DTF955
07-07-2006, 11:24 AM
Thanks for a great game. It was quite a ride.
I’m pretty much retiring from computer games – I’ve become too busy to continue, especially with how addicting some are now. This, I guess you could say, is my way of letting go. But, unlike Mike Schmidt, I don’t think I’m going to cry as my “career” ends. :- ) Well, maybe I won’t. :- )
The games now are so cool. I can remember Strategic Simulations, Inc., and their game for my Commodore. That thing took about 45 minutes to load – no, I’m not teasing, those of you younger than 25 don’t remember a time when you didn’t have an internal hard disk. A game took 20 minutes to lpay, but you had to keep stats by hand if you wanted. The reason the SSI game went on so long was it could keep track of who was tired, and you could create your own players. EPYX was also a big name for me in those days. The EPYX titles were often won by the ’62 Giants – as I grew to love baseball I could see why, but at the time I couldn’t’ figure out why this club was so good if they didn’t win that many pennants.
Anyway, those were the minor league days, you might say. The days when an upset by the ’34 Tigers over the ’69 Orioles, with Eldon Auker coming in and getting 2 ground ball outs with the bases loaded for the save, was a *huge* thing. The days when an elderly friend of my grandparents could choose the Cardinals when I was showing him the EPYX game, I chose the Brewers, and he could shock me by choosing a complete unknown to pitch, and that was a big thing. Because you couldn’t create encyclopedias, run simulations of seasons, etc.. It’s no wonder the games today are so addicting.
Anyway, I first “made the majors” about 18 years ago with Earl Weaver Baseball, and ran a 72-game season in each league after a tournament of sorts to see which franchises got in. The ’69 Orioles and the ’06 Cubs won their respective matchups, and I still can’t figure out how that ’17 White Sox team won, when Eddie Collins was their only hitter. He hit .325 for4 the season, yet his stats figured out to about 60 runs and 60 RBIs over a full season, despite over 180 hits over that same prorated 154 games!
I’ve had some great times, a 20-inning game to start the ’93 Series in Strat-O-Matic (Cubs won it and went on to win in 5 over Seattle), some incredible pennant races (3-way tie for the division, 4-way for the wild card), the ultimate walk-off home run) 2 outs, bases loaded, down by 3 in the bottom of the 9th, Ken Caminitti off a marlin reliever – then again when I deleted the play just to see what would have happened had I let Brown in, who was tired!) Kiner, Belle, etc. all with over 70 home runs, Juan Gonzales’ triple crown in ’96 (.357, 66, 196) when he won the batting title on the last day – and Albert Belle finished 2nd in HR and RBIs with 61 and 172!
Then came games like Baseball mogul, and wow! Winning pennants and World Series with Mogul 2006 became easy enough, then I just settled for dynasties. It got to be that the AI was so good players even seemed to be hanging on to set records and stuff. No, it isn't perfect, and the AI's computer manager caused e some problems while managing several teams at once was too much to deal with, there was so much you could do.
Alas, I can’t spend days at a time gaming like I used to. But, this game was so much fun. Now, however, after getting Hank Aaron, in an Athletics’ dynasty, to finish with 868 home runs (ironically, Sadaharu Oh’s mark :- ) and 4360 hits (Pete Ruse had 4406 later, but for a time he was the leader in both), after having Ken Griffey, Jr. hit 1023 home runs, after doing my best to do weird stuff, too, just for fun, I’ve decided to hang ‘em up.
I had a funny dream a few months ago, maybe a sign I was ready – I dreamed I was a ballplayer at our old AA stadium, and I was reading out team stats while sitting on the toilet (hey, I said it was a funny one), and I was thinking, “I’m only hitting about .257 in Double A, I guess I have to admit I just have it anymore.” Any of you have the same kinds of dreams? Probably not :- ) But for a grown-up kid who used to eat, sleep, and breathe baseball, having the field at Wrigley Field right outside your back door, or pitching in the World Series, isn’t that unusual. (Indeed, I slept on my shoulder wrong and it hurt for a moment when I got up once, and in a dream I got plunked with a Bob Gibson fastball.)
