2019 MLB World Series Accurately Projected

2019 MLB World Series Accurately Projected

by | Oct 31, 2019 | Blog

2019 World Series Projections!

Baseball Classics Accurately Projects
MLB World Series Winner 2nd Consecutive Year!
.

BASEBALL CLASSICS® GAME-BY-GAME PROJECTION

Baseball Classics® next generation board game simulated all the action playing real-time in the MLB ballparks of each home team based on the actual starting pitchers and lineups submitted to MLB by both teams for the 2019 MLB World Series.  The simulation for each game was played using Baseball Classics 2019 Season Premium Edition Lefty-Righty Player Card Boxed Game Edition (shipping mid November) where virtually anything can happen in an MLB game, both featuring next generation color-coded ratings.

The projections were emailed to thousands of MLB fans prior to each 2019 World Series game conclusion.

Baseball Classics® accurately projected the World Series winner Washington Nationals, number of games (4-3), and number of total runs scored by each team (off by only 2).

Want to play a FREE full trial of Baseball Classics next generation game?  Click here to download yours instantly!

Once again, it is more proof on the amazing accuracy and true realism Baseball Classics® next generation board games provide MLB fans to enjoy!

2019 WORLD SERIES
Projection Summary by Baseball Classics

2019 Projected World Series Runs: Nationals 34  Astros 31
2019 Actual World Series Runs:   Nationals 33  Astros 30

BASEBALL CLASSICS®
Fast.  Easy.  Statistically Accurate.

GET YOUR FREE BASEBALL CLASSICS GAME TRIAL!

​[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 7
Nationals at Astros
How would Scherzer hold out?  Would Greinke be able to bear down against the gritty road warrior Nationals? 

Trea Turner struck out looking to start things off.  Greinke retired red-hot Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon on fly ball outs to end the top of the 1st.  Home run hero George Springer stepped up to the plate leading off for the Astros.  Springer immediately smashed a home run into the seats for a quick 1-0 lead!  Even Mr. October, Reggie Jackson has to tip his hat to him.  Amazing!

End of 1, 1-0 Houston

After that, both pitchers mostly cruised through the next 3 innings.  Scherzer was mowing down Astros left and right!   Greinke racked up a few.  Both pitchers were consistently piling up outs for many 1-2-3 innings.

Moving to the top of the 5th, Asdrubal Cabrera notched the 3rd hit off Greinke, a single.  Zimmerman followed with another to give the Nats their first threat of the night.  Yan Gomes banged out the third consecutive single as Cabrera motored around 3rd to beat the throw home for the tying run!  Greinke in fact did bear down and ended the inning by getting Robles, Turner, and Eaton with routine outs.

End of 5, 1-1 thriller

Meanwhile, Scherzer continued with a masterful performance.  He whiffed the heart of the Astros line 7 times; 5 of them caught looking!

The Nationals came up in the top of the 7th in this even battle.  Greinke remained in the face Victor Robles.  Robles singled and that was the end of the night for the gutty performance by Greinke.  Peacock came in to take on the top of the Nationals order.  Turned blooped a single to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out!

The tension was growing throughout the stadium.  Would the Astros once again at home take the early lead, only to squander it and lose?!  Eaton went down 0-2, but then he managed to work the count full after fouling off several pitches.  On the next pitch he drew a ball to load the bases.  For who?  Rendon, that’s who and with Soto on deck!  A nightmare for the Astros…

Rendon drove a deep fly to the outfield for the first out of the inning, but Robles tagged and scored to give the Nationals their first lead of the night!  Without a lefty to face Soto, Peacock stayed in.  Soto smoked a single to drive in another run!  Cole was warming up and came in to put out the fire to keep the game within 2 runs.

Heading into the bottom of the 7th, 3-1 Washington

Astros rookie slugger Yordan Alvarez led off the bottom of the 7th for Houston.  Doolittle came in to entice him into an easy flyout.  After that, it was the armed forces of Washington’s pen to get through the 7th and 8th without allowing a run.  Rodney, Corbin, and Rainey held the Astros in check. The Nationals couldn’t get any more runs as Cole and Osuna came in to keep their late inning, clutch-hitting lineup in check.

Last chance in the 9th for Houston, 3-1 Washington

Daniel Hudson came in to face the first batter of the Astros 9th.  None other than Jose Altuve and Altuve slashed a single to put the tying run at plate with nobody out!

Brantley faced Hudson, but weakly flew out.  The Nats 2 outs away from their first World Series title for Washington since 1933.  Bregman was next and had other ideas.  The potential AL MVP singled to put the tying runs on base!  Gurriel was next, but he was fanned swinging on a 1-2 pitch for the second out.

The last hope was Astros rookie powerhouse, Alvarez.  He fought off pitches and put the ball in play…a fly ball that was caught to seal the 2019 World Series victory for the Washington Nationals!

Final Score: Nationals 3, Astros 1

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2019 MLB Season Premium Edition Player Cards printed with Real-Time Pitching, the Play Action Simulator, and Team Fielding! It took 112 minutes to finish this World Series Game 7. The game included 8 pitching changes!  Nationals pitchers struck out 14 Astros batters.

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 6
Nationals at Astros
On the bump for Houston is future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. But the pitching ace has had a rocky postseason, and unfortunately the troubles continued. 

In the top of the 1st the Nats got their first hit of the game off a double from Adam Eaton. Next up, Anthony Rendon smashed a homer to put Washington ahead! Juan Soto followed with a single, but Verlander was able to notch a pair of strikeouts to avoid further damage. 

For the Nationals, Stephen Strasburg was on the mound and asserted his dominance by striking out the side!

End of 1, 2-0 Nationals

As the game continued, Verlander’s trouble with the long ball continued. He gave up a solo homer to Howie Kendrick in the 3rd and another to Trea Turner in the 4th. Houston was starting to build a cushion of a lead. 

But in the bottom of the 4th the Astros stormed back into the game. Back to back singles by Brantley and Bregman led to the first two Houston runs scoring via a Carlos Correa clutch 2 out single of his own. Josh Reddick was able to score an RBI groundout and the ‘Stros were right back in the game!

Through 4 innings, Nationals 4-3

With the Nationals unable to do anything in the 5th, Houston had a chance to keep their momentum going. But Strasburg settled back down and earned his 6th strikeout of the game to maintain the lead. 

Now in the top of the 6th Washington put the game away for good. After Verlander allowed a lead off single, manager A.J. Hinch pulled him for the highly effective Will Harris. The reliever has been lights out this series and Hinch went to him again knowing he needed to keep this game close. HoweverHarris immediately gave up a single, double and single to let D.C. score 3 more runs!

Bottom 6th, Nationals 7-3

Strasburg was absolutely brilliant in this game. His final line was 6.2 innings pitched, giving up 7 hits, 2 walks while totaling 7 punch outs. He allowed 4 ER. Patrick Corbin and Sean Doolittle finished out the 3.1 innings of the game, only giving up one more run to seal the win and force a game 7!

Final Score: Nationals 8, Astros 4

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2019 MLB Season Premium Edition Player Cards printed with the Play Action Simulator and Team Fielding! It took about 75 minutes to finish this World Series Game 6. The game included 6 pitching changes and high scoring action!

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 5
Astros at Nationals
Joe Ross retired the Astros in order to start the game.  After a scoreless first inning, Alex Bregman stepped up and unkindly greeted Ross with a blast to put Houston up 1-0.  In the top of the 3rd, not to be out done, Victor Robles who has been nifty with the glove in Centerfield for Washington, doubled and then raced home to scored the game tying run on a knock by Yan Gomes.

