Issue #1, January 2013, Part II

** Strat-o-matic Conventions - Early History - The 1972 Convention  **
    (compiled by Wolfman Shapiro with help from Mike Kane & Gary Losey and a
     republishing of the articles about the Convention in the 1972 Editions of the
     Strat-o-matic Review)

Note from the Wolfman: - One of the things I would say I was the most proud of from my early days of playing Strat-o-matic Baseball, was that I was able to attend the first nine National Strat-o-matic Conventions.  Now, I can't remember exactly why I decided to do this in 2005, but I put out a message on SOM Fan Forum asking if anyone had the old issues of the SOM Review, to see if I could put together, scan and recreate, the reports on these early conventions and Mike Kane and Gary Losey responded.  As my friend Larry Braus shared in his article in part I of this newsletter, the SOM Review with support from the game company created the first convention in their part of the world in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1972 and then worked with the game company in 1973 to hold the next convention in a department store that sold the games in Brooklyn, New York.
 

Anyway back in 2005-2006, I was thinking to write a book that included my personal experiences with SOM Baseball and then interview various gamers asking the same set of questions dealing with how they found the game, some of their most cherised memories and opinions how to create and draft a successful base ball team.  So I think this is why I wanted the old SOM Review copies about the conventions. I even was able to interview by email Mr. Richman, Steve Barkan and James Williams about their feelings about the conventions which I hope I will be able to share with our members.

In any case, this new series of columns will feature starting within this issue and continuing through the next eight issues, a coverage of these past conventions. I already have created webpages with this report but I am reformatting it for the newsletter.  Since I was present at the conferences, I will add a few other comments I feel are significant. So for this issue, let me take you back in time, to 1972, when email leagues were the new way for people to compete and build teams in a league with members all over the U.S. and Canada, when no computers existed and we had to use typewriters to print out the stats for your leagues and when I was 17 years old and this was the first time I had ever been away from home (Skokie, IL) by myself.  I took a bus to go from Chicago, IL to Kalamazoo, MI.

One last note and I sorry but this is going to be a long page, I want to thank Butch Haber, who we hope to share his interview in Issue #2, for keeping the report I wrote in 1973 called "The History of a Wolfman (1967 - June of 1973) which provided more details about my visit to the Michigan Convention. I plan to re-create this report and make it available or all the members as a PDF file -- so dear member are you ready for 1972?

Wolfman Shapiro

 

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memoirs of the Skokie Wolfman,
Part I - The 1972 Convention

(Editor's Note - the following report is basically unedited from the original page I created in 2006. I hope you enjoy it - Wolfman -- PS: sometimes I go as the Skokie Wolfman, as when I joined J.G. Preston's mail league, I was living in Skokie, IL at that time. This is also why I call my CBA team the Skokie Wolfmen.)

One of the greatest memories for me, since  I started playing Strat-o-Matic are the various conventions that were held basically in the 1970's.  I mean the idea to meet some of the people you are playing against in one of your leagues or to watch the world's greatest players is just out of this world.  So this is what initially drew me to attend these conventions.

The reporting of the conventions was done via the Strat-o-matic Review which was the first publication devoted to the game we love.  The publishers of the Review were Del Newell and Mike Allison (and I think Del's brother Warren also helped out later on).  However, as I reminisced about these conferences, I realized how much I had forgotten what had happened over the  years.  So, I sent an SOS out to the folks on various SOM on-line lists, to see if anyone had any copies of the old "Strat-o-matic Reviews" and Mike Kane answered the call.  He sent to me a scanned image of the issues which dealt with the conventions from these early days and a few other of my somewhat crazy antics with SOM of the time (Editor's Note - I will offer those stories at a future time).  So thanks very much Mike!!

