All Star Baseball

I've read about various table top baseball simulation games like Strat-O-Matic, but I have never played one. I got home from work yesterday and found Cadaco's All Star Baseball, Hall of Fame Edition in my living room. The babysitter who watched my kids this summer bought it for Joey for his birthday. I'm sure she didn't realize that she was buying a true American classic.

Joey and I played it last night, and what a joy it is. The Hall of Fame edition includes player discs for several Hall of Famers (Reggie Jackson, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Stargell, Enos Slaughter, Jim Palmer, and many more). We scored the game using an old baseball scorebook we had laying around.

First, each player selects his team and batting order. You play the game by slipping the player's disc into the spinner and spinning it. The numbers around the edge of the disc represent the outcome of the at-bat. The spacing of the numbers is determined by the player's lifetime statistics. For example, a pitcher might have a large space for strike out while Reggie Jackson would have a wider than average space for home run. If the spin results in a ground ball, fly ball, or single, the defesive player can spin to determine the outcome of the play (runners advance, double play, safe on error, etc). An additional strategy disc is included for hit and run, stealing, etc.

Even with Whitey Ford and Jim Palmer pitching, our game ended with a score of 11-10, with my home team getting one run in the bottom of the 9th to eek out the victory.

We both enjoyed the game, and we look forward to finding (or making) additional player discs for it.