US1896684A - Baseball game - Google Patents

Description

Feb, 7, 1933. R, H CUTTING ET A1. 1,896,684

BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 9, 1928 s'sheets-sheet 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /M/E/vraes: APM/Meo MC2/777A@ fbx/Vae@ 55h/#5,4052

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R. H. CUTTING ET AL BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 9, 1928 Feb.7,1933.

M19 jf TT- L Feb. 7, 1933. R, H cm1-1N@ ET AL A1,896,684

BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 4 /4 44 ffl/l Feb. 7, 1933. R H, CUTTINGIET AL 1,896,684

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R. H. CUTTING ET AL BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 9, '1928 FENCE FEA/Cf 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented F eb. 7 1933 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT DFFICE l. RICHARD H. CUTTING, or' CLEVELAND, AND EDWARD E. sTUKBAUER, 0E CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, oHIo; sAID CUTTING nssrenon To SAID STUKEAUEE BASEBALL GAME Application filed lAugust 9, 1928. Serial No. 296,456.

Our invention pertains toa baseball game andmore particularly ,to an amusement apparatus in which participants in the game themselves perform manipulations which lend added zest by introducing the personal equation and which also serve to make` certain occurrences more-realist`icl/Ve are well aware that the popularity of our so-called national game has led to the patenting of a series of inventions in the art of baseball game'contrivances. Our familiarityI with the following seventeen patents is acknowledged: Smith No. 416,511; Garbarino No. 945,511; Penser No. '951,257 Elielund No. 959,427; Fitzsimmons No. 961,851; Meeker N o. 968,249; Gallagher No. 970,321; Barrett No. 975,316; `VVeedon No. 977,149; SuttonNo. 1,031,395; Vickes No. 1,481,247 Dietrick No. 1,508,961; Neal No. 1,551,969; Verbeyst No. 1,557,489; Cartee No. 1,570,875; Boosey No. 1,588,440; and Chester No. 1,601,849;

' `The general object of our invention has already been declared and specific features,

' the structure of whichwe have originated and believe to be novel, are: Y y Y 1. A-mechanical ball pitching device for actually pitching a ball, togetherwith controllable means for varying both the direction and course of flight of the ball and its speed.

2. A manipulable, selectively7 adjustable bat capable of actually hitting aball hurled toward the bat.

3. A series of receptacles each containing pockets for receiving la ball whether hit or not and optionally including an 4electrically illuminated signal designating the play made upon the ball, or lthe ruling subsequent to each deliverythereof, according tothe pocket Iin which it chanced to Vcome to rest.

4. F ield-bordering conformation for compelling'ball travel to one or another of the receptacles. f g

5. Electrical circuits adapted to be closed by the ballitself when occupying one of the receptacles. v

6. Indicia, preferably electrical, for indicating runners on base.

It should be realized that the scope of our invention comprehends many equivalent constructions. The showing of the drawings and the particular description are merely specific exemplifications of a plurality of mechanical embodiments and arrangements.

Adverting to the drawings hereto:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a toy baseball game embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1 which extends through the pitching and batting mechanism.

1 Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the indicatmg arrows. y

F igure4 is a side elevation viewed on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a pair of tweezers to be used for recovering the ball.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a magnet adapted to pick up the ball after a play.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of Figure 1 showing the pitchers box mechanism.

Figure 8 is a vertical section on line 8-8 of Figure 7 and further constitutes an enlarged view of a near middle portion of Figure2.

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the pitchers box viewed on line 9-.-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical section taken on line 10-10 of Figure 8 looking from the batter toward the pitcliers box.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of a portion of Figure 1 showing the trigger mechanism for actuating the ball delivery mechanism.

Figure 12 is a vertical section viewed on line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a vertical section on line 13- 13 of Figure 12. Figures14 and 15 are a `plan view and an elevation respectively of a finger guide at the outer end of the trigger mechanism.

