US2742290A - Simulated baseball game - Google Patents

Description

April 17, 1956 AT TEMPTED STOLEN BASE OFFENSE TEAM CAN! J. W. FASANA SIMULATED BASEBALL GAME Filed March 2, 1953 HOME TEAM D06 T STOLEN BASE A STRIKE OUION BATTER THE BASERUNNER ATTEMPTIMG To STEM.

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2,742,29' I SIMULATED BASEBALL onion I. John W. Fasana, La Canada, Calif; Application March 2, 1953, Serial No.1339fi46 2 Claims. cl. 213-43 t This invention relates to games layed for amusement and more particularly to a novel type of'strategy game involving two players or teams who interchange between offensive and defensive positions. I

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a game for adults and children alike which is highly entertaining and which simulates all the excitement and thrills ofa real contest.

Another object is to provide a game device in a simple, portable, manually operable form, which may be readily set up and played by any two players familiar with the rules thereof. a. v e i A further object of the invention is to provide a game Unitfid WSP Q In the former instance, the defensive player turns up a cardon the main or play information pack and the infor mation given 'ongthat'card is followed. The defensive player, however, also has a choice, at the time he is given a. signal by the offensive player, to turn up one of his own strategy cards, instead ofa card from the main pack.

In this instance, the defensive player must follow the instructions given on his strategy card. But it is optional with each of the layers as to the time when they wish to choose from their strategy packs, such time being calculated by the player from an appraisal of the'status" of i the game, as for example: how many runners areon base;

how many outs there are; now many strikes and balls there are on the batter; etc.

A better understanding of the preferred-form or the invention will be. had by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows, in perspective, the playing board and status panel of the invention as embodied in a device for playing baseball;

Figures 2m 5, respectively, illustrate the front and rear faces of a typical card appearing in each of four strategy packs;

. Figure 6 shows the front and rear faces of the intentional Walk strategy card;

which is not only instructive and calculated to promote an added interest in well-known team games, but which includes risks and stratagem's optionally exercisable by the players whereby more than mere chanceis involved in playing the game. p

A particular obj ect of theinvention is to provide a game device for playing baseballywherein all the rules of major league baseball apply, and which includes chance happenings, events, and stratagems as they ,would likely occur in a big league game. I

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention are attained by providing a board having a playing field designated thereon. Playing pieces are provided Figures 7 and 8 illustrate two typical cards that might appear in the main or play information pack; and

Figure 9 shows a perspective View of one of the playing 7 pieces placed at certain positions in the field on the board shown in Figure 7 1.

. the sake ofconcreteness and clarity, as adaptedfor playand may be positioned at various places, on thefield to l .eral packs of cards or other means for providing succes sive information or instructions in a randommanner are included with the game. These cards are turned up by the players in their respective turns to progress the game, the information or instructions on the cardsbeing ekecuted by movement of the pieces on the field and by ope'ra tion'of the indicator means on the panel.

The game is playedbetween two players who inter change between oifensive and defensive-positions. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of example, the field may bey a baseball diamond and the playing pieces used to indicate the number of runners on base. In this embodimentof a baseball ame, five separate packs of cards are provided iii-addition to an intentional walk card." Three or these packs are grouped under the heading of offensive "strategy packs, while one ack and the single intentional walk card a e grouped under the heading of derensi'v'e" strategy cards. The

. the latter instance, the card is turned over and the oriensive player must follow the instructions given thereon.

While it is to be understood that :the principles of the invention may be employed in any type of game involvitigan offensive player or team and a defensive player or team in a field contest, the game will be described for ing baseball.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a board 10 having a baseball diamond 11 designated thereon, "and a panel 12 which may be inclined at a desired angle for easy viewing. Panellz contains a plurality of indicatin means 13, manually rotatable to display information through adjacent windows disposed above the knobs as shown. Thus, for example, the number of runs and hits for the visitors team is indicatediby rotating the upper left hand knobs until the appropriate numerals appear in the asso ciated windows. The number of hits and runs may also be displayed for the home team as shown in the upper right hand corner of the panel. Similarly, the number of strikes, balls, innings, and outs, may be displayed as the game progresses. Each of the indicating means may comprise aknob such as is indicated at 13 secured to a circular fiat disc located under the panel cover. This disc has numerals placed about its periphery'which may be successively displayed by rotating the knob to turn the disc and expose the numerals through the associated window. j

Play pieces, generally indicated by the numeral 90, may be placed on the corners of the baseball diamond reprea senting the bases to indicate when a person is up at bat and how many bases have runners. The board may also include a series of trays, 20, 30, 4t}, 50, and 60, as shown, for holding the cards used in the game; orifdesired, these tray receptacles may be separat from the board and placed in front of the two players in the event they are sitting opposite each other, the trays 20, 30, and 40 being placed in front of the offensive player and the trays 5 0 and 60 being placed in front of the defensive player. At "the end of each half inning, these trays are inter changed between the players as they change from oifensive to defensive position.

