How did you first become interested in Baseball? Does your background and education help with this interest? How did you become a Baseball Historian?

Scott: Well, let me try to kill three birds with one stone here. I was raised in a baseball family, fourth generation Chicago Cubs fans. My great-grandfather watched Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance in the days before automobiles were commonly used. My grandmother could vividly recall going to her first ballgame in 1929 and watching Kiki Cuyler and Hack Wilson play. My mother had an autograph book from the 1950s, with Roy Smalley (Sr) signature in it, from when she attended a game. And my father was an encyclopedia of baseball knowledge. We were a family that talked regularly about the game's history.

Now, not all baseball fans are crazy about the game's history. In fact, most aren't. Most people love watching today's game, or coaching their kid, or playing in some version of a baseball league. Or they love fantasy baseball, or sims, like Strat-O-Matic. So being passionate about baseball history is unique, and I didn't realize the way I followed the game was different than a lot of folks. But being a history guy first, modern game guy second, is just the way I've evolved. It's not really better or worse than any other way to love the game, it's just the way I was raised.

Wolfman: What is there about being a Historian that you find fascinating or fascinating about the game of Baseball?

Scott: I've always enjoyed reading and writing (and baseball) so combining all three came naturally. What's interesting about the game's history to me is that there are all sorts of unexplored corners of information. Baseball's history is so rich and detailed, it is an endless source of fun researching and writing about it. There is really no threat of running out of material. As I said on twitter, recently: "If your passion is baseball history, the season never ends."

Wolfman: I am assuming since you did research for the SOM game company that you have also played and own the baseball game. What was your first contact with SOM Baseball?

Scott: We were talking about this over the holiday, at a family party. My sister bought the game for me in 1981, for Christmas. It was the 1980 set, with George Brett and Steve Carlton. Prior to that I had played a game called All-Star Baseball, by Cadaco. But Strat blew it away. The realism, the detail! And...the set came with several old timer teams. I could play the 1927 New York Yankees or 1934 St Louis Cardinals against the 1980 Chicago Cubs. That was amazing!

Wolfman: Now you shared with me that you did some research for the Som game company related to the Negro Leagues - is this a special area of interest for you and why?

Scott: I became interested in the Negro leagues because my grandfather once told me a story about playing against the Cuban Stars. I didn't know who the Cuban Stars were until later on, but when I found out they had been an important team with great players, my interest was piqued. Plus, Robert Peterson's book, Only the Ball Was White, had a major influence on me. I used to spend a lot of time in libraries and reading Peterson's book opened the door to a baseball world I knew so little about.

Wolfman: I did check on-line and it is my understand that the game company has only offered so far a group of All Star Players for the Negro Leagues, is this correct? How did you help the game company with this?

Scott: They sell the original Negro League All Stars set, which I worked on, and some of those players are included in the updated Hall of Fame set. So, some of my labor has gone into two products sold by Strat-O-Matic.

Mostly, what I did was I built a detailed database. It took years to whip it together. And then for six, eight months we worked on adjusting the stats for realism, so it could be played against the white Hall of Famers in the original HOF set. It was fun working with Hal Richman, Steve Barkan and Steve Winberry.

Wolfman: Will they be offering seasons?

Scott: It's my understanding that Strat-O-Matic will be offering a couple Negro League seasons, as computer products. I'm not working on these sets, but I'm sure they'll be fine.

Wolfman: Thank you for sending me the sample copies of your newsletter which you call the "Outside Baseball Bulletin" - I saw that you cover many different stories throughout history about certain players. What is your goal for your newsletter - what type of information do you cover?

Scott: It's baseball history, plain and simple. Raw and uncensored. We try to find new material that isn't available on the web, or in books. It's not really about sims, or Strat-O-Matic for that matter, but because of my love for the game, Strat-themed stories drift in there every once in awhile. We actually have a Strat-themed promotion coming up in April, but people will have to read the ezine to find out the details.

Wolfman: How can someone find out about your news letter?

Scott: If they send me an email at outsiderbb@gmail.com, I'll send them a batch of sample issues. Or, they can go to www.outsiderbaseball.com to subscribe. It's dirt cheap to get a year worth of issues (52).

Wolfman: Back to the SOM Baseball Game, is there some aspect of this game that you enjoy and appreciate?

Scott: It's realism and playability are its two most redeeming features.

Wolfman: Is there any key tips for you playing the Baseball Game that have helped you to be successful that you could share with our readers.

Scott: Oh, I'm the worst GM/field manager in Strat-O-Matic history! I always draft and play guys based on emotion. And it's fun, but not a guaranteed template for success. If you want to win, study the cards and play the percentages. Plain and simple.

Wolfman: Have you visited the game company and do you know the people who work there - can you discuss what it is like or any special experiences you had at the game company or dealing with the Mr. Richman or the people who work there.

Scott: Hal Richman is one of the brightest baseball minds I've ever encountered and a fantastic businessman. I learned a lot from working with him. Attending the 50^th Anniversary a couple years back was one of the fun filled weekends I've ever had.

Wolfman: Also I saw that you had interviewed Glenn Guzzo when his book on SOM came out - how well do you know Mr. Guzzo. What was your objective of this interview - did you do a review of his book?

Scott: I consider Glenn Guzzo to be a "Strat friend." He's really a legend in the industry and if you haven't read his book, you should buy.  It's a must read for any true Strat-O-Matic fanatic.

Wolfman: Finally, Scott you shared with me that you are working on a new book that will come out next year - can you tell our readers a little bit about this book?

Scott: I have a book about baseball history coming out in 2014. Chicago Review Press is the publisher. Can't really share too much at this point other than it will hopefully contain a lot of new material you've never seen before. And oh, there WILL be a few mentions of Strat-O-Matic in there. It should appeal to Strat fans.

Wolfman: Is there anything else you might like to share with our readers that you think would be of interest for them related to SOM Baseball or Baseball itself, that was not asked in any of my questions before?

Scott: Well, support the company. Buy their products. Share the game with younger people. Help them keep the magic going. There really IS something magical about Strat-O-Matic, you know?

Wolfman Shapiro
Founder/Editor, the Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter

email: wolfmanshapiro@gmail.com
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twitter: @StratBaseball4U

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