US1741086A - Baseball game - Google Patents

Description

Patented Dec. 24, 1929 PATENT OFFICE WALTER J. ZARSE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN BASEBALL GAME Application. filed December 7, 1928. Serial No. 324,500.

This invention relates to a baseball game.

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel game device which is so made that a number of the plays in baseball may be simulated, in which a very high speed for the players is required, and in which judgment, accuracyof positioning, and alertness are developed to a remarkable degree.

Further objects are to provide a game device which is of relatively simple construc tion, and which may be easily installed upon a fioor or yard in any suitable position.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device with a part of the fence broken away;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 22 of Figure 1.

The device consists of a plate 1 which is a raised member, as may be seen from Figure 2, and which is provided with a bevelled front edge 3. To this plate, which may be called the home plate or base, is attached an angle iron or other member 4. A plurality of rods or wire members 5 of suflicient rigidity to withstand the blow of a ball, are secured to the angle iron 4 and extend upwardly to an angle iron 6, which conforms in shape to the angle iron 4. These upper or lower angle irons 4; and 6 are shaped, as shown in Figure 1, with a straight central portion immediately rearwardly of the base or home plate 1, and with forward- 1y diverging side portions. Preferably, the ends of the angle irons i and 6 are joined by vertical angle irons or stiffeners 7 so as to provide a rigid construction.

This base and the fence are positioned upon a floor or upon the ground, as indicated in Figure 1 with the home plate flat and with the fence standing vertically from the floor. It is to be understood that the expression floor is to be be understood as meaning either an ordinary floor, the ground, or any other surface upon which the game 1s played. The floor is marked off into a centrally located runway or safety zone 8 which extends forwardly from the base, as inclicated and 011 opposite sides of this safety zone, a series of rectangular areas are marked off, as indicated by the reference characters 9 and 10. These areas are preferably formed into two groups, as shown. In addition to this, lines are extended outwardly from the fence and join the innermost of the rectangular areas, such lines being indicated by the reference character 11. These slanting lines define with the safety zone and the next adjacent line for the areas previously mentioned, triangular areas 12. Each of the areas is marked with a suitable legend. The series on the left hand side of the safety zone, for instance, may be marked respectively First base, Second base, Third base, Home run. The areas on the other side of the safety zone may be marked Territory.

The manner in which the play is conducted is as follows:

Each player alternately becomes the pitcher, throwing a rubber ball from bottom boundary line. His object is to hit the base of the home plate in such a way that he can score a putout by catching it on the rebound. The pitcher thereby pitches and fields his position on every play made. The batter and base runners are imaginary, and their positions at bat and on bases change according to plays made later in the inning. If any runs are scored they count for the pitchers opponent. lVhen three putouts are made the opponent becomes the pitcher for his half of the inning. The player not pitching acts as umpire and score marker.

The object in preventing the pitcher from running forward over bottom boundary line until after the ball makes its first contact, is to increase the speed of the game. The object in having the safety zone is to make the player think and act quickly. He must decide instantly whether hecan hold the safety zone at the moment of the catch to score a putout, or leave it, if the ball is out of reach, to hold the play to a strike, etc. By failing to catch the ball a home run might be scored. In fact, the pitcher must be ready at every pitch to either dash forward to catch a low pop-up or hold a base-hit to a minimum, to run back for a high fly; to get a ball at the left or right side and still try to hold some part of the safety zone to make the play a putout, etc.

The rules for playing the game are as follows:

When ball makes first contact on home plate 1. Put-0at.When caught by pitcher after ball rebounds on back wall or back stop, providing he touches any part of safety zone at moment of catch. Same rule applies when ball makes but one contact on bevel. T

2. b'tm'lce.1f the player catches the ball as in No. 1, but does not hold the safety zone at the moment of the catch, a strike is counted.

3. Double play.lf a foul put-out is made with one or more runners on base, the one occupying the highest base is out as if attempting to advance a base after the catch. No double play when bases are unoccupied.

4t. Foal strike-If ball rebounds from home plate into foul territory. Foul does not count as third strike. See Rule 11.

5. Stri/ce-0a t.Strikes accumulate regardless of intervening plays. Three strikes make one out.

6. H its.After the ball makes its first contact on home plate and rebounds into any base territory, then the highest territory that the ball touched counts that many bases as a hit. Runners on base at the time advance a like number of bases. If ball makes but one contact on bevel and lands in fair territory, it is a hit; also, if ball makes first contact on back wall of home plate and then strikes fair territory. If ball makes but one contact on top of the home plate wall and is caught, it counts as a single. If a ball rebounds from the home plate into foul territory, it counts as a hit if it rolls fair.

7. Ballc.-The pitcher must stand behind bottom boundary line until the pitched ball makes its first contact. Then he may advance over bottom boundary line. If he violates this rule a balk is called. The rule applying to a balk in indoor baseball is used, sending batter to first and advancing runners one base.

When ball does not make first contact on home plate 8. Ball.A ball is counted when the ball makes its first contact on the ground or floor arbund the plate, rebounding on the back wall or back stop, and is caught while pitcher touches safety zone.

9. Base on balls is counted on the single pitch if the ball is caught while pitcher is not touching safety zone. If other balls were called they still count.

10. Balls accumulate like strikes as in Rule 5. Four balls allow a base on balls.

11. lVe'lcl pz't0h.'If the ball rebounds into foul territory after making first contact on the ground or floor around the plate, a ball is counted for the batter and all runners on base advance one base.

12. Passed ball is counted when the pitched ball justgoes over the back wall and makes its first contact on the back stop, bouncing back and forth behind the plate. Batter receives a ball and runners advance.

13. Batter hit by ball is counted on the single pitch if the ball makes its first contact on the back stop. Batter goes to first base on the play. If on the rebound the ball touches a base territory higher than first base, it is considered an error by the pitcher. The runners then advance the number of bases in addition to those over first base, according to the territory in which the ball touches.

14. Err0r.1f at any time an error made, the batter goes to first and all runners advance one base. If the ball touches a ter ritory higher than first base, then all runners advance the extra bases in addition. 7

E wample-If the pitcher drops a ball when a runner is on first base and the ball rolls into second base, then the runner goes to second and batter to first for the error. They both advance two bases in addition, placing the batter on third and the runner from first scores.

It will be seen that a novel form of baseball game has been provided by this inven tion which develops extreme accuracy for throwing, for locating or positioning the ball, and also develops the utmost in alertness.

Further, it will be seen that the device is simple and is easy to construct and install.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

1. A device for use in a baseball game comprising a plate having a bevelled forward edge, and a rebound fence located back of said plate, said rebound fence having forwardly slanting sides located on each side of said plate and having a straight central portion located directly rearwardly of said plate.

2. A device for use in a baseball game comprising a plate having a bevelled forward edge, and a rebound fence located back of sa d plate, said rebound fence having forwardly slanting sides located on each side of said plate and having a straight central portion located directly rearwardly of said plate, said fence being formed of an upper and a lower member joined by a plurality of bars.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing and have hereunto set my hand at lililwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of lViscousin. 7

l/VALTER J. ZARSE.

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