Figure 16 is an yenlarged vertical section on line 16-16 of Figure 1 showing the battingrnechanism with lateral slide-ability of the bat and vertical adjustability of the bat support.

Figure 17 is an enlarged plan view of one of tbe fielders pockets shown in Figure 1.

Figure 18 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the lielders pockets taken on line 18-18 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a vertical cross section through one of the fielders pockets taken on line 19-19 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of one of the contacts used in the fielders pockets for closing the electrical circuit to an indicating lamp.

Figure 21 is a plan view of a simplified modification of one of the ielders pockets intended for use in a game embodying features of our invention, but without automatic electrical indicating lamps.

Figure 22 is an enlarged vertical section on line 22-22 of Figure 1 showing fence or field-border pockets.

Figure 23 is a vertical cross section through a fence pocket viewed on line 23-23 of Figure 22 and Figure 1.

Figure 24 is an enlarged vertical section through the catchers pocket taken on line 24-24 of Figure 1.

Figure 25 is an enlarged vertical section on line 25-25 of Figure 1 showing the strike pocket and the two adjacent ball pockets.

Figure 26 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 23 showing a modified form of ball contacts which are purposed to insure a better conduction of current between ball and contacts.

Figure 27 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of Figure 1 showing one of the bases, switches for all base lamps and score keeping dials.

Figure 28 is an enlarged broken vertical section on line 28-28 of Figure 1 showing illuminable bases and one of the switches for controlling a base lamp. Part of this view is also a section on line 28-28 of Figure 27.

Figure 29 is a plan sectional view taken on line 29-29 of Figure 28.

Figure 30 is a fragmentary vertical section through the score keeping dials on line 30-30 of Figure 27.

Figure 31 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of Figure 1 showing the play-indicating lamps.

Figure 32 is a fragmentary section through the play-indicating lamps taken on line 32-32 of Figure 31.

Figure 33 is a vertical cross section on line 33-33 of Figure 31.

Figure 34 illustrates a wiring diagram showing the arrangement of conductors between signal lamps and fielding positions, only 3 felders positions and 6 fence positions being shown in order to simplify disclosure of a common principle.

Figure 35 is a fragmentary view showing a modified source of power adapted for use with this invention.

lVe have constructed a game embodying our invention of a size several times the scale of Figure 1, hence, suitable to deposition on an ordinary folding card table. 1t should be understood that a player considering himself a member of one team will actually deliver the ball toward the batting position and an opposing player will actually manipulate a bat according to his perception of the path of travel of the ball. If a ball delivered from the pitchers boX is not hit it will be automatically registered either as a ball or as a strike, If a ball is hit our construction most often causes it ultimately to reach one of the receptacles, which might be outside of the confines of the playing field to register a foul or an out or a hit entitling the batter to one or more bases.

The adjustability of, and control of the force imparted to, the pitching mechanism, by varying the course of the ball, its direction, and the force, or speed, imparted to it from the pitching mechanism will permit the person manipulating the latter to attempt t0 deceive the person who is manipulating the bat. The batting device is capable of being manipulated so as to make it possible to hit a ball within any sector demarking the exceptable range of approach of a pitched ball. If a batter has made an out that may be recorded on suitable dial. If he has made a hit and reached a certain base his position there is visually recorded, as will be readily understood. The ball must be regularly retrieved and replaced in the patchers box.

A. square supporting board 1 has an upwardly projecting margin 2 enclosing a playing-field 3 which, as may be seen in Figure 2, is elevated by reason of the provision of a variformed undercut. The upper surface 0f the field 8 is marked with two foul lines 4 and with infield defining lines 5 and 6 which form in conjunction with portions of the foul line l a conventional baseball diamond and one corner of which constitutes a home plate 7.