Then all of a  sudden out of the blue, another gamer, Gary Losey, also followed up with me and provided some additional issues for the review (Battle of the Sexes II, 1980 convention at Northwestern, and other little bits and pieces ...).  It is hard to believe for myself, how many different activities with Strato I was involved with in what I call the "Early Days" but this is just me, when I love something, I give it my all.

I did attend the first convention, but I was young and very in-experienced.  It felt quite strange to leave my home for a place I didn't know anyone by bus from Chicago.  I was 17 at the time and this was my first time away from home by myself.  But I was just happy that I would have a chance to meet all the members of the play-by-mail league I was in, in person at the convention, which was called the International League, a minor league of the Metropolitan Baseball Association which J. G. Preston had started (see his interview in Part I of this issue) .

So let's step back in time and review (a pun) those early days when the first SOM Conventions took place.  Where were you in 1972?  (Were you even alive then?)

 

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1972 - Kalamazoo, Michigan
(organized by the Strat-O-Matic Review)

SOM CONVENTION
( First announcement by the SOM Review as they started to think about organizing
a convention to be held in their back yard. Date: May 1972 issue )

"We have had people from as far away as California and New York say they would attend a Strato convention in Kalamazoo. However, as of yet, not enough have sent in affirmation responses to get one going. We have done more research though, the Pepsi Cola Company has agreed to donate some Pepsi for our liquid refreshment if our convention does become a reality."

"To narrow things down, so that you could better plan to attend such a happening, it would be held in August. So far, we have not had too much response from the Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio areas. Since it would be easier for these fans to attend, we are particularly interested in whether you could make it or not."

"We wish to repeat, it depends on your response as to whether we get this going or not. The Review would provide the meeting place and you would have to provide your own trans-portation, lodgings, and meals. This would be a great chance for two or three Strato fans to come together. By the way, you would not have to be a subscriber to attend." (comments by the editors Del Newell and Mike Allison)
 

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Devoted exclusively to the Strat-O-Matic game fans, with the consent of the Strat-O-Matic Game Co.

STRAT-O-MATIC REVIEW Vol.. II-6 August 1972 35¢

Signals `Go' For SOM Convention

As the first SOM Convention approaches, all of the preparations have been made. The Convention will run from 12:00 noon to 9:00 PM at the Comstock North Elementary School on Saturday, August 12, 1972. No admission will be charged, and the convention is open to all SOM game players. You need not subscribe to the Review to attend - all are welcome. Both a football and baseball tournament will be held with the football tourney beginning at 1:00 PM and the baseball tourney starting at 4:00 PM.

The Game Co. is supplying trophies for these tournaments. The reason for the late starting time of the baseball tournament is to allow those who get bumped from the football tourney in the early rounds to be able to play in the baseball tournament. There will be no charge for playing in the tournaments, just be on time. Also, you do not have to participate in the tourneys, there will be plenty of room for isolated games. (If you get knocked out of the tournaments in the early rounds, there will he many game players from all over to talk with and strike up some games. Words from the Game Co. is that a representative from there may attend the convention, possibly even Mr. Richman. However, at the time of this printing, definite plans for their attendance had not been made. Liquid refreshments will be on hand to cool you off during the day, compliments of Pepsi Cola.

It is important that as many people as possible attend so that future conventions can be held. If you're planning to come, try to get a couple of friends to come with you. Not only does this make for a larger turnout, but can be cheaper for you by sharing expenses. So far, we have received word from as far away as New York, Iowa and California of players definitely planning to attend.

If you are coming, please bring along your game if possible and if you want to participate in either one or both of the tournaments bring along the team(s) you want to use. If you don't bring your own teams we will have a few on hand that you may borrow, however, the selection my not be the greatest.

Below we have for you, directions on how to get to the convention site, and
a list of motels, their rates and telephone numbers (area code- 616) in the event you care to make reservations. Once you get into Kalamazoo, If you are in need of directions, any gas station should be able to help you or give a call to Mike Allison (xxx-xxxx) or Dal Newell (xxx-xxxx).

