Nashville Wildcats

06/19/2026

GOLD CUP FINALS, GAME #1 - Jim Ferguson 6, Tom Perella 4 (14 minutes) - A 3-run homer in the top of the 9th by Nick Kurtz gave Jim Ferguson's Athletics their margin of victory over Tom Perella's Diamondbacks, giving Ferguson a 1-0 lead in the best 6-of-10 final round of the Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series.

In the top of the 1st, Perella starter Ryne Nelson walked the first 2 batters and then gave up a 3-run homer Ferguson rightfielder Brent Rooker. Then, Ferguson starting pitcher Luis Morales held Perella scoreless until the bottom of the 5th, when Morales gave up back-to-back rbi singles by Pavin Smith and Geraldo Perdomo, making it a 1-run game. Against Ferguson reliever Michael Kelly in the bottom of the 6th, Perella tied the game at 3-3 with a run-scoring double by Lourdes Gurriel.

In the bottom of the 8th, Ferguson reliever Elvia Alvarado struck out the first 2 batters, but then gave up a single to Gurriel, another single to Corbin Carroll, and a walk to Gabriel Moreno to load the bases. Justin Sterner took over in relief for Ferguson, letting loose a wild pitch that advanced the runners, scoring Gurriel and giving Perella a 4-3 lead. Sterner then got Ketel Marte to fly out and the game went to the top of the 9th.
Nelson having gone 8 innings, Perella sent Kevin Ginkel to the mound for the save. But Max Shuemann singled, Denzel Clarke reach on an error by defensive sub firstbaseman Tim Tawa, and then a Ginkel wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Ginkel then struck out Max P. Muncy and Jacob Wilson, and Ferguson was down to his last out. But Kurtz homered to give Ferguson a 6-4 lead. In the bottom of the 9th, Ferguson reliever Hogan Harris retired the side in order for the save. Sterner got the win, Ginkel got the loss. Shuemann was 3-for-4 for Ferguson, and Marte was 3-for-4 for Perella.

06/18/2026

GOLD CUP FINALIST JIM FERGUSON


Gold Cup finalist Jim Ferguson, a Minnesota resident, is a member of the Fly By Night Baseball Association, a 24-team Strat-O-Matic league in existence since 1974. Jim's Lake Wobegon Whippets were Fly By Night Baseball Association champions in 1994. During the first seven rounds of the Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series, he went 40-30 with a run differential of +125 (Mets 17-18, Athletics 23-12).

Below is the biography he submitted:

"Strat Biography:

"I'm a recently retired research facilitator and manager, who worked at 4 different Universities' high-performance computing facilities. I have a spouse who has put up with me and my Strat habit for over four decades, and we raised twin sons.

"My first Strat-O-Matic exposure was due to an older brother of a good friend -- the older brother and HIS friend were playing a series of the 1969 Giants vs the 1969 Twins -- basically a homerun derby playoff between Willie McCovey and Harmon Killebrew, with supporting cast. At 9 years old, I was heavily into *playing* baseball, and loved board games, so it was a hit with me immediately. On my 10th birthday (which is during Spring Training), I held in my hands a SOM Selector Set with the 1970 Cardinals, Cubs, Pirates, Reds, and Giants. It was the last year of Strat 'basic only' game cards.

"For a decade after that, my friends and I played a number of local FTF Strat baseball leagues, as well as Strat football leagues. One friend and I dabbled in the hockey and basketball games as well, but baseball was always #1 for me. Several of this hometown group participated in one or more of the Shapiro-led summer Strat conventions in Illinois -- at the University in Urbana-Champaign and in the Chicagoland area.

"Currently, I am a longtime owner/GM of the Lake Wobegon Whippets franchise in the Fly-By-Night Baseball Association https://flybynight-som.com/ I was an expansion team that joined in 1986. I also participate in two 'retro' leagues, one currently using the 1968 cards, and another which is now in the 1979 season."

(Submitted by Jim Ferguson on June 16, 2026)
*****
Steve Beren
Tournament Organizer, Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series
https://goldcup250.blogspot.com/

Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series - Strat-O-Matic Baseball Windows PC Tournament

06/17/2026

NETPLAY - Blue Sox 2026 Game #32 - New York 7, Blue Sox 4 (NetPlay, 18 minutes) - Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton each homered to lead New York. New York scored in each of the first 3 innings, taing a 5-0 lead, and Blue Sox starter Jameson Taillon lasted just 2+ innings, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits (he would be charged with the loss). New York starter Carlos Rodon held the Blue Sox scoreless until the top of the 6th. With 1 out, Jose Ramirez tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blue Sox firstbaseman Willson Contreras. Rodon then hit James McCann with a pitch and gave up a single to Bryan Reynolds, sending McCann to third. David Bednar replaced Rodon on the mound but was immediately tagged for a 3-run homer by Taylor Ward. That narrowed the New York lead to 5-4, but they added 2 more runs in the bottom of the 8th for the final margin of victory. Rodon got the win, Taillon got the loss, and Luke Weave pitched scoreless ball in the 8th and 9th for the save. For New York Judge was 3-for-4 with a double and a homer, and Jose Caballero was 3-for-4 with 2 stolen bases.