Pitching mechanism Somewhat rearwardly of the middle of the diamond, the playing field is provided with a pitchers boX to which extends mechanism for affecting and controlling projection of a ball therefrom toward the home plate 7. The pitching mechanism, in addition to its disclosure, in Figures 1 and 2, is illustra-ted by Figures 7 and 12 inclusive. Referring particularly to Figures 7 and 8, a shallow groove 8 slopes upwardly in a rearward direction and terminates in a pocket 9. the rear and sides of which are defined by a higher wall 10 than is the front of the pocket or that side which merges with the groove 8. In other words, the forward lip of the pocket is as slight as possible to yet prevent emergence of a metal ball 11 so that it will offer a minimum of resistance to the ejection of the ball. The forward end of the groove 8 Will be ob- Served, upon inspection of Figures 7 and8, gradually to merge laterally with the playing field so that a rolling ball, in its concluding course of travel, may be subject to Vdeviation in consequence of a twirl which may have been imparted to the ball as will now be described.

The pitching mechanism includes an arm 12 which is disposed under the rear corner portion of the playing field and projects through a channel 13 in the margin of the board 1- and on its lower side. The channel 13 will, from Figure 1, be observed to be wider than the width of the arm 12 and is intended to prescribe a definite range of movement of the arm 12 and will be hereinafter explained. Near its outer end, the arm 12, is fashioned at opposite sides with upwardly curled flanges 14, the purpose of which will presently become evident. The outer end of the arm 12 is bent upwardly at 15 and carries in screw-threaded attachment a knurled handle 16. At an intermediate point of the arm 12, though somewhat further from its handle 16, it is pivoted through the agency of a screw 17 to the lower side of the board, and continuing forwardly, is fashioned with a struck-up tongue 18 to which is secured, in any suitable manner, a resilient finger 19 which extends obliquely upward in a forward direction through a suitable opening 20 in the board 1 and just rearwardly of the pocket 9. The upper end of the finger 19 carries, in a depending position, a conically shaped projection 21 which is to be composed of rubber or some other yielding or friction material. The arrangement of the finger 19 and location of the projection 21 is such that the latter is capable of striking the ball 11 when occupying the pocket 9 and in response to the functioning of Vactuating mechanism, the description of which now follows:

Overlying a portion of the arm 12 between its handle 16 and pivot 17 and confined by the curled flanges 14 is a bar 22 the outer end of which is bent upwardly at 23 and is to have a range of reciprocal movement between the outer ends of the flanges 14 and the handle 16, as suggested by its dotted line position in Figure 12. Thev forward end of the bar 22 is bent upwardly at 24 and there carries a swivel 25 to which is attached a tension spring 26 which has its other end attached to the board 1. Also attached to the end 24 is a cord 27 which is passed through an upwardly bent forward extremity 23 of the arm 12. The cord 27 is secured to the finger 19 near the free end of the latter.

The operation of the above mechanism is as follows:

A ball 11 having been deposited in the pocket 9 and a player who is to act as pitcher having taken the position on the side of the support for the board 1 where the handle 16 is located, two fingers, for instance, the mid'- dle finger and thumb will grasp the` handle 16 and bodily move the arm 12 about its pivot 17 to any chosen position within the latitude afforded by the width of the channel 13 thereby correspondingly moving through a comparatively shorter arc, the 11p-turned tongue 18 and hence the finger 19 so that the projection 21, which is to strike the ball 11, will do so either in its medium vertical plane or to one side or the other thereof and thereby cause the ball either to roll directly toward the home plate 7 or in consequence of having been hit to one side of its center to be twirled or be given what is known as English simultaneously with its forward projection whereby it presently followsa curved path. At the moment that the handle 16 has assumed a selected position and in order to deceive the player who is to act as the batter in the manner herein explained, the forefinger will suddenly retract the up-turned extremityv 23 to effect a jerking pull on the cord 27 and'cause the projection 21 to dislodge the ball and to roll it out toward the home plate 7. Upon release of the extremity 23 the spring 26 will function to restore it to its full line position, as shown in Figure 12, and to enable the finger 19 easily to return to the position in which it appears in Figure 8.

