kdh (09/03/82)
Well, the first attempt at submitting this seems to have ended up in the byte bucket, sooo..... It is with some embarrassment that I admit to an error in my previous rules poser about the eight ways a batter can reach first base. The correct number is seven, not eight, and are as follows: 1) base hit (any type) 2) walk 3) hit by pitch 4) interference by catcher (or any other fielder you name) 5) dropped third strike 6) fielder's choice 7) error There is an eighth way that a PLAYER (emphasis significant) can reach first -- as a pinch runner. My thanks to houxw!w1dlc and ihlpb!barry for correcting my erroneous belief in an 8th way for the batter (Oh the shame!), and my apologies to those to whom I mailed incorrect responses. For the record, I got the following distribution of responses: Correct: 4 6 of 7: 3 (all missing #4) worse: 2 In an attempt to recover from my humiliation, consider this one: Joe Schlabotnik is playing center field, and attempting to field a routine fly ball near the fence. Being somewhat less than all-star caliber, he loses sight of the ball, which comes down and lands squarely on his head. To add insult to injury, the ball bounces up and over the fence. How many bases does the batter get while Joe packs for the minors? Now to crawl under a rock for a while......... Kevin Hunter houti!kdh (houx*!houti!kdh)