Through the years...

Wow, no idea Goreds54 has a strat playing son.

Interestingly I too replayed every game of the 1970 season although with Sports Illustrated's Baseball game, which was a more advanced game than SOM was at the time. For example they had lefty and righty cards for hitters; at that time SOM was basic only. My father brought the game home early summer in 1971 and we drafted whole teams, as the game was organized by teams. I had first pick and like an absolute moron, I drafted the Mets. He took the Reds and Orioles (snake draft) and I then took the Pirates and Giants. Leaving him the Twins and Cubs. And on it went. We played 162 game schedules for each team and he laboriously kept paper and pencil records of everything. Every AB, every outcome. It took us three years to play the entire season. In the end, one of my teams, The Oakland A's won the World Series against the Red Sox (another of my franchises). The A's were the luckiest team ever that year, dad should have mopped me up with the Reds and Orioles which were qualitatively better than any other teams. We were both super intense about every game but in the end I was just luckier with the dice. It was an incredible bonding experience between my Dad and I and I owe whatever success I have achieved here to that experience.

I’ve enjoyed reading all the posts.

My name is Andy Zavarella, am 64 years old and have lived in Mattoon, IL for last 38 years. Have been in banking since graduating from University of Illinois in 1979. Married to Gloria and have two sons - Domenic (33) and Derrick (29).

I grew up in suburbs of Chicago and in Champaign, IL. Lived across the street from Sneaky Snake and his brother. I begged my grandmother to buy me the 1968 Strat season and she surprised me with the whole set-up for Christmas. Snake, his brother and I played everyday for about 3 years. We had so much fun. I remember Snake’s brother got so mad at Phil Niekro that he flushed his card down the toilet. I still have most of the old cards and have told my wife to NEVER throw them away.

I could go on forever with Strat stories, but I’m sure that they are similar to everyone else’s.

Thanks again for all the stories and wish everyone a great summer.

A bit reticent to share too much personal info, considering how things get compromised online, but what the hell:

Charles. Originally from Texas, which means everything was always about football. I'm 58 now, so my younger years were spent rooting for Staubach and the Cowpokes. Great, classic era, even when they lost (still hate the damned Steelers...well, sorta). Anyway, all football. Me and some buds got into baseball board games with Statis Pro. We didn't know anything, except 2-9 pitchers were nigh untouchable. Andy Rincon '81 was a stud (he might've only pitched 35 inns that year, but he was a league-wide ace). The game looked like deadball. Bunting for basehits. Sacrificing. Scrapping for runs. I thought, "Well, this ain't right."

Picked up a copy of Strat, and everything changed. I used to dominate our little league because I figured out WHIP way before it was a thing (like all of us did). We ran a keeper league for a few years, and I kept up with the trades, so I drafted Clemens before he was Rocket. Our podunk town got cable in '84, and that meant WGN, and the Chicago Cubs. Long story short: my youngest son is named Ryne (which in Texas, has like 34 vowels {"Hey, Riiiiyyyyyyn!"]). Actually played in a FtF league w/86 set the year I lived in Corpus Christi. Don Carman threw a perfect game in the season opener for me. It was all downhill from there.

Fast forward to the now: US Army sent me various places, including Japan (I was a 98C w/a Russian Language trailer and a security clearance). After 8 years, segued into civilian life and teaching, which I've been in for 23 years now. Retired from State of Texas teaching. Now drawing retirement from there while working full time in my wife's home state of Indiana (and there is zero difference between IN and TX, save for weather--good riddance, TX. You're too damned hot). I have no accent (unless I want one, which makes people laugh when I do my Hank Hill impression [I tell everyone "King of the Hill" is basically a documentary]). Been mostly arreligous my whole life, yet I graduated from Texas Lutheran (then College, now University), and currently work at a Christian private school for wayward teens. None of them seem too interested in baseball. Yet...