Batting mechanism An inverted U shape standard 29 is provided wit-h two downwardly directed screwthreaded ends 30 which are loosely passed through a pair of holes 31 provided in the margin 2 of the board 1 and both of which are in a vertical plane which cross the home plate 7. Nuts 32 and 33 are employed to clamp and adjust the standard 29 firmly in position by engaging the top and bottom respectively of the margin 2 of the supporting board. Loosely mounted on the interjacent section of the standard 29 and adapted both for swinging movement thereon and sliding movement therealong is a collar 34 having its one end fashioned as a knurled handle 35 and provided at its other end with adepending extension 36 intended to serve as a bat.

As is disclosed in Figure 16, Vthe collar 34 may be slid to the dotted line position there shown and is incapable of contacting the home plate 7 or playing field 3 so as constantly to swing clear thereof. The lateral adjustability of our bat 36 constitutes what we believe to be an odd feature and permits the person who is acting as batter, instantly orrepeatedly, to shift the swinging plane of the bat according to the apparent direction of approach of the ball from the pitchers box. It will be evident therefore, that the personal equation is similarly introduced into the batting performance comprising the features of selectivity as to location of the collar 34 of the standard 29 and as to the timing of the counter-swing of the bat 36 by a sudden finger movement across the face of the knurled handle 35.

Ball-retaining receptacles As may be observed, upon inspection of Figure l, receptacles are provided behind the home plate 7 or at the catchers position, behind the pitchers box, in substantially the usual fielding position of the four infielders and of the three outfielders and along the two lnargins of the playing board which defines the left-field and right-field boundaries and which meet in the center-field corner farthest from the home plate 7. As exemplified, there is one receptacle in the foul territory of each outfielder and four receptacles alongl each of the margins 2 which cross the foul line 4 respectively. Inasmuch as all the receptacles have structural features and cooperating elements which are alike, detailed views have been shown upon sheet 3 of the drawings, only of certain receptacles which are in some respects different.

Directing attention to Figures 17 to 20 which pertain to the construction of the 7 fielders-position receptacles, it will be seen that the design includes a hood 37 over a recess 38 which is defined above and below by inclined surfaces 39 and 40 respectively which converge rearwardly or in a direction away from the home plate 7. It is to be understood that we realize that the shape and position of the element for deflecting the ball may be varied and yet exercise an equivalent function to that of the hood. For instance, it might be ahead of the pocket, but so as to permit the ball to pass underneath.

Ve consider it advantageous if using side walls 41, which are principally to stiffen the hood 37, to have them very narrow or thin and preferably with a rounded forward edge in order to minimize the chance of a deflection or rebound of a ball from the forward edge of the side walls 4l. The forward end of the lower surface 40 is coterminous with` the rear lip of a divided pocket 42, the division of which is accomplished by two partitions 43. Opening through the bottom of each of the three pocket divisions are a pair of spaced bores 44 which also communicate l through the bottom of the playing field.

Each of the bores 44 is occupied by the stem 45 of an electrical contact 47 which also includes a head 46 and the opposed sides of each pair of heads are beveled at 47 The spacing of the beveled surfaces of each pair of contacts in any particular pocket division is so contrived that the ball ll will gravitationally come to rest in Contact with each of them. The lower ends of the stem 45 are slotted at 48 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

` The three pockets shown in Figure 19 are intended to contribute toward the automatic recordation of three distinct plays which may be selectively varied and become, for instance, an error entitling the batter to one base, an out and a force-out or fielders choice in the event that a runner happens to be on the base; or in the case of the fielders receptacle back of the pitchers box, one of the pocket divisions might designate or record a balk In the simplified modification illustrated in Figure 2l, ball receiving pockets 49, without provision for electrical connection, are provided and the three pocket divisions are supplied with designations 50, 5l and 52 for reading announcement that a two base hit, an out, or three base hit respectively, is to be recorded for a tabulation of the developing score of the game.

