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THE CLASSIC SPORTS GAMER

Welcome to my blog.  I created this site to share my enjoyment of classic tabletop sports games.  My tabletop sports gaming goes back to the early 1970’s.  One of the first games I played was the All-Star Baseball game designed by Ethan Allen and produced by Cadaco.  From there I graduated to the Sports Illustrated Baseball game, then on to APBA, Replay, Statis Pro, Jim Mickey’s Fastbreak Basketball, and of course Strat.

Currently, I am replaying the 1975 Major League baseball season with Replay Baseball by Replay Games.  I am using the 6 x 6 pitcher cards.

Please note some of the projects I have completed are now located at:

The Classic Sports Gamer Archives

I have completed the following projects:

A replay of the 1968 Major League Baseball season with the Strat-o-Matic Super Advance board game.

A replay of the 1971 Major League Baseball season with the APBA Baseball Master game.  A total of 1,937 games rolled.

A replay of the 1972 NFL season with the APBA Football Master game with the revised cards released in the summer of 2022.

A replay of the 1972 NBA finals with the APBA Pro Basketball game.

A replay of the 1974 NBA finals with the Strat Advanced Basketball Game.

(Note:  After trying the original version of the Strat game, I snipped and printed out the card images to play the games as the board game).

A replay of the 1974 Bengals season using the TSG I by Gamecraft.

A replay of the 1979 Bengals season using the classic version (Big Board) of the APBA Pro Football game.

A replay of the 1981 Bengals season using the Advanced version of the Strat-O-Matic Pro Football game. 

A replay of the 1984 NBA playoffs with the Jim Mickey Fast Break Basketball game.

A replay of the 1984 Major League Baseball season with the Statis Pro Baseball game.

A replay of the 1985 Bengals season using the Statis Pro Football game.

A replay of the 1985 NBA finals using the Hoops Tabletop Basketball game.

A replay of the 1991 Lions season using the APBA Football Master game.

A replay of the 1992-93 Atlanta Hawks season using the Replay Basketball game.

A replay of the 2005 Bengals season using the APBA Football Master game.

A replay of the 2018 NBA finals using the SSG Basketball game from Sideline Strategy Games.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts on each game I play and the results from the replays.

REPLAY BASEBALL

Saturday May 24,1975 schedule

The Orioles hope to even the series in Kansas City. Baltimore sends Mike Torrez (6-1) to the mound while the Royals counter with veteran Nellie Briles (2-3).

The A’s Vida Blue goes for his eighth win without a defeat in Cleveland. Eric Raich (0-0) makes his debut for the Indians.

A pitching match-up of two southpaws should be interesting in San Diego. Jerry Reuss (3-2) gets the call for Pittsburgh while the Padres call on ace Randy Jones (2-5).

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REPLAY BASEBALL

Friday May 23, 1975 results

Tied at five in the bottom of the seventh, Cubs reliever Darold Knowles coaxed San Francisco’s Willie Montanez into grounding into a bases loaded inning ending double play. Chicago went on to score five runs in the top of the eighth to go on to the 10-5 win. Knowles (3-1) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief. The Giants starter, Pete Falcone (6-1) was pinned with his first defeat of the replay.

Four Yankees went yard as New York defeated the Rangers 5-3. Roy White (5), Greg Nettles (7), Chris Chambliss (2), and Thurman Munson (3) homered for the Yankees. All but Munson’s were solo shots. Catfish Hunter (7-4) went the distance for the win. Fergie Jenkins (2-6) allowed all four homers while suffering the loss.

The Reds Gary Nolan improved to 7-0 as Cincinnati defeated the Phillies 6-3. Joe Morgan (6) and Tony Perez (8) homered for the victors. Phillies starter Larry Christenson (0-1) failed to get thru the fourth inning.

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REPLAY BASEBALL

Friday May 23, 1975 schedule

The two divisions leaders in the American League face off as the Orioles are at Kansas City. Baltimore sends left hander Ross Grimsley (3-3) to the mound against the Royals surprise ace Al Fitzmorris (7-0).

Speaking of surprising starters, the Giants Pete Falcone (6-0) gets the nod as San Francisco host Rick Reuschel (3-2) and the Cubs.

