Issue #1, January 2013, Part II

Comments from the Wolfman

Here we are again, dear members and SOM Baseball Fanatics, for the second part of this newsletter experiment. (We have to specify baseball because, of course, Strat has other great sports games even though the baseball game came first.) The experiment seems to be working: we have almost 400 members today, up from 137 before Part I was released on Jan. 20. I directly invited just 60 people, so this means we are growing because of word-of-mouth in our community and among our members. I want to share my gratitude to everyone who has helped us to let others know about the newsletter -- Yes!

I can't say this enough, but I am just the custodian, doing my Aries thing (if you know astrology) to open the door and allow the universe and our community to determine the direction of this newsletter. I can't believe how much support we have had and how fast we have grown in such a short time. I am very excited, how about you?

I forgot last time to use my best photo, along with comments capture my boyhood dream to be a professional baseball player. I was never a good hitter, but I did well as a pitcher, making a few all-star teams in Little League due to my fastball. I even threw a one-hit shutout once. Because I was born in Chicago, I will always be a Cubs fan -- although I would have a hard time choosing my favorite Cubs player. As one of our members recently noted, it's hard waiting for the Cubs' management to get the right team together to challenge for the World Series title, but I believe they will.

In the Cyber Baseball Association (CBA), in which I have been a member since 2005, I have to do the same as the Cubs and rebuild (although I finally got the championship under my belt last year.) I have already traded away Adrian Beltre (Texas 3B), Jake Peavy (Chicago WS SP), Lance Berkman (Texas DH) and Matt Cain (San Francico SP) -- to get younger. But that is another story I will share with you in a later newsletter. Anyway, my head (photo from my younger days, before the gray set in) superimposed on the head of an old Chicago Cubs hitter by Dennis C. of the CBA, who is quite talented in such matters.

I had not anticipated that as editor of this new newsletter I would be flooded with such a variety of situations that go in, on and around the game we love (including behind-the-scenes happenings.) Suffice to say there are many perspectives on the game from such a varied group as our membership. In addition to always being free (for however long we exist), we will strive to maintain a position of "neutrality" in dealing with all of the different people and organizations associated with the newsletter.

By "neutrality" we mean the newsletter team will never take sides -- every individual, group and organization must have total freedom to express him or herself without judgment being passed. The team will do its best to respect everyone and every organization, even if at times we may agree to disagree. The idea of "Unity Through Diversity", the name of a group I met in the early 1980s, is that access to the greatest variety of information and resources creates the most options for personal and communal growth. Thus, the SOM community becomes more vibrant

The reason for sharing this is to explain how we decided upon which individuals and groups to list on our recommended resource page. If a special service or group isn't listed, that does not mean it isn't recommended. Either we are unaware of the resource, or haven't had enough time to discuss how we can work together to support each other (without any conditions) and for the benefit of our members.

Some of you may have heard that I "went rogue" after 1981, when I walked away from Strat for 23 years. During my hiatus, I was able to discover part of my role in life. In addition to being a catalyst for new activities and projects, I discovered I am also a peacemaker. I believe it's my job to ensure that everyone and every group we work with follows a simple principle: mutual respect. It may be an impossible goal, because as human beings none of us is perfect, but the more we work together, the more everyone wins. I pledge, however, that this principle will guide us.

The idea of playing a game is for enjoyment. Yes, some of us have this strong desire to win every game we play or do well in our league or replay, but the greatest joy from playing the game is the chance to create community among others who share this hobby and passion. I hope our members understand that we did not start this newsletter to compete with anyone else or replace any of the fine resources that already exist. Our goal is to add to these resources and services and make them even better. If we are able to provide a level of service, information and entertainment similar to the great and incredible job done by our predecessors (Newell and Allison at SOM Review, and Glenn Guzzo of Strat Fan) then it will be a great honor. Please remember, dear members, this is your newsletter and it's a co-creation. Be a part of it with us.

 I apologize for getting carried away, but I am a spontaneous writer. As we think about what information to share next, we are trying to do everything we can to put our members first.

Let's focus on Issue #1, Part II.  I doubt we will be able to do another two-part newsletter, unless we develop a really strong support team.

First up, we finish Glenn Guzzo's amazing interview, in which he shares a bit more about all the great projects he has been involved with, and talks about his book. Through Glenn's help, we made an agreement with his publisher, Acta Sports, so that may buy both of his books at a discount (for our members only), as well as some other key baseball books they offer. (See the Recommend Resources Page for seven amazing baseball books from Acta -- all at a discount!)

