** Tony Brizzolara, ex-MLB Player and SOM Fanatic **

Above we see one of Tony's 1980 Topp's baseball cards and on your left is a photo from last summer after Tony's basketball team won the gold medal at the Senior National Games in Cleveland, Ohio. His main athletic endeavor right now is playing basketball. Even at age 57, he is still playing three times a week as well as is involved in various tournaments that take place around the country.

Tony:  I moved around a lot when I was growing up. Baseball wise the best place I lived in was Baltimore from 1966-1970. They had some good teams back then. Of course, I liked the Orioles back then. I was partial to Brooks Robinson, Luis Aparicio and Boog Powell.

Now I live in Atlanta. We have stayed here since I knew I could find a job with my actuarial science degree easily here. We have been in the same house for 30 years now.

Wolfman:  Then did you play little league and follow this with participation on the baseball teams in high school and college? Was pitcher your natural position or did you play other positions? At this early age did you know you would become a MLB player? Was it a dream to make the majors?

Tony:  I did play little league – in Baltimore and then Dallas. Ultimately I ended up living in Beloit, Wisconsin for the last two years of high school. I was lucky enough to get to go to the University of Texas and in my freshman year (1975) we won the National Championship. I didn’t get to pitch as a freshman but I was there in Omaha where the championship game was held.

When young I was a very good hitter, but I always was primarily a pitcher.

Even as I was drafted after my junior year at Texas (30^th person taken) I didn’t really think I was any lock in for making to the big leagues. It was a dream at an early age since I did so well playing through the years, but I don’t think I ever thought I was a lock to make it to the big leagues.

As with any young kid who plays the game, it was just a dream to play in the majors. I was just lucky enough to have made it for a few short years.

Wolfman:  Now, before we go into how you first got started with Strat-o-matic Baseball, which I assume
started when you were quite young, lets continue to focus on your ideas and thoughts as you saw the possibility to play in the Major Leagues.  First of all, was the journey to become a major league ballplayer worth it? 　Did it require a lot of hard work and dedication?

Tony:  Simply put – getting paid to play a game that many people would and do play for nothing because it is so fun; how could one not say it was worth it?  At times I did wonder since I spent quite a number of years in AAA (if it was worth it). I acquired a degree in Actuarial Science at UT so I knew I could get a good job once I was done with baseball or was it on the other hand, when baseball was done with me?

It was hard work, but looking back on it I think I could and should have worked harder. To be so close to having a good career and just missing out ended up being quite frustrating. I often thought back about what I could have done differently. And while I probably did work fairly hard, I am a believer that a person can always work a little harder.

Wolfman:  Even though I know you feel you didn't achieve your goals to play longer in MLB - don't you feel some sense of accomplishment that you made it?  Also, were there any special games you still recall where you were pitching, that you had an amazing game as a starter or reliever, or you were in a game that your team won due to your stellar performance on that day?

Tony:  I realize that it was an accomplishment just to get to where I got and do what I did, but when you are there and see other guys who you believe are no better than you go on and have a good career it is definitely frustrating. It took a few years after I retired before I would attend a game.

My first win sticks in my mind. I was facing JR Richard and I gave up 4 runs in the first inning and for some reason Bobby Cox left me in the game. I ended up pitching 8 innings and only giving up those 4 runs. We came back and won the game.

Oddly, I remember more of the bad things that happened in games than I do the good times.

Wolfman:  How does playing in the Minors compare to the Majors? 　Unless we live in a town with a minor league team, the minor leagues don't get much attention. Unless, of course, you are in league where watching the minors for the next great future players or prospects to come up could help your team. 　Is the competition the same in the minors as in the majors? Did you get a chance to meet some of the most famous players of your day in the minors? 　What is the level of competition and intensity in the minors?

Tony:  I was fortunate to not spend very much time in the lower minor leagues. I got to AAA the year after I signed and spent a lot of time there. I hold many of the Braves AAA pitching records, most wins, most strikeouts, etc. In other words longevity records in the minor leagues. Not what you strive for. In AAA you couldn't be as dominate as you might have been in the lower minors. There were a lot of guys with major league experience or just really good players on their way up to the majors. You could still make some mistakes but not many. However, when you get to the major leagues you realize you can’t afford to make any mistakes.

