(ed. note: This is our first official article from new writer Mike Estep. Welcome aboard, Mike!)
So Many Card Sets, So Little Time
by Mike Estep
Welcome to my first article under REPLAY TIPS AND TECHNIQUES. My purpose with this regular feature will be the thoughts, ramblings, techniques, methods and innovations that I find that have worked for me in my APBA playing. I am not claiming to be an expert or that my ways are the best. I just want to be able to give some “food for thought” if you will on the thought processes of an average APBA person like myself. I have never conducted a full season so I thought it might be interesting to share my thoughts as I go about this whole process with grit and determination. I am sure along the way you can learn from my trials and tribulations as I go about “climbing my Mt. Everest” of completing a full season using the cards and dice. However, I have also in process an OFAS Tournament (which I am posting the results for in the forum APBA BETWEEN THE LINES), and I also have a 1927 single season simulation going for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I plan on finishing those on the side as I plan my new adventure. I invite you to come along and be part of my world as I go about getting this project organized and share with you the innovations and tips that have worked for me.
I am perfectly happy and having fun with my OFAS tournament and 1927 Pirate simulation. However as someone who has been involved with APBA since 1981, I have never completed a full season replay. I have been mostly a tournament and single team replay competitor. However a couple of weeks ago I was able to secure an original 1975 season set. Now for those of you who are fans of the Big Red Machine that is a magical year for sure! So now I am thinking I should conduct a full season replay using those cards. To add to my confusion, (sorry I know this feature is supposed to solve problems) I also have that 1968R set and also that original 1949 set that I have been itching to play. I also believe that both of those sets deserve full season treatment.
Now my dilemma is beginning to become a bit more clear I hope. Do I plunge into a 1975 replay and not do anything with the 1968 or 1949 sets? Do I conduct a replay for all three at the same time? Do I do this as I have always done and just do tournaments so that I can use all three easily?
Well I have arrived at this much: I want the feeling of plunging into a season deeply and experiencing all of the players for all of the teams. I love tournaments but there is not a lot of depth to the tournaments. I love single team replays but again I am not really getting to experience all of the wonderful players of that particular year on a deep level. Yes, it is time for me to join that rarified bunch of APBA loyalists who have completed a full season replay. So the answer I have reached is that I am going to conduct a full season replay. Now the question is, which season will it be? Stay tuned………we are about to leave base camp and begin the ascent of my Mount Everest……a full season replay!
66’s to All
Mike
I’m glad you’re going to be doing this. There’s so much thought that could be put into how a replay could be done.
I’m looking forward to reading your stuff.
Good luck Mike! I’ll be looking for your posts/updates.
Back in the day, I did a replay of 1975 full season. Now that I’m retired, I just started a 2011 replay. I’m still at base camp *lol*
Hello Tom,
Nothing wrong with base camp, at least you are started…ha ha.
How did that 75 Replay turn out? Did those Reds win it all?
Thanks
Well Mike, I won’t lie…..it was many years ago and I didn’t keep the box scores, standings, etc. So I don’t know if the Big Red Machine won it all or not. I do know that it was time-consuming and wonderful :)
Still in April of the 2011 replay. At this rate, I may finish before Armageddon (or I may not). Doesn’t really matter, because I’m enjoying every game.
Cheers!
I have been playing APBA since 1978 and the computer game since about 1994. Only recently realised that I am in the minority using the computer game but, that being said, I love it.
Starting in 2002 I have replayed 15 seasons between 1969-1983. Usually I play for about 3-4 teams and let the game play the rest.
One thing I have realised as I have gone along is that this is for fun. When I started I was strict on games played, innings pitched etc but in the last few years I have been more flexible. In the last season just completed I decided to see what would happen if I put all the ex Big Red Machine guys on the Phillies. Sure it altered the replay but it made it alot of fun for me.
That would be my advice–have fun, do what you want. For me this has occassionally meant allowing Larry Hisle to play a whole season even if he was injured most of the year. One season I made a mistake and set up the Royals rotation wrong and had Larry Gura accidently start the first 38 games of the season–sure its not realistic, but I am the only one who cares
I bet it is nice to hearing the voice of Ernie Harwell announcing those games. What a voice.
Mike
I am also doing my firet ever full replay (3 year in the running) on the 1901 set and have about 4 days to go in the season.
I found there were stretches where I could not bring myself to play, and took the painstaking time to hand run all the stats and then take some time away and come back and push through another batch of games.
I have had some tremendous games and it is very different managing a small roster and almost always having to play small ball forced me to radically change my normal play style.
Good to see you are enjoying the challenge.
Gotta love the dead ball era. I have about 3 seasons of dead ball cards. I played a 1905 tournament once. It was great fun, had to really scrap to get runs and I loved the pitching.
Mike
Yes pitching and speed is everything in the early days since power and defense are non-existant.
Plus with some teams only having 1-2 reserve players I have had pitchers end up seeing time in the field too due to injuries/extra innings.
Mike,
thanks for the article. I think it is hard for all of us APBA gamers to stay motivated during a replay of any sort. I am playing the 27 Pirates as well and also the 29 Cubs and A’s. I completed the 27 Yankees and I had no trouble finding the time and the energy to get thru that replay. I guess it helps that my favorite player is Lou Gehrig! I do find it difficult at times to get in some games with my current replays but I will continue to persist until I am finished! then it will be on to another replay…maybe the 66 Dodgers.
Keep up the posts and good luck.
Jeff