Figures and 23 pertain to the construction of field border or fence pockets and disclose the inner sides of the margin 2 recessed 53 and to a coi-iforination very similar to "he recesses 38 behind the fielders pockets so that upper and lower defining walls of extend respectively above and playing field 3. Ball retaining 4 are similarly provided at the lower s e ends of the recesses 53 and are also pphed in a similar manner with a pair of e contacts 47. lObservation of Figure 22 wi l show that the et ge bordering surfaces of the playing field 3 are provided midway between each pair of pockets 54 with a ridge 55 at a lower level as the major portion of the upper surface of the playing field 3 and that such midway points of the edge bordering surfaces may be said to constitute ridges because of the fashioning of inclinations 5G extending downwardly in opposite directions from each of the apex points 55 toward the near corners of adjacent ones of the pockets rl`his construction is designed to insure the gravitational deposition of a ball which has been hit, to one or the other of the pockets 54 so that an automatic recordation of the play to be tabulated will occur in a manner which is yet to be more particularly described.

Figures and 25 illustrate an exemplifying design of the ball catching pockets, in the catchers position, there being three, a middle one 57 and the occupancy of which by a ball wil1 denote the delivery of a strike, and the two adjacent ones and 59 of which, if occupied by a ball will signify that a cball is to be recorded by the scorer. Upstanding partitions GO and 0l separates the three pooliets 57, 58 and 59.

rlhe modification of Figure 2G pertains solely to an alternation of the pair of contacts G2 which differ from the contacts 47, not only in having their upper ends depressed instead of fiush with the lower defining surface 38 of a receptacle, to necessitate a drop ofthe ball, but also in having the beveled surfaces 64 more sharply inclined to insure a tighter wedge pressure on the ball and ,therefore better conduction of current from one contact through the ball to the other.

Base 'illuminating means The'following description as to Figures 27, 28, 29 and 30 and which disclose the construction not only of the illumination of irst` base, second-base and third-base with an electrical switch control thereof according to whether a runner is or is not on any one or all of the bases, but also duplex means for keeping score. The construction of the three base illuminating means is identical and while Figure 28 discloses relatively transverse sectional views of first-base and secondbase, the singular number may be employed in this description and the same reference numerals employed. At the place of each of the three bases, the playing held 3 is provided with a hole 65 covered by a set-in piece of glass 66. A socket supporting plate 67 is secured by means of a pair of screws 68 to the underside of the playingboard in a position in which it extends across the hole 65. Figure 28 discloses the lateral edges 69 of the plate downwardly inclined so as to be spaced from the lower side of the playingfield 8. The plate 67 is fashioned with/an aperture 70 which registers with the hole 65. A re- :fleeting housing 71 is providedalong upper lateral edges with opposite flanges 72 adapted to be slid over the edges 69 whereby the latter supportthe former. One end of the plate 67 is provided with a depending exten` sion 7 3, to which is secured in any suitable manner, a conventional type of lamp socket 74 in which an electrical lamp v75 is detachably tted with a bayonet joint.

The three switches for controlling theillumination of the above lamps are located in.

, an elon ated cut-out 7 6 in the margin 2 which is provided along-side of rstebase and covered by a plate 77 secured by a pair of screws 78, as is clearly shown in both Figures l and 27. The three switch constructions 79 are alike and are carried in spaced relation on the lower side of the plate 77 and they are supe ject to the control ,of handles`80, 81 and 82 which respectively control the illumination at third-base, second-base and first-base.

Scoring Zee/ces For keeping the score we provide a plu-` rality of dials rotatably adjustable by manipulation and both mounted at one end of the plate 77 in continuing alinement with the three switches. Opening on the side facing the playing-field one end of the cutout-7 6 is fashioned as a shallowerchann-el 83 which is occupied by the two rotatable scoring discs,

wardly beyond the margin 2 so as to permit frictional finger contact with its serrated edge. The disc 84 is marked to serve vas a di al by the provision on its upper face in circumferential arrangement of four numerals, viz, 0, 1,72, 3, which are alternatively to be brought to view through an opening` 86 in the plate 77 and which opening is bordered by the word outs. Figure 27 discloses the numeral 1 to view, thereby evidencing that one out has been made in some particular half inning. Another disc 87 is similarly mounted adjacentto the disc 84 and is fashioned with circumferentially arranged numerals, from O to 10 inclusive, as illustrated, and one or the other of which may be similarly brought to View Abyl ladjustment to a position directly below another opening 88 in the plate 77.