End of 3, knotted at 1-1

Ross held the Astros in check, allowing 1 run while striking out 4 and not give up a free pass.  Just what manager, Dave Martinez could have hoped for.  Robles singled in 5th inning and once again came around to score.  This time on a Trea Turner double roped off Cole.

Through 5 innings, Nationals 2-1

Fast forward to top 7.  Rookie slugger, Yordan Alvarez jacked a homer to get the game back even!  It’s now 2-2!  The Astros wasted no time in bringing in reliable reliever Will Harris.  He retired the first National, but Soto touched him for a single to put the go ahead run on.  NLCS MVP Howie Kendrick fouled off several pitches and then the unthinkable happened…Kendrick put the Nationals up with a bomb into the seats to send Washington fans into a frenzy!

Heading into the top of the 8th, Washington 4-2

Rainy wiped out the top of the Astros order in the 8th, including striking out Altuve and Brantley on consecutive at bats.  The Nats went down quietly in the 8th.

Daniel Hudson came in to face AL MVP candidate Bregman.  He retired him on a flyout.  Next, he fanned Gurriel on a 2-2 pitch.  With an 0-2 count, Yordan Alvarez was not going to give in.  He launched his 2nd home run of the game to put the Astros within 1!  Amazing!  Carlos Correa came up as the tying run, but Hudson nailed down the victory as Correa struck out swinging.

Final Score: Nationals 4, Astros 3

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2019 MLB Season Premium Edition Player Cards printed with the Play Action Simulator and Team Fielding! It took 77 minutes to finish this World Series Game 5 closely fought content. This game included 4 pitching changes and 3 pinch hitters. 

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 4
Astros at Nationals
The star pitchers from both teams are getting much needed rest.  We expected a high run scoring game with these offenses and in this World Series Game 4, that’s what happened.

After the Astros got on the board in the 2nd inning to take a 1-0 lead, the Nationals came roaring back with a grand slam by catcher, Yan Gomes!

End of 2, Nationals 4-1

Nationals red-hot third baseman, Anthony Rendon delighted the fans with a solo shot in the bottom of the 3rd to extend Washington’s lead to 5-1.  In the bottom of the 4th, Trea Turner added another for a 6-1 lead and more wacky homer celebrations in their dugout!

Through 4 innings, Nationals 6-1

What looked like an insurmountable lead heading into the 6th was about to shock Nats fans.  Things started to unravel on Washington relievers Suero and Rainey.  Thanks to a pinch hit single by Tony Kemp, a hit-by-pitch, and a 3-run deep blast by playoffs home run sensation George Springer, the score was suddenly 6-4 Nationals.  Houston’s mighty offense wasn’t done yet.  A 2-run RBI triple by Gurriel and other key hits pushed 3 more runs across the plate!

Heading into the bottom of the 6th, Astros 7-6

Washington bats went back to work knocking out 3 base hits and earning a couple walks.  A pickoff attempt at 3rd base that would have nailed unsuspecting Victor Robles all added up to 3 more runs for the Nationals! 

After 6 wild innings, Washington 9-7

Bergman smoked a homer in the top of the 8th, but Daniel Hudson came in to final shut the door on the Astros for a winner!

Final Score: Nationals 9, Astros 8

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2019 MLB Season Standard Edition Player Cards printed with the Play Action Simulator and Team Fielding! It took 37 minutes to finish this World Series Game 4 contest. This game included 8 pitching changes and 5 pinch hitters.

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 3
Astros at Nationals
This game features the surprisingly effective Anibal Sanchez for the Nationals versus the intense Zack Greinke. 

The first 3 innings were quiet as each starter wasn’t giving up much of anything. It wasn’t until the bottom of the 4th that the hometown Nats, hosting the cities first World Series game since 1933 scored the first run via a solo home run from the amazing Juan Soto! 

End of 4, Nationals 1-0

Houston’s quiet bats began to come alive in the top of the 5th. Josh Reddick led off the inning with a triple. It was the starter Greinke, who can certainly handle the bat well for a pitcher, who knocked in the first Astro’s run with a sac fly to tie the game at 1. 

But Sanchez wasn’t out of trouble yet. With the top of the order up, George Springer got on base with a single. Then with 2 outs, Jose Altuve slammed a 2 run shot to put Houston ahead!

With the Nats back up, in the bottom of the 5th, Adam Eaton, launched another Nationals solo home run to bring his team back within 1 run.

End of 5, Astros ahead 3-2

With Sanchez coming back out to pitch the 6th, Carlos Correa was able to knock out a solo homer of his own to get back a run for Houston. Sanchez was done for the night going 5.2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits, while giving up 3 walks and earning 6 strikeouts. 

Ryan Pressly came on to pitch the 7th for Houston and was given a 2 run lead. After striking out pinch-hitter Parra and Eaton. Anthony Rendon smacked a double to score the previously walked Trea Turner. Next batter up! Juan Soto then was able to deliver a 2 out RBI single to tie the game!

Heading into top 8, tied at 2!

With the game tied up, Washington manager Davy Martinez turned to the electric rookie Tanner Rainey to hold things down with Sean Doolittle already pitching the previous inning. However the kid gave up back to back doubles to Yuli Gurriel and Carlos Correa to break the tie game. 

A quiet 8th inning for the Nats brought them to the bottom of the 9th down by one run. Howie Kendrick pinch-hit to lead off the inning and facing Houston closer Robert Osuna, ground out. Osuna then got Trea Turner to strike out and induced a game ending pop out to Adam Eaton. 

Final Score: Astros 5, Nationals 4

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2019 MLB Season Premium Edition Player Cards printed with the Play Action Simulator and Real-Time Pitching! It took only one hour to finish this World Series Game 3 contest. This game included 8 pitching changes and 4 pinch hitters. 

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 2
Nationals at Astros
This game features two master craftsmen on the mound with a high volume of strikeouts ready to dish out.

Verlander came out on fire by whiffing the first two Nationals, Turner and Eaton with called strike threes!  Then Redon turned around a 2-0 pitch into the seats for a 1-0 lead.  It was the only run and hit he would give up during the rest of his outing. 

The Astros evened knotted the score at 1-1 thanks to a bases loaded passed ball allowed by Washington’s catcher, Kurt Suzuki.  Rookie Yordan Alvarez was caught looking at the 3rd strike by Strasburg to end the inning.

End of 1, Tied 1-1

Houston playoff sensation George Springer blasted the 2nd pitch he saw in the bottom of the 3rd inning over the wall for a 2-1 Astros lead.  One out later, Michael Brantley knocked one out too.

After 3 innings of play, Astros 3-1

Verlander was mowing down and frustrating Nationals hitters.  He was cruising through the lineup since surrendering that first inning home run.  Meanwhile, Strasburg was compiling a healthy amount of strikeouts of his own.  He settled in after the rough 3rd inning.

However, in the Astros 6th, Strasburg surrendered a walk to Bregman (fouling off multiple pitches) and was tagged for a RBI triple by Houston’s slugging first baseman, Yuli Gurriel.  Strasburg’s night came to an end then.  A couple batters later Carlos Correa brought him home with a single off flame-throwing rookie reliever, Tanner Rainey.

Heading into top 7, Astros 5-1

Verlander and Strasburg combined for 16 strikeouts while giving up just a couple walks and hit batters (Rendon and Hendrick).  Verlander was determined to get his team back into the series.

The Nationals did the best they could to keep the game within grand slam distance.  They brought in Daniel Hudson in the 8th to keep it that way, but he gave up a two-out RBI double to none other than Jose Altuve.

With a 6-1 Astros lead, Verlander was replaced by their closer, Roberto Osuna.  No sense messing around.  Juan Soto punched a base hit, but Hendrick popped out and Cabrera bounced into a World Series Game 2 ending double play.