So now, needing to rid myself of this to make room for pursuits with more Heavenly rewards, I’m retiring. I’m tempted to keep going back, but I’ve just led the 2006 Cubs to one last Series win, over the Rangers, and now, it’s time. As that NBC ad for the playoffs used to say, it’s the end of a season for many; the end of a dream for some. (The Series had 7 one-run games, 3 1-0 games27 runs total, and in fitting form, Kerry Wood gave up a double and walked the on-fire Blaylock of Texas, then Scott (?) Williamson came on to get a ground out and 2 strikeouts to end the Series and give the Cubs their world title.)
Maybe with my physical handicaps I couldn’t play real baseball (though I played beeper ball for blind and legally blind kids when I was young, and loved it), and maybe this is boring many of you. But, I was able to live that dream. I was able, through these games, to pursue that fantasy. Baseball means many things to many people. To me, it was a fun pursuit, the chance to be a player, GM, and everything including sitting back and watching as a fan, and imagining Ellis Burks hitting that 2-run home run in game 6 to win the 1987 World Series 7-6.It’s funny – the Red Sox have won now, so have the White Sox, and who knows, maybe the Cubs aren’t far behind.
But, they’ll aalways have a spot in the hearts of those who love to play. Because, whether it’s the big leagues or Charlie Brown’s ball team – and you should have seen the stories I’d write as a kid about *them* winning – it’s still the same. A slorious way to keep having fun, to keep a little more of that youthful spark.
I may write about it in the future – I’ve got a couple book ideas, but I don’t know if those will ever get done. As for the competition of computer games, though, they aren’t taking up too much time for me when I have too many other, more important priorities. I may not be Billy Sunday, but God has called me to preach, and I am studying, and working on a message someone on our bus route has invited me to do at their family reunion, and a bunch of other family things. I want to place God first in my life.
But, it was a really great time while it lasted. Who knows. Maybe we’ll be able to do it again in Heaven someday.
Only this time, with our resurrection bodies, you know I’m going to be able to play. It won’t be a dream. We who have trusted Jesus to save us, and those too young to understand that need for salvation, are going to be whole again; no handicaps, no death, no suffering, nothing bad! I know the Lord has prepared a place for me, as I’ve trusted his salvation for my sins. And, that place is going to be far greater than we can imagine.
Thanks for reading, and God Bless. And, just remember, you are only a single, sincere prayer of repentance from eternal life.
Doug Fowler
Computer baseball player/Hall of Famer :- )
Retired
I’m pretty much retiring from computer games – I’ve become too busy to continue, especially with how addicting some are now. This, I guess you could say, is my way of letting go. But, unlike Mike Schmidt, I don’t think I’m going to cry as my “career” ends. :- ) Well, maybe I won’t. :- )
The games now are so cool. I can remember Strategic Simulations, Inc., and their game for my Commodore. That thing took about 45 minutes to load – no, I’m not teasing, those of you younger than 25 don’t remember a time when you didn’t have an internal hard disk. A game took 20 minutes to lpay, but you had to keep stats by hand if you wanted. The reason the SSI game went on so long was it could keep track of who was tired, and you could create your own players. EPYX was also a big name for me in those days. The EPYX titles were often won by the ’62 Giants – as I grew to love baseball I could see why, but at the time I couldn’t’ figure out why this club was so good if they didn’t win that many pennants.
Anyway, those were the minor league days, you might say. The days when an upset by the ’34 Tigers over the ’69 Orioles, with Eldon Auker coming in and getting 2 ground ball outs with the bases loaded for the save, was a *huge* thing. The days when an elderly friend of my grandparents could choose the Cardinals when I was showing him the EPYX game, I chose the Brewers, and he could shock me by choosing a complete unknown to pitch, and that was a big thing. Because you couldn’t create encyclopedias, run simulations of seasons, etc.. It’s no wonder the games today are so addicting.
Anyway, I first “made the majors” about 18 years ago with Earl Weaver Baseball, and ran a 72-game season in each league after a tournament of sorts to see which franchises got in. The ’69 Orioles and the ’06 Cubs won their respective matchups, and I still can’t figure out how that ’17 White Sox team won, when Eddie Collins was their only hitter. He hit .325 for4 the season, yet his stats figured out to about 60 runs and 60 RBIs over a full season, despite over 180 hits over that same prorated 154 games!