Figure 27 happens to disclose through the openino' 88 the numeral 2 to evidence that two runs have been scored in some particular half inning preparatory to the eventual tabulation on a score pad.

Inspection of Figure 1 will reveal the margin 2 opposite third-base to be provided with the illuminable means for disclosing progress of the play and which means is further shown in enlarged detail in Figures 31 to33 inclusive. That portion of the margin 2 is provided with an elongated opening 89 entend-` ing` downwardly therethrough and divided into seven sections by depending partitions 90. rlhe composite opening 89 is covered by a plate 91 which is fashioned, as exemplified, with seven equispaced squareA openings 92.

Resting on end ledges 98 which are fashioned in the upper hole, bordering portions of the margin 2 is a strip of translucent.

are secure in a feasible manner and so as toV project one underneath each of the openings 92, seven electrical sockets 97 in which of each isdetachably fitted a lamp 98.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate alternative devices for lifting a ball and restoring it to the pocket 9 at the pitchers boX. `Figure 5 is a Common type of tweezer 99 provided with spoon shaped extremities 100. Figure 6 one of which 84 is pivoted at its center as by a.

shows a magnet 101. As will be readily ico understood, either of these devices will serve more conveniently to lift a ball.

Electrical 'wiring system IVe hav-e purposely reserved description of the wiring which is required to make operable the automatic disclosure of some result of any particular play in consequence of the ball 11 reaching any of the fielders pockets, or fence pockets, or foul pockets or catchers pockets or the pockets behind the pitchers box; as well as the disclosure of a runner or runners on bases in conjunction with the operation of the switches 80, 81 and 82. The wiring diagram illustrated in Figure 34 shows an arrangement of conductors between the signal lamps and certain fielders positions. Only three fielder position pockets and six fence position pockets have been incorporated in the wiring diagram for the purpose of simplicity and because obviously any number of fielder or fence positions can be wired into the circuits in a manner like The travel of current may be readily traced and because of the fact that the fielders positions are mere duplications and the play-indicating lamps are also duplications, only one of each will be selected for description. If a ball falls into, say, one of the third-base pockets 42 it will effect closure of one of the circuits by passage from one of the contacts 47 through the metal ball 11 and to the other contact 47, in a manner diagrammatically traced on Figure 34 as follows:

The electrical current will pass along the line 104 to the wire 106, which is to be considered as leading to the right one of the three pockets 42 behind third base (looking toward left field) and as being connected, by insertion in the slot 48 at the bottom of the stem 45, to the right one of the two contacts 47 which are located in that particular pocket. Occupancy of that pocket by the metal ball 11 which may be copper coated to assure greater conductivity if desired, will automatically close the circuit by permitting the current to flow from the wire 106 across from one contact to the other thence along a wire 107 through one of the lamps 98 to cause it to glow and thereafter to return along the wire 105. It will be noticed that the particular lamp 98 to which a wire 107 leads is designated 1 base and therefore when such lamp is illuminated the scorer will assume either a hit7 or an error7 was made, in either event entitling the runner to first base.

It is desirable constantly to display the fact that a runner is on first base and that portion of the wiring diagram which includes one of the manually operable switches adjacent first base will next be described. Also connected with the wire 104 is a wire 108 from which leads a wire 109 which is connected with the first base7 lamp 75, thence along` a wire 110 to the switch 82 and from it along a wire 111 to a wire 112 which is connected with the line 105. As will be readily understood, when the switch 82 is closed, a closed circuit will be established to the battery 102 and that particular lamp 75.