https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkBlueSox/posts/pfbid0QkALWsDA9K5A4NCm6ZMgptaCbL3TwHjXqzjQKYsivYeKW1vAUEfqq3ALX5p8Lk8Xl

NETPLAY - Blue Sox 2026 Game #32 - New York 7, Blue Sox 4 (NetPlay, 18 minutes) - Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton each homered to lead New York. New York scored in each of the first 3 innings, taing a 5-0 lead, and Blue Sox starter Jameson Taillon lasted just 2+ innings, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits (he would be charged with the loss). New York starter Carlos Rodon held the Blue Sox scoreless until the top of the 6th. With 1 out, Jose Ramirez tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blue Sox firstbaseman Willson Contreras. Rodon then hit James McCann with a pitch and gave up a single to Bryan Reynolds, sending McCann to third. David Bednar replaced Rodon on the mound but was immediately tagged for a 3-run homer by Taylor Ward. That narrowed the New York lead to 5-4, but they added 2 more runs in the bottom of the 8th for the final margin of victory. Rodon got the win, Taillon got the loss, and Luke Weave pitched scoreless ball in the 8th and 9th for the save. For New York Judge was 3-for-4 with a double and a homer, and Jose Caballero was 3-for-4 with 2 stolen bases.

06/17/2026

Gold Cup finalist Tom Perella is a member of the ESSOM Spring League (ESL), ESSOM Fall League (EFL), and United Federation of Baseball (UFB). His Pawtucket Apaches were EFL champs in 1979, 1980, 1992, and 2010. His Providence Wizards were ESL champs in 1987, 1991, 2003, 2006, and 2021. He won the UFB Season #4 championship in 2021 with the 2020 Chicago White Sox (he now manages the 2025 Boston Red Sox in the UFB Season #9). During the first seven rounds of the Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series, he went 45-35 with a run differential of +104 (Rangers 24-11, Diamondbacks 21-14).

Below is the biography he submitted:

"My name is Tom Perella and I live in the town of Tiverton, Rhode Island, tucked in the southeast corner of the state, near the ocean and not too far from Newport. I am married with two grown sons, both of whom live within a reasonable driving distance. My calendar tells me I am 75 years old, but I often feel younger (and sometimes feel older). I’ve been playing Strat since the mid-sixties and was introduced to the ESSOM league in 1977 by a good friend and co-worker at the time who was a league member. The concept of running a play-by-mail Strat franchise was new and wonderful to me at the time, and I guess that feeling hasn’t worn off seeing that I am still a member of both the ESSOM Spring and Fall leagues and have stuck with them through the decades as they evolved from dice-rolling to computer play.
"I worked as a civilian mathematician for the Navy for 35 years. I retired from that job in 2006, and four years later began an 11-year career in a new and very different field, internet marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization), working mostly from home for a small company based in Framingham, MA. In between those two jobs, I spent a few fun years inventing games along with a lifelong friend of mine who had retired from Hasbro. I am now completely retired.
"At the age of about 6, I became a Red Sox fan and have been one since, enduring the decades-long roller-coaster ride of Sox fandom. The memory of my dad taking me to Fenway and seeing the field in all its colorful glory for the first time is something I can never forget. And yes, I am old enough to have seen Ted Williams play and remember him well. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to have been at Fenway for several memorable games, including the final game of the 1967 season (my teenage self was one of the crazies who ran onto the field after the game and I collected dirt from the pitcher's mound, which I still have), games 6 and 7 of the 1975 World Series, games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS, and the final game of the 2013 World Series, which was the only time the Sox clinched a World Series at Fenway since 1918. I was at that game with my son, which was a joy. And my one regret was that my dad never lived long enough to see the Sox win it all (he passed in 2001, three years before it happened).
"I’m grateful to Steve for running this tournament, and also for his very active participation in ESSOM and many other SOM-related activities. He is the closest thing we have to a league historian, as he is continually providing us with tidbits of information about ESSOM history, statistics, etc. Although he and I have only met face-to-face one time, and it was many moons ago, I feel fortunate to have known him as a league-mate and friend for a very long time."
(Submitted by Tom Perella on June 16, 2026)
*****
Steve Beren
Tournament Organizer, Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series

Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series - Strat-O-Matic Baseball Windows PC Tournament

06/17/2026

GOLD CUP 250 CHALLENGE SERIES: FINAL ROUND!