I played against a lot of guys coming up such as Cal Ripken, but these players on other teams didn’t really mingle with their opponents. You might get to know some of the long term AAA players since you played against them for several years, but those really good players don’t stay too long in the minor leagues so you really don’t get to know them very well.

I think the play is intense no matter what level of professional ball you play. We had some good teams in Richmond (Atlanta's AAA team) so we made the playoffs a number of times and that was always intense.

Wolfman:  Is it a hard life with all the traveling you have to do with your team in the minors and playing games almost every day?

Tony:  Once you have been in the majors, going back to the minor league grind and travel isn’t much fun. But as I recall before I was ever called up, you just took the travel as part of the game. Days off were always a pleasure, but there weren’t many. I was married pretty much the whole time I played so any time off where I could spend it with my wife was very much appreciated. The minors are a tough place to be if you have a family.

Wolfman:  Tell us how you felt and what were some of your experiences when you were promoted to the Major League? Was the feeling amongst the players different than in the minors?

Tony:  Believe it or not my first day in the major leagues was not that enjoyable. I was called up in May 1979 and met with the GM who will remain nameless (the Braves GM who signed me – Bill Lucas, an absolutely great guy – died unexpectedly just before I was called up so I had to deal with a quickly hired replacement). I asked a few questions such as what would happen to my salary if I got sent back down. He told me I should be thankful that I was even there because the only reason I was there was because of an injury. Nice thing to say to a 22 year old. Well I was up with Atlanta the remainder of the year and every time I won a game I wanted to shake the ball in the GM’s face.

That being said it was fairly awe inspiring to face some of the stars I had followed since I was a kid. For instance, Willie McCovey hit a double off of me in my first big league start. I faced Tom Seaver once. I got to pitch against all the NL stars of that ERA. It was a blast. It was too bad we had a last place team and I didn’t pitch particularly well.

I will say the players in the big leagues definitely had bigger egos than those in the minors. Probably rightly so, but still …

Wolfman:  I looked up the standings of the Brave Teams you were on for the 3 years you played for them and none of these teams made the playoffs although the 1983 Braves did fairly well. 　You played for Bobby Cox and Joe Torre though - what were they like as managers? Of course both of these gentlemen had much more success later on in their careers.  What about some of the Brave Players you got to meet, who did your respect the most? 　Were any of the more known players easy to get along with and be friends with?

Tony:  Bobby was very young at that time and just starting out. He was learning with a bad team so he like the players took some lumps. Obviously he improved over the years and is now in the Hall of Fame. He was and still is a really nice guy. He always takes time to say hello and talk to you even if you were just one of who knows how many guys he has managed.

Joe was a decent guy at that time and was really adept at handling the media. I believe that is why he did so well with the Yankees.

The most respected and nicest guy is no surprise – Dale Murphy. What a great guy. Even nicer in person than what you can imagine.

It was hard to become friends with the more established guys since I wasn’t playing enough years or up consistently enough to pal around with them. There was a tendency to hang out more with the guys with whom you played in the minor leagues.

Wolfman:  Finally, can you share with our readers what your daily life or routine was like as a MLB player? 　Was it a good life?  Or did you have to be really focused on the game and have more fun during the off season? As a result of being a MLB player, during the time you were with the Braves, was there any perks or benefits you had? Did people recognize you on the street, or were you given some special opportunities during this time of your life?

Tony:  Other than the pressure to succeed it was a great life. As I mentioned earlier you are getting paid (though nowhere near what they get now) to play a game. You are young and healthy, get to sleep late most days, hang out with the guys – what more could you have wanted.

I think now they are much more focused and spend more time studying the game and improving by using videos, computers, they have a better diet, there is better coaching. The athletes are just better now because of all of this. We didn’t know any better so we probably screwed around more than we should have.

I think because of my fairly unique name, people remember me more than they should. I get to play in charity golf tournaments and a few other things, but I was never one who was often recognized.

Wolfman:  Tony, if any of our younger members reading this interview are very talented baseball players in their own right, would you recommend for them to pursue a baseball career? And finally, is there anything else you wish to share about your time in MLB that I haven't asked before which is important for our members to know?

