Abstract:
A simulated baseball board game on an inclined simulated miniature field is designed for two players taking offense or defense positions. The offensive player uses a batting mechanism to hit a ball pitched by the defensive player. The defensive player fields the ball if hit. Holes on the playing field retain the ball based on odds of real baseball events. Rules govern contingency events.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many sports simulation board games have been developed not only to challenge and entertain, but also to simulate the feel of actual games. One of these games is the American baseball simulation board game. 
     Baseball is well adapted for a board simulation game. A baseball game has two teams of nine players each. The objective of each team is to win by scoring more runs than the opponent. Two teams play in turn between offense and defense. The offense team has each of its players in order attempt to hit the baseball thrown by a pitcher, who is positioned toward the home plate where the batter stands. A catcher squats behind home plate catching the ball thrown by the pitcher. The pitcher and the catcher are parts of the defense team, and other positions can be defined as pitcher, catcher, first-base, second-base, third base, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder, and center fielder. 
     Depending upon the location of the thrown baseball relative to the hitter and home plate, the pitch may be considered a ball or strike or may be hit by the batter if contact is made. Runs are typically scored by batters hitting singles, doubles, triples, and home runs which enable the batters to run from one base to the next and eventually to home plate to record the run. Each offensive player is permitted only three strikes before being called out. 
     Four balls are considered a walk, meaning the batter is allowed to advance onto the first base. A Ball is a pitch that not entering the strike zone in flight and is not swung at by the batter. If the pitch touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone it is a “ball.” If such a pitch touches the batter, he shall be awarded first base. 
     The offensive player is out if a hit baseball is caught in the air by a defensive player within the playing field or in foul territory. The batter is out if the batter fails to run onto a respective base before he is thrown out at that respective base. 
     Classic simulated baseball board games were designed for dice play, in which players roll dice to simulate most of the movements happened on a baseball field, for example, a strike, a ball, a hit, or a run. In other words, the movements of the game are determined by how the die (or dice) rests after the player rolls the die (or dice). 
     However, one main disadvantage of this type of game is that it fails to truly simulate or represent the actual playing conditions of baseball. That is to say that rolling dice or spinning a spinner does not bear any relation to the skills and odds involved in a baseball game. These skills including pitching the baseball such that the batter misses his swing, hitting the baseball to score runs, and the positions the defense players field. 
     Other kinds of the previous development of simulated baseball board games are more advanced, by using batting and pitching mechanisms on the game board to simulate ball movement, having racks with lever attached to spring and handle simulating batting mechanism, and miniature mechanical defense fielders. 
     The disadvantage of some mechanical baseball games is that they fail to show the odds of playing a real baseball game. Odds for registering hits based on statistically proved samples show that, the chance for a single-base hit should be significantly higher than a third-base hit, and the odds for groundouts should be similar to fly outs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to develop a two player simulated baseball board game having a pitching mechanism, a batting mechanism and a fielding mechanism with a simulated baseball board game with a playfield in