Randy Criddle

dsvitak · 12-21-2002, 03:52 PM

Before I can tell you about Randy, I have to supply a little background.

I am a middle aged, lifelong baseball fan.

I have taught college level statistics, and the two go quite nicely together. As a matter of fact, as a kid, I used to memorize the batting and pitching lists printed in the Sunday papers.

Having said that, I approach the game parameters with a mixture of fascination and awe....there is only one way to set up my baseball universe.

Indulge me here, please.

My league has been in existence for 24 years. I play a team until it wins the World Series, and then take the dead worst team, rinse, repeat.

In my league, the league batting average is .262 to .268, and has been for every year of its existence.

The all time avg leader is .359, second is .345, and 25th all time is .317

Home runs, while not rare, are less than the current softball totals. Only twice in 24 years has a player hit 50, both times 50 on the nose. The league leader is usually in the mid 40's, which suits me just fine.

I use a 5 man rotation, and generally have 3-6 pitchers with 20 wins per season.

To compensate for tuning down HR's a little, I have tuned up walks and doubles....but not TOO much. The league record for doubles in a season is 64.

My league reminds me of baseball in the early 60's, or early 70's, maybe even the 50's, but with more steals.

On to the story, thanks for your patience.

Randy Criddle is a catcher, and a good one. "B" fielder, with a "C" arm. He doesn't run worth a crap....E and E for speed/steal.

When he came up, in 1908 (it is 1928 now), he was rated:
Hitting: Average
Doubles: Brilliant
Triples: Poor
Home Runs: Brilliant

He was just 19.

I drafted him in the first round, third pick. The other picks taken in front of him were pitchers, both now in the HOF. Pretty good draft.

After two years in A ball, he went to AAA in 1910, and was a September call up in that year. He did well, got a couple of taters.

Along the way, he got better as a hitter, a Good rating.

He has had a long and magnificent career, one of the very finest in my league's history....sure, there are 4 others with more hits, and his .312 average in nowhere near the best, but boy oh boy, what a tremendous run he has given it.

Hits: 3028
RBI: 2046, with a league record of 179...MONSTER YEAR
Runs: 1845
MVP: 6 times

And.....until this morning.....499 home runs.

No player had ever hit 500 in my league.

Randy is old now...his skills have greatly diminished. It is early July, and he only has 52 at bats this year. He started the year with 496 home runs, and then got benched. Hard.

So, this morning, I get the message....Randy Criddle has a chance for his 500th Home Run!

And over the next month, a space of about 20 at bats, nothing. This will be his last year, certainly.

I thought about trading for him, putting him in as a starter, but I can't....I am in a pennant race, and it just wouldn't be right.

August 13th, 1928. Cubs vs. Giants...oh, did I mention he is a lifelong Cubbie? He helped them to win 3 World Series.

He started this game, the primary catcher must have gotten hurt. I manage the Cards now, and zoom, into the game I go.

He strikes out in the second. He is hitting in the 6 spot today.
Walks in the 4.
Singles in a run in the 6th.

Now it is the bottom of the 8th. Cubs down 3 to 1. Leadoff man walks, #2 hits into a fielders choice. #3 flies out. Cleanup hitter rips a double down the line, 2nd and 3rd, two outs. Beacham, the #5 guy is WALKED INTENTIONALLY!!! HOLY COW!

Bases loaded, 2 out, game on the line, Randy Criddle steps up to the plate.

I swear this is all true....the most amazing sports gaming moment I have ever witnessed....Randy Criddle, on a 1-2 count, hits a 442 foot shot to dead center field. Ballgame.

I yelled so loud I scared the cat, and my wife came running into the room, heh heh heh .

Unbelieveable. Magic.

He retired at the end of the season with 501 Home Runs. There is no one within 5 seasons of beating his record, and they are all in their mid-late 30's already.

I got my eye on this kid Clyde Manna, I think he's gonna be a good one.

blubbla · 12-21-2002, 11:24 PM

Yet another neat story from the OOTP faithful. Thanks for sharing!

JWay · 12-21-2002, 11:40 PM

Nice

Redhead_Alaskan · 12-22-2002, 01:45 PM

very cool

Tiger Fan · 12-22-2002, 02:41 PM

Great story.

elmwood44 · 12-22-2002, 02:43 PM

......absolutely beautiful!!!!!!

Thank you for taking the time to share that.

StorminZ · 12-23-2002, 01:42 PM

What a great "feel good" story!

Never get enough of reading this stuff ... it may be a game, but what a game it is!

StorminZ

LivnLegend · 12-23-2002, 02:20 PM

Great story, dsvitak!! First rate!

OldGiants · 12-24-2002, 04:10 PM

Thanks for posting this. Its why we all play the game.

dsvitak · 09-18-2003, 01:42 PM

Ahhh....its been awhile since I loaded this league....and reviewing the players in the HOF.

This was my first league, the one right before Bubba and his friends.