Final Score: Astros 6, Nationals1

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2019 MLB Season Premium Edition Player Cards printed with the Play Action Simulator and Real-Time Pitching! It took only one hour and eleven minutes to finish this World Series Game 2 contest. This game included 5 pitching changes.

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 1
Nationals at Astros
The Nats wasted no time getting the fireworks going as MVP candidate Anthony Rendon smashed the first homer of the series off of Cole in the bottom of the first inning.  Although it was a shaky start for the ‘Stros ace, it was the only run he would give up during the rest of his outing. 

Cole lasted 6 innings, pitching 1 run ball on just 4 hits, 2 walks while racking up an impressive 7 strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Houston was being stifled by the great Max Scherzer until the 3rd inning. After giving up a double to Maldonado and a walk to Josh Reddick, Astros Mr. Clutch himself, George Springer legged out a 2 run triple to put his team ahead!

End of 3, 2-1 Astros

Not to be outdone by his teammate, Alex Bregman launched a solo homer in the bottom of the 6th to extend the Astros lead. Scherzer hunkered down and managed and induce a couple of groundouts and a strikeout. 

In the top of the 7th Brad Peacock came out to relieve a dominant Cole. The first batter he faced, Asdrubal Cabrera, drew a walk. This brought up the veterman Zimmerman who smashed a huge game tying 2 run home run!

Davy Martinez knows he’ll have to rely heavily on his starters so he decided to bring Mad Max out for the bottom of the 7th after his team tied it up.   But Maldonado smashed a centerfield Home Run to chase Scherzer from the game and take back the lead!

After 7 innings, 4-3 Astros

A scoreless 8th saw Houston skipper A.J. Hinch bring in closer Roberto Osuna to finish off the Nats. However, catcher Kurt Suzuki crushed a ball out of the park to dramatically tie the game! Would the Astros be able to recover?

It was up to Washington reliever Daniel Hudson to hold the fort. But he gave up back to back walks to Springer and Altuve to bring up the dangerous Michael Brantley. The batter was able to lace a single into the outfield and bring the speedy Springer home for a Houston walk-off win!

Final Score: Nationals 4, Astros 5

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2019 MLB Season Premium Edition Player Cards printed with  the Play Action Simulator. It took just under one hour to complete this World Series Game 1 showdown. This game included 7 pitching changes.

GET YOUR BASEBALL CLASSICS FREE GAME TRIAL!

FROM BASEBALL CLASSICS MAGAZINE | OCTOBER ISSUE 2019 | BASEBALLCLASSICS.COM

2019 MLB World Series Accurately Projected

2018 MLB World Series Accurately Projected

by | Oct 29, 2018 | Blog

2018 World Series Projections!

Baseball Classics time-tested algorithms accurately predicts results.

BASEBALL CLASSICS® GAME-BY-GAME PROJECTION

Baseball Classics® next generation board game simulated all the action playing real-time in the MLB ballparks of each home team based on the actual starting pitchers and lineups submitted to MLB by both teams for the 2018 MLB World Series.  The simulation for each game was played using Baseball Classics 2018 Season Split Lefty-Righty Player Card Boxed Game Edition (shipping November 14th) and Baseball Classics Real-Time Ballparks where virtually anything can happen in an MLB game, both featuring next generation color-coded ratings.

The projections were emailed to thousands of MLB fans prior to each 2018 World Series game conclusion.

Baseball Classics® accurately projected the World Series winner Boston Red Sox, number of games (4-1), and number of total runs scored by each team (off by only 1).

Want to play a FREE full trial of Baseball Classics next generation game?  Click here to download yours instantly!

Once again, it is more proof on the amazing accuracy and true realism Baseball Classics® next generation board games provide MLB fans to enjoy!

2018 WORLD SERIES
Projection Summary by Baseball Classics

2018 Projected World Series Runs:  Red Sox 28  Dodgers 15
2018 Actual World Series Runs:   Red Sox 28  Dodgers 16

BASEBALL CLASSICS®
Fast.  Easy.  Statistically Accurate.

You’ll find the complete game-by-game Baseball Classics 2018 World Series recap below and inside FREE Baseball Classics Magazine October issue.

GET YOUR FREE BASEBALL CLASSICS GAME TRIAL!

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 5
Red Sox at Dodgers
Boston goes down in the 1st without a run off Kershaw.  The Dodgers would come out scratching their way to putting the first run of the game on the board thanks to a bit of wildness by Price who walked Freese and Machado.  Muncy smacked a 2-out Double to drive in Freese!  Then a costly passed ball error by BoSox Catcher, Christian Vazquez allowed Machado to scamper across home plate.

Top 2nd, 2-0 Dodgers

Kershaw fanned 5 batters in the first 2 innings.  Things were going smoothly until Vazqueze atoned for his error with a leadoff Single in the 3rd.  Price sacrificed him over with a bunt.  Then AL MVP candidate Mookie Betts laced a Double to score Vazquez!  Betts is virtually unstoppable by lefties.  Kershaw registered another strikeout as Benintendi whiffed, but Pearce lined a 2-out base hit to easily bring home the tying run.

Mid 3rd, knotted up at 2-2.

In the Boston 7th, with Devers gets on base with a 1-out Single against Kershaw.  Vazquez lines out and Price is lifted for a pinch hitter Moreland.  He draws a walk and that would finish the night for Kershaw.  Dodgers reliever Josh Fields comes in to make Betts face a righty.  Yet, Betts singles sharply to center.  Hernandez races on and makes the throw home and nails Devers attempting to score.  Inning over, game still tied at 2!

Heading into the 7th, still tied at 2 a piece!

Boston reliever Joe Kelly comes in for Price.  Dodgers get a man on with 1 out, but pinch hitter Bellinger and Freese can’t keep things going.

End 7, 2-2.

As with many World Series contests with 1 team’s back to the wall, emotions can and will run wild at some point.  Nerves, pressure, etc. are abundant.  Benintendi faces new reliever Maeda who gives up the dreaded leadoff walk.  Pearce singles, Benintendi races around to get to 3rd base and Hernandez makes the throw in an attempt to get him, but he’s safe.  Pearce waltzes over to 2nd on the throw.  Now the Red Sox have runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs!  Martinez gets fooled on a Maeda pitch to strike out.  Bogaerts steps up and knocks in the go ahead run with a hard hit base hit to left!  Runners on 1st and 3rd, 1-out.  Holt walks.  Bases loaded.  Can Maeda get out of this jam without further damage?  Devers lifts a Flyball to left field, where Max Muncy moved over in a shift.  He botches it for a 2-run error!  Maeda would retired the next 2 BoSox hitters, but the damage was done.

Heading into the bottom of the 8th, Red Sox 5, Dodgers 2.

LA went down mildly the next 2 innings while facing the combination of Kelly, Sale, and Kimbrel.  We project Boston wins Game 5 and the 2018 World Series!

Final Score: Red Sox 5, Dodgers 2
Actual Score: Red Sox 5, Dodgers 1

 

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2018 MLB Season Splits Edition Player Cards, Play Action Simulator, Web Scorefield game board, and Baseball Classics Real-Time Ballparks playing in Dodger Stadium. It took just over 45 minutes to complete this World Series Game 5 clincher. This game included 6 pitching changes, and 3 pinch hitters.

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 4
Red Sox at Dodgers
Desperately needing a win in pivotal Game 4, LA will pull out the stops.  Things get rolling in the 2nd for them thanks to a leadoff walk to soon to be lucrative Free Agent,Manny Machado.  Bellinger and Puig weakly Popout and Flyout.  With 2-outs, as has been the case throughout this 2018 World Series, it’s another big clutch scoring Home Run!  This time by Chris Taylor to spot the Dodgers with an early lead.

