US1517113A - Baseball die - Google Patents

Description

LSI'HL'S L. w. GREENE BASEBALL DIE Filed Sept. 13. 1923 LAWSON W. GREENE, OF IVIOORESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

BASEBALL DIE.

Application filed September T 0 all whom "it may concern:

Be'it known that I, Lawson W. GRnnNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mooresboro, in the county of Cleveland and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Baseball Dies, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates to game apparatus, and more particularly to a device for playing indoors an imaginary game of base ball.

Various devices and arrangements have heretofore been proposed for the-playing of indoor base ball, but all such apparatus of which I am aware has been more or less complicated, and has involved the use of a game board, large number of movable parts, difiicult sets of rules, etc., and for these reasons, has not met with great success.

The objects of the present invention are to provide an exceedingly simple apparatus,

consisting of but a single device or element,

by means of which, and without the aid of a game board, substantially all the plays of regular base ball can be represented, and the plays governed by almost the same rules that contro the national game.

The single device which I employ consistsof a ball or die in the form of a regular polyhedron having an even number of sides or faces. ()n these faces are placed symbols indicative of the different plays, the symbol on the uppermost or horizontal face being that which determines the particular play which is considered.

T have found that a solid of twelve sides or faces is capable of containing suflicient symbols to represent all of the usual plays encountered in an actual game, and to enable a complete and interesting contest to be carried on. I have also found that the twelve sided solid mown as a rhombic dodecahedron is admirably suited to the purpose, and this constitutes the preferred form of the invention.

The accompanying drawing is a perspective view of a rhomblc dodecahedron bearing symbols on its faces in accordance with the invention.

The dodecahedron A is shown as resting 13, 1923. Serial no. 662,410.

upon a table B, or the like, and it will be seen that the device has twelve equal similar diamond shaped faces .a arranged in diametrically opposite pairs. On these faces are printed, out or engraved the following symbols having meanings as given below 2- R. meaning home run.

ST. meaning strike.

BLL. meaning ball.

1 B. H. meaning one base hit.

2 B. H. meaning two base hit.

3 B. H. meaning three base hit.

FL. meaning foul.

S. F. meaning sacrifice fly.

' S. H. meaning sacrifice hit.

D. P. meaning double play.

T. P. meaning triple play.

C. S. meaning caught stealing.

To play the game, the players are divided into two sides or teams, each consisting of frgm oneto nine players. The first player of the team at bat rolls the ball or die on any smooth surface, and when it comes to rest, the symbol on the uppermost face is noted. Let us assume that this symbol is ST., thus making one strike. The said player rolls-again, this time, let us say, registering F L, which foul, in accordance with the rules of the national game, is counted as a strike, thus making two strikes. He rolls again, registering, say 1 B. H., thus entitling him to first base. The second player on the same team then rolls the ball, registering, let us say, 3 B. H., the first time. This places him on third base, and, it will be assumed,

scores the first player, since the rules will provide that whenever a player at bat rolls either a three base hit, or a home run, it serves to score all of the men on bases at the time.

Then, with the second player assumed to be on third base, a third player rolls the ball, and registers,.say, D. P. This double play counts both the batter and runner out. A fourth player now rolls, registering, we will suppose, 2 B. H. Then a fifth: layer rolls the ball, and we will assume that t e symbol S. F. appears on the uppermost face. This counts the batter out, as-in the regular game, and would ordinarily advance all runners one base. In the present supposed case, however, as there were already two out, the

play S. F. makes three out and retires the side at bat, without additional scores.

From the above, it will be seen that each player continues to roll the ball until he is either counted out or is entitled to a base, and the players of one team roll successively until there are three out. The other team or side then comes to bat, and plays in a similar manner. If there are not enough players on a side to successively carry out the plays, the one or more players representing each team continues to roll until three are counted out, when the player or players constituting the opposing team takes the ball.

As above stated, the rules for playing my indoor game follow closely those oflthe national game, so that it seems unnecessary to describe in detail the effect of all of the above listed twelve plays on the batter and on the base runners. The only point which appears to re uire explanation is in re ard to the symbo C. S. This play, caug t stealing serves to put out the runner nearest home, but the batter continues to roll, unless there were already two out.

Nine innin constitute a complete game,

except that, i the score is tied at the end of nine innings, the game should be continued until one side wins on equal innings.

A diagram of a base ball diamond, and coins or buttons to indicate the position of the runners may be used in connection with my improved ball if desired, but, owin to the extreme simplicity of the device, have found that any one familiar with the national game of baseball has no difliculty in keeping track of the successive plays, and remember-' ing the scores, without the aid of any game board or diagram whatever. Therefore, the single piece consisting of my improved ball or die constitutes the entire apparatus required to play the game, and as this may be readily carried around in the pocket, it may be produced, and an interesting game played by two or more persons at an time or place. simply by throwing or ro ling the ball on a floor, table, or other smooth surface.

My improved ame, played as above described, besides being fascinating, provides excellent mental training for the young.

What I claim is A device for use in playing an imaginary game of base ball consistin of a single die in the form of a rhombic do ecahedron having twelve similar faces, on each and every one of which faces is formed a symbol to indicate a certain definite play, all of said symbols being diiferent.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LAWSON W. GREENE.

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