Next, we wanted to introduce the two organizations who agreed to be our partners before seeing the first issue of the newsletter (how about that?). We have an interview with Mike SanClemente, the main editor for Stratogists.com, who explains how that organization came together and its purpose. He also discusses the key tool the site offers -- the "Rookie Review" see at the bottom of this page how to order to get your copy).

Michael McLaughlin, an interesting and unique SOM baseball gamer who is moderator at The Stratomatic Baseball Village (one of the several great on-line forums) along with Ken "Rezzdogg" Dunning (owner of the site), has provided an article about his first experience with the Strat-O-Matic Baseball Game.

Our "secret consultant" reveals himself as none other then Marc Wasserman, commissioner of the CBA. Marc has been very helpful and supportive with the newsletter. He begins a new column called "Commissioner's Corner", in which he describes the "do's" and "don'ts" of being a league commissioner. He also has provided the questions for our quiz (no guesses yet). Please take a look at the quiz page. Even if you aren't sure of the answers, take a guess. What do you have to lose? In Issue #2, we hope to announce a winner. If not, we will give the answers along with the next quiz. I also thought it might be interesting to start a new poll to gauge members' opinions about the best-performing Strat baseball cards divided into various categories (basic game vs. advanced; pitchers, hitters, dead ball era vs. modern era). Just an idea to keep things fun and lively.

In Part I of this issue, newsletter assistant Larry Braus provided a high-level overview of different key tournaments and conventions held since 1972. Several years ago, I was inspired to write a book about SOM Baseball, but didn't finish. The idea was to discuss some of my experiences and do a survey of various gamers about aspects of their game play. I wanted to discuss the first nine conventions that I had either attended or had been involved in creating. Because I had already created web pages for these conventions (through 1980), I decided that I would share in this issue and the next eight issues the reports that were given of these amazing conventions. I hope you will enjoy this column as it should bring back these special moments when face-to-face tournaments began.

We have also updated a bit the Recommend Resources page, adding a few new contacts, the Acta Sports books and a service that could help our members in a big way.

If you weren't sure where to go to find the first part of this newsletter, head over to:
http://www.v-j-enterprises.com/USBN-1-2013/USBN-Issue1-P1.htm

Please feel free to offer to your friends and Strat buddies access to Issue #1, even if they are not members. If they join (for free), emails will be sent directly to them. Our bulletins from time to time will contain other timely information that may not be shared in the newsletter. There is a link for those who want to become members at the bottom of each page of this issue.

We hope you enjoy this issue and continue to be open for new submissions or suggestions. Feel free to send us your comments on any aspect of the newsletter.

May everyone have a great 2013 in game play, and again express our great gratitude for your interest and support.

Wolfman Shapiro
 
 

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Contained inside this exciting issue of Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter:
(to view the interviews, articles and special sections click on the links {underline} and this will take you to the appropriate webpage)
 

♦  INTERVIEW with GLENN GUZZO author of "Strat-o-matic Fanatics", SOM columnist.
(Part II of his amazing interview)

♦  ARTICLE with MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN -- moderator/administrator from the Stratomatic Baseball Village, an SOM baseball forum and partner for the newsletter discusses the great George Shuba.

♦  COLUMN with MARC WASSERMAN-- commissioner of the Cyber Baseball Association (CBA) begins a new column about what it is like to be a League Commissioner.

♦  COLUMN with WOLFMAN SHAPIRO -- editor of "The Ultimate Strat Newsletter" and 2012 CBA Champion. Wolfman takes us back to the first national Strat-o-matic Convention in 1972 as he was present. This column will be based primarily upon the articles from the Strat-o-matic Review that covered the national Strat-o-matic conventions from 1972-1980 (including the ones organized by the Wolfman and his friends from Chicago). We will continue to share one new convention in this issue forward till all are shared.

♦  QUIZ & POLL ABOUT THE SOM BASEBALL CARDS submitted originally by Marc Wasserman with a new poll from the Wolfman. The quiz questions about the Baseball Cards and unique ones were not answered before so we will try again before we give the answers.

♦  RECOMMEND ON-LINE SOM RESOURCES -- other on-line strat-o-matic websites that offer amazing information (all sports), special tools and products to improve game play which we have been in personal contact with and agree with our idea to help cross promote each other.

 

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