Ask Statistor

a
a
Developed by Sperry Rand in 1963, Statistor is a robotic information-gathering and data storage system, later modified by Texas Instruments specifically for use by Statis Pro 1978 Replay. Statistor will answer any and all SP78-related questions, either once a year or whenever the mood strikes him.

 a
 a

Hey Statistor!

How many times has the Joe Walsh album But Seriously, Folks… been listened to while a Statis Pro 1978 Replay game was being played?

Steve G.
Phoenix, AZ

Hey Steve!

Since 1988, when music played during a game was first documented, the 1978 platinum-selling album has been listened to a total of 63 times during SP78 play, by far the most of any recording over the past 33 years. Of those 63 times, 17 were heard via digital files, 12 were compact discs, 11 were vinyl LPs, nine were cassette tapes, and one was heard on the Spotify music streaming service, with 13 formats not known or ever specified.

♦

Dear Strat-O-Matic,

Could you please send me the current 2020 edition of your Strat-O-Matic baseball board game at $55.00, plus the Additional Players Set at $19.00. I’ve enclosed $76.09 to pay for the game and extra cards, which includes $16.89 for FedEx Ground shipping and a 20% Black Friday discount. Thank you.

John A.
Poway, CA

Dear John,

Statistor does not understand your question, but will gladly accept your generous donation.

Ask Statistor

a
a
Developed by Sperry Rand in 1963, Statistor is a robotic information-gathering and data storage system, later modified by Texas Instruments specifically for use by Statis Pro 1978 Replay. Statistor will answer any and all SP78-related questions, either once a year or whenever the mood strikes him.

 a
 a

Statistor,

Which teams in the NL and AL have had the longest winning and losing streaks so far this season?

Steve N.
Lemon Grove, CA

Steve,

In the National League, the longest winning streak belongs to the Padres, with 11, while the Astros and Braves share the longest losing streak with 9. In the American League, the Mariners are still tops in the majors with their magic 16-game winning streak, while the other 1977 expansion team, the Blue Jays, claim the longest losing skid with 10.

♦

Dear Scary  Monster,

My name is Michael, I’m six years old, and I live on South Main Street. I have two questions to ask you. The first one is, do you have gas powered wings so you can fly into space and attack astronauts? And the second one is, does Statis Pro Baseball allow for variations in FAC card results in relation to each team’s home field advantages and disadvantages, based on player card formulas and/or Out Chart results?

Michael S.
Findlay, OH

Dear Michael,

In answer to your second question, no, the game does not allow for variations in results based on specific home ballpark idiosyncrasies, such as field dimensions and outfield wall height, although there do exist fan-created charts for such advanced play. As for your first question, it is not only nonsensical, but disturbing. Therefore, it will not be answered, and will be deleted from Statistor’s database.

Ask Statistor

a
a
Developed by Sperry Rand in 1963, Statistor is a robotic information-gathering and data storage system, later modified by Texas Instruments specifically for use by Statis Pro 1978 Replay. Statistor will answer any and all SP78-related questions, either once a year or whenever the mood strikes him.

 a
 a

Dear Statistor,

I was wondering if you could tell me what the longest and shortest rain delays have been this season, and which ballpark has experienced the most called, postponed, and delayed games?

Olivia G.
Lowell, MI

Dear Olivia,

Since delay times are decided by random number draw of a Fast-Action card, no game can have a delay shorter than 11 minutes and longer than 88. The shortest delay has been 21 minutes, during an Astros-Pirates game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, played just a few days ago on August 18th. The longest reached the maximum 88 minutes, at Fenway Park in Boston during the second game of a doubleheader between the White Sox and Red Sox on May 7th. Three Rivers Stadium leads both leagues with a total of seven games that have been called, postponed, or delayed; County Stadium in Milwaukee is the AL leader, with five.

And did you know the Supreme Controller used to wait out rain delays in real time? He gave up the practice in the 1990s.

♦

Dear Stat Ros,

What’s the most number of hits a pitcher has allowed in a game this season? Also, have any short relief specialists, such as Terry Forster or Darold Knowles, gone beyond their normal limits and pitched more than three innings in an SP78 game?

Scott B.
Pasadena, CA

Dear Scott,

Statistor’s database has alerted him to the fact that you once called him a dick; therefore, Statistor will not answer your questions.

 

Ask Statistor

a
a
Developed by Sperry Rand in 1963, Statistor is a robotic information-gathering and data storage system, later modified by Texas Instruments specifically for use by Statis Pro 1978 Replay. Statistor will answer any and all SP78-related questions, either bi-monthly or whenever the mood strikes him.

 a
 a

Greetings, Statistor!

How many players retired during the actual 1978 season, and will those players be removed from SP78 play on their retirement dates?

Joe S.
Pittsburgh, PA

Dear Joe,

Of players who opened the SP78 season on major league rosters, or who exist on AAA player cards, 87 played their final major league games during the true 1978 season. It is not known which of these actually made retirement announcements, since many continued playing in the minor leagues or overseas beyond 1978, without ever returning to a major league team.

Also, all players who appeared in their final major league game that year will be eligible to play throughout the entire SP78 campaign, with none being removed on their ‘final game played’ date. This includes outfielder Lyman Bostock, who will continue to play for the Angels despite his death in September, and AAA Columbus infielder Jim Fregosi, who will remain with the Pirates and be eligible for SP78 play, even though he left the organization and took over as manager of the Angels in June.

♦

Dear Statistron,

Will you be able to watch my son Chip?

Brent P.
Charleston, SC

Dear Brent,

Are you requesting service on a Sun Microsystems microprocessing chip? Or are you asking for assistance in the upbringing of a male child with the scatological nickname of Chip? If the former, please contact the Oracle Corporation directly. If the latter, Statistor does not have the capability—nor desire—to nurture human offspring; you may want to check into renting the UNIVAC 1005 for your child-rearing needs.