Issue #3, April 2013
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**
Tom Nahigian, SOM Baseball Collector of all the Cards **
(interview conducted by the Wolfman)
(Notes from the Wolfman:
I first met Tom when I visited my
father in Chicago in 2005. At this time I was living in Holland
and usually once a year I would come home to be back in the U.S.
What you quickly learn when you live abroad is the things you
miss from your native country. Anyway, Tom was living in
Chicago at this time, I will let him tell you in the interview
how he found me, as we corresponded via email and we even played
a few games during our visit. But little did I know that Tom was
collecting all the SOM Baseball cards ever printed and I was
surprised to see Glenn Guzzo called him the "Collector" in his
book. It is a great honor and pleasure to introduce my
good friend Tom, who also shared with our members on the
Baseball Card Quiz page a sample of the 1961 and 1962 cards
printed by SOM.)
Wolfman:
So
Tom, Guzzo called you the collector in his book but we will get into that
in a moment. Let's start at the beginning
first, so our members know more about you and your
background, as we each
have our own stories. How did you initially get linked
to baseball Tom?
Tom:
I have always loved baseball since as far back as I can
remember. I was born in 1962. Five years later the Impossible
Dream Red Sox won the American League pennant. After the
season, a record was released called the Impossible Dream,
narrated by Red Sox announcer Ken Coleman. I listened to that
record many times.
Wolfman:
So
Tom, who is your favorite team right now, what are you
favorite players?
Tom:
Growing up in the Boston area, I am a fan of the local
teams, especially the Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins. I am
not a big football fan. My favorite players are Fred
Lynn, Tom Seaver, Mark Fidrych, Bobby Orr, Dave Cowens,
Yaz, Carlton Fisk. Luis Tiant, Sandy Koufax, Mickey
Mantle, David Price and others.
Wolfman:
Did
you ever play baseball? How often would you go to see
baseball games?
Tom:
I was never much of a player, although I did play with
friends. That was in the days of getting cut from a
team, so I was cut from a team I tried out for. I have
always been more of a fan. My first game was at Fenway
Park, July 5, 1970. Indians and Red Sox. Sox won 8-4. I
can still remember being there. It was a nice sunny
Sunday afternoon. I would go to several games a year
when I was young. I attended Boston University which is
walking distance to Fenway. When I was a student there
from September 1980 until I graduated in May of 1984, I
would attend lots of games. In 1982, I went to 32
games. Around 1998 I attended even more. Now that I
live in the Los Angeles area, I see around 2-3 games a
year. I see the Red Sox when they come to Anaheim to
play the Angels.
Wolfman:
Now
lets turn to your lifelong passion with Strat-o-matic -
when did you first
get
the game and what type of game playing do you do -
leagues, solitaire,
replays?
Tom:
I received the Strat-O-Matic Baseball game for Christmas
in 1972, with the 1971 cards inside. I was initially
disappointed because I thought I would receive the 1972
cards because the 1972 season had completed a few months
earlier. The Red Sox contended in 1972 with great
seasons from Carlton Fisk and Luis Tiant. I did order
the 1972 season and received it in the spring of 1973.
That 1971 season was special, it was the first one with advanced
features, such as lefty-righty cards for both hitters and
pitchers, outfielder throwing arms, individual bunting and hit
and run ratings and pitcher endurance ratings. My friends Phil
and Eddie Meade lived around the corner and we played many of
the games together. In the fall of 1973, Strat-O-Matic released
their basketball game with the 1972-73 season. The Celtics won
68 games that year and we played many basketball games over the
years. I would do short seasons with the baseball games, 22
games for the AL and 22 games for the NL, each team played two
games against the other 11 teams. I did that format with the
1973 season cards and continued through the 1976 season or so.
I
also loved the 42 old timer teams such as the 1965 Dodgers, the
1927 Yankees, etc. Those teams became part of leagues. Using the
1976 season, Phil and I joined a league started by Scott Ellis.
I played that one season. Using the 1977 cards, Phil started a
local face to face league. I played in that league for one year.
From the 1981 to 1984 cards, I was in Martin Stoops league with
Phil. My 1984 team won the division but lost in the playoffs.
Phil and I did a number of replays together. I played the basic
game first, then moved up to the advanced version. When the
first computer version came out around 1986, I played that game.
In 1991, I purchased my first computer so I could play the SOM
DOS baseball game. I moved over to Windows for the CD-ROM game.
I love the cards, but I play the computer game. I like that the
computer game keeps all the stats for you. Wolfman:
What
is there about SOM that makes you an SOM Fanatic?
Tom:
I just love the game. It is so much fun to play. I like
the past seasons because you can manage a game with Ted
Williams and Joe DiMaggio in your lineup. Each baseball
season is unique and SOM brings each one to life.
Wolfman:
How
do you consider yourself as a gamer or GM (General
Manager)? Do you know
the rules
backward and forwards, have you won any leagues or
played in live tournaments.