In some instances it may be preferable to substitute for the battery 102 a. commercial line having, as shown in Figure 35, the two terminals 113 and 114 in association with a switch 115 with which is also connected a transformer 116 from which wires 11'4 and 118 will lead in substitution for the wires 104 and 105 and for connection with the complete wiring diagram in the same manner as shown in Figure 34.

1We claim:

1. A baseball game comprising a carrier having a home plate displayed thereon, a ballcatching receptacle located in the corresponding position of a member of a ball team and provided with an opening facing said plate, a standard secured to said carrier at said plate and a bat slidably and swingably mounted on said standard and adapted for unrestrained bodily movement crosswise of said plate and to transcribe an arc in a relatively transverse plane respectively.

2. In a baseball game, the combination of a support for holding a ball, an arm pivoted to said support, a resilient pitching finger carried by said arm in position for striking the ball and mea-ns carried by said arm for actuating said finger independently of any movement imparted to said arm.

3. In a baseball game, the combination of a support provided with a pocket for holding a ball, an arm pivoted intermediately of its ends to the lower side of said support, a pitching device resiliently carried near one end of and by said arm so as to be in position for striking a ball occupying said pocket and means movably carried by said arm and including a flexible connection with said finger for actuating said device.

4. In a baseball game, the combination of a A playing-field-representing support fashioned with a pocket for holding a ball and also provided with an opening adjacent to said pook et, an arm pivoted to the lower side of said support, a resilient pitching finger carried by said arm in position for striking the upper side of a ball occupying said pocket and a finger actuating contrivance carried by said arm and including a connection with the free end of said finger.

5. In a baseball game, the combination of a field-representing board fashioned below with a recess and also provided near the pitchers-box site with an opening, an arm pivoted to the lower side of said board and adapted to swing in said recess, a linger carried by said arm and projecting up into said opening, an actuating vdevice slidably connected along said arm and flexibly connected with said linger whereby to cause the latter to strike a ball appropriately placed on said board in response to manipulation of said device.

6. In a baseball game, the combination of a plane held-representing support provided with a pair of spaced holes, an inverted U- shaped standard having ends passed through said holes respectively, means for securing said ends in place, and a collar slidable along the interjacent section of said standard and fashioned at one end as a handle and at its other end as a projecting bat.

7. In a baseball game, the combination of a plane field-representing support provided with a pair of spaced holes, an inverted U- shaped standard having screw-threaded ends passed through said holes respectively, a collar pivotally and slidably mounted upon the interjacent section of said standard, one end of said collar being fashioned as a knurled handle and th-e other end as a depending projection intended to serve as a bat and a pair of nuts cooperating with each of said threaded ends on opposite sides of said support respectively and adapted to hold the extremity of said projection in predetermined spaced relation with respect to the upper surface of said support.

8. In a baseball game, held-representing board provided along` its border with a pair of ball-retaining pockets, the edge bordering horizontal surface of said boa-rd being fashioned between pairs of said pockets with a ridge and declinations extending in opposite directions from said ridge to said pair of pockets respectively, a pair of spaced electrical contacts in said pockets adapted to engage opposite sides of a metal ball gravitaj tionally resting thereon and an electrical circuit including a signal operatively connected with said contacts.

9. In a base ball game, a field board, having an elevated pitchers boX pocket, a swingable bat, said board being also fashioned with a groove extending from said pocket toward said bat, an arm mounted to swing crosswise with respect to said groove, a resilient ling-er mounted on said arm adjacent to said box means for swinging said arm and means for actuating said linger' whereby variously to dislodge a ball from said pocket towards said bat.

10. A base ball game, a field board provided with a ball retaining pocket, a swingable bat, a resilient finger mounted on said board and duplex means for bodily shifting and flexing said finger respectively and adapted to cause it variously to dislodge a ball from said pocket toward said bat.