DIRECTIONS TO CONVENTI0N SITE: Take Sprinkle Road Exit off I-94. Go north approximately three (3) miles to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ...

MOTELS: (NOTE: 1 stands for single room; 2 for two persons, one room; 4 for four persons, one room.)

(A Large List of Hotels follows {here was a list of hotels you could stay it} .... )

See You August 12th!!

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BULLETIN:  JUST BEFORE WE WENT TO PRINT WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT MR. HAROLD RICHMAN WOULD BE MAKING ALL POSSIBLE ATTEMPTS TO ATTEND THE SOM CONVENTION.  (unforutnately he was not able to attend ...)

(The Report of the first Strat-o-matic Convention in 1972, sponsored by the
Strat-o-matic Review,  continued in the next  issue as shown in the section below.)

 

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Devoted exclusively to the Strat-O-Matic game fans, with the consent of the Strat-O-Matic Game Co.

STRAT-O-MATIC REVIEW Vol.. II-7 August 1972 35¢

First SOM Convention A Hit

From the moment Brad Furst of Spencer, IA, arrived with his sleeping bag and game after hitchhiking, until the final moment, when Ken O'Bryan, Dayton, ON and Don Nadeau, Chelsea, NJ, were crowned football and baseball Champions respectively, the first annual National Strat-O-Matic Convention was marked by success.

All told, over 70 people from all over the midwest and as far away as Jackson, MS,
in the south, New York and New Jersey in the east, Kansas and Iowa in the west, came by car, bus and plane to attend the initial convention held at Comstock North Elementary School (near Kalamazoo, MI) on Saturday. August 12.

Chelsea had the largest single-city turnout, with eight including baseball king Don Nadeau. Other familiar names in the Strat-0-Matic world who were in attendance included Don Miller, 53-year-old Deputy Director of Mississippi's Head Start program; J.G. Preston, the 15-year-old whit from Port Washington, NY, founder of the popular Metropolitan Baseball Association; Steve Keplinger, Baltimore, MD of the Mid-Coastal Football League; avid Review collector Robert Henry, Detroit, MI, who orders three copies of each issue, and many, many others.

Brad Furst, hitchhiking, polled into Kalamazoo on Thursday from Spencer. IA, signaling the start of the arrivals. Most arrived Friday afternoon or evening and likewise left Kalamazoo early Sunday.

Review co-editors Mike Allison and Del Newell sponsored the event and, from the size of the turnout and enthusiasm generated, it appears the convention can definitely be classified a an "annual" happening.

And, making the day even more memorable, was the fact that Steve Barkan, an executive at the game company itself (Port Washington, NY) was in attendance, playing in the football tournament and conducting an enlightening 20-minute question-and-answer session with the audience.

Harold Richman, Strat-O-Matic's owner, was not able to attend because of an illness in his wife's family. Steve, who has been with SOM for over four years, was an able replacement, however. After driving straight through--over 13 hours-and catching, as he put it, "about three minutes sleep," his hectic weekend began Friday with "talk sessions" with other SOM conventioneers. The tourneys on Saturday followed, lasting throughout the day and finally, as the clock inched toward 9 PM, the last of the trophies, for baseball, was presented by Steve and the first Strat-O-Matic convention was history.

The day started with a single-elimination football tourney. And, for some, the day ended with SOM football, as survivors of early play continued their advance, eventually playing in the finals late Saturday evening.

Ken 0' Bryan, 10, a student at the University of Kentucky, emerged an the football champion after guiding the 1967 Los Angeles Rams through an upset-minded field. Ken had a mighty close call in the semi-finals, edging Ted Bafford (Baltimore, MD) and his 1970 Cincinnati Bengels, 24-19, to advance to s championship showdown against Ken Garber (Southfield, MI) and his 1970 San Francisco 49ers, who had ousted Brad Furst's 1969 Baltimore Colts, 26-24, in a semifinal thriller.