Tom:
I consider myself a gamer and a GM. I played in the Star
Tournament at the 1998 Akron SOM convention and won the baseball
tournament. We used the 1997 season cards. I played in Rob
Ratliff's league with Phil from the 1993 season through around
the 2003 season cards. I had two teams, the Phillies and the
Blue Jays. That league was lots of fun. My teams made the
playoffs several times, but I never got to the World Series. I
like to create my own leagues as well as a do full season actual
replays of a past season.
Wolfman:
I
think when we met, you knew of me from before, maybe
during the time
of
the early issues of the SOM Review or did we connect on
SOM Fan Forum? Do you recall exactly how you found me
which enabled us to meet at my Father's house near Chicago?
Tom:
I knew your name from the SOM Review. I saw your email address
on a Strat-O-Matic website for fans, it may have been the
StratBB list. I emailed you in May of 2005 and we emailed back
and forth. At that time, I moved to Chicago. Your father lived
very close to my future wife's family. It was great to meet you
in person and play a game of Strat-O-Matic Baseball.
Wolfman:
Now
lets turn to what you are known for in our community -
your collection
of
SOM Baseball Cards - according to your interview with
Guzzo is it true you have
every card printed? Is this even true for the very first
original cards
that the game company released which they have created
new versions for now that include the advance and basic sides of
the cards? Where do you
keep the cards?
Tom:
Yes, I do have all the SOM baseball cards and the basketball as
well. My first SOM set was the 1971 cards. I subscribed to the
SOM Review from May 1977 to the end. I saw classified ads so I
was able to purchase original 1969 and 1970 seasons. My cousin
Victor also played SOM for a few years and he gave me his cards.
He had around six teams from 1968. Over the next few years I
picked up the missing 1968 teams. I remember I paid $12 for the
1968 Cardinals. This was around 1979. Since the old timer teams
ended at 1967, I thought that would be a good ending point. Then
in March of 2001, I saw an online ad for the original 1967 set
for sale from Dean Amrhein. I purchased the set from him a few
weeks later. The rest of my story is told in the Strat-O-Matic
Fanatics book by Glenn Guzzo. I have purchased the oldtime
seasons since 1982, when the first season came out, 1956. I like
the super advanced seasons, so even though I have 1967 in basic
format, I also like the super advanced 1967 set. Many of the
cards are in my old bedroom in my parent's home in the Boston
area. Seasons released since 2006 are here with me in the Los
Angeles area.
Wolfman:
And
what is it about having this collection that brings you
joy or happiness?
Is
it just that you were able to do this and you love being
a collector?
Tom:
I just like the cards. Each SOM player card is a complete
scouting report of their skills and abilities. It is fun to hold
a 1956 Mickey Mantle card in your hand and you can see what a
great player he was. Switch hitter, tremendous power against
right hand pitching, high average against lefty pitching. Fine
defense and throwing arm, speed, the complete package. I
remember the power from the 1979 Fred Lynn card, especially
against righty pitchers. Mark Belanger had some decent
offensive years, but other years he was weak. He was always a 1
in defense. Each card is special. Wolfman:
How
do you console yourself with the large amount of money
(I believe) you
have
invested to have all the cards? It is not for me to
judge a Strat brother but
certainly the amount I read you have spent in Guzzo book
might have been
used for other things, what are you thoughts or feelings
on this?
Tom:
I
know I spent a lot for the cards, but it is something I wanted
to do. Some people collect stamps or wine or they spend all
their money on beer or gambling. It was fun to search for the
cards. I do want to be a resource for other SOM fans. Wolfman:
What
do you plan to do with the cards? Would you consider
for our newsletter
to
send us periodically some of the early cards that didn't
have all the
ratings - I
think in 1960 there was no fielding rating - I think for
some of our
members to
know the evolution of the cards is fascinating - could
you summarize for our members what happened with say the
cards based on 1960 and 1961, which were the first cards
printed? (Note: on the Baseball Card Quiz section is
sample of the cards Tom is discussing - to view them
click
here.)
Tom:
For
now, I want to keep them. Yes, I can send you images of cards if you
would like. I scanned the original 1960 and 1961 cards (again see
the Quiz page).
The 1960 and 1961 cards are larger. The pitchers for both years were
printed with red ink, the batters with black ink. The first
foundation of the SOM game was built, batters having their columns
from dice rolls 1, 2, and 3 and pitchers have their columns in 4, 5
and 6. That version of the game has Groundball and Flyball E. The
first two sets were all stars. The 1960 set had five players for
each of the 16 major league teams, a total of 80 players. The 1961
set had the two pennant winners, the Yankees and the Reds with 17
players, the two second place teams the Tigers and the Dodgers with
17 players and one AL and one NL team of the remaining players, 17
players for each league, a total of 102 players. The 1962 set was
the first issued with 20 player for each team. Individual fielding
and base running was added to the game.
Wolfman:
Would you have any playing tips to give to our readers
that have
helped you in your game play which have been key
strategies?
Tom:
Playing tips would be to have fun. SOM can be enjoyed in so many
different ways. It is important to know the card ratings. Each card
has a defined amount of hits, double plays, etc. It is good to have
players who get on base and have power and can play some defense.