Top 3rd, 2-0 Dodgers.

Dodgers hurler Rich Hill is dealing through 3.  Now in the 4th, Vazquez gets on with a 1-out Single.  Boston pitcher “ERod” pops it up for the 2nd out.  Betts finally gets Boston going by slamming a 2-out Triple to cut the lead in half.  Benintendi flies out to end the inning.

Mid 4th, 2-1 Dodgers.

Moving ahead to the Dodgers half of the 5th inning, Max Muncy drives a ball for a 2-out Double.  Justin Turner delivers in the clutch as he has so many times with another two-bagger to score Muncy.  Machado hits a fly ball out to end the inning.

End of 5, Red Sox 1, Dodgers 3.

Maeda enters the game in the 7th to face Boston’s number 5 hitter, Bogaerts.  He loses him to a walk.  Nunez lines out.  Then lefty Alex Wood comes in to face left-handed batter Holt who singles to put the tying runs on 1st and 2nd.  With right-handed batter Vazquez due up next, Dodger’s closer Jansen comes in.  This brings in Jackie Bradley Jr. as a pinch-hitter.  Bradley wins the battle by loading the bases with a short Single.  With Boston’s pitcher due up, Moreland pinch hits.  Moreland draws a Walk to make it a 3-2 ballgame, Red Sox back to within 1 run.  Betts faces Jansen.  Power against power.  Betts belts a deep drive for a grand slam to give Boston their first lead of the game in the top of the 8th!  1 batter later, with 2 outs, Pearce greets Jansen with another blast for an insurance run homer.

Dodgers in big trouble heading into the 8th,  Red Sox 8, Dodgers 3.

Kimbrel would keep LA’s bats quiet to lock down the win for Boston to take a 3 games to 1 lead in the 2018 World Series.

Final Score: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 3
Actual Score: Red Sox 9, Dodgers 6

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2018 MLB Season Splits Edition Player Cards, Play Action Simulator, and Web Scorefield game board.  It took just over 25 minutes to complete this World Series Game 4 stunning come from behind blow out. This game included 6 pitching changes, and 4 pinch hitters.

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 3
Red Sox at Dodgers
Boston couldn’t get anything going in the top half of the 1st, but LA put one run on the board with a sac fly by Max Muncy to score Joc Pederson!

Top 2nd, 1-0 Dodgers

In the top of the 2nd the Red Sox would strike back scoring their first runs of the game. After Christian Vazquez got on base, it was pitcher Rick Porcello coming up in the number 9 spot. A good hitter in his own right, Porcello laced a singleto put two runners on for Mookie Betts. With 2 outs, Betts did the unthinkable again, blasting a 3 run homer! The Red Sox continue their streak of clutch hits with 2 outs!

Bottom 2nd, 3-1 Red Sox

In the top of the 3rd Boston threatened again with a leadoff double by J.D. Martinez. But both he was stranded after a flyout, strikeout and groundout. 

In the bottom of the 5th LA came storming back. Starting with Joc Pederson, they hit 4 straight singles! Reliever Joe Kelly walked in the tying run to make it even. The Dodgers had the bases loaded with no outs! But Kelly calmed down and struck out the next 3 batters. 

Top 6th, tied at 3

In the bottom of the 7th Matt Barnes was now pitching for Boston. He allowed a leadoff walk to Manny Machado and a single to Cody Bellinger. But he induced a popout and 2 strikeouts to end the inning. 

Top 8th, locked in at 3

In Boston’s half of the 8th, Xander Boegarts started off with a single off of Kenta Maeda. Mitch Moreland followed with one of his own putting two men on with 0 outs. Maeda got Martinez to popout bringing up Brock Holt. The left-handed batter launched a 3 run homer off of Maeda to put Boston on top!

Bottom 8th, 6-3 Red Sox

LA made a comeback in the 8th, scoring 1 run off of lefty reliever Brian Johnson. Now Craig Kimbrel was brought in to stop the damage. He struck out Bellinger and Puig to end the threat. 

After 8 innings, 6-4 Red Sox

In the top of the 9th Boston continued to make noise. With the bases loaded and with 2 outs, Brock Holt was back at the plate against Pedro Baez. He drew a walk to add another run to Boston’s lead. 

Bottom of the 9th, 7-4 Red Sox

Although pinch hitter Kike Hernandez got a 2 out single off Kimbrel, the Dodgers couldn’t add any more hits off the ace closer. 

Final Score: Red Sox 7, Dodgers 4
Actual Score: Red Sox 2, Dodgers 3

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2018 MLB Season Splits Edition Player Cards printed with  the Play Action Simulator. It took just under 35 minutes to complete this World Series Game 3 showdown. This game included 7 pitching changes, and 4 pinch hitters.

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 2
Dodgers at Red Sox
Machado doubled with Freese on 1st to get things moving for the Dodgers.  However, due to the strong arm of Bradley Jr. and the slow base running of Freese it was runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs.  Price fanned Taylor to keep the game scoreless.

Dodgers’ starter Ryu walked lead-off man Betts in the bottom of the 1st.  He then swiped 2nd.  Yet Benintendi and Pearce couldn’t bring him home.  With Martinez due up, he was given a free pass, but Bogaerts drew a walk to load them up.  Devers delivered with a 2-out single up the middle to plate two!

End of 1, Dodgers 0, Red Sox 2. 

Things were fairly quiet after that for both clubs.  It didn’t help that Betts was picked off first in the Red Sox 2nd inning.

Fast forward to the Dodgers 4th.  Taylor greeted Price with a single to start the inning.  Kemp followed that with grounder base hit into centerfield.  Taylor was hustling and attempted to take the extra base at 3rd, but Bradley Jr. threw him out on a close play!  LA called for a instant replay review.  The decision was over turned, Taylor was instead ruled safe.  Barnes cashed in with an RBI single to cut the score in half.

Middle 4th, Dodgers 1, Red Sox 2.

In the bottom 4, Boston came right back.  Vazquez rocketed a Double and the hot-hitting Betts (especially against lefties) smoked a Double of his own to push the lead back to 2 runs.

End of 4, Dodgers 1, Red Sox 3.

Through 5 innings, Boston started David Price danced around trouble.  He was helped with a pitcher’s best friend.  Number 3 hitter Freese hit into not one, but two double plays along the way.  As we move into the 6th inning, Chris Taylor ropes a Price pitch over the Green Monster!

Middle 6, Dodgers 2, Boston 3.

Ryu only lasted 4 2/3 innings due to a short leash with the Dodgers down in the series 1-0.  Now it was up to the Dodgers bullpen to hold the fort and keep the game close.  Maeda and Baez did just that.  Meanwhile Price settled down after giving up the Taylor long ball to last 6 2/3.  Boston reliever Joe Kelly retired Turner to end the Dodgers 7th.

Top 8, Dodgers 2, Red Sox 3.

Freese atoned for his double plays by leading off the 8th with a knock.  That brought up clean-up hitter, Manny Machado.  Kelly remained in and Machado stunned the Fenway Crowd with a blast to left center to give LA their first lead of the night!

Mid 8, Dodgers 4, Red Sox 3.

Boston is resilient.  LA reliever Fields is in the game.  Devers led off their 8th with a base hit.  Kinsler sacrificed him over to 2nd with only 1-out.  Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a hot grounder into right field for a Single.  Devers was racing home, but Puig came up throwing and nailed him at the plate on a short-hop throw!  Fields get Vazquez to Popout to Turner.  Enter Jansen to face Betts and he got him to Popout too.