O'Bryan and his '67 Rams turned the championship game between the two coast teams into a rout, however, as LA rolled up a 45-3 score. Roman Gabriel passed to Jack Snow for three touchdowns and Dick Bass ran for a pair of six-pointers to spark the Rams to victory. A 12-yard field goal by Bruce Gosset, with 3:15 left in the third quarter and trailing 35-0, was the only 49er scoring.

In baseball, 13-year-old Don Nadeau, with the large Chelsea following cheering him on, took the 1969 Baltimore Orioles to the championship in a tourney pitting 1960 and post-1960 teams.

Nadeau's foe in the championship series (best two-of-three games) was Jim Bridson of Lansing, MI, who had run roughshod over much of the tourney field with the power-hitting 1961 Yankees, featuring the "MM boys," Roger Maris (61 homer) and Mickey Mantle (54 homers).

After coming through the double-elimination meet unscathed, the two met for the title. It turned out that Nadeau's pitching-rich Orioles were too much for the Yankee power as first Jim Palmer and then Dave McNally blanked the New Yorkers, both by identical 3-0 counts. Palmer had a six-hitter and Frank Robinson singled twice and drove in two runs in the opener, while McNally also notched a six-hitter and Paul Blair clouted a two-run, first-inning homer in the finale. Bridson's Yanks incidentally, had earlier averaged over five runs a game, plus in one tilt had walloped five home runs.

The crowd wasn't an all-male gathering either, an a sprinkling of girl friends and wives were in attendance. Ors woman, accompanied by her husband, had driven 400 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, so her sons could participate in the tourney.
Barkan's question and answer session was another tourney highlight. When questioned, he emphasized that a fielder's rating was determined both by his fielding percentage and, more importantly, by his range. Thus some outfielders, who didn't commit an error over an entire season, still deserved a "3" or '4" rating because of their lack of range.

One outfielder, Steve mentioned, usually moved about one inch to his left and one inch to his right, plus he played so deep (often over 400 feet) that nothing could
be hit over his head and stay in the ball park. That me an example or an outfielder
who didn't have much range.

A special thanks for the convention's success should also go the Game Co. for furnishing the trophies for the tourneys, plus Pepsi-Cola of Kalamazoo provided soft drinks free of charge. Even the Kalamazoo Gazette, a daily newspaper, took an interest in the dice-tolling happenings, sending a reporter and photographer to cover the convention. The first small step was unquestionably a successful one as far as the convention. Next year's, hopefully a giant leap forward, promises to be even bigger and better.

Left: Football champ Ken O'Bryan all stiles as him '67 Ram
trounce Ken Garber's (right) '70 49er's.

RIGHT: Ken O'Bryan accepts trophy from Came Co. representative
Steve Barker, (right) symbolizing National Championship.

LEFT: Jim Bridson, second from left, prepares to throw dice in losing
effort against Don Nadeau's Championship '69 Orioles.

RIGHT: Steve Barkan presents the baseball trophy to Don.
 

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Memories of this Convention from the Wolfman: For me this convention was also very special as I had a chance to meet all the members of the Strat-o-matic Mail League I belonged to in 1972, called the International League, which was linked to the Metropolian Baseball Association (MBA, started by J.G. Preston).  Again referring to the report which I wrote back in 1973 I received a copy from Butch H. (who I met at the 1973 Convention, and he kept this report after all these years), here is what happened to me during this convention --

WHO ARE THOSE GUYS
(printed in the January 1973 of the Review)