Tony:  I think any talented player should go as far as they can as long as they are enjoying the game. As you know kids these days who are really good get special training and then play almost year round. They could easily get burned out.

I could give you many stories linked to MLB even though I wasn’t up in the big leagues for a long time, but for now my one comment is the game today is very different from when I played. There is so much money involved that it is much more a business than it used to be and that has led to better athletes playing the game. Just look at how many guys throw 95+ MPH. There were only a handful when I played.
 

Tony:  I have always been a game player. I started playing chess against my uncle when I was 3.

Prior to discovering Strat I played all sorts of games. My big adventure came when I was 10 as I started a four team baseball league – each team a different game. One was an old spinner from my father’s childhood that was on a wooden block and had offensive results on it. Another team was an old baseball card game from his childhood also. The third team was using a regular deck of playing cards as a baseball game. This was published in the Baltimore newspaper one Sunday and of course I jumped on it.

The last team was my own creation by using three dice with a list of results depending upon the roll. I made up player names and played many games where I kept the stats for all the games. By the way – the old baseball card game from my father’s childhood had the best record.

I think I played All-American Baseball before Strat. I have several other games – such as a Sports Illustrated game, but once I discovered Strat I ignored everything else.

I can’t remember what magazine I saw the Strat-O-Matic ad, but the first season I got was that wonderful offensive 1968 season. I soon got the old 20 greatest teams and began playing them solitaire against each other. I added the next set of 22 teams when that became available. I still have the scoresheets from all those games I played over the years.

I have always been a stat freak so that has always been important in any game I play.

Wolfman:  Tony, why have you stayed with Strat-o-matic Baseball over all these years?  What do you like about this game? Did you play in any leagues when you were younger? Did you ever know that eventually one day you would have your own Strat card?

Tony:  I pretty much played everything solitaire until 1980 when I somehow got hold of a copy of the old Strat-O-Matic Review. I think I may have talked to them and they wrote something about me since I had a card from 1979. Then, I was contacted by John Blomstrom of the National Texas League. It was an NL only league so it appealed to me since that was the league I knew. I took over an expansion team in the 5^th season of the league. The NTL is now entering its 40^th season and I still am participating.

Wolfman:  Tony, do you believe, in any way, that by knowing the capability of Major League hitters by viewing their SOM Cards, that this might have helped you in any way as a Pitcher? I mean in Strat, we don't go to the level that we know, as you would know as a major league pitcher what type of pitches are against the strengths and weaknesses of the hitters you would face but perhaps, still knowing a hitter's card would it not give you some insights about this hitter? What is your comment on this thought or idea?.

Tony:  I have to admit that when I was pitching I never thought about what the players Strat cards were. I just pitched my game.

Wolfman:  Now you told me in your email that you would play SOM with some of the other players on the Braves? As I mentioned in the introduction, the Mahler brothers were involved and like yourself started with the game before they became professional players. Can you tell us some stories about this? What type of game play did you do with your teammates? Did you play a league, which players were used?

Tony:  My first Strat  games with another player was a head to head season against Mickey Mahler. We drafted from any cards we had which meant the best players which were almost all from the Hall of Fame set. This was in 1979 so I didn’t yet have a Strat card of myself yet but Mickey did and he drafted himself. He didn’t use himself in any close games however.

I ended up winning this season at 100-62 and won $100. After 1979 I went back to AAA for a few years and played a number of seasons with Rick Mahler and got a few other guys involved. We played some seasons when I was back up with Atlanta in 1983 and 1984. Guys such as Milt Thompson, Bob Walk among others joined us. We used the same format. It was a great way to pass the time on road trips.

Wolfman:  What did the other Brave players think who didn't join your league, while they were watching you play Strat? 　Did they think it was just a kid's game or did they understand as you do, and many of us who have played this game for so many years, that you have to know all the baseball strategies and the capabilities of your players to create a championship team? How did you feel when your 1st Strat card came out for the 1979 Braves?

Tony:  A few guys thought we were crazy and that it was a kid’s game, but most probably just ignored us and went about their own business. I probably had an advantage since I knew what it took to win at Strat. Too many times guys got caught up with focusing on just batting average and ERA.

It was neat to have my own Strat card. In my PBM (play by mail league), the NTL league, the guy who had me on his team only pitched me against my team. I think I was 1-1 against myself.