Kimbrel came in for Boston to hold Los Angeles, but walked the lead-off batter Dozier and gave up a Single to Turner.  Then Kimbrel struck out Freese, Machado, and Taylor to end the threat.  Phew!

Boston managed to get the tying run on base in the 9th, but Jansen shut the door for the save and get the series back even.

Final Score: Dodgers 4, Red Sox 3
Actual Score: Dodgers 2, Red Sox 4

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2018 MLB Season Splits Edition Player Cards printed with  the Play Action Simulator, and Baseball Classics Real-Time Ballparks in Fenway Park. It took just under 55 minutes to complete this World Series Game 2 showdown. This game included 8 pitching changes, and 3 pinch hitters.

 

[Simulated Results]
Baseball Classics World Series Game 1
Dodgers at Red Sox

Two very likely future Hall of Famers facing off, as Kershaw and Sale take the mound in Fenway Park. What a classic match-up!

This game was filled with excitement throughout including a couple blasts over the Green Monster on a crisp, Fall evening in Boston.

Perhaps it was pitching in his first World Series game, whatever it was, Sale was jittery in the top of the 1st walking himself into trouble. However, Sale wiggled out of any damage by striking out the side.

Kershaw racked up a couple of K’s himself to keep Boston quiet.

End of 1, no score.

LA went down in order in the 2nd. Boston electrified the home town crowd in their half by going back-to-back with home runs! J.D. Martinez led off with a 420 foot deep drive to center to put the Red Sox up 1-0. Bogaerts followed that with a drive over the Green Monster off Kershaw. The inning ended when Kershaw whiffed Leon and Bradley Jr.

End of 2, 2-0 Red Sox

In the top of the 5th, after Turner pasted a Double, David Freese drove him home with a ground ball single up the middle that was just far enough out of reach for Bradley Jr. to have a shot at throwing out Turner. Sale fanned Machado to end the Dodgers inning.

Kershaw struck out Leon and got Bradley to hit a weak groundout to Freese playing at First. Betts worked a walk from Kershaw and Benintendi showed he has more than just excellent glove work in his arsenal. Benintendi smashed a centerfield 2-run Home Run about 15 feet shy of where Martinez planted his earlier!

After 5 innings, 4-1 Red Sox

Moving to the Dodgers 6th inning, Sale gave up a lead-off single to Barnes. Though after that both Dozier and Turner were strikeout victims. Sale stayed in the face Freese and gave up his 3rd straight Single to him to bring up the tying run. Right-hander Kelly came in to relieve Sale and face the righty Machado, but lost him to a walk. With the bases loaded and Chris Taylor due up, LA pinch hit with lefty Max Muncy. Boston responded by bringing in the lefty Johnson. The stage was set. Muncy was over powered and struck out to leave the bases loaded!

Top 7, 4-1 Red Sox

In the bottom of the 7th Boston, J.D. Martinez struck out against Kershaw, but he surrendered a Single to Bogaerts who moved to 2nd on a passed ball error by Barnes. After getting Devers out on a ground out scored 3-1 on the put out, Kinsler came through with another 2-out score for the Red Sox with a base hit to drive in the run.

7 innings played, 5-1 Red Sox

The top of the 8th, Puig hit a 2-out pitch against Johnson over the Green Monster to put Los Angeles back within 3 runs. In the Boston 8th, they threatened with a Single by Betts who was balked into scoring position, but left stranded by reliever Maeda.

After 8 innings, Dodgers 2, Red Sox 5

Kimbrel finished things up for Boston to notch the save by allowing 1 walk and recording a strikeout of Machado and a Game 1 victory!

Final Score: Dodgers 2, Red Sox 5
ACTUAL:  Dodgers 4, Red Sox 8

How it Was Played
We used Baseball Classics 2018 MLB Season Splits Edition Player Cards printed with the Play Action Simulator, and Baseball Classics Real-Time Ballparks in Fenway Park. It took just under 55 minutes to complete this World Series Game 1 showdown. This game included 4 pitching changes, and 1 pinch hitter.

It’s “no sale” for the Dodgers tonight! Baseball Classics projects Boston will delight Beantown with a World Series Game 1 win tonight using the long ball while Sale will be tough to score against.

GET YOUR BASEBALL CLASSICS FREE GAME TRIAL!

FROM BASEBALL CLASSICS MAGAZINE | OCTOBER ISSUE 2018 | BASEBALLCLASSICS.COM

Baseball Classics All-Time Greats – Kansas City Royals

Baseball Classics All-Time Greats – Kansas City Royals

by | Sep 16, 2013 | Blog

The Kansas City Royals were one of the latest crown jewels to be added to the American League back in 1969.  They really focused on building their strength up mostly through a farm system that produced some of their best players to ever wear royal blue.  The team was founded by Ewing Kauffman, a local entrepreneur and enjoyed their first winning season a couple seasons later in 1971. Kauffman Stadium Let’s review their 24 greatest players in their 40+ year Major League Baseball history. NOTE – The Kansas City Royals are 4 of the next 4 Major League Baseball Franchise teams we will be adding to the #1 selling Baseball Classics All-Time Greats set in the Fall of 2013.  These 4 teams will be available as an add-on for those who already purchased the Baseball Classics All-Time Greats.  Stay tuned in our Blog to learn about the final MLB franchise to be added! In the Fall of 2013 Baseball Classics will welcome the Kansas City Royals, Houston Colt .45s-Astros, Los Angeles/Califonia/Anaheim Angels, and New York Mets to the All-Time Greats set.  There are many great and exciting players to choose from; here’s who makes the cut for the top 15 position players and 9 pitchers that will be added and their impact on the franchise.

Pitchers Brett Saberhagen

Brett Saberhagen – Two-time Cy Young award recipient is the best pitcher to play for the franchise.  Pitched half his 16-year stellar career with the Royals.  Kept walks to a minimum which is reflected in his impressive ERA.  Fielded his position very well.

Cy Young/All-Star/Gold Glove | Wins 167 | ERA 3.32 | BB/9 1.7

Larry Gura – Logged 10 consecutive seasons with Kansas City with a healthy winning percentage for the club.  Was a steady double figures winner for seven consecutive seasons earning 99 wins over that span.

All-Star | Wins 126 | ERA 3.76 | IP 2047

Dennis Leonard – Great mound presence.  3-time 20 game winner, played all 12 seasons for the Royals and somehow was snubbed from the All-Star team.  A workhorse until he finally broke down towards the end of his career with injuries.  He liked to finish what he started.

ERA 3.70 | Wins 144 | WHIP 1.262 | CG 103

Paul Splittorff – The all-time wins leader for the Kansas City Royals during his 15 years with them.  He’s another Royal who surprisingly never made an All-Star team.  Consistent year after year, had 10 seasons of double-digit victories to his credit.  Long-time pitcher threw the first pitch in the minors for the franchise in 1968 before they joined the American League.

ERA 3.81 | Wins/Losses 166/143 | WHIP 1.34 | HR/9 .7

Kevin Appier – Very impressive 13 season stint with the Royals.  Known for his nasty forkball and wild pitching motion.  Walked a lot of batters, though also struck out more than twice as many.  Didn’t surrender the gofer ball much at all with the Royals, though after moving on he did.  Appier was tough to get a hit against with his arsenal of pitches.

All-Star | ERA 3.74 | Winning Pct. .552 | WHIP 1.294 | SO 1994

Steve Busby – Fired two no-hitters becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to do so in his first 2 MLB seasons.  Had a blazing fastball that came with plenty of chin music. Unfortunately his career was short-lived due to a torn rotator cuff, he was never the same since.  It’s no wonder, he had 38 complete games over a 2 year span.

