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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

Monday May 26, 1975 results

Angels right fielder Leroy Stanton went five for five raising his batting average to .260 as California throttled the Indians 15-3. Stanton (5) homered and drove in five runs. Frank Tanana (3-3) went the distance for the Angels. Fritz Peterson (5-2) was pegged with the loss.

With the Giants trailing 7-6 with two out and two on in the top of the eighth, first baseman Willie Montanez (2) hits a three run homer against his former team as San Francisco edges the Phillies 9-7. Gary Lavelle (3-1) picks up the win in relief. While Tug McGraw (3-1) is the losing pitcher of record, also in relief.

Andy Messersmith (6-1) outduels Tom Seaver (4-5) as the Dodgers nip the Mets 2-1. Messersmith went the distance allowing just four hits and one run. He walked two and struck out five. Centerfielder Jimmy Wynn drove in both runs for Los Angeles.

Tony Oliva (4) belted two home runs as the Twins down Detroit 8-3. Steve Braun (6) and Bobby Darwin (3) also homered for Minnesota. Bill Campbell (3-0) went the distance in a rare start for the Twins. Vern Ruhle (2-6) was knocked around, allowing five runs in 3.2 innings and suffered the defeat.

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REPLAY BASEBALL

Sunday May 25, 1975 results

Giants’ catcher Marc Hill drove in six runs including his third home run of the replay as San Francisco gets by the Cubs 9-8. Gary Lavelle (2-1) picks up the win in relief with Randy Moffitt collecting his seventh save. Geoff Zahn (2-1) suffered the defeat.

In the bottom of the ninth with two out, bases loaded, and trailing 7-5 Milwaukee right fielder Sixto Lezcano doubles to clear the bases as the Brewers walk off Minnesota 8-7. Lezcano was 0 for 4 until his final at bat. Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2) garnered the win while Tom Burgmeier (1-2) blew the save.

The A’s swept a twin bill from Cleveland, 9-2 and 9-1. Jim Holt (2), Sal Bando (7), Billy Williams (12), and Gene Tenace (8) all homered for Oakland. Dave Hamilton (1-0) was the game one winner while Dave LaRoche (0-1) allowed five runs in his third of an inning for the setback.

In game two, veteran right hander Dick Bosman (4-2) had a successful debut against his former team going the distance and allowing just one run on four hits. Reggie Jackson (11) homered for Oakland. Jim Kern (2-2) was the starter and losing pitcher for Cleveland.

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REPLAY BASEBALL

Saturday May 24, 1975 results

Montreal first baseman Mike Jorgensen’s (4) solo homer with two out in the top of the tenth gives the Expos a 3-2 lead. Reliever Dan Warthen (1-1) throws 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win. Houston reliever Joe Niekro (2-1) was the losing pitcher of record.

Orioles starter Mike Torrez (7-1) was lights out shutting out Kansas City 2-0. Torrez allowed just four hits while walking three with two strike outs. Despite only allowing two unearned runs, the Royals Nelson Briles (2-4) suffered the setback.

In a game that saw seven batters leave the yard, Cleveland outslugged the A’s 9-6. Buddy Bell (5), Frank Robinson (7), and Boog Powell (6) all homered for the Indians. Lefty Don Hood (1-4) pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief for the win. Oakland reliever Jim Todd (4-2) failed to retire a batter in the eighth, allowing four runs on four hits, and was pinned with the loss.

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REPLAY BASEBALL

One of the things I enjoy during my replays is chasing substitutions. Pinch hitting, pinch running, early substitutions, and late substitutions. Today, I will focus on pinch running, specifically the 1975 Oakland A’s pinch running. Oakland pinch ran “probably” the most of any team in 1975. They finally gave up on Herb Washington in early May. Washington was more of a track star than a baseball player. If I recall correctly, Washington was picked off during the 1974 World Series and that probably left a bad taste in A’s management’s mouth. Another factor was the A’s had Don Hopkins and Matt Alexander available to pinch run. Who, both were baseball players compared to the specialized Washington.

I colored code each player depending on how much they stayed in the game after pinch running. For example, when Washington pinch ran, he did not stay in the game. Thus, he is color coded green. Of the 74 times Hopkins pinch ran he stayed in the game just once. That still earns him a yellow code. Finally, Teddy Martinez, who did not go to Oakland until early June, is coded red. Martinez pinch ran 11 times for Oakland and stayed in the game eight times.

As important as who pinch ran is who did they pinch run for. Billy Williams was the main player replaced for a pinch runner. I also break down what players were pinch ran for before the seventh inning. Of the 44 times Williams was pinch ran for, six were before the seventh inning. So, anytime Williams reaches base from the seventh inning on I pinch run for him (if I remember) usually with Hopkins.

Sometimes the replay does not cooperate with real life. Charlie Sands was only with the A’s three days during 1975. He reached base twice and was pinch run for twice. During the replay, he only reached base once so I could only pinch run for him once. So, it’s not always my fault.

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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