Between now and Independence Day, I will be begin reporting on the game-by-game results of the Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series FINALS. From a field of 32 contestants, two have survived: Tom Perella of Rhode Island and Jim Ferguson of Minnesota.

The finals will be a best 6 of 10 series. The winner will get $150.00, and the runner-up will get $60.00.

Those of you who who were readers of the Strat Fan Review in from 1978 to 1981 might recall Gold Cup I, Gold Cup II, and Gold Cup III. This is my first big project since my "2020 Vision Tournament" in 2020, a massive solo project that was reported here on Strat Fan Forum and which was won by the 1954 Chicago White Sox.

This one is different. It is a revival and update of the original Gold Cup format, and is a special tournament in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Tom Perella went 45-35 with a run differential of +104 (Rangers 24-11, Diamondbacks 21-14).

Jim Ferguson went 40-30 with a run differential of +25 (Mets 17-18, Athletics 23-12).

During the first seven rounds of the tournament, they've played each other 30 times, each winning 15 games.

On June 18, I will post Tom Perella's Strat-O-Matic biography.

On June 19, I will post Jim Ferguson's Strat-O-Matic biography.

Beginning (approximately) on June 20, each day I will play one game in the Gold Cup Finals and post the results on Strat Fan Forum, on Facebook, and on the Gold Cup website (see link below).

Steve Beren
Tournament Organizer, Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series

Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series - Strat-O-Matic Baseball Windows PC Tournament

06/16/2026

NETPLAY - Blue Sox 2026 Game #31 - Blue Sox 5, New York 0 (NetPlay, 17 minutes) - Blue Sox rightfielder Juan Soto homered twice, and starting pitcher Jack Flaherty pitched 7 shutout innings, allowing just 4 hits and 2 walks. Max Fried, the starting pitcher for New York, gave up 3 runs on 7 hits and was charged with the loss. For the Blue Sox, Kerry Carpenter also homered.

https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkBlueSox/posts/pfbid02i3N647fcstoUEKdHLsqgABmYzLTLNZvsxMLEznwDbEfbT8QdfeQftWyvWs5NJ5Lgl

NETPLAY - Blue Sox 2026 Game #31 - Blue Sox 5, New York 0 (NetPlay, 17 minutes) - Blue Sox rightfielder Juan Soto homered twice, and starting pitcher Jack Flaherty pitched 7 shutout innings, allowing just 4 hits and 2 walks. Max Fried, the starting pitcher for New York, gave up 3 runs on 7 hits and was charged with the loss. For the Blue Sox, Kerry Carpenter also homered.

06/15/2026

Blue Sox 2026 Game #30 - Blue Sox 5, Toronto 0 (12 minutes) - Blue Sox starter Jack Flaherty retired the first 18 Toronto batters as the Blue Sox took the series finale and avoided a 3-game sweep. Jose Berrios, the Toronto starter, lasted just 1.1 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits in the 2nd inning, including rbi singles by Ezequiel Tovar and Kerry Carpenter. In the top of the 7th, Toronto designated hitter George Springer spoiled Flaherty's perfect game with a double, and he moved to third on a single by Addison Barger. Vladimir Guerrero was now at the plate, representing the potential lead run. But Blue Sox manager Dave Bristol sent Edwin Uceta to the mound in relief of Flaherty. Uceta struck out Guerrero, then struck out Bo Bichette, and then got Alejandro Kirk to fly out to left to end the threat. The Blue Sox added 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th, and the Blue Sox bullpen held Toronto hitless the rest of the way. Flaherty (2 hits in 6+ innings, with 1 strikeouts and no walks) got the win, Berrios got the loss.

https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkBlueSox/posts/pfbid0283McSqVsngED4vwhNpfJjanN7ynykN7QNq59WhGsBpJp1BxmY21AAdBdUZKuK2n5l

Blue Sox 2026 Game #30 - Blue Sox 5, Toronto 0 (12 minutes) - Blue Sox starter Jack Flaherty retired the first 18 Toronto batters as the Blue Sox took the series finale and avoided a 3-game sweep. Jose Berrios, the Toronto starter, lasted just 1.1 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits in the 2nd inning, including rbi singles by Ezequiel Tovar and Kerry Carpenter. In the top of the 7th, Toronto designated hitter George Springer spoiled Flaherty's perfect game with a double, and he moved to third on a single by Addison Barger. Vladimir Guerrero was now at the plate, representing the potential lead run. But Blue Sox manager Dave Bristol sent Edwin Uceta to the mound in relief of Flaherty. Uceta struck out Guerrero, then struck out Bo Bichette, and then got Alejandro Kirk to fly out to left to end the threat. The Blue Sox added 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th, and the Blue Sox bullpen held Toronto hitless the rest of the way. Flaherty (2 hits in 6+ innings, with 1 strikeouts and no walks) got the win, Berrios got the loss.

