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 two teams, Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates, from the National League Championship Series from 1975.
One of the amazing things about Strat-o-Matic is the statistical accuracy.
In today’s contest, three members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame played a vital role as they displayed the skills that led to their induction to the shrine.
STARS LEAD CINCINNATI TO VICTORY IN EXTRA INNINGS
CINCINNATI — Joe Morgan came through in the clutch by knocking in the winning run as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 in 11 innings at Riverfront Stadium.
With the score tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the 11th, Cincinnati shortstop Dave Concepcion had a one-out double against to begin the rally against Pittsburgh left Ramon Hernandez. After pinch-hitter Dan Driessen grounded out, Pete Rose was intentionally walked.
Hernandez proceeded to unintentionally issue a base-on-balls to Ken Griffey to set the stage for Morgan, who slapped a single to score Concepcion with the game-winner.
The contest didn’t go well early for the Reds as the Pirates built a 4-0 advantage.
Rennie Stennett hit a solo homer off Cincinnati starter Gary Nolan in the third. In the fourth, Pittsburgh starting pitcher Jerry Reuss made it 2-0 with a RBI double. Cincinnati native Dave Parker finished frame with a two-run single to give the Pirates their four-run lead.
Morgan cut Pittsburgh’s lead in half in the fifth when he knocked in Rose and Griffey with a double.
The Reds finally sent Reuss to the showers in the eighth. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Johnny Bench and Tony Perez tied the game at 4-4.
Nolan worked five innings and allowed all of the runs by the Pirates before giving way to four relievers. Pat Darcy, Pedro Borbon, Will McEnaney and winning pitcher Rawly Eastwick blanked the Pirates on three hits over the final six innings.
Reuss left the mound with no outs in the eighth. Kent Tekulve got out of the eighth without any more damage. Hernandez, who got the loss, worked a pair of scoreless frames before surrendering the decisive run.
IN REAL LIFE: By 1975, the Cincinnati Reds were in high gear as they finally won the World Series in seven games over the Boston Red Sox. The Reds won 108 games in the regular season, while the Pittsburgh Pirates had the second-best mark in the NL with 92 victories.
During the regular season, the two teams split 12 games as the Pirates beat the Reds more than any other NL squad. However, the Reds swept the Pirates in the league championship match-up.
Joe Morgan won his first of two straight NL Most Valuable Player Awards in 1975. He was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.
Johnny Bench led the Reds in 1975 with 28 homers and 110 RBI. The two-time NL MVP in 1970 and 1972 was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.
Joining his teammates in the Hall of Fame in 2000, Tony Perez hit 20 long balls and knocked in 109 runs for the Reds in 1975.