This was SUCH a feel-good moment, I am shamelessy bumping it up for a few other people to enjoy.

LivnLegend · 09-18-2003, 02:11 PM

HA! I was reading this thinking "This is a GREAT story even if it does seem a little familiar."

Well, it was great the second time too!

jaxmagicman · 09-18-2003, 02:24 PM

Yes it was a great story.

beavers10 · 09-25-2003, 08:06 PM

Great story, man. I have a question for LivnLegend, though. Why do you keep changing your avatars? One time it was BELIEVE IN CHRIST guy, and now it's Raiders. What happened to Crazed Natives?

cknox0723 · 09-25-2003, 11:08 PM

Cool story, thanks for bumping it. Feel free to share any more that you've got...

Craig

dsvitak · 09-26-2003, 12:09 AM

Well, this story, and the very gracious reaction to it, was the impetus for my Bubba Jones story.

Heh heh, pack a lunch for that one!

I am strongly considering another story, from a completely new angle...one that hasn't been tried before.

Don't want to give anything away, 'cause I am still trying to figure out just how the heck I will go about it.

jened · 09-27-2003, 08:43 PM

nice

twins15 · 09-27-2003, 11:49 PM

Thanks for bumping it. I didn't read it the first time around, but just read it now. Great Job!

dsvitak · 07-16-2004, 11:14 PM

A shameless bump for my favorite baseball moment of ALL time...and I saw Willie Mays 600th, Catfish Hunter's no-no, and McGwires 500th (and 501st).

..and the seventh game of the '82 World Series. Awesome.

Magatsu · 07-17-2004, 07:39 AM

Thanks a lot!!! This is a great read and a wonderful story worth bumping every year

After following your nice "Cotton"-Thread I read this story the first time ... again thanks.

M

Kaline · 07-17-2004, 10:32 AM

Nice Story.

12-21-2002, 03:52 PM	#1
dsvitak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,409	Randy Criddle Before I can tell you about Randy, I have to supply a little background. I am a middle aged, lifelong baseball fan. I have taught college level statistics, and the two go quite nicely together. As a matter of fact, as a kid, I used to memorize the batting and pitching lists printed in the Sunday papers. Having said that, I approach the game parameters with a mixture of fascination and awe....there is only one way to set up my baseball universe. Indulge me here, please. My league has been in existence for 24 years. I play a team until it wins the World Series, and then take the dead worst team, rinse, repeat. In my league, the league batting average is .262 to .268, and has been for every year of its existence. The all time avg leader is .359, second is .345, and 25th all time is .317 Home runs, while not rare, are less than the current softball totals. Only twice in 24 years has a player hit 50, both times 50 on the nose. The league leader is usually in the mid 40's, which suits me just fine. I use a 5 man rotation, and generally have 3-6 pitchers with 20 wins per season. To compensate for tuning down HR's a little, I have tuned up walks and doubles....but not TOO much. The league record for doubles in a season is 64. My league reminds me of baseball in the early 60's, or early 70's, maybe even the 50's, but with more steals. On to the story, thanks for your patience. Randy Criddle is a catcher, and a good one. "B" fielder, with a "C" arm. He doesn't run worth a crap....E and E for speed/steal. When he came up, in 1908 (it is 1928 now), he was rated: Hitting: Average Doubles: Brilliant Triples: Poor Home Runs: Brilliant He was just 19. I drafted him in the first round, third pick. The other picks taken in front of him were pitchers, both now in the HOF. Pretty good draft. After two years in A ball, he went to AAA in 1910, and was a September call up in that year. He did well, got a couple of taters. Along the way, he got better as a hitter, a Good rating. He has had a long and magnificent career, one of the very finest in my league's history....sure, there are 4 others with more hits, and his .312 average in nowhere near the best, but boy oh boy, what a tremendous run he has given it. Hits: 3028 RBI: 2046, with a league record of 179...MONSTER YEAR Runs: 1845 MVP: 6 times And.....until this morning.....499 home runs. No player had ever hit 500 in my league. Randy is old now...his skills have greatly diminished. It is early July, and he only has 52 at bats this year. He started the year with 496 home runs, and then got benched. Hard. So, this morning, I get the message....Randy Criddle has a chance for his 500th Home Run! And over the next month, a space of about 20 at bats, nothing. This will be his last year, certainly. I thought about trading for him, putting him in as a starter, but I can't....I am in a pennant race, and it just wouldn't be right. August 13th, 1928. Cubs vs. Giants...oh, did I mention he is a lifelong Cubbie? He helped them to win 3 World Series. He started this game, the primary catcher must have gotten hurt. I manage the Cards now, and zoom, into the game I go. He strikes out in the second. He is hitting in the 6 spot today. Walks in the 4. Singles in a run in the 6th. Now it is the bottom of the 8th. Cubs down 3 to 1. Leadoff man walks, #2 hits into a fielders choice. #3 flies out. Cleanup hitter rips a double down the line, 2nd and 3rd, two outs. Beacham, the #5 guy is WALKED INTENTIONALLY!!! HOLY COW! Bases loaded, 2 out, game on the line, Randy Criddle steps up to the plate. I swear this is all true....the most amazing sports gaming moment I have ever witnessed....Randy Criddle, on a 1-2 count, hits a 442 foot shot to dead center field. Ballgame. I yelled so loud I scared the cat, and my wife came running into the room, heh heh heh . Unbelieveable. Magic. He retired at the end of the season with 501 Home Runs. There is no one within 5 seasons of beating his record, and they are all in their mid-late 30's already. I got my eye on this kid Clyde Manna, I think he's gonna be a good one. Last edited by dsvitak; 09-18-2003 at 01:44 PM.

