First if you’re a baseball fan I have openings in two leagues that I hope to have drafts for before the end of this month.
Our 1972 league of Dynasty baseball (162 games) has the following teams available: Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs
Our 1997 league (80 games) has the following teams available ( Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates)
In both leagues you can relocate the franchise you take to a new location if so desired and if the franchise is open.
Contact me in comments if you are interested.
Secondly while it’s a day late here the Indulgence Calendar for February is now available for download here. Be aware if I’m late again on this it will be always be available at the WQPH Web site.
As some of you might know back in 1980’s when I was in my 20’s I owned a store that sold comic books, baseball cards, board games Mostly Avalon Hill and VERY EARLY PC games (Sid Meyer’s Pirates flew from the shelves). The store closed in 1991 but the baseball league that was founded at the store in 1987 has continued on and until I got my current job where I worked on third shift and then second shift I was part of a mostly board gaming good that has met continually on a weekly basis since about 1979.
For 25 or 30 years I have had people from my game group I should attend The Total Confusion Gaming Convention which takes place annually in Massachusetts. Those requests predate the internet, they started while Avalon Hill was still making games under their own banner. They predate Magic the Gathering and they certainly predate the online version of Dynasty Baseball which I run my leagues on.
Oddly enough there was always a reason why either couldn’t or didn’t go. I frankly can’t remember them at this point but I never managed to get there.
Meanwhile Total Con has done just fine without me and now boasts of being the largest gaming convention in New England. It’s on its 38th year and will take place Feb 25th-Feb 28th at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough, MA the same place where Pintastic NE was last year and will be in April
Well I’ve now been at my current job long enough that have extra vacation days to spare, I don’t have a big wedding anniversary to keep days in reserve.
Furthermore I have friends who live under 10 minutes from the Hotel who keep offering me a place to say for Pintastic NE that I regularly turn down because of the 24-7 aspect of the event. But while I’m sure there are some overnight games that take place in people’s hotel rooms the convention’s game rooms are NOT 24-7 so there is no reason why I can’t drive down the road to crash and be back by by 9 or 10 to play. That saves several hundred dollars.
In short the time constraints and the cash constraints that might have held be back in the past don’t seem to be there this year.
So it seems this year I will be attending the Total Confusion Convention and playing some games.
I notice that the old Milton Bradly Game Dogfight from 1962 my youth will be played there and I note that what I consider one of the greatest board games ever made Advanced Civilization (which predates and I suspect inspired the PC game) will be played. There are three spots left but as it takes 8 hours and starts at 8 AM on the first day I’m debating if I can make it.
In addition to the hundreds of game events they have open gaming and a large game library that you can access to play. (I highly recommend Kremlin btw) hey also have a large game library
I’ve decided to take two games of my own but not have them “Official Events”
Source of the Nile
It’s 1820 and you are leading an expedition to the unknown wiles of Africa. Map the blank board as you Combat unknown diseases, wild animals, dangerous terrain and natives and raiders who may or may not be friendly on your expedition. Survive and return to England to publish your finding (earning VP and making your map permanent) and equip anew. Play as an Explorer, Geologist, Zoologist, Missionary, Doctor, Ethnologist, Explorer, Botanist or Reporter. Different professions earn points in different ways.
Solo to up to six players
Source of the Nile
It’s the golden age of piracy. Sail the seas of the Caribbean or the gold coast or around the horn and Madagascar. Raid shipping and towns, take on cargos and sell them at friendly ports (or at a pirate haven). Upgrade to a better ship or take a captured ship as your own and celebrate with drunken debauchery, but watch out for warships on the prowl, rivals who wish to supplant you or as your fame grows beware of the King’s commissioners sent by the crown to hunt you down. Take advantage of pardons and take care of your ship but don’t forget to keep your crew happy or you might be marooned. Retire wealthy or strive to be the most notorious pirate on the Spanish main.
Solo to up to four players
My plan is to play both of them solo while allowing people to join in if they wish. I may also take a copy of Dynasty Baseball to demo it and recruit players for our face to face league in Fitchburg.
But either way I’ll be there. Hope to see you too, there is more to life than politics and arguments..