All-Star | ERA 3.72 | Winning Pct. .565 | WHIP 1.354 | HR/9 .6

Dan QuisenberryAl Fitzmorris – Not too many pitchers who are first to be on a new franchise go on to have a winning record with them, though he accomplished that feat.  Fitzmorris was solid for the Royals during his 8 years on the mound with them.  Worked his way from bullpen to starter, nothing flashy, but consistent.

ERA 3.65 | Winning Pct. .566 | WHIP 1.256 | HR/9 .6

Dan Quisenberry – The quintessential relief ace during his time, not only for the team, but in MLB.  His sidearm submarine motion that launched from about a foot off the ground was wicked.  He used his pinpoint control to dominate hitters.  Was AL saves leader 5 out of 6 seasons.

All-Star | ERA 2.76 | Saves 244 | WHIP 1.175 | BB/9 1.4

Jeff Montgomery – The franchise all-time saves leader.  Spent his rookie season in Cincy before spending the rest of his 13-year career with the Royals.  Averaged 29 saves a season over that span.  Recorded 30 or more saves 5 seasons including 45 when he was the AL saves leader.

All-Star | ERA 3.27 | Saves 304 | WHIP 1.244 | SO/9 7.6

Catcher

Darrell Porter – Known for his keen eye at the plate, that significantly elevated his OPS well above his average hitting.  Had some pop in his bat, thus always a threat to get on base or knock one out.  Played 17 seasons, his finest with the Royals for 4 seasons.

All-Star | OPS .763 | BB 905 | HR 188

Mike Mcfarlane – Played 11 of his 13 MLB seasons with the Royals and showcased some good power along the way.  Also was plunked a lot and had a decent eye leading to a very respectful career OPS.  Authored 6 consecutive seasons of 13 or more home runs.

AVG .252 | OPS .752 |HR 12 | FLD .992

First Base

Mike Sweeney – He can hit.  Not so hot with the glove at Catcher or elsewhere, he made a handsome career for himself with blistering batting.  He could hit for power too plus could get on base with more than his share of walks.  Sweeney cranked out doubles like they were going out of style.

All-Star | AVG .297 | 2B 325 | HR 215 | RBI 909 | OPS .851

Billy Butler – Played 9 of his 23 Major League Baseball seasons for the New York Mets plating two different stints.  He reached base safely well over 4000 times.  Staub was a terrific hitter, later in his career was a pinch hit specialist that all teams feared lurking in the dugout.  Though he played most of his career in the outfield, he also played 11 seasons at first base.

MVP/Gold Glove/All-Star | AVG .296 | OPS .821 | HITS 2182

Frank White RoyalsSecond Base

Frank White– A great clutch hitter, could play multiple infield positions well.  His versatility and knack to drive in game winners throughout his career and ability to play a very dependable second base in the field well deserves to be listed among the Mets

All-Time greats. All-Star | AVG .284 | HITS 1532 | OBS .782

Cookie Rojas – He hustled while playing 9 of 14 Major League Baseball seasons for the Mets.  Backman was a solid number 2 hitter with his above average on base percentage.  Though he never was voted to an All-Star team, his consistency and number of games he played for the Mets at  2nd base earns him a spot.

AVG .275 | OBA .349 | HITS 893

Third Base

George Brett – The greatest player to ever play for the Kansas City Royals, he’s the face of the franchise.  13 straight seasons was an All-Star and owns the single season record for the highest batting average at .390.  Owns just about every batting award one could accomplish short of the Triple Crown.  Fiery player, always the most fierce competitor he is one of the very best to ever play MLB.

Hall of Fame/Gold Glove/All-Star | AVG .305 | OPS .857 | HR 317 | HITS 3154

Kevin Seitzer – The man who ultimately replaced George Brett at Third base was a hitting machine.  He batted .323 over his first 841 plate appearances from the time he joined the big leagues with the Royals.  How about 8 seasons in full or limited duty batting over .300 during his career?  Consistently had impressive batting averages from start to finish.

All-Star | AVG .295 | HITS 1557 | 2B 285 | RUNS 739

Shortstop

Freddie Patek – Pint-sized Patek was an absolute menace to play against.  He could steal, was an outstanding fielder, and ran the bases like a mad man legging out triples on the slick astro-turf surface which was like a skillet during the hot summer days and nights.

All-Star | AVG .242 | 3B 55 | SB 385

UL Washington – Long time Mets shortstop was far more of a glove man than a stick man.  He joined the team at 21 and played with them for 13 seasons.  He could swipe a few bases and considering his batting average; his on base percentage was respectable for the value he brought to the team which included his leadership.

Gold Glove/All-Star | AVG .236 | OBP .327 | Runs 539

Outfield

Amos Otis – How about a .340 batting average the same season your franchise win’s it’s first World Series?  Jones was a staple for the New York Mets for most of his 13 MLB seasons; a good all-around player and steady contributor.

All-Star | AVG .281 | OPS .744 | Runs 565

Willie WilsonWillie Wilson – Speed burner covered miles of carpet during his 15 seasons with the franchise. Wilson was electrifying and known as one of the best leadoff hitters of his generation. Unfortunately he had off the field problems, thus peaked about half way through his career. Yet he was brilliant and a force to reckon with at bat, on the base paths, and in the field. All-Star/Gold Glove | AVG .285 | 3B 147 | Runs 1169 | SB 668

Danny Tartabull – Played 5 of his 14 seasons with Kansas City and saved his best for them with a .290 batting average during that time and .518 slugging average.  Belted in more than 100 RBI’s 5 times in his career.  Known to be a slugger in his day, had 10 seasons of double-digit round trippers.

All Star | AVG .273 | HR 262 | RBI’s 925 | OPS .864

Johnny Damon – Played for a lot of MLB teams, though spent most of them with the Royals where he began his career.  Outside of a weak arm he could do just about everything else for your club, including pop a long one now and then.  Had outstanding speed which legged out over 100 triples in his career.

All-Star | AVG .284 | HITS 2769 | 2B 522 | SB 408

Hal McRae – The only original New York Met to make the Baseball Classics All-Time Greats New York Mets team played all 18 seasons of his career for the franchise.  He wasn’t flashy, but wound up with a respectable career as an outfielder and first baseman.  He had his moments towards the Mets winning the 1969 World Series.

All-Star | AVG .261 | HITS 1418 | TB 2047

Notable Franchise Names That Missed The Cut

The Royals franchise produced some of the finest home-grown talent including superstar Bo Jackson who missed the cut due to a football injury.  Bob “Hammer” Hamelin and Al Cowens gave the franchise a thrill in their day.  Lou Piniella took his best years over to the Yankees.  John Wathan was a decent average hitting catcher and enjoyed a 10 year MLB career all with the Royals, though not good enough to outshine the other catchers that made this roster.  David DeJesus and Alex Gordon were very good, though just falling short.  Charlie Liebrandt was difficult to cut; it could easily be argued he’s deserving of a roster spot here though just like Tom “Flash” Gordon, he narrowly missed it. Here’s the starting lineup I recommend generally starting for the All-Time Great Kansas City Royals:

  1. George BrettOF – Willie Wilson
  2. 2B – Frank White
  3. 3B – George Brett
  4. OF – Amos Otis
  5. OF – Hal McRae
  6. 1B – Mike Sweeney
  7. C – Darrell Porter
  8. SS – Freddie Patek
  9. P – Brett Saberhagen

We look forward to adding them to the Baseball Classics All-Time Greats later this year.  Do you agree with our top 24 selections for the All-Time Kansas City Royals?  Who do you think is the best Royals player to ever play?  What’s your favorite memory of this franchise?  Let us know in the comments below!

