“The Greatest Game Never Played” was a simulated baseball broadcast aired on radio stations nationwide, featuring a hypothetical matchup between Major League Baseball greats.
The game followed the format of the Major League All-Star Game putting the National League against the American League. Shibe Park in Philadelphia was the fictional site of the game.
12 million people listened to the broadcast on the evening of July 14, 1982.
The Sporting News published the ballots in April and May of 1982. Fans could vote for nominated players by the editors or write in selections. The balloting produced. the starting lineups.
The Sporting News editors filled out the remainder of the rosters, named the managers, umpires and coaches.
The editors of The Sporting News set the batting order, made substitutions, selected offensive and defensive strategies.
The game was simulated using an Apple Computer. Hardware and software was also provided by Apple Computer. Jamie Friend of Palo Alto, California created the program.
The computer determined the most probable outcome in each situation based upon the lifetime statistics of the players involved.
On June 11, 1982 in the offices of The Sporting News ‘The Greatest Baseball Game Never Played’ was played on an Apple III Computer.
On June 21, 1982 Jack Buck and Lindsey Nelson would bring it all to life at Technisonic Studios in St. Louis, Missouri.
On the evening of July 14, 1982 ‘The Greatest Baseball Game Never Played’ was broadcast on 200 radio stations across the United States and Canada.
American League
Manager - Casey Stengel
Starting Lineup
1 - Phil Rizzuto, SS
2 - Ty Cobb, CF
3 - Ted Williams, LF
4 - Babe Ruth, RF
5 - Lou Gehrig, 1B
6 - Rod Carew, 2B
7 - Yogi Berra, C
8 - Brooks Robinson, 3B
9 - Whitey Ford, P
Reserves
Joe DiMaggio
Tris Speaker
Mickey Mantle
Reggie Jackson
Carl Yastrzemski
Jimmie Foxx
George Sisler
Eddie Collins
Charlie Gehringer
George Brett
Joe Cronin
Luis Aparicio
Mickey Cochrane
Bill Dickey
Bob Feller
Lefty Grove
Walter Johnson
Cy Young
Jim Palmer
Rollie Fingers
Gaylord Perry
National League
Manager - John McGraw
Starting Lineup
1 - Pete Rose, 1B
2 - Mike Schmidt, 3B
3 - Stan Musial, RF
4 - Hank Aaron, LF
5 - Willie Mays, CF
6 - Rogers Hornsby, 2B
7 - Honus Wagner, SS
8 - Roy Campanella, C
9 - Sandy Koufax, P
Reserves
Mel Ott
Roberto Clemente
Lou Brock
Frank Robinson
Bill Terry
Johnny Mize
Frank Frisch
Jackie Robinson
Pie Traynor
Eddie Mathews
Ernie Banks
Pee Wee Reese
Gabby Hartnett
Johnny Bench
Grover Alexander
Warren Spahn
Bob Gibson
Carl Hubbell
Christy Mathewson
Tom Seaver
Steve Carlton
Using the Strat-O-Matic Baseball Game I will re-create this game. I used the cards of the Hall of Fame Set and the Baseball Heroes I Set.