Well our Dynasty 1971 league playoffs were slow in starting but we have finally reached the world series which finished before I finished writing this post: Here is a rundown of how the playoffs went:
AL Wildcard Series: Washington Senators vs California Angels
The Senators came in as big favorites winning game one 4-3 needing one more win at home to clinch but the angels rallied to win game two Tommy John beating Jim Kaat 7-5. Game three was a shocker as Juan Marichall who came in 3rd in the Cy Young voting collapsed and the angels held back a Senators rally to win game 3 7-5 to take the series.
NL Wildcard Series Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies behind MVP Joe Torre took game one at home 7-6 but the Braves 1-2 punch of Jenkins and Cuellar were too much for the Phils as they took game 2 6-5 and game 3 11-2 to coast to a wild card win.
AL Divisional Round Baltimore Orioles vs California Angels
Tom Bradley shut out the O’s in game 1 3-0 and it looked like another upset was in the works but Baltimore outlasted the angels winning game 2 2-1 in 11 innings and Mickey Lolich and Ray Culp combined to finish them off winning game 3 5-3 and game 4 11-2 to get to the League Championship series
AL Divisional Round Oakland A’s vs Kansas City Royals
Oakland led the AL West from start to finish on the back of excellent pitching but they had nothing on the Royals as Lew Krausse and Bert Blyleven shut out the A’s back to back to start the series winning game one 1-0 beating Vida Blue and game two 2-0 stopping Sonny Siebert. In game 3 the A’s finally got on the board for three runs but the Royals scored five to sweep the series three games to none.
National League Divisional Series
New York Daytraders (mets) vs Chicago Cubs
The Daytraders won 110 games this season and were a heavy favorite vs the wild card cubs and Tom Seaver’s game one win 3-2 put them on the right track. The Cubs won game 2 7-4 to even the series but the Daytraders behind Steve Carlton took game three 7-5 and needed only one more to get to the pennant game. It was not to be, the Cubs took game four 4-2 and managed to hit Tom Seaver in game 5 to pull off the upset 5-1 to clinch the series.
National League Divisional Series Los Angeles Dodgers vs Atlanta Braves
The Dodgers won 111 games in the series and dominated almost every team they faced and this series was no different. Cy Young winner Don Wilson won game one 5-2 and while the Braves managed to score six against Hoerner the Dodgers shelled Catfish Hunter and took game two 8-6. Finally Don Sutton 3rd in the Cy Young vote shut down the Braves again and the Dodgers got to Cuellar beating then 6-1 in a clean sweep.
NL Championship series Los Angels Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs
The Cubs fairy tale ride ended with the Dodgers as the Dodgers pitching staff held the cubs to 7 runs the entire series With Don Wilson winning two games (Game 1 3-1 and game 4 4-2). The only Cubs win came in game three when Clyde Wright shut out LA to give the Cubs a 1-0 win. The Dodgers took game two 6-3 and Don Sutton shut out Chicago again to put the finishing touch with a 7-0 win.
American League Championship Series Baltimore Orioles vs Kansas City Royals.
The American League East was the only Division in the league that was still in play in the final month of the season and it came down to the last two series before Baltimore outlasted the Royals for the division title but in game one the Royals got four in the 3rd (two thanks to a rare Mark Belanger error) and three more on a Harmon Killebrew shot on their way to a 9-6 win. In game two after trading homers between Stargell, Powel & Tenace the Royals broke loose with Stargell driving in another in the 5th and one of two in the 7th which was enough to hold off another Baltimore comeback to win 7-5. While the Orioles behind Lolich doubled up KC 6-3 to make the series two games to one three KC pitchers combined to shut out the birds in game four 3-0 and then jumped to a 4-0 lead that held up against the Orioles 3rd determined 9th inning rally of the series (The Orioles outscored the Royals 9-1 in the 9th inning of the series) to hang on for a 4-3 win and a trip to the series.
World Series Los Angeles Dodgers vs Kansas City Royals
Game one at LA: Blyleven vs Wilson
It was a pitching duel for the ages Cy Young winner Don Wilson only gave up one run on five hits in seven innings and the LA bullpen didn’t give up a hit but Bert Blyleven still got the win as he shut down the Dodgers for 5 innings on two hits before coming out with a stiff arm and the bullpen took over giving up only two single and no walks over the final four innings
Royals 1 Dodgers 0 WP Blyleven LP Wilson Royals up 1-0
Game two at LA Stoneman vs Nolan
The game went back and forth with the teams trading single runs the KC in the top of the 1st, LA in the bottom of the 1st & 2nd, KC in the 4th and LA in the 5th to take a one run and then a two run lead with one in the 7th until Darryl Evans three run shot off Roger Nelson put the game out of reach.