THE FACES ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE METROPOLITAN BASEBALL
ASSOCIATION - AN INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE, WHOSE MEMBERS ARE
ALSO PARTICIPANTS IN J.G. PRESTON'S ORIGINAL METROPOLITAN
BASEBALL ASSOCIATION. PICTURED ARE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT,
MANAGERS: DON MILLER (JACKSON POPULISTS), RICK SHAPIRO
(SKOKIE CHIEFS), WHO'S ALSO THE LEAGUE'S COMMISSIONER;
DAVE GUY (GRANDVILLE CYCLONES), DENNIS VAN HAITSMA
(WESTERN WILDCATS), RICH VAN HAITSMA (HOLLAND HURRICANES),
AND BRYAN BAKER (FLINT REDWINGS). LEAGUE'S ALL-STAR GAME
WAS PLAYED IN KALAMAZOO, MI, DURING THE STRAT-O-MATIC
CONVENTION. SKOKIE EMERGED THE LEAGUE CHAMPION IN THE
DRAFT REPLAY, WITH JACKSON, THE RUNNERUP.

(Picture submitted by Rich Shapiro)

The photo above are the members of the I.L. that was printed in the SOM Review. The gentlemen to your far right, his name was Don Miller and he made reservations for all of us to stay at a local hotel. Bryan Baker, the gentlemen to the far left, took a negative of our heads and placing them over a hand drawn body underneath which was dressed in our league uniforms as we were standing in a dugout.

I had contacted Bryan a few days before I left by bus from downtown Chicago to come to Kalamazoo, and he was suppose to pick me up at the Kalamazoo bus station but instead when I arrived, there was waiting for me not only Bryan plus Don and another of our league member Dave Guy with Del Newell.  We went to Del's home and there I finally met J. G. Preston, the other SOM Review Editor Mike Allison, both wives of the editors, Brad Furst (the person who hitchhiked to the convention and arrived first) and the game company representative, Steve Barkan. We had a pleasant visit but it was getting late so we left to stay at our hotel nearby (this was the Friday night) so we could be ready for tournament play on Saturday. I roomed with Bryan and Brad stayed in J.G.'s room.

Now for the International League (I.L.), the season had finished with my Skokie Chief's winning our division (of three) and Don Miller's Jackson (MS) Populists winning his division. We had played by mail four of the world series games so far with Skokie leading 3-1. Before the convention started on Saturday, I played Don face-to-face and Skokie prevailed as we won the I.L. world series in six games.  We also played our league's all star game with the division winning managers leading their squads and our division won in the last inning. So I thought this might be a sign that I would have success in the baseball tournament.  I decided not to play in the football tournament (I just didn't know the game that well). 

In the Baseball Tournament you could select your own team.  I picked the 1971 Pirates. The tournament was a double elimination and that is if you lost two games, you were eliminated. We were allow a two pitcher rotation. In my third game of play I was eliminated.  None of the other members of my league had any success in the tournament either. In the evening all the IL and MBA members met during dinner to discuss league rules for the next season.

On the next day Sunday, I had to wait till 2 PM to catch my bus. So Bryan took me to Del's house and before Del took me to the bus station, I was able to play Del two games. We used the teams we were using in our respective mail or face-to-face leagues and we split the two games. Before I took my bus to go back to Chicago, I thanked Del for his hospitality. 

It was a great time to meet the editors of the SOM Review who were the nicest people you would ever want to meet as well as meet all the members of the IL and J. G. Preston.  Also I became close with Brad Furst, who was kind of a zany but lovable character and Brad continued to be one of the key participants in future conventions.  Again, thanks to Butch for providing my personal report as I had forgotten all these stories from the first convention.


(Note from the Wolfman - stay tuned for Issue #2, as I will share the report of the 1973 SOM Convention that was held at Abraham and Strauss department store in Brooklyn and Mr. Richman was on hand to greet us.)
 

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Other Sections to view in this exciting issue :
(to view the interviews, articles and special sections click on the links {underline} and this will take you to the appropriate webpage)
 

♦  RETURN TO NEWSLETTER MAIN PAGE

♦  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.

♦  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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Contact Us for Questions or Submissions:

Wolfman Shapiro
Founder/Editor, the Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter

email: wolfmanshapiro@gmail.com
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