Wolfman:  Tony, you have told me you have been very successful in your game play in Strat. Now this next question is one I ask of everyone that I interview: "what are the keys to your success playing Strat and building teams? Is it because you are a very astute student of the game? And, just as importantly, what key strategies or tips can you offer to our readers?

Tony:  Being somewhat of a math nerd with a degree in actuarial science, I was ahead of my time working with the stats such as: lefty – righty; on base; slugging; etc. I researched these aspects of the game every year. Now it is easily available for anyone on the internet so it is difficult to have such an advantage on people now. Of course, not everyone playing gets into these areas as much as some of us do, so drafting and trading becomes much more important. I have always been a big platoon guy and that has worked well since in the NTL we end up playing everything either in person or via Netplay.

Wolfman:  What would you say are some of the most special SOM games that you have ever played that you will never forget? Who are some of the most interesting people you have played against? What are some of your most special experiences associated with SOM?

Tony:  It’s funny. I can’t think of individual games. I can think of some crazy World Series in the NTL like when I had 4 guys in my starting lineup injured and I still won. We were playing in the car on a drive from Houston to Austin and my opponent Rick Blount was so ticked off that his team was thrown out the window somewhere near Bastrop, Texas. Another remembrance is when I had to face a team with Barry Bonds when he hit .362 with a .609 OBP and he went 0 for 16 without a walk.

Wolfman:  You told me in your email you are currently involved in 5 leagues and even started back in 1980 with a Play-by-Mail league. Can you share more about these leagues you are involved with, with our members and what are the best teams you have built so far?

Tony:  In addition to the NTL, I play in one other current league (SOMFOA) that uses both AL and NL. A couple guys from the NTL got me into a few years ago. It is not as fun since you mostly (only a few will play Netplay) solitaire against a computer manager. I also currently play in three historical leagues (currently 1883, 1946 and another moving into 1968, the original season I started with Strat). I also played many season in the HBP – Historical Baseball Project which is a league that doesn’t draft – you just take a team so essentially it is a replay.

I have done fairly well in my leagues. In the NTL I have .615 overall winning percentage. 22 - 100 win seasons, 9 World Series titles. Some say I am very lucky so I just agree with them.

Wolfman:  Have you ever been involved with any Strat-o-matic Tournaments? 　Are you playing with the computer game or do you prefer what we call Dice & Cards? 　Have you ever tried the on-line computer game?

Tony:  I never have played in a tournament. I always wanted to do so, but it just has never happened. I have been strictly playing the computer game for quite a while now. You can play many more games this way and get the stats right away, but you can’t beat the feeling of rolling the dice.

I have played the on-line computer game a couple of times using old timers. The first time was in a league that I think included Jon Miller the announcer for the Giants. It was ok, but not as interactive as I would like.

Wolfman:  You also told me that you have had contact with the game company. Can you share with our members a bit more about what your experiences have been with the game company? Did they treat you a little bit more special because you are one of the few ex-players to actually play this game? What was your impression of Mr. Richman and the other people working at the game company?

Tony:  Years ago I met Steve Barkan and we became friends. I did help a little bit with ratings – they asked my opinion about fielding, running and throwing ratings long long ago. I played in the first test league for the computer game when it was being developed by Bob Winberry. We talked a lot about programming the computer manager. That was so so long ago.

I guess they treated me a little special just because Steve and I used to converse a lot.

Wolfman:  Linked to your Strat career (ha ha) is there anything else you wish to share with our members which I have not asked in my previous questions? 　Where do you see yourself going in the future with the game, do you have some future projects?

Tony:  I plan to continue to play the game. My wife is a teacher and she is retiring next year after 30 years in the classroom. She wants me to cut back on work. I currently work as an actuarial consultant for Kravitz, Inc. specializing in pension plans – more specifically cash balance plans. If I do so, it might give me more time to play a little more Strat.

Wolfman:  If any of our members wanted to contact you to discuss any part of this interview, how could they do this?

I am always willing to talk Strat and baseball with anyone. (Note: To contact Tony, send him an email at: briz77@comcast.net )

Wolfman:  Tony I want to thank you for taking time to speak with us and share about your amazing journey into MLB and the Strat World. 　It was great, thanks very much on behalf of our members.