For the 2nd time in the series LA put a top 3 Cy Young vote getter on the mound and for the 2nd time he came up the loser as the Royals scored 4 in the first three innings and capped things off with a Killebrew HR in the 8th wasting Lou Brock’s 3 RBI 2-5 game as the Royals behind Hedlund 7 innings and three runs doubled up LA.
Down two games to one the Dodgers brought back Cy Young winner Don Wilson on three days rest and he didn’t disappoint going the full nine innings and again giving up only a single run. While the Royals were able to shut out the Dodgers in 8 of 9 innings a one out single by Leo Cardenas followed by a 414 foot shot from of all people Andy Etchebarren capped a four run 4th which was more than enough support for Wilson to even things up.
Dodgers 4 Royals 1 WP Wilson (1-1) LP Splittorff Series tied at two
Game 5 at KC Blyleven vs Nolan
A three run shot by Killebrew in the 5th off Nolan gave Kansas City the edge. LA answered with two off of Blyleven in the 6th to make it a one run game. The Royals added insurance with a one out single off of Fingers in the 7th but the Dodgers took advantage of an Enzo Hernandez error to start the 9th the Dodgers to load the bases off of closer Fred Scherman who gave up a pinch single to Dave Campbell to tie the game. Ironically Scherman would get the win when after a Mike Hershberger walk with one out Dave Cash put a Ron Klimkowski pitch into the gap which rolled all the way to the wall allowing Hershberger to score from first and put the Royals on the verge of an upset.
Royals 5 Dodgers 4 WP Scherman LP Klimkowski Royals lead series 3-2
Game 6 at LA Stoneman vs Sutton
With their backs against the wall the Dodgers jumped all over Stoneman with five runs in the first three innings and added another 3 on Darryl Evans 3 run shot in the 6th. That was more than enough for Sutton who despite giving up 3 in the 8th (1 earned) held on to both even the series and his record in it and force a 7th game.
Don Wilson made this 3rd start of the series and his 2nd on three days rest and the Dodgers again gave him some run support as Willie McCovey hit a solo shot off of Hedlund to start the game and the Dodgers added 2 in the bottom of the 2nd , a solo shot by Evans added a solo shot to start the 4th and another run on a key error spotting them to a 5-0 lead. And while AL MVP Willie Stargell (.200 avg) finally homered for his first RBI of the series and Killebrew drove in a run in the 9th that was a few feet from making it a one run game Wilson hung on with the tying runs on 1st and 2nd with two out to get Jerry Kenney to ground into the final out of the series and secure both the victory and the series MVP
LA 5 KC 2 WP Wilson (2-1) LP Hedlund (1-1) Dodgers win series 4-3.
11th Doctor:Yes, I know that, Rory. I’m not exactly one to miss the obvious but we need everything we can get. Okay, Cyber weapons! This is basically a sentry box. So headless wonder here was a sentry. Probably got himself duffed up by the locals. Never underestimate a Celt. Rory: Doctor— 11th Doctor:Hush, Rory. Thinking. Why leave a Cyberman on guard unless it’s a Cyberthing in the box but why would they lock up one of their own? Okay, no, not a Cyberthing. But what? What? Oh! Missing something obvious, Rory. Something big. Something right slap in front of me. I can feel it. Rory: Yeah. I think you probably are. 11th Doctor:I’ll get it in a minute.
Doctor Who, The Pandorica Opens 2010
The Sunday before last I went to the supermarket with DaWife getting various things we needed for Christmas. As we were leaving there was a pile of large plush Christmas Stuffed Animals at the checkout for a rather low price. My wife immediately noticed a large three foot tall Gnome and game him a big hug, bigger than the ones I’ve been getting lately and went on about how cute he was.
She was working that weekend and left by 1:45 to go to her job. I also work every Sunday but this Sunday the fellows who ride with me had a different ride so instead of leaving early to pick them up I left early to get the Gnome. I didn’t have time to bring him home and I figured my trunk might be dirty so I buckled him into the passenger seat and took him to work with me leaving him in the car.