How Baseball Classics Player Cards Are Made

How Baseball Classics Player Cards Are Made

by | Aug 11, 2013 | Blog

I’d like to invite you to go behind the scenes and show you how Baseball Classics baseball board game is made today.  Since it’s conceptual design in an apartment in Woodland Hills, California during the summer of 1985, it has evolved to a premium baseball board game that thousands have enjoyed.

From MLB Statistics to Baseball Classics Player Cards

Baseball Classics Player Cards

Baseball Classics baseball game play design is centered around the player results and ratings that are based on their actual MLB season performance.  They are all translated into full color “traffic highlighting” player cards for any MLB teams and seasons 1901 to present.  That is one tall order, though it’s a fundamental requirement since Baseball Classics baseball game was founded.  Here’s how we are able to scale and today support over 110 MLB seasons, which roughly comes to making available over 63,000 unique player cards. The official MLB player stats are gathered from the Baseball Almanac Statmaster website and pasted into Microsoft Excel.  Each Baseball Classics player card is 100% generated from a combination of formulas and programming.  This ensures player ratings are not subjectively altered and supports the scaling necessary to offer any MLB teams or seasons since 1901. Now that we covered an overview, let’s dive in deeper to this process.  Naturally, it’s the most important process in creating Baseball Classics.

  1. First we take the Baseball Almanac Statmaster Pitching Stats for a MLB team.  They are copied and pasted into an Excel spreadsheet, then formatted using an in-house program that creates a Baseball Classics pitching stats template.
  2. Next we do the same for batting and fielding stats into their own Baseball Classics templates.
  3. These 3 Baseball Classics pitching, batting, and fielding statistics templates are then combined into a master Baseball Classics data template.  This template is loaded with formulas to that generate each players individual symboled, color-coded fielding rating.  This process takes about 5 minutes per MLB team on average thanks to the program code and formulas.
  4. This stage is where the bulk of the work is done.  The calculated master Baseball Classics data template is moved into what we call our “Grid Calc”, where 3 more templates using hundreds of formulas and lines of code generate an entire MLB team of player cards for the batters and pitchers.  It typically takes about 2-3 seconds to then generate a  Baseball Classics MLB team.  Thus once we have all the master Baseball Classics data templates for each team in a MLB season ready we use that full season worth of data to create an entire MLB season of Baseball Classics player cards.  For example, once we get to this stage it takes approximately 90 seconds to generate the Baseball Classics 2012 MLB Season player cards for all 30 teams.  Each card unique and generated 100% by our objective algorithms to ensure consistency as well as the ability to scale being able to offer any MLB teams or seasons from 1901 to the present.
  5. Next the full color, traffic-highlighted, symbolic, color-coded player cards with vital statistics are ready for print.  One-sided for Standard design (blank on the back of each player card), two-sided for Premium Design (full color Baseball Classics logo playing card design on the back).
  6. Standard Design player cards are straight-edge cut and grouped by team while Premium Design player cards have additional processing to have their corners rounded.
  7. Each Baseball Classics team of grouped player cards banded (rubber bands) then shrink wrapped for secure packaging to be shipped.

Baseball Classics 2004 Player CardHere’s a sample of a test Baseball Classics player card created in 2004.  It was never released and for the first time revealed publicly.  Note many changes we’ve made to this test model since 2004 with the exception of the font type.  Everything else has changed dramatically in some cases such as the formulas used to generate this card to the Baseball Classics website address shown at the bottom of this 1980 Kansas City Royals George Brett player card.  About 60% of this card was computer generated compared to today’s 100% of computer automation designed and used by Baseball Classics.

When Baseball Classics was first offered in 1988, each MLB player stat was individually entered by hand into a spreadsheet from the Baseball Encyclopedia.  It was a lot of work, pain staking days to almost a full week to generate 1 MLB season of team sheets back then.  Individual player cards were not offered, it simply was not scalable using such a manual process.  Should we have attempted to create individual player cards manually back then it would have taken at least 45 to 60 days to create a full MLB season.  At that pace we would have only been able to offer any MLB team or seasons from 1901 to 1906.  The team sheets back then were based on 3 ten-sided dice, using a completely different method to create player ratings.  The modern version and process of Baseball Classics was updated and incorporated 10 years ago.  To date our customers have received nearly 1 million Baseball Classics player cards.

Baseball Classics Team Sheets Today

This year we released Baseball Classics Team Sheets based 100% on their player cards.  They provide a complete bird’s eye view of their strengths and weaknesses. Each sheet contains the very same players, ratings, and statistics as the player cards all in a single sheet for download to print & play!  For a nominal fee, Baseball Classics will print them on special high gloss paper and ship them to you Free. We leverage the player card templates to generate every Team Sheet to ensure that the player ratings are identical to the player cards.  There are several templates consisting of many formulas used to transform the player card templates into Team Sheet templates.   The final Team Sheet template ultimately produces each final Team Sheet in full color.

Baseball Classics Team Sheet

Team Sheets are available for download using Print & Play Game Set or now available printed and shipped to you.

Ted Williams Baseball Classics 1953 Boston Red Sox Baseball board games have been around for many decades, dating way back.  Next generation baseball fans will still be playing them from childhood through adulthood as the generations prior.  Baseball Classics has evolved over the years adapting new technology to automate the process of creating player card and team sheet formats.  This has allowed us to scale, thus continuing to offer any MLB teams or seasons from 1901 to the present while each players ratings are unique based on their actual performance.  Over the past years there have been incredibly eye-popping MLB performances by players, Baseball Classics tells their story by painting their picture.  Recently an order was placed for the Baseball Classics 1953 MLB Season.

It’s a season where Ted Williams was coming back in August after serving his country coming back from the Korean War.  The player card generated by Baseball Classics system is the only one we have seen with 4 Home Runs and 4 Walks.  Any MLB fan can appreciate the amazing accomplishment by him finishing out the season with an astounding performance captured and portrayed by Baseball Classics baseball game.

In a previous article we posted Top 5 Baseball Board Game Under The Radar Player Cards to highlight some of the best MLB under the radar players since 1901.  Which MLB player card would you like to see?

How To Generate Random Dice Rolls Without Dice

How To Generate Random Dice Rolls Without Dice

by | Jul 2, 2013 | Blog

Dice are the #1 choice playing board games when it’s necessary to generate random numbers.  Classic games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, Trouble, Backgammon, and hundred more use dice.  Naturally tabletop baseball board games such as Baseball Classics baseball game, Strat-o-matic, APBA, and many more require “rolling the bones” too.

Dice make a great choice because they are conveniently sized, typically last a long time, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to generate many variations of random numbers.

With the popularity of more and more board games offered as a download, this presents a challenge.  Google is littered with people listing ways to generate random numbers without using dice or asking how it’s possible.  I decided to do some extra research to see what was being proposed to see what options were suggested.  In addition, I’m challenging myself to devise a system to generate random numbers by merely using 1 piece of paper to play Baseball Classics baseball game (which uses 3 six-sided dice and 1 binary die).

Here’s what I learned in my research.  Well, first some people are very funny!  Hilarious even with their witty comments and suggestions on this topic that Google surfaced.  I digress.

Here is a list of some of the suggestions (sans the witty banner) I came across on how to generate random numbers without dice:

  1. Use the random number key in a calculator
  2. Use a spreadsheet
  3. Open to random pages from big fat book (using the last number)
  4. Spinners
  5. Draw pieces of paper with numbers on them from a bag, hat, or coffee mug
  6. Write a computer software program
  7. A deck of playing cards
  8. Use your brain to think of numbers randomly 😉
  9. Ask someone to give you a random number
  10. Use a telephone directory, using last digit(s) of the phone number
  11. Use a stop watch or seconds hand of a clock/watch
  12. Dice simulators online
  13. Pop out numbers from an old key board, shake them in a cup

I’ve used a number of these suggestions to test playing Baseball Classics, the calculator and spreadsheet worked best.  Using a calculator is handy and quick, though takes extra button presses to generate the 3 six-sided dice and binary dice roll.  The one that is most effective is a spreadsheet using the RANDBETWEEN function in Excel (or other similar spreadsheet products).  I can assign a macro to it and just like that am 1 click away from generating the random numbers needed to play Baseball Classics.