Been at the online Strat since ATGIII. Not enterprising enough to play percentages, so I'll fiddle with theme teams when there's no theme (Disco Ducks=players from 70s and 80s mostly; My "Los ______" teams consisting of Latino/Hispanic greats [but what the hell is Vada Pinson doing there?]; The War Dogs, which was all 1940s era, and somehow made it to the Championship). Sid Fernandez has thrown 2 No-Nos for me. I still play the computer game solo sometimes.

We have 4 grandkids between us (this is my wife and my second marriage). Three grandkids (just had a boy in NOV--I claimed dibs on taking him to Wrigley, which is about 3 hours from here). REALLY looking forward to everything being open now that I'm outside Football-ville. So many people know what I'm talking about when I mention Roberto Clemente (try wearing a Pirates hat with "21" on it in Texas...they think the "P" stands for Petroleum and the number is a fuel rating).

So, decades removed from who I was, I'm still mostly who I was. A lot calmer and wiser, but I'm still playing D&D, following superheroes (was a HUGE comic reader back in the 70s, 80s, 90s), and of course, Strat (not Strat-o...that just sounds peculiar). I came from a small town. Probably die in the small town I'm in now(me and John Mellencamp). All in all, it's a purty good life, 'cept for the "arth-er-ritis."

Yep...Mm-hm...

A bit reticent to share too much personal info, considering how things get compromised online, but what the hell:

Glad you did Charles--great stuff and don't OD on the ibuprofen.

I can completely understand the reticence but unless you don't have a cell phone, cable, or use a computer, you've already shared and had much more than this snippet databased.

The wayward teens are lucky for you.

Lacey Burnette, 62 (retired newspaper editor). St. Louis area. The 1970 set was my first (my first major purchase). I remember the day it came. I went home for lunch from school and it was there. Played against my dad once and he got frustrated that I started Joe Hague against a southpaw and that was enough for him (no lefty-righty cards then). Have never played head-to-head since, although I bought two later card sets. Have the career discs and am running a 14-team, 156-game schedule with greats. Wonderful fun. Am about to get my first 100-win season on ATG8. Retirement is Strat, writing poetry and reading. My wife doesn't seem to mind, but she is retiring in a couple of weeks and she may expect more out of me. Don't know. PLAY BALL!

Am about to get my first 100-win season on ATG8. Retirement is Strat, writing poetry and reading. My wife doesn't seem to mind, but she is retiring in a couple of weeks and she may expect more out of me. Don't know. PLAY BALL!

Congrats Lacey!
And good luck with your bride

I’ve enjoyed reading all the posts.We had so much fun. I remember Snake’s brother got so mad at Phil Niekro that he flushed his card down the toilet. I still have most of the old cards and have told my wife to NEVER throw them away.

Ha! You have a great summer too Andy

Started playing ATG in the very first version of it. My dad started playing ATG at the same time I did. You all will recognize him as Goreds54. It is pretty cool that the two of us have been playing strat together in one form or another for 30 years now. It was a great trip ran by Diamond Baseball Tours. Check it out sometime.

Holy cow Roosky/Randy--no wonder I lose to you too (two?!) Had no idea. Love the dad-son connections of the game. Thanks for the tip on the tour company and cheers

Spent my last 20 years up to retirement as a head groundskeeper. Been divorced 2 times, thus the moniker Nomo4evers but have been with the same beautiful lady for over 20 years.I actually started out in the early 60's playing APBA. Had a neighbor show me strat in the 70's. Been playing the online game since retirement in 2007.Moved to Myrtle Beach 14 years ago and love it. Not sure how much longer I'll play but it has been a good ride.

Tom--I thought your username had something to do with Hideo Nomo which was stupid of me.
Groundskeeper--that is a dream job to me. Love perfecting my turf and plants. And being outside.
Keep playing and Cheers

"We didn't know anything, except 2-9 pitchers were nigh untouchable." So Statis Pro Baseball. I really liked that game. Had the 82 Mets in a league. They had a terrible starting staff....however they had great relief. So pitched the starters about 4 innings and finished with relievers. Real baseball caught up to art 30 years later...