It was raining that evening so the problem was how to sneak him into the house. I took off my sweater and wrapped him in it and carried him onto the back porch where there was a large Gnome sized empty box that contained the Christmas Tree that is now permanently set up with what used to be our youngest son’s room but is now our permanent Christmas room. I tossed him in quickly and folded the sides so it could not be seen.
When I came in I was the one surprised as there was a Pinball machine in the den (A 1988 Williams Taxi). I had expected a rental for Christmas but not a week early. I also noticed a large blanket on the side of the machine next to the bookshelf that wasn’t there before. DaWife explained that it was the blanket he used to cover glass as it was brought in (a common thing when moving a pinball machine to help prevent it from being shattered and also if it does break to keep the glass from scattering.) and the fellow decided he might as well leave it there as he would need it when he took it out.
That gave me an idea, the next morning when DaWife went to the washing machine, in the covey of the kitchen I rushed the Gnome in put him in the space between the bookcase and the old entertainment center and tossed the blanket over it. Even with her sleeping directly across from the Pinball machine (she has back issues and sleeps on a recliner I sleep on the couch next to the recliner because what’s the point of being married and sleeping in a room alone) she would not be likely to notice something odd with the blanket thinking it was just over some clutter. I was right, she never noticed it.
The pinball machine gave me my plan, after she went to bed on Christmas Eve I would prop up the Gnome on the pinball machine standing up so when she woke up on Christmas day it would be the first thing she would see. When her sister came on Christmas Eve for dinner I showed her the Gnome under the blanket and explained my plan. She grinned and approved.
My sons were both over for Christmas Eve and decided to spend the night. We went to midnight mass and when we got home they went upstairs to sleep while DaWife got comfortable on her recliner. I waited on the couch watching the recap of the miraculous Patriots win over the Broncos but actually waiting for her to fall asleep so I could set up the Gnome. Finally at 2:30 AM I heard her snoring but to play it safe I waited till about 3:15 AM before I set up the Gnome in front of the black glass wondering if she would wake up in the middle of the night and see the gift.
I woke up at 7:38 AM with a bit of a cramp and noticed she was still out like a light. I decided to go to the 8 AM Christmas Mass since I normally go to daily mass anyways so as quietly as I could I made my way out of the room, got dressed and went to Mass. When I got home I parked in the front of the house and coming in the front door I noticed DaWife’s chair empty but the Gnome still set up on the pinball machine.
Confused I came in and saw her at the kitchen table waiting for the water to boil for her coffee and having banana bread. I asked her how her new friend was and she looked at me very odd asking what I was talking about. Trying not to sound incredulous I made conversation and realized that she somehow had not seen the giant 3 foot Gnome right in front of her when she woke up. I kept hinting that she was missing something but despite my efforts I couldn’t talk her into going back into the den. She simply looked at me confused and slightly irritated.
Eventually one of my son’s woke up and came down stairs and noticed the Gnome I signaled to him to say nothing but we started making remarks that indicated to DaWife that she was missing something she still had no clue. Even when I called him into the room and had him take a picture of the Gnome with the Pinball machine she didn’t get it still sitting at the kitchen table sipping her coffee and watching her phone. This is the picture he just took from the recliner my wife sleeps on. The hands on the bottom right are my hands typing this post.
The 2nd son also came down and I also signaled to him to say nothing and he played along. It is now 49 minutes since I came home as even as I type DaWife still hasn’t noticed the Gnome, ironically as I finished typing that sentence she walked in and finally saw it and then I repeated the story to her as I just wrote it. She hugged it named him Norman and finally understood why were were all confused. She insists that I note that she
Was running to the bathroom
Didn’t have her glasses on
And for the sake of peace in the house those things are duly noted
It was not an expensive gift and the you didn’t see it bit took less than an hour but if my sons ever find wives and we have grandchildren for the rest of our lives we will tell them the story of Norman the Invisible Christmas Gnome who Nana couldn’t see right in front of her.
Now if that story isn’t worth $15 bucks I’d like to know what is.
Merry Christmas all!
FYI this week I will be starting my post Christmas Fundraiser to try to get the blog into the black for the year. The goal is $3000 and 5 New $20 a month or 10 $10 a month subscribers. If you wish to keep us going beyond the election to our 16th anniversary please considering kicking in at the TipJar button in the upper left.
Update: DaWife informs me that his name is GNORMAN not Norman I regret the error
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