrected" 1980 pitcher's cards.

I also have about 70% of the available computer seasons and it will be 2-3 orders and I will have them all/

see my thread in this category for all time best SOM games played

[catcher24]

I don't think it would actually take you very long to replay those 30 seasons unless you plan on replaying every single game. If you just set the lineups and pitching assignments and then let the the Computer Manager (that's what Diamond Mind calls him) run the games, you could probably do a complete season replay in about a day, most of which would time spent setting up your lineups and pitching assignments. If you replayed every single game for your favorite team on a play by play basis, probably a month for a replay. So you might get through those 30 seasons in about three years replaying every game for a favorite team, or in a couple of months if you let the computer do it. Then you just have to decide who many more seasons you want to do.

BTW, if you enjoy replaying history, check out our Classic Keeper League. We use Diamond Mind Baseball, but you don't really need the game to play in our league - although it is a tremendous time saver to have it. Our league thread can be found HERE (http://www.baseball-fever.com/forumdisplay.php?f=67). If you have any interest at all, I would strongly suggest reading the league rules thread, and maybe checking out the current season thread (1972 Season thread) and the most recent off season thread (71-72 Off Season thread). Those would give you a very good idea of what we're all about. We presently have two teams available, both of which will be competing for division titles this season.

[milladrive]

I thank you all for your insightful replies. I think I'll indeed go in for all the seasons eventually, whether incrementally or all at once. I like flexibility and I plan to keep the seasons (and other stuff) for a lifetime, except of course for the main application upgrades every year or two.

Thanx again for the help and suggestions. :cap:

P.S. I've heard that SOM is about to release a Negro League set sometime this Spring. Looking forward to it.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

The negro League set might be available for Christmas 2009

[9RoyHobbsRF]

Great article on SOM and APBA in USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/fantasy/2009-06-09-simulation-games_N.htm

[Brooklyn Baseball Bill]

I started out with APBA in 1967 (actually played Challenge the Yankees and Ethan Allen's All Star Baseball before that but neither was statistically accurate as pitchers had no bearing in either game). I finally got into Strat in the 1970's and have played it a lot over the years. I've also played all the other games out there (Pursue the Pennant, Dynasty League, Big League Manager, Statis Pro, etc.). A few years ago I stumbled across a game called Ball Park Baseball. Despite it being a bit costly, once I bought the game and tried it out it quickly became my game of choice! A short coming of Strat Baseball (cards and dice) is that it could not account for batters or pitchers that had few walks or strikeouts or homeruns or ground into double plays. Because of this, a guy like a Nellie Fox would always strikeout too many times in a season or a pitcher with impeccable control (like Carlos Silva in 2005) wouldn't come close to recording the low walk totals. Ball Park, like Strat, is a 50-50 game where dice rolls will either refer you to the hitters or the pitchers card, however, Ball Park has control ratings that fine tune those statistical anomalies. Additionally, no other table top baseball game for cards and dice affords the gamer to employ as many strategies in their game as does Ball Park. For instance, corner infielders (at first and third) have five depths they can play! Outfielders have four depths they can play (including the no doubles defense). Middle infielders can cheat at second base to hold a runner closer there. The individual ball park charts account for weather, batting average, home runs and errors. Perhaps, best of all, you can purchase an individual team or a whole league. Every season from 1894 to the present are available for purchase! Don't get me wrong, I still play a fair share of other games like Strat (I have over 50 individual seasons of Strat baseball) but if I really want to get into the game where a lot of strategies are at my disposal, well, Ball Park fills the bill.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

--StratO was one of the first, and for a long time the leader, amoung baseball simulations. When I was your age it was a game with player cards, dice and a few charts. I spent many an hour playing it and thought it was the next best thing to the real thing.
--You can still get the board game, but like everybody else they are primarily a computer simulation (last season or past seasons). There are a number of newer simulations who have surpassed Strato in that arena. They just aren't doing cutting edge work. After 30 years as a StratO player I've switched to DiamondMind and don't imagine I'll ever switch back, except perhaps for nostagia if I were to get to know someone who enjoyed the old table version.



I realize this is several years old but it is not true

SOM is not primarily a computer game

a majority of players (slight majority) are still the board gamers still (many players play both)

and you can play a basic card and dice game in 10 minutes, advanced in maybe 20 minutes and super advanced in maybe 30 minutes

[Sports Stadium Replicas]

I have never personally played Strato-o-Matic, but a friend of mine is a devoted player of both the live and online versions. I was more of a Statis-Pro guy growing up and loved it. My friend is from Philly and loves Strato, so I thought I had better give him the ultimate Strato gift. I built him Connie Mack Strat-o-Matic Stadium.

The photos are available on Flickr:

Connie Mack Strat-o-Matic Stadium (http://www.flickr.com/photos/89276014@N04/sets/72157631864957643/)

Enjoy!