Two Hall of Famers match-up at Shea as Fergie Jenkins (2-5) takes the bump for the Rangers while Catfish Hunter (6-4) gets the call for New York.

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REPLAY BASEBALL

Thursday May 22, 1975 results

Brewers’ leftfielder Bobby Mitchell walks off Texas with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth as Milwaukee downs the Rangers 5-4. Tom Murphy (3-1) benefited from the Mitchell home run while the Rangers Jackie Brown (3-4) was the losing pitcher.

The Cubs Ray Burris (3-3) held Los Angeles to three runs over 7.2 innings and Oscar Zamora picked up his second save with 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Leftfielder Pete LaCock tripled and drove in two runs for Chicago. Former Cub Burt Hooten (5-1) was pinned with the setback.

Baltimore screwball specialist Mike Cuellar (5-2) shutout the White Sox 4-0. First baseman Lee May went four for four with two RBI and his 13th home run to lead the O’s attack. Jim Kaat (4-4) went the distance for Chicago but suffered the loss.

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REPLAY BASEBALL

Wednesday May 21, 1975 results

Cubs’ leftfielder Pete LaCock went five for six with two RBI and four runs scored as Chicago won a slugfest over the Dodgers 12-10. Cubs Centerfielder Rick Monday added to the Chicago outfield production going five for five with five RBI and his eighth home run of the replay. Cubs’ lefty Geoff Zahn (2-0) benefited from the offensive explosion. Darold Knowles picked up his sixth save. The Dodgers Jim Brewer (2-2) allowed four runs in three innings of relief for the loss.

Kansas City catcher Fran Healy’s two out, eighth inning triple broke a four all tie as the Royals down New York 6-4. Reliever Marty Pattin (2-1) only threw a third of an inning, but it was enough to be awarded the win. Doug Bird pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save. Yankees reliever Sparky Lyle (2-2) couldn’t get out of the eighth inning and suffered the setback.

Giants’ leadoff hitter Von Joshua (4) homered and tripled as San Francisco cruised past the Pirates 11-2. John “The Count” Montefusco (3-2) went the distance for the win. Bruce Kison (3-2) was the losing pitcher of record for Pittsburgh.

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REPLAY BASEBALL

As I stated before I started this replay, the contents of Replay Games Baseball (and Basketball as well) are second to none. Below is the Replay Baseball Rare Play and Rules Booklet. If one rolls a red 3 and a white 4 another single die roll is required and if that roll is a three or a five you are directed to the booklet below. Replay calls it a “Rare” play booklet, I think of it as more of a “Unique” play booklet.

The base situation, number of outs, and a roll of two d6 determine the result of the rare play. A couple of examples include a bad throw to first is either an error or a great play depending on the first baseman’s rating. The runner on first is hit by a batted ball and is declared out with the batter being credited with a single. Pitchers being charged with doctoring the ball and batters with using an illegal bat. There are many more possible scenarios.

The only problem with these rare plays is occasionally the result cannot be manually inputted into the manual entry feature. For example, there is a play where the batter hits a line shot to third that the third baseman knocks down but the runner on third base holds. It is not possible to award a single without the runner on third scoring. So, I score it a fielder’s choice and award the batter with a single and charge the pitcher with a single after the game. (You can manually edit the stats if required).

REPLAY BASEBALL

Tuesday May 20, 1975 results

Filling in for the injured Carlton Fisk, Red Sox catcher Bob Montgomery’s two out double with a runner on second and two out in the bottom of the ninth gives Boston the walk off win over the A’s 6-5. Bill Lee (5-3) went the distance for the win and Oakland reliever Rollie Fingers (0-4) suffered the setback.

The Rangers scored four runs in the top of the eighth to rally past Milwaukee 9-6. Texas outfielder Jeff Burroughs doubled to drive in two of the runs during the rally. Rangers reliever Steve Foucault (4-0) went the final four innings for the win. Brewers reliever Bill Castro (0-2) was the losing pitcher allowing four runs.

In a spot start, the Cardinals Elias Sosa (1-2) pitched five innings of one run ball as St. Louis edged San Diego 2-1. Mike Garman and Al Hrabosky added two scoreless innings each with Hrabosky picking up save number five. Padres starter Alan Foster (0-2) was the tough luck loser, allowing just two runs in 7.1 innings.

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