Are there any famous OOTP Players?

[sbailey85]

Hello after reading that battists was on the radio promoting OOTP I started to wonder are they are famous or semi famous people (like radio or tv personalities local or national) that we know play OOTP and love it? It would not suprise me because OOTP is a great game for anyone who loves an respects the history of baseball... In that case i would not expect barry bonds to play OOTP.... Im sure he would use the ratings editor too much

[falkonisback]

I've heard that Curt Schilling is an OOTP player.

[cephasjames]

There's at least one author, with a very good selling baseball book from what I hear, that I'm aware of.

And I have my own Facebook page. That makes me famous, right?

[sbailey85]

Originally Posted by falkonisback

I've heard that Curt Schilling is an OOTP player.

That would make sense... I think he should stop playing everquest and play more ootp

[Dan Theman]

For whatever it's worth, Schilling isn't the only MLB affiliated person who enjoys the game - I've been fortunate to know several who enjoyed it (btw - I'm not famous to anyone but my kid, Facebook page notwithstanding ). At least you guys should know it's well thought of by those who've had a chance to play it.

That said, most players are console gamers *sigh*

[Syd Thrift]

Funny this thread should come up because just last night the board was visited by sabermetrician Voros McCracken. I am also told that the highly famous lead singer of highly famous emo band Crazy Dumbsaint posts here from time to time. And then there is John Craven, who is in a world unto his own.

[Malleus Dei]

There are at least five authors who play OOTP and who visit the board that I am aware of.

[md5423]

"OOTP is played by numerous luminaries in the baseball world, including former Major Leaguer Curt Schilling, author and statistician Bill James, ESPN anchor John Buccigross, Boston Globe writer Chad Finn, and the "Godfather of Fantasy Baseball," Larry Melnick."

Saw that on a site

[molarmite]

That's awesome, I didn't know John Buccigross played. He should definitely stop by or have him mention it during a sportscenter show. Could you imagine how much publicity the game could get just by him mentioning it right before they go off air?

[kckid4u]

Originally Posted by sbailey85

In that case i would not expect barry bonds to play OOTP.... Im sure he would use the ratings editor too much

"I don't care who you are.....that's funny!"

To the point of the OP, I have been on TV a couple times being interviewed by the local ABC news station and reporter Maria Antonia. Does that count for anything? (BTW, she speaks perfect english till she says her name.)

[daveawrit]

/cue cool story bro

When I was growing up in Plymouth, MA, John Buccigross was a local sportscaster somewhere on the Cape. It's a cool story because his father was my Sunday School teacher for a couple years, really nice guy.

I never met John, but it is still kind of cool to see him all grown up and famous... really the closest I have come to knowing a famous person.

/close cool story bro

[dmarco82]

I know some of the local St. Louis sports journalists and radio personalities play OOTP. In fact, it was Derrick Goold's mention of OOTP in some blog posts on the St. Louis Post Dispatch website a few years ago is what first introduced my to OOTP.

dmarco82

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

I've been on national TV twice... does that count?

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Eckstein 4 Prez

I've been on national TV twice... does that count?

Ken Jennings says no.

[CommishJoe]

Originally Posted by Eckstein 4 Prez

I've been on national TV twice... does that count?

America's Most Wanted doesn't count

[Kane182]

Originally Posted by CommishJoe

America's Most Wanted doesn't count

Neither does, "To Catch a Predator"

[Poweshow]

I'm Poweshow on the board but I'm international popstar Justin Bieber off of the board. I think that counts.

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by Poweshow

I'm international popstar Justin Bieber off of the board.

Who?

[ukhotstove]

You'd think that there would be a few baseball players who would play the game, for long flights and such it would be perfect.

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

You'd think that there would be a few baseball players who would play the game, for long flights and such it would be perfect.

I would imagine that very, very few baseball players are economically minded enough to want to play a game like this. Unlike a game like MLB: The Show, there's very little of that "hey, I get to be THIS guy" aspect of things that a player might appreciate; it is, in the end, a management sim, after all. To a player, I imagine, guys don't simply go 0 for 3 in a game; they have a 8 pitch at-bat that ends in a liner right at the shortstop, have a second at-bat against the same pitcher where the guy gets a couple quick strikes on him and then he pops the ball up while protecting the plate, and in the third at-bat he strikes out on four pitches because the new pitcher has a tricky delivery and a devastating change of pace. Put another way, baseball players as a group may be too close to the game to appreciate the more distant view that a game like OOTP brings.

As for GMs, there *are* people who play the game who are currently or formerly in baseball front offices. The way it reduces people to numbers is going to be something that appeals more to stathead types than scouting oriented guys, but it's there. I have to think it's tough for a lot of those guys to separate the day-to-day aspect with the long term, although this is exactly the sort of toy that could help with that sort of thing.