** Welcome to USBN as the 2018 SOM Baseball
Year begins with the the latest seasons of the
Strat-o-matic Cards, the new version of the
computer game, the SOM baseball card viewer
app, more Baseball Daily and Baseball 365 **

Comments from the Wolfman about this current issue as we
continue our sixth year (2018) of operation and publication.
This issue is full of new exciting stories, interviews and
the latest news. As we strive to continue to provide for our
readers the most unique and interesting aspects of Strat-o-matic
Baseball with key links to Major League Baseball.  Now it is time,
once again, to meet some of the most interesting people who are
connected to the game we love. 2018 is going to be another
amazing year with all the new products and services that
Strat-o-matic is offering - so stay tuned as you
ain't seen nothin' yet - from your staff at the USBN ....
 

Welcome - Welcome - Welcome - to our second edition of your Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter for the new and exciting 2018 Strat-o-matic Baseball Season.  Well by now you most likely have seen all the new baseball seasons and cards and probably your leagues and tournaments have already begun. But before we get into the materials for the newsletter, first lets talk Baseball as Opening Day just happened ....

I believe the 2018 MLB Season is going to be one of the most exciting ever.  Why do I say this?  Well two reasons, #1 - there are quite a few teams who could become the champs this year and #2 - we continue to see more and more good young players entering the Majors and it is hard to tell who will be the next superstars.  Now I am writing this entry after Opening Day (and the newsletter will be delivered shortly thereafter) - but we already saw some signs of what 2018 holds and as usual, a few teams have gotten off to a fast start and some have been disappointing.

First of course Stanton with the Yankees, two homers in the first game - most likely the Yankees will contend and they could make it to the Series as after all, they just missed by one game last year - they should set the homerun record by a team.  Then Davidson on the WhiteSox - 3 homers -- this is going to be a sign the cards for next year are going to be filled with ballpark homers again - if you can find a pitchers card without any homers, it will be a gift.  The Cubs, well it was against the Marlins, but still 3 more homers for them -- and I think an improved starting staff and relief staff (although their hitters in the early games have been inconsistent?) - they could be back - they had the magic before.  And finally the Astros got started too, Springer the Series MVP (he is on our league team BTW, drafted him before he got a card) for the second straight year hit a leadoff homer - don't count the Astros out - having Verlander and Cole for a whole year - they are still the team to beat with probably the most balanced team in the Major Leagues.

Other team to watch out for of course in the American League, don't count out Cleveland and Boston even though both lost Opening Day - some people think the Angels might be better (and they started out well) but I don't think they have enough pitching.  In the National League well there is of course the Nationals - this could be there year and certainly the Dodgers.  I don't think the Brewers or Cardinals will beat out the Cubs (but you never know as the Cubs are starting slow) but both teams could be a wildcard or Arizona too, which beat Colorado, they could be back.  And also the two top starters for the Giants are out to start but, the Giants could sneak in.  So both leagues will see plenty of competition and excitement for those who play Baseball Daily.

Ok, on to our current issue -- first of all I want to acknowledge my old friend J.G. Preston, who has become quite a writer of baseball articles, especially those stories which have never been told.  J.G. use to work for the game company when he was younger and my nickname of the "Wolfman" was given to me by him when I joined one of his mail leagues in the early 1970's.  In this issue, J.G. writes about which pitchers did not bat 9th (usually 8th sometimes other) and which managers used the pitcher 8th the most.

Next up, we have a very old friend from the 1970's - he was a kid back then who would attend the National Conventions with his Dad, that is Dave Lubera and his father Richard.  He has some stories to tell us and also some of the early document we used back then when computers didn't exist yet.  Then we bring back the card images Tom Nahigian sent us of the original 1961 teams - another look at these early cards. 

Then our good friend and SOM Baseball Authority, Bruce Bundy returns to this issue as he does a well comprehensive interview with the Wolfman discusses his history and experiences with the game, to give our readers an idea of how it all started for Bruce.  Marc Wass comes back with another thought-provoking article taking a closer look at two new features in the 2018 version of the SOM Computer Baseball Game, the cloud, what is and how is works and, what are "Extreme Matchups"? 

Lastly, in our SOM Baseball News page - we return with Alan Davidson who has created a wealth of Negro, Cuban, Minor and a few 1800's MLB teams -- you might want to check out.  And then, an early announcement (with the results in another issue) of the Greatest Cubs challenging the Greatest Yankees of all time - no doubt you will know the name of most of these players (the key though is that they all have passed on but one - this will be explained) and why this series is being played. Stay tuned as the results of this 3 game series is given coming up soon, an extention to this issue.

To your success in 2018 with your current leagues, replays and future tournaments,

always yours .....

Wolfman Shapiro
on behalf of the team at USBN