Vol. II, Issue #5 - December 2014

** Daniel Okrent - the Creator of Rotisserie League Baseball **

(Notes from the Wolfman:  Of course, Mr. Okrent is definitely discussed in Guzzo's book. This was how I knew that he had a connection with Strat-o-matic and why I contacted him.  So I looked Mr. Okrent up on Google and sure enough there he was and he had his own website. Through his website I discovered his
email so I was able to contact Mr. Okrent and inquiry if he would agree to do this interview. We would like to thank Mr. Okrent for granting us this request to speak to him as we hear from another pioneer in the area of Fantasy Baseball that was influenced to some degree by the game we love. )
 

Wolfman:  Once again, we have another special guest to introduce our readers to this month, Daniel Okrent. For those not familiar with Mr. Okrent, he is the creator of Rotisserie League Baseball which he developed in the 1980's when he was a managing  writer-editor for a magazine that he worked with at this time.  This form of baseball has become very popular with other journalists and now has a huge following. Additionally, of course, Mr. Okrent played SOM Baseball when he was younger and thus, was mentioned in Guzzo book, "SOM Fanatics".  Mr. Okrent I would like  to welcome you to the Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter and thank you for spending some time with our readers.

Daniel Okrent:  Happy to be here!

Wolfman:  Mr. Okrent, when you were younger were you a big baseball fan?  Did you play baseball in little league or high school?  If so what was your best position?

Daniel Okrent:  I was a terrible sandlot player as a kid, then suddenly discovered when I was in college that I was pretty good. Continued playing in a fast-pitch softball league until I was 28.  Mostly played center field, lead-off hitter, good OBP.

Wolfman:  What about which MLB team did you root for when you were younger, did you have any specific players who were you favorites?

Daniel Okrent:  I grew up in Detroit, and Harvey Kuenn was the player I identified with - center field (after he broke in as a shortstop), lead-off hitter, good OBP. I was very fortunate to get to know him 25 years later when he was managing the Brewers and I was writing NINE INNINGS.

Wolfman:  Prior to playing Strat-o-matic Baseball, did you try any of the other games that were around at this time?

Daniel Okrent:  Just the board games - Coleco, All-Star, Ethan Allen, etc.

Wolfman:  How did you hear about SOM Baseball? What season did you first play with? Did you setup any leagues with your friends?

Daniel Okrent:  I began playing with a friend in 1970 or 1971 - just the two of us, each managing four teams.

Wolfman:  What was there about SOM Baseball that you liked or that drew you to this game?

Daniel Okrent:  The statistical detail and realism. The strategic requirements, which so closely mirrored MLB. And the fact that my pal David and I could play for hours without getting bored.

Wolfman:  Are you still linked to SOM Baseball or are you now fully involved with Rotisserie League Baseball?
 Are you participating in any SOM leagues?  Have you had a chance to participate in any of the SOM National Tournaments?

Daniel Okrent:  I'm afraid not. I stopped playing SOM intensely when David moved to California. I played a bit with my son when he was 10 or 11, but he didn't really take to it. I recently got the current edition, though, and I'm preparing for spring training.

Wolfman:  Would you consider yourself a good Strat manager?  We ask this question of anyone we interview,
 if there is any key strategies you use or tactics that  help you have more success in the game?

Daniel Okrent:  I was OK; no special tactics.

Wolfman:  Now lets turn a bit to the history of Rotisserie League Baseball? How did this idea come to you? Why did you feel you needed to develop a different way to play fantasy baseball?

Daniel Okrent:  It popped into my head while on a flight from Connecticut to Texas in the winter of 1979-1980; no apparent reason other than the fact that it was the off-season and I was missing baseball. I didn't feel a "need" of any kind; it just happened.

Wolfman:  Can you explain to our members who might not be familiar with this style of baseball how it works exactly.  I read on Wiki when you first came up with this way to play fantasy baseball there was little interest but now there are leagues everywhere?

Daniel Okrent:  It's hard to believe anyone out there doesn't know how it's played; according to one recent survey, more than 15 million Americans are in a fantasy league of some sort. The basic rules: every participant in a league functions as the owner of a team of actual players, acquired either through a draft or an auction. The day-to-day statistical performances of an owner's players in their MLB lives (HR, RBI, ERA, etc. - categories vary from league to league) determines how they finish in the fantasy pennant race.

Wolfman:  Did playing SOM Baseball help you in some way to develop Rotisserie League Baseball? What influence did SOM have on this other way to play baseball?

Daniel Okrent:  No question it had a big influence, specifically in the attachment of realistic statistical performance to specific players. Also, it required knowledge of the entire MLB league you're playing in, and particularly in the players at the end of the bench that you might not otherwise know anything about.

Wolfman:  Since you have to predict which major league baseball players you think will have a good current season, is there some strategies that participants are using that help them with the selection of the players for your time in Rotisserie Baseball? For example do people have various on-line resources they can consult where such predictions are made upon the MLB players and how they might do in the next season?

Daniel Okrent:  Many players have complex (or simple) systems they follow, and there are scores of websites, etc., that enable you to project future performance based on past results. But I'm not one to recommend a system: in more than 30 seasons of play, I never won my league. I'm the Cubs of Rotisserie baseball.

Wolfman:  Do you think playing Rotisserie League Baseball would benefit a person who is a SOM Gamer in some way?

Daniel Okrent:  I don't know. In SOM, you don't need to study a player beyond what's there on his card - it tells you everything you need to know. Rotisserie calls for research and guesswork.

Wolfman:  Is there anything else you wish to share about Rotisserie League Baseball that you think would be important  to our members we didn't ask?

Daniel Okrent:  Everytime someone says "Rotisserie" instead of "fantasy," I'm a happier man.

Wolfman:  How can a person learn more how to play Rotisserie League Baseball and where can they go to
join a league?

Daniel Okrent:  Many websites, but I've never had to use them for this purpose. Otherwise, just ask a bunch of friends.

Wolfman:  As a result of the creation of Rotisserie League Baseball, and being a writer, have you had a chance to meet any of the professional MLB players directly?  Are the any current or ex-players that you have become good friends with? Do you know if  any MLB players compete with Rotisserie League Baseball?

Daniel Okrent:  I stopped being a baseball writer more than 20 years ago. I knew - and like - many players, but haven't really kept up with any of them.

Wolfman:  Many people also know you Mr. Okrent as an author of various books on baseball. Can you tell
 us brief what is like to be an author and why you enjoy doing it?

Daniel Okrent:  I loved writing about baseball because it enabled me to dig deeper, and to learn so much about the game; there were few things as interesting as, say, talking to Jim Palmer about pitching. But I stopped writing about it because I wanted to be a fan again; vocationalizing passion can turn it into something fairly passionless.

Wolfman:  What is the name of your latest book? What is the book about? Do you plan to write more books
in the future?

Daniel Okrent:  My most recent book was a history of prohibition called "Last Call." I've recently begun work on a new book, but it's too early, and as yet too unclear, to talk about it.

Wolfman:  If any of our members which to contact you directly is this possible? Is there an email they can write  to? What is your website?

Daniel Okrent:  I have a barely functional and very out-of-date website called www.danielokrent.com. There's a link there for e-mail, but I only check it about once a month.

Wolfman:  Mr. Okrent, any final comments you wish to share with our members?

Daniel Okrent:  Only that this interview, and the box on the table over there, are making me think of playing SOM again!

Wolfman:  Mr. Okrent this has been a great honor to meet another member of our Strat Family who has had such an impact on how baseball fans perceive the game and has given to us another way to be involved with fantasy baseball. Thank you so much.