In 1982, Manager Joe Torre led the Atlanta Braves to first place in the NL West. The season had its ups-and-downs, highlighted by MVP Dale Murphy, future Hall-of-Famer Phil Niekro, and the wacky antics of Pascual Perez (including [url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120853/index.htm]August 19[/url]).
A [u:84242c858a]small[/u:84242c858a] part of the Braves was pinch-hitter Ken Smith. The lefty Smith had 47 plate appearances – 46 against righty pitchers and [i:84242c858a]only one[/i:84242c858a] against a lefty. Because he walked in his only plate appearance against a lefty, Smith was given [url=http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/league/player.html?player_id=41250&year=1982]this Strat card[/url]:
[img:84242c858a]http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd418/gfleisig/KenSmith1982.jpg[/img:84242c858a]
Why did Strat make a card for 1982 Ken Smith? Why did [i:84242c858a]The Sporting News[/i:84242c858a] include this player with 63 lifetime plate appearances as an "All-Time Great"?
Even though Smith in real life was a pinch hitter against righties, I am using his crazy, unrealistic card as a platoon firstbaseman against lefties. Smith’s job for me is to walk and then score when Josh Gibson hits a homerun. Here is Smith and my team so far: [url=http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=358286]Birmingham Nationals[/url]. Here are the [url=http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/league/stats_player_batting.html?pos=0&order_by=bb%20DESC&qual=0?user_id=358286]league leaders in walks[/url].
Crazy, but fun. Any comments? Has anyone else used this card?