Figures 2, '3, and 4 illustrate typical cards found in the strategy pack available to the offensive player, while Figures 5 and 6 show similar cards available to the defensive playerr Figures 7 and 8 show two typical-cards found in the play information pack. There arethus provided five packs of cards and one additional card shown in Figure 6 which is designated an intentional walk card- The main or play information pack typified by the two cards shown in Figures 7 and 8, is held face down in the hands of the defensive player. These 'cardshave information on one face only and which is invisible until the card is turned up. The strategy packs, as typified by the cards shown inFigures 2 to 5, are placed respectively in the trays 20, 30, 40, and 5t), and the single strategydntentional walk card of Figure 6 is placed in the' tr ay 60. 'Each of the packs is individually shuffled prior to being placed in the trays. 1

To set up the game, the two players representing the defensive and offensive teams respectively, decide between themselves which one will be up at hat. The player up at bat will be known hereafter as the offensive player or team, and, the player out in the field will be known as the defensive player or team. The defensive player shuffles the main play information pack and holds it in his hands with the information-bearing face of the cards facedown. The offensive player or player up at bat takes one of the pieces 90 and places it at home plate, such as at 14, signifying that one of his players is up at bat. The various indicators 13 on panel 12 are set at zero, except for the inning indicator which is set at 1, designating the first inning.

To play the game, the offensive player who is up at bat, signals to the defensive player to turn up one of the cards from the play information pack. On receiving the signal, the defensive player simulates a pitch by turning one base loaded. Assuming the card that was turned over is card 21 as shown in Figure 2, the instructions on the reverse side 23 state that the base runner attempting to steal is thrown out. The offensive player must then indicate on the panel 12 that he has one out and the man at 15 is removed from first base. Alternatively, the offensive player might instead have chosen a strategy card from the tray 30, such as card 31, as shown in Figure 3, designated on its front face 32 as a Hit and Run Play card. The reverse side 33 of this card states that the -batter hit the ball foul and a strike is called. Thus, the

strike; indicator, on panel 12 is turned up to indicate strike 1. Rather than choosing strategy cards under the headings Attempted Stolen Base and Hit and Run Play, the offensive player might instead have attempted a bunt, in which case he takes a card from the top of the pack in tray 40, of which all of the cards have printed on theirfront faces Attempted Bunt. The reverse side 43 of one such typical cardas shown in Figure 4 statesthat the ball thrown by the pitcher strikes the batter, and the batter is to automatically advance to first base. The piece at home plate is then advanced to first base and another piece fromthe dugout placed up at bat. There are, accordingly, three different strategy packs corresponding to the three different strategies exercisable by the offensive team. It is to be noted that the instructions on the backs of the several cards in any one pack relate to different outcomes resulting from the practice of that particular strategy.

Now, in the case where the offensive player, instead of choosing a strategy card, simply signals to the defensive player to'turn over a card from the play information pack;

- that is, Where he asks for a pitch, 'the defensive player up the first card, which card may indicate, for example, 7

a strike, or a ball or a hit. Thus, in Fig. 7, the sample card 70 indicates, when it is turned over to expose its information-bearing face 71, that the first pitch was a strike. The defensive player therefore turns up the strike indicator in panel 12 to show the numeral 1. The'oifensive player then signals again to the defensive player to turn up a card from the play information pack. The next card turned up may again be a strike or a ball or it may be a hit such as shown in Figure 8 by sample card 80, bearing information on its face 81. As shown in Figure 8, this card indicates that a single has been hit, in which case, the offensive player moves the piece from home plate, as at 14, to first base, as at 15. Also, the indicator knob on the panel 12. maybe rotated to show a hit for the offensive team. Another piece is then placed at home plate indicating that a second man is up at bat.

It is now the offensive players turn again to indicate to the defensive player to turn up still another card from the play information pack. However, at any time that it is the offensive players turn, he may, instead of signaling to the defensive player to turn up a card from the play information pack, instead choose one of his own strategy 1 cards. For example, since the offensive player now has a man on first base, he may choose a card from the strategy pack located in tray 20, which is categorically designated attempted stolen base. The fronts of all of the cards, as shown on the card 21 by way of example in Figure 2, contain the printed statement, Attempted Stolen BaseOffensive Team Card. The reverse side of these cards yield instructions as to the outcome of the attempted stolen base, which instructions must be followed by the offensive player, and which instructions he also has a choice of whether to do this or to choose from one of his own strategy packs. For example, instead of turning over a card fromthe play information pack, the defensive player may choose a card from the several cards in tray 50, the front faces of which are designated A Pitch-Out-Play-Defensive Team Card. Turning over the sample card 51, as shown in Figure 5, reveals the instructions on the reverse face 53 to the effect that there was a balk called on the pitcher by the umpire, and that all base runners on at the time automatically advanced one base. The oifensive'player therefore advances his man at first base to second base. If desired, the defensive team player, rather than choosing from the strategy pack in tray 50, may instead choose the Intentional Walk card in tray 60. There is but a single card in tray 60 and it is this intentional Walk card which is available to the defensive team player any time he chooses to use it after he has received a signal from the offensive player to turn over a card. I