Generating Random Dice Roll Numbers Using 1 Sheet of Paper

The system I needed to devise could only rely on a single sheet of paper to generate random dice rolls, nothing else in addition such as a bag, hat, calculator, cup, etc.

Sometimes the answer is right in front of us.  I used a combination of some of the suggestions listed above to create a way to generate random dice rolls using 1 piece of paper.  And I’m happy to report it doesn’t include writing 1 number on a equally torn piece of the paper and tossing them in the air or anything like that.

Since standard six-sided dice are most popular, I used them as the model for the end result to generate a dice roll for 1, 2, or up to 3 six-sided dice.  I thought about shapes like a hexagon (6-sided) putting 1-6 on each corner.  A hexagon with all sides and angles equal could be a card, rotating it, but just 1 card alone would essentially be like using a spinner.  Back to the drawing board…

I still like going with a card system, but not a deck of cards; too many to shuffle.  So then I thought about 3 hexagons, they would be easy to shuffle while rotating.  The corner that points to you is the random dice roll.  It’s that simple and fast to use.  Draw or print out the hexagons with numbers in each corner, cut them out and you have random dice rolls for 1, 2, or up to 3 six-sided dice using only 1 sheet of paper.  Next, what I designed to play using this system for Baseball Classics with 1 binary die and 3 six-sided dice with 1 sheet of paper.

Dice Cards: Playing Baseball Classics Baseball Game With No Dice

The binary die adds a wrinkle here, but one that was easily attainable to iron out.  By adding a ZERO or ONE to each hexagon card; that would make for an uneven distribution of the binary roll availability on the 3 cards.

Adding a 4th hexagon card would work, but as long as that needs to be done it’s an opportunity to add a bit more into the mix in the spirit of random dice roll generation.  By switching to an octagon and going with 6 cards, that would still be a very small number of cards to shuffle and rotate to determine each roll, while adding additional numbers equally distributed across all 6 cards.  They fit on a single sheet of paper, about size of your palm, a perfect fit!  Baseball Classics Dice Cards are born.

How To Use Baseball Classics Dice Cards

Baseball Classics Dice CardsPrint and cut out the 6 Baseball Classics Dice Cards.

To use: hold or place cards face down, next shuffle and rotate them.  Pick 3 dice cards, turning each one face up.  Each point on the 3 Dice Cards facing you is the number of the “dice roll”.  Add the 3 numbers and use the 3rd card for the result of the binary roll ZERO or ONE).

Example – Shuffle and rotate all 6 Dice Card face down.  Then pick and turn face up as follows: 3, 6, and 6 are the points facing you, this adds up to 15.  The 3rd card has a “ZERO” on it, that is the binary roll.  Refer to the pitcher card Roll 15 for the Result.  For the next “dice roll”, place the 3 cards back and repeat

Recommend printing your Dice Cards on 100 or 110 lb card stock, though heavy printer paper is fine too.

Playing with Baseball Classics Dice Cards is a fast and convenient way to play anywhere, anytime!  An added bonus is the build up of what the final roll will be as you reveal each card.  Definitely a lot faster than if you were to roll one die at a time to achieve the same type of suspense.

You can download your FREE Baseball Classics Dice Cards here in PDF format.

Check out Baseball Classics Print & Play format.  Choose any MLB teams or seasons from 1901 to the present, includes everything you need, just print and play!  Perfect match with Baseball Classics Dice Cards.

Let us know what you think, this system can be used to generate random dice rolls for your favorite board games too!

21 Factors Impacting Baseball Board Game Play

21 Factors Impacting Baseball Board Game Play

by | May 14, 2013 | Blog

You’re watching a baseball game on TV and a friend walks into the room.  What’s the first question your friend would typically ask you about the game?  Who’s winning, right?

Baseball Game Factors

That’s how simple baseball can be to watch, then again it’s beauty runs deeper than a long blast off the bat of Reggie Jackson in his prime.  Here’s something to think about, consider these 21 factors that can and will impact your baseball board game play and how Baseball Classics incorporates them.  Some may surprise you!

Let’s start with what I call the Situational Factors:

  1. Who’s playing and which one is the Home team?  This fundamental answer shifts the in-game strategy, especially from the 5th inning on.
  2. What’s the score?  The score is constantly running through your mind as you consider this key factor throughout every at bat.
  3. Which inning is it?  The compass for your game play, naturally your decisions vary upon this depending variable.
  4. How many outs?  The most precious commodity outside of runs scored and innings played.
  5. Threatening skies?  Did you know in Baseball Classics you can be playing under inclement weather conditions that can rain out your game?  It’s true and naturally changes how you manage every at bat.
  6. Who is up, pitching, and on deck?  We condensed these 3 essential immediate areas into one that determine how you make the current managerial move.
  7. Who’s on base?  Abbott and Costello aren’t the only one’s pondering this critical question.  Base runners dictate everything.

Let’s start with what I call the Impact Decision Factors for the Offense (team at bat):

  1. What are the base runners steal ratings?  Worth trying a theft or move them over with a bunt attempt, or perhaps just swing away to see what happens?
  2. What are the base running ratings?  It is possible for a base runner to score from 1st base on a single.
  3. What is the batter’s bunt rating? Is it the right time, if so what type of bunt attempt?
  4. How about a Hit & Run?  High risk with double play odds increasing, high reward automatically advancing any base runners an extra base.
  5. When to pinch hit?  Could this force a pitching change and if so, how does that change your decision?

More Impact Decision Factors though for the Defense (team in the field):

  1. Should I make any changes to team in the field to improve?  Read this article to see why this is so crucial.
  2. Is it time for a pitching change?  If so, what am I needing to minimize the strengths of the current batter?
  3. Should you bring the infield in?  Increases the chance for a hit, though also cuts down any runner on 3rd base.
  4. Time for a pitchout?  If the other team is attempting to steal it will cut down his chances of success.
  5. How about a pickoff attempt?  Watch out for throwing the ball away.
  6. Which runner(s) do you make a play on in a Groundout Forceout or Double Play?  Your decision may change depending on who is on deck.
  7. Does your Catcher have the ability to lower your chances of giving up a passed ball or wild pitch?  Especially keep an eye on during close games.
  8. Should you make a play on a runner attempting to advance an extra base?  Doing so could nail him, then again if you don’t, other runners can advance.  In some cases a runner can attempt to score from 3rd base on a base hit!

With these 20 factors and all the possibilities for decisions, it’s another example of why playing Baseball Classics or any baseball board games stimulate your mind.  It’s why I wrote the article Baseball Board Games Generate Brain Power earlier this year.

Another factor to add to this list is an injury.  Surely that too can truly impact the outcome of any game.

Here’s a brief case example for you, I welcome your responses in the Comment section below.  Enjoy!

The combination of these factors will spawn your next move and more interestingly it’s likely someone else would instead have called for a different move.

1. 2013 Washington Nationals at 2012 SF Giants

2. Nationals 1 Nationals 2

3. Top of the 7th

4. 1 out

5. Skies are threatening to rain out the game

6. Strausburg is due up now, Vogelsong pitching, leadoff man Lombardozzi on deck.

7. Runner on 1st, Blue steal rating, yellow Run rating

What do you do if you’re managing the Nationals?