Strat-o-matic is a baseball simulation that began as a cards and dice game in the early 1960s before entering the computer age.
These featured games on Shoestring Catches are part of season replays or tournaments played with cards and dice.
Today’s game matches the 1929 Chicago Cubs at the 1920 Cleveland Indians.
Those players who are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame set standards that can be unreachable. Rogers Hornsby was just such a player in real life. In 1929, Hornsby was named the National Most Valuable Player for the second time as he led the Chicago Cubs to the World Series. Of course, we know the end result of that series as the Philadelphia A’s won the championship. In this game, Hornsby’s teammate, Hack Wilson hit a grand slam and knocked in five runs. It wasn’t the same as Hornsby’s performance.
CHICAGO SLAMS CLEVELAND 17-4
CLEVELAND – There wasn’t much the Cleveland Indians pitchers could do with Rogers Hornsby.
Hornsby went six-for-six as he led the Chicago Cubs to a 17-4 victory at Cleveland.
The blow out began in the first inning. Hornsby had a two-run triple off Cleveland starter Jim Bagby. In the second inning, Hornsby singled. Hack Wilson followed with a grand slam and the Cubs led 7-0.
The next frame, Bagby (0-1) was done after giving another single to Hornsby and four more runs as the Cubs built an 11-0 advantage. Cleveland finally got on the scoreboard on a two-run single by Larry Gardner in the fourth.
Hornsby led off the sixth with a solo homer for his fourth hit of the contest to put Chicago on top 13-2. Elmer Smith had a RBI triple for the Indians in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh, Hornsby hit a grand slam for Chicago’s final runs of the game. He led off the ninth inning with his third single of the day. For the game, Hornsby knocked in seven runs and scored four.
On the mound for the Cubs was Pat Malone (1-0). He gave up four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
IN REAL LIFE: As with many games in Strat-O-Matic, this match-up never occurred. That’s what makes the game so interesting. Rogers Hornsby was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1942. He won a pair of triple crowns in his career and was a member of the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals, which won the World Series over the New York Yankees.