The game thus progresses by turning over the various cards as described above. .When three outs are had on the offensive team up at bat, the two players respectively change positions, and their number ofruns or hits are kept on panel 12 under the visitors team and home team indicators throughout the game. At each half inning when the teams change offensive and defensive positions, the remaining indicators, with the exception of the inning indicator, are reset to zero. The game progresses as before with the teams in reverse position, and as soon as three outs are had on the new offensive team, the inning indicator on panel 12 is changed to the second inning. The game thus continues until all nine innings have been played. At any time during the game, it is permissible for either the offensive or defensive teams to shuffle their own strategy packs. Also, the defensive team may shuffle the play information pack (the entire dcck including all the cards already played from the deck), such action simulating the act of pulling the pitcher and putting in a relief pitchen' It is to be, emphasized that in every case and at all times, the rules of major league baseball apply. The gameis rendered particularly fascinating and stimulating going to do when it is the others turn to play. For example, after the offensive team has given the defensive team a signal to proceed to turn over a card, the offensive team does not know whether the defensive'team will turn over a card from the play information pack or choose one of its strategy cards, as contained in the trays 50 and 60. Similarly, the defensive player does not know what the offensive player will do since the latter player has a choice of choosing a card from any of his three strategy packs, or instructing the defensive player to choose a card from the play information pack. The international walk card shown in tray 60 may be used at any time the defensive player chooses to walk the batter, after the offensive player has given a signal to the defensive player to play.

part of the players in view of their liberty to choose certain strategy cards at strategic timesj Additionally, there is included the element of chance inherent in big league games inasmuch as the player does not know the exact instructions that will appear on the strategy cards.

It is to be understood, of course, that while cards have been described as a useful means for successively turning up in a random manner the information necessary to progress the game, any suitable information bearing means or source adapted to be successively displayed in random manner may be used for this purpose.

l. A board type game simulating a ball game and usable by a defensive and an offensive player, which includes: a board having a playing field indicated thereon representing the playing field of said ball game; a plurality of movable markers representing the players of said ball game; a first deck of randomly assorted cards, usable by the defensive player upon a signal from the offensive player, each of said cards containing complete information as to a single play of said ball game; at least one deck of randomly assorted offensive strategy cards usable by the ofiensive player in lieu of said signal to defensive playerupon said signal from the offensive player and in lieu of using said first deck of cards, whereby said defensive player may choose between one of said first deck, each of said decks of defensive strategy cards relating to a single type of defensive strategy, and

each of said cards of said offensive strategy decks containing complete information as to a single play of the corresponding type of defensive strategy of'said ball game. i

said defensive strategy cards and one-of said cards in 2, A board game of character described in which each player is faced With the choice of single course of action from a selection of a plurality of courses each time he plays, the game simulating a baseball game which includes: a board having a playing field indicated thereon representing a baseball diamond; a plurality of movable markers representing the players of said baseball game; a first deck of randomly assorted cards, each card carrying complete information-regarding a single non-defensive play in baseball, usable by the defensive player upon a signal from the offensive player; a plurality of decks of randomly assorted cards, each card carrying complete information regarding a single offensive strategy play in baseball, said offensive strategy cards being divided into decks relating to a single offensive strategy play and including a deck relating to an attempted stolen base, a deck relating to a hit and run play, and a deck relating to an attempted bunt, one of said offensive strategy cards 7 being usable by said offensive player in lieu of giving said signal to said defensive player, whereby said offensive player may choose between said signal and said offensive strategy cards, and when a choice has been made to use said offensive strategy cards, said'offensive player may choose between said decks; a deck of randomly assorted cards, each card carrying complete information regarding a single defensive play in baseball relating to a pitch out play, one of said defensive strategy cards being usable by said defensive player in lieu of one of said cards of 7 said first deck upon receipt of said signal from said offensive player; and a single card relating to a forced walk and usable by said defensiveplayer upon receipt of said signal from said offensive player, whereby, upon presented with a choice each time he makes a play and, only the outcome of the particular play may be left to chance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,177,677 Beam Apr. 4, 1916 1,492,368 Funai Apr. 29, 1924 1,502,619 DOOb July 22, 1924 1,547,313 Foster July 28, 1925 1,672,478 Wible -Q June 5, 1928' 1,684,189 Meyer Sept. 11, 1928 2,388,577 Shenker NOV. 6, 1945 2,528,029

a Brown Oct. 31, 1950

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