11. In a base-ball game, a plane field-representing support, an appropriately located batting device operable by one player, any appropriately located pitching device operable by an opposing'- player and mechanism for swinging said pitching device bodily along one arcl of movement and for deflecting it along lanother substantially transverse arc of movement.

12. In a base ball game, a plane field representing support, an appropriately located batting device manipulable by one player, a resilient pitching linger, mechanism for bodily adjusting said linger and mechanism for flexing said finger.

13. In a base ball game, a plane field-repf resenting support, a batting device operable by one player, a pitchers-box ball retaining pocket, a pitching linger positioned obliquely with reference to said support and with its extremity ladapted to strike a ball in said pocket, mechanism for bodily adjusting said linger and mechanism for actuating said linger downwardly to cause it to strike and dislodge a ball from said pocket.

14. In a baseball game, a held-representing board provid-ed with an undulating margin, and provided along said margin with a plurality of spaced pockets and between said pockets with upper surface areas sloping upwardly in opposite directions from the rims of lsaid pockets.

15. A device of the character described, comprising a standard, a bat slidably and swingably mounted loosely von said standard and adapted for unimpeded reciprocable bodily movement along said standard and to transcribe an arc thereon.

16. A device of the character described. thecombination of a standard, a collar slidable substantially horizontally along said i standard, said collar being fashioned near its one end as a depending bat and near its other end as a lmurled handle. 17. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a movable mounted arm, an upstanding pitching linger carried .by said arm, means for bodily adjusting said arm and means for flexing said linger indepenently of bodily adjustment of said arm.

18. In a baseball game, a plane field representing support marked with pitchers and batters sites, an arm movably -connected below said support, a pitching finger carried by said arm and projecting through an opening in said support, means for bodily adjusting said arm crosswise of a line extending between said pitchers and batters sites and means for actuating said linger in a direction toward the batters site.

19. In a device of the character described, a Zfield-representing element fashioned with a pocket, and a hood adjacent and wholly behind said pocket with reference to the direction of approach of a played ball, the

upper surface of said held-representing element underneath said hood sloping upwardly from said pocket and the lower surface of said hood sloping downwardly.

20. In a baseball gam-e, a held-representing element, marked with a home plate and fashioned with a predeterminately arranged series of pockets, and a hood including sidewalls and a connecting rear wall and aligned behind each of said pockets with reference to said home plate to form .ballcatching recesses, the opposed surfaces oteach of said recesses being inclined with reference to tie plane of said iield representing element and converging in a direction away from said home plate to merge at a point approximately in the plane of said field-representing element and the said opposed surfaces being spaced apart both more and less than the diameter of the ball to be used whereby momentarily to wedge and to check rebound of the ball from a recess, the bottoms of said recesses having their lower forward edges terminatin g at said pockets respectively.

2l. A baseball game comprising a carrier, a. home-plate thereon, ballcatching receptacle located in a position corresponding to that of a member of a ball team and provided on its side remote from said home-plate with a hood, said hood having an entry in line with said home-plate, and a ybat loosely mounted on said carrier and adapted for unrestrained movement b'oth pivotally and bodily in relatively transverse planes, each perpendicular to said carrier.

ln a baseball game, the combination of a held-representing element` provided with a hooded ball-catching receptacle, said receptacle being formed by a pocket, and by a recess located on the remote side of said pocket with reference to the direction of approach of a playing ball, said recess being delined by rearwardly converging top and bott-om surfaces, eac-h of said last mentioned surfaces Vforming an angle with the plane of said field-representing element and having their forward ends, respectively above and below the plane of said field-representing element, said inclined bottom surface of said recess having its forward end terminating at said pocket.

23. In a device of the character described, a substantially iiat held-representing element fashioned with a receptacle, the latter being formed by a hood and by an inclined bottom surface which is depressed below the upper surface 'of said field-representing element to form a recess underneath said hood, the opposed surtaces or said recess converging in the sam-e direction as the travel of a played ball.

Signed by us, this 8th day of August, 1928.

RICHARD H. CUTTING. EDNARD F. STUKBAER.

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