80's game: Who am I? Who are you?

[Jimmy_C]

Growing up in Long Island, my neighborhood was just like the movie "Sandlot". Every kid played baseball. After school, I would get on my Schwinn Stingray (still the most reliable form of transportation I have ever owned) and start rounding up the guys. We would play baseball every day until it got dark. If we could only get 8 or 9 guys, we'd play 1/2 field (anything right of 2nd base was an out). The game always went on.

My game was mostly like Mets shortstop Bud Harrellson. I was thin and fast, a good contact hitter and could spread the ball around, but couldn't hit for power. I had a quick glove and was excellent defensively.
My church started a league and I was age-eligeable for 2 years...that was the only organized little league I was in and my Dad was the coach.

I went out for the High School team as a 2nd baseman. When the team was announced, coach told me I made it...as a pitcher!! Yikes...! Luckily my cousin was a good enough pitcher to get a tryout with the Astros organization (he didn't make it) and he taught me a lot. I had a fair fastball but I could throw a slider and slow curve for strikes. I also mixed in a 3 finger spread change-up. It was freakin hillarious watching hitters try to crush this meat-ball and always be way out front. Unfortunately my first season on the team was ruined by a broken finger on my pitching hand, and my junior year season cut short by a massive leg injury. As a high school senior I figured out I was a better capitalist than a baseball player, so that was it. :D

About 12 years ago a friend introduced me to the strato board game. I loved it instantly. We went to tournaments in Toronto every year. Then he moved to Texas and that was it. Two years ago that same friend invited me to an online strat league...and the rest is history. Oh yeah. Crossingroads...I listened to the '68 Tigers/Cardinals series on my transistor radio!!

One last thought...I live about 2 1/2 hrs. from the Baseball Hall of Fame...Go there. Really guys, at least once in your life...go there.

[bjs73]

I am genuinely enjoying all of the stories and feedback thus far. Thanks to all that have replied. Believe it or not, it helps to relate to one another in a positive way. I've enjoyed all of the input and I hope that others will take the time to contribute.

C'mon all. Don't be shy. Try and emulate which card/player represents you the best. Give yourself a rating at defense. Have fun with it.

[bjs73]

[quote:57dcf86a2d]One last thought...I live about 2 1/2 hrs. from the Baseball Hall of Fame...Go there. Really guys, at least once in your life...go there.[/quote:57dcf86a2d]

Jimmy, you are the man. My family made the trek to the HOF when I was a teen. They had the exhibit up for Hershiser's consecutive innings streak for shutout innings up there at the time. So that would make it 1988? Maybe?

It is a great place. We only spent 1 day there and I wish that it would have been longer. I plan to go back someday. I regret that I didn't go to Ryne Sandberg's induction. That would have been the perfect excuse, err, I mean opportunity! :P Ah, well. Viva la 80's!

[bjs73]

I just wanted to clarify my arm rating. LOL Anyone remember when Sax couldn't throw the ball to 1b in games? He had some type of mental block in his game and he ended up tossing balls into the stands? When I was a teen I was totally embarassed by it. I thought I was the only one in the whole world. My coaches really helped me through it all. It really is hard to explain but in the end I discovered it was all in my head.

I think Chuck Knoblach had the same problem.

Not that the added confidence added to my success in throwing potential baserunners out or anything. It probably would have taken me to a +1 or a 0 arm if anything.

Also, if Craig Biggio was in the 80's game, I think that I'd be a lot like him as well. Right handed. Hustles. Started at catcher. Had no arm. Lots of career HBP's. Speed. Not a big guy. Good hitter. Does the little things right. Etc. Etc.

[Outta Leftfield]

Hi, all,
I haven't had much time to write (or even read) on this thread but I thought for now I'd just give some quick dates:

1965--first played the strato board game, based on '64 season (was surprised to learn recently that this was just the third strato season ever.)
1979--began reading Bill James Baseball Abstracts (his 2nd mimeographed season)
1982--after dropping strato for a while, picked it up again. Was interested to see how much Strato anticipated sabermetrics with emphasis on walks, fielding range, steal percentage, ballpark effects, etc.
2005--started playing the 80's online

It's been fun! :D