12-22-2002, 01:45 PM	#4
Redhead_Alaskan Minors (Triple A) Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 224	very cool __________________ "Never conform"-Woody Mesa

12-22-2002, 02:43 PM	#6
elmwood44 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 257	Beautiful...... ......absolutely beautiful!!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to share that.

12-23-2002, 02:20 PM	#8
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	Great story, dsvitak!! First rate! __________________ Excess ain't rebellion. You're drinking what they're selling.

09-18-2003, 02:11 PM	#11
LivnLegend Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 100% pure adrenaline! Posts: 5,624	HA! I was reading this thinking "This is a GREAT story even if it does seem a little familiar." Well, it was great the second time too! __________________ Excess ain't rebellion. You're drinking what they're selling.

12-21-2002, 11:24 PM	#2
blubbla Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Herscher, IL Posts: 2,460	Yet another neat story from the OOTP faithful. Thanks for sharing!

12-21-2002, 11:40 PM	#3
JWay Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,031	Nice

12-22-2002, 02:41 PM	#5
Tiger Fan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 9,873	Great story. __________________ Cliff Markle HOB1 greatest pitcher 360-160, 9 Welch Awards, 11 WS titles

12-23-2002, 01:42 PM	#7
StorminZ Major Leagues Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 403	What a great "feel good" story! Never get enough of reading this stuff ... it may be a game, but what a game it is! StorminZ

12-24-2002, 04:10 PM	#9
OldGiants Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 211	Thanks for posting this. Its why we all play the game.

09-18-2003, 01:42 PM	#10
dsvitak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,409	Ahhh....its been awhile since I loaded this league....and reviewing the players in the HOF. This was my first league, the one right before Bubba and his friends. This was SUCH a feel-good moment, I am shamelessy bumping it up for a few other people to enjoy.

09-18-2003, 02:24 PM	#12
jaxmagicman Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Retired defloration-maker living in Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 7,801	Yes it was a great story. __________________ See ID Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with the permission of Minor League Baseball. All rights reserved.

09-25-2003, 08:06 PM	#13
beavers10 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Somewhere in the West (Beaverton, OR) Posts: 158	Great story, man. I have a question for LivnLegend, though. Why do you keep changing your avatars? One time it was BELIEVE IN CHRIST guy, and now it's Raiders. What happened to Crazed Natives? __________________ I'll send an LOL to the world, I'll send an LOL to the world, I hope that someone gets my laugh in a bottle, yeah. HARNESS YOUR POSTING ENERGY Can anyone guess what this smiley is? PM me if you think you know. C= 2>;*{)) Another one: }:^#})

09-25-2003, 11:08 PM	#14
cknox0723 All Star Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 1,957	Cool story, thanks for bumping it. Feel free to share any more that you've got... Craig

09-26-2003, 12:09 AM	#15
dsvitak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,409	Well, this story, and the very gracious reaction to it, was the impetus for my Bubba Jones story. Heh heh, pack a lunch for that one! I am strongly considering another story, from a completely new angle...one that hasn't been tried before. Don't want to give anything away, 'cause I am still trying to figure out just how the heck I will go about it.

09-27-2003, 08:43 PM	#16
jened Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: upstate NY (saratoga county) Posts: 255	nice __________________ cooper_gd's OTWE Results OTWE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: KING JENED III

09-27-2003, 11:49 PM	#17
twins15 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Area 51 Posts: 4,792	Thanks for bumping it. I didn't read it the first time around, but just read it now. Great Job! __________________ "Ah man we're just hungry man" - Dovonte Edwards Bismarck Boy Scouts of the OTBL - league yes-man Ross Gload at baseball-reference.com Book Quotes and Book Lists

07-16-2004, 11:14 PM	#18
dsvitak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,409	A shameless bump for my favorite baseball moment of ALL time...and I saw Willie Mays 600th, Catfish Hunter's no-no, and McGwires 500th (and 501st). ..and the seventh game of the '82 World Series. Awesome.

07-17-2004, 07:39 AM	#19
Magatsu Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: BO, Germany Posts: 206	Thanks a lot!!! This is a great read and a wonderful story worth bumping every year After following your nice "Cotton"-Thread I read this story the first time ... again thanks. M

07-17-2004, 10:32 AM	#20
Kaline Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 321	Nice Story.