06/14/2026

Blue Sox 2026 Game #29 - Toronto 4, Blue Sox 0 (10 minutes) - Toronto starter Chris Bassitt pitched 8 scoreless innings, allowing just 6 hits, striking out 11, and not walking a single Blue Sox batter. The Blue Sox starter, Andre Pallante, also pitched a great game - he went 5.1 innings, allowing just a 3rd inning double by Vladimir Guerrero. The game was scoreless headed to the 9th, and Mason Miller took the hill for the Blue Sox. But Miller walked Guerrero and Bo Bichette, and then gave up a single to Alejandro Kirk to load the bases with nobody. Miller left the game without retiring a batter, and he was replaced by Kyle Leahy. Leahy got Nathan Lukes to hit a groundball to first, and Blue Sox firstbaseman Willson Contreras threw home to force Guerrero. But Daulton Varsho followed with a triple to score all 3 baserunners, and then Ernie Clement singled to score Varsho from third. For the second game in a row, Jeff Hoffman retired the side in the 9th (although this time it was not a save situation). Bassitt got the win, and for the second game in a row, Miller was the losing pitcher.

https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkBlueSox/posts/pfbid0NHe8DSisGMRgmFKzoPXT3wFdqEvbQsdTS2K69CMkqHvYNpB49PhEHYXmCAQo6fwYl

Blue Sox 2026 Game #29 - Toronto 4, Blue Sox 0 (10 minutes) - Toronto starter Chris Bassitt pitched 8 scoreless innings, allowing just 6 hits, striking out 11, and not walking a single Blue Sox batter. The Blue Sox starter, Andre Pallante, also pitched a great game - he went 5.1 innings, allowing just a 3rd inning double by Vladimir Guerrero. The game was scoreless headed to the 9th, and Mason Miller took the hill for the Blue Sox. But Miller walked Guerrero and Bo Bichette, and then gave up a single to Alejandro Kirk to load the bases with nobody. Miller left the game without retiring a batter, and he was replaced by Kyle Leahy. Leahy got Nathan Lukes to hit a groundball to first, and Blue Sox firstbaseman Willson Contreras threw home to force Guerrero. But Daulton Varsho followed with a triple to score all 3 baserunners, and then Ernie Clement singled to score Varsho from third. For the second game in a row, Jeff Hoffman retired the side in the 9th (although this time it was not a save situation). Bassitt got the win, and for the second game in a row, Miller was the losing pitcher.

06/14/2026

JIM FERGUSON ADVANCES TO GOLD CUP FINALS!

Round 7, Matchup 2 of 2 (June 13)

#3 seed 35-25 (run diff +25) Bob Terhune (California) - Royals (82-80), Marlins (79-83)
vs #4 seed 33-27 (run diff +47) Corbin Vance (Ohio) - Tigers (87-75), Orioles (75-87)

Bob's Royals take 4 of 5 from Corbin's Tigers
Corbin's Orioles take 4 of 5 from Bob's Marlins

A record of 41-29 or better is needed to guarantee advancement to Round 8 (Gold Cup Finals)

With a record of 38-32, Corbin is eliminated and finishes in fourth place

With a record of 40-30, Bob falls one game short of the 41-29 needed to guarantee advancement, and is tied with Jim Ferguson (who also has a record of 40-30).

The first tiebreaker is head-to-head, and in Round 5, Jim defeated Bob 6 games to 4.

With a record of 40-30 and winning the tiebreaker, Jim advances to Round 8 (Gold Cup Finals)

All the best,

Steve Beren
Tournament Organizer, Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series

For latest tournament results and standings, go to

Gold Cup 250 Challenge Series - Strat-O-Matic Baseball Windows PC Tournament

06/12/2026

Blue Sox 2026 Game #27 - Blue Sox 8, Cincinnati 3 (15 minutes) - Taylor Ward hit a grand slam, and Kerry Carpenter and Juan Soto each had a 2-run homer. Those 3 homers all were given up by Cincinnati starter Zack Littell, who went 7.2 innings but gave up 8 runs on 11 hits. Andre Pallante (3 runs on 6 hits in 5.2 innings) got the win.

https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkBlueSox/posts/pfbid02tpvA9ax5YP3JA3RjH89NZvkT1cGohRvvjL8ntvPb4G6vPCGd9yn9uwRRZCg2gmZhl

Blue Sox 2026 Game #27 - Blue Sox 8, Cincinnati 3 (15 minutes) - Taylor Ward hit a grand slam, and Kerry Carpenter and Juan Soto each had a 2-run homer. Those 3 homers all were given up by Cincinnati starter Zack Littell, who went 7.2 innings but gave up 8 runs on 11 hits. Andre Pallante (3 runs on 6 hits in 5.2 innings) got the win.