Pitchers need to be stingy with hits and base runners allowed. Wolfman:
What
is your favorite season of cards including if you wish,
the
seasons
that
do not have cards printed yet but are just rosters on the
computer?
Tom:
Favorite seasons are from the 1970's. I would like to
see 1962, 1968, 1969 and 1970 updated for super advanced
as well as the rest of the 1970's and early 1980's
seasons which would be 1972, 1973 (coming in 2014),
1974, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984. The
1985 season was the first with super advanced seasons. I
would also support the earliest past season releases to
be upgraded to super advanced which would be 1956, 1930
and 1950. The 1927 season was special because it was
first past season release to have super advanced
features.
I do enjoy the Negro League cards as well as the super advanced Hall
of Fame cards and the Baseball Heroes cards. Very cool stuff.
Wolfman:
Is
there anything else you want to share that I haven't
asked
before in this interview? Do you have any future
projects?
Tom:
Thanks for all your questions. I don't know what else to
add. I am 50 years old, my wife and I were married in
May of 2006. I enjoy the computer versions of the
baseball, basketball and hockey games. I am happy that
SOM has released all the seasons for my favorites Dave
Cowens and Bobby Orr.
Wolfman:
Can
people contact you if they wish to speak to you about
your interest with the game or knowledge about the
cards? And if
so, what
is the best way to do this?
Tom:
Yes, people can reach me by email at
tnahigian@bigplanet.com
Wolfman:
Thank you Tom for allowing us to interview you and
discuss
your
passion - have a great day!
Contained inside this exciting issue of Ultimate Strat
Baseball Newsletter:
(to view the various interviews, articles, columns and special sections click on
the links {underlined} and this will take you to the appropriate
webpage)
♦
RETURN TO NEWSLETTER MAIN PAGE
♦
INTERVIEW with JEFF POLMAN,
Writer, SOM Website Columnist, Replay Expert.
♦
INTERVIEW with JIM CALLIS and KEN
DAVIDOFF,
Jim is Executive Editor of
Baseball America and Ken is a baseball columnist for the NY Post
♦
EARLY SOM
CONVENTIONS COLUMN with WOLFMAN SHAPIRO --
editor of
"The Ultimate Strat Newsletter" and 2012 CBA Champion.
Wolfman takes us back in
this article to the third national Strat-o-matic
Convention in 1974 held in Champaign-Urbana, IL, at the
University of Illinois as the Wolfman and his buddies organize
their first convention. Wolfman will be
our guide through the first nine conventions going through 1980
of which he was present at each one. We now begin the era from 1974-1980
when the conventions moved to Illinois. We will continue to share one new convention in
each future issue till all of these early ones are published.
♦
INTERVIEW with PETE
NELSON, (STAR),
Board Member of the Star
Tournaments Association, discusses what the Star Tournaments are
all about.
♦
INTERVIEW with WILLY
DOMINQUEZ,
January 2013 STAR Worlds
Champion
♦
INTERVIEW with TERRY
BARTELME,
SOM Gamer, Discusses his
experiences with the Negro and Japanese Players working with
private developers.
♦
INTERVIEW with BILLY SAMPLE,
Ex-MLB Player (TEX,NYY,ATL),
Sportscaster
♦
COMMISSIONER's CORNER with MARC WASSERMAN --
commissioner of the Cyber Baseball Association (CBA) continues
his column about what it is like to be a League Commissioner. In
this article he discusses the early development of a League's
Constitution, League Themes and Economics.
♦
SOM BASEBALL CARDS QUIZ
- our test of your knowledge of the SOM Baseball Cards,
questions and answers provided by Marc Wasserman. In this issue
we give the answers to
Quiz #2,
explain our new format for this column, introduce some early SOM
Baseball cards from the 1960 and 1961 seasons thanks to Tom
Nahigian who is also interviewed in this issue in his own
section.
♦
RECOMMEND
ON-LINE SOM RESOURCES
-- On-line Strat-o-matic and Baseball related websites that offer amazing information, special tools and products to improve
your game play
that we strongly recommend. In most cases, we have had personal contact with
these sources who agree with the principle to work together and help promote each other.
♦
BOOKS TO
DIE FOR and Become a BASEBALL GURU
-- This page
is a new page we are adding for the newsletter that is
specifically about special books we are finding that either will
expand your insights about the game of Baseball, help you in the
creation of your current league teams or with your replays and
learn more about the Strat-o-matic Base Game and Game Company's
history. At the time of the release of this newsletter we
have a special arrangement with Acta Sports to offer our members
a 10% discount. We hope to add more books in the future.
Contact Us for Questions or Submissions:
Wolfman Shapiro
Founder/Editor, the
Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter
email:
wolfmanshapiro@gmail.com
facebook:
www.facebook.com/wolfman.shapiro
twitter:
@StratBaseball4U
To Sign Up and Become a Member of this Newsletter
http://www.UltimateStratBaseball.com
(this provides direct emails when our bulletins
and next
issues come out)
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