I’ve had some great times, a 20-inning game to start the ’93 Series in Strat-O-Matic (Cubs won it and went on to win in 5 over Seattle), some incredible pennant races (3-way tie for the division, 4-way for the wild card), the ultimate walk-off home run) 2 outs, bases loaded, down by 3 in the bottom of the 9th, Ken Caminitti off a marlin reliever – then again when I deleted the play just to see what would have happened had I let Brown in, who was tired!) Kiner, Belle, etc. all with over 70 home runs, Juan Gonzales’ triple crown in ’96 (.357, 66, 196) when he won the batting title on the last day – and Albert Belle finished 2nd in HR and RBIs with 61 and 172!
Then came games like Baseball mogul, and wow! Winning pennants and World Series with Mogul 2006 became easy enough, then I just settled for dynasties. It got to be that the AI was so good players even seemed to be hanging on to set records and stuff. No, it isn't perfect, and the AI's computer manager caused e some problems while managing several teams at once was too much to deal with, there was so much you could do.
Alas, I can’t spend days at a time gaming like I used to. But, this game was so much fun. Now, however, after getting Hank Aaron, in an Athletics’ dynasty, to finish with 868 home runs (ironically, Sadaharu Oh’s mark :- ) and 4360 hits (Pete Ruse had 4406 later, but for a time he was the leader in both), after having Ken Griffey, Jr. hit 1023 home runs, after doing my best to do weird stuff, too, just for fun, I’ve decided to hang ‘em up.
I had a funny dream a few months ago, maybe a sign I was ready – I dreamed I was a ballplayer at our old AA stadium, and I was reading out team stats while sitting on the toilet (hey, I said it was a funny one), and I was thinking, “I’m only hitting about .257 in Double A, I guess I have to admit I just have it anymore.” Any of you have the same kinds of dreams? Probably not :- ) But for a grown-up kid who used to eat, sleep, and breathe baseball, having the field at Wrigley Field right outside your back door, or pitching in the World Series, isn’t that unusual. (Indeed, I slept on my shoulder wrong and it hurt for a moment when I got up once, and in a dream I got plunked with a Bob Gibson fastball.)
So now, needing to rid myself of this to make room for pursuits with more Heavenly rewards, I’m retiring. I’m tempted to keep going back, but I’ve just led the 2006 Cubs to one last Series win, over the Rangers, and now, it’s time. As that NBC ad for the playoffs used to say, it’s the end of a season for many; the end of a dream for some. (The Series had 7 one-run games, 3 1-0 games27 runs total, and in fitting form, Kerry Wood gave up a double and walked the on-fire Blaylock of Texas, then Scott (?) Williamson came on to get a ground out and 2 strikeouts to end the Series and give the Cubs their world title.)
Maybe with my physical handicaps I couldn’t play real baseball (though I played beeper ball for blind and legally blind kids when I was young, and loved it), and maybe this is boring many of you. But, I was able to live that dream. I was able, through these games, to pursue that fantasy. Baseball means many things to many people. To me, it was a fun pursuit, the chance to be a player, GM, and everything including sitting back and watching as a fan, and imagining Ellis Burks hitting that 2-run home run in game 6 to win the 1987 World Series 7-6.It’s funny – the Red Sox have won now, so have the White Sox, and who knows, maybe the Cubs aren’t far behind.
But, they’ll aalways have a spot in the hearts of those who love to play. Because, whether it’s the big leagues or Charlie Brown’s ball team – and you should have seen the stories I’d write as a kid about *them* winning – it’s still the same. A slorious way to keep having fun, to keep a little more of that youthful spark.
I may write about it in the future – I’ve got a couple book ideas, but I don’t know if those will ever get done. As for the competition of computer games, though, they aren’t taking up too much time for me when I have too many other, more important priorities. I may not be Billy Sunday, but God has called me to preach, and I am studying, and working on a message someone on our bus route has invited me to do at their family reunion, and a bunch of other family things. I want to place God first in my life.
But, it was a really great time while it lasted. Who knows. Maybe we’ll be able to do it again in Heaven someday.
Only this time, with our resurrection bodies, you know I’m going to be able to play. It won’t be a dream. We who have trusted Jesus to save us, and those too young to understand that need for salvation, are going to be whole again; no handicaps, no death, no suffering, nothing bad! I know the Lord has prepared a place for me, as I’ve trusted his salvation for my sins. And, that place is going to be far greater than we can imagine.
Thanks for reading, and God Bless. And, just remember, you are only a single, sincere prayer of repentance from eternal life.
Doug Fowler
Computer baseball player/Hall of Famer :- )
Retired