I started my Out of the Park 15 (OOTP 15) simulation by
playing a GM role in the 1960 season.
The first thing that I realized about this game was the depth of
information that is available and how you can be drawn in as a team manager or general
manager. The statistical aspect of the
game is second to none. I haven’t found
a typical baseball statistic that wasn’t available.
With the amount of information that is available, it took
some time to learn how to maneuver through the game, but once I became comfortable
with the icons I had no problems.
I chose to simulate all the games up to the 1960 All-Star
game. By the time July 11 rolled around
the White Sox and Giants led their respective leagues. Ironically, both the Yankees and Pirates were
in fourth place going into the All-Star break.
In the All-Star game, Jim Bunning (DET) - 13-1, 2.28 ERA got
the start for the American League while Bob Friend (PIT) - 12-5, 2.50 ERA took
the mound for the Senior Circuit. I was
impressed that the game was played like typical All-Star games for the
pitchers. The American League used seven
pitchers while the National league used nine.
Both teams played 15 position players throughout the game.
The game wasn’t very close with the NL jumping out to a 5-0
lead after just three innings, en route to a 7-1 victory.
Willie Mays led things off in the bottom of the first with a
line drive single to center field. Two
batters later, Hank Aaron tripled scoring Mays from first. Eddie Mathews flew out to left field and
Aaron scored without a throw to give the NL a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Ernie Banks drilled a Bunning
pitch 381 feet for a solo homerun to give the National League an early 3-0
lead.
In the bottom of the third, Joe Adcock hit a solo shot off
of Russ Kemmerer. Aaron picked up his
second hit of the game and eventually scored on an RBI single by Frank
Robinson.
National League RHP Lindy McDaniel got into some trouble in
the top of the fourth inning. After
loading the bases on walks to Eddie Yost and Ted Williams and a single by Pete
Runnels, McDaniel was pulled for Pirate Roy Face. Face forced an RBI groundout by Mickey Mantle
then struck out Bill Skowron and got Woodie Held to fly out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning Bill Mazeroski hit a 2 RBI
single to score Aaron and Mathews and set the final score 7-1.
Friend was named the Player of the Game going 2 innings and giving
up only one hit to Yost.
