[Dr.K]

Been playing OOTP since OOTP2. Finally in a casual historic exhibition I clicked Texas 1977 vs Pittsburgh 1956 for no reason and sat down to watch just before I go to bed before midnight, (UK here). What I got was a matchup of Gaylord Perry for Texas Vs Bob Friend for the Bucs.

Both pitchers performed well, but with the game in the balance and my mouth dry, I watched as Gaylord Perry took 3- 0 lead and a no hitter into the 9th.

I looked up who was next, Bill Mazeroski, I can't pretend to know too much about baseball history but I do know him! He lined out.

Next Gene Freese, he grounded out........

I have never got so nervous as watching Gaylord get the first two, could it be?

Left handed Dale Long the Pittsburgh slugger strode to the plate. How even after all these years has it come to this? Could this be it? Why couldn't be anyone else? His stat line for '56 Pittsburgh? .263 27 93. How ironic that one of the best sluggers of the mid 1950s was going to pinch hit against 39 year old Gaylord.

But before I pressed the mouse button, I prayed veteran Bert Campeneris now 35 years old at short stop could pull out one more play, he had been phenomenal all game, his rating of 70 (default settings) in the field had helped Gaylord all game.

I didn't have to wait long,

On the first pitch, the Pittsburgh slugger, smashed it to the right of Campeneris, NO!

With my mouth open, I watched as the little computer Campeneris moved to the ball. I'd seen it all game. Everything stopped like slow motion. Wow. He got to the ball. He seemed to have it for a lifetime! Surely the game would realize that he'd had too good a game, even a 70. The AI would cheat me, I know it would. Throw it Bert! Did he have enough time, to throw, the computer Dale Long, scrambled up the line to first. Please OOTP Gods, let me have this one... PLEASE!

The ball whizzed across the field, first baseman, Mike Hargrove extended his glove to receive, Dale Long lunged and........

Well I never, I fell off my bed! All this time, I've watched them all. Some in exhibition some in my historical leagues. Usually I watched the power pitchers, Gooden (Of course), Seaver, Ryan, Sudden Sam McDowell, Carlton, JR Richard, Guidry, trying to get a perfect game or no hitter, over 18 years of this game,


.........and it's crafty Gaylord Perry that does it! Yes!!

Well how about that? (Kudos Mel Allen).

In all my years of playing this game, I had never seen it, in fact add in Earl Weaver, Front Page, Tony Larussa etc, I had not seen it. The only blemish was Dick Groat got a walk in the 6th.

Thank you Markus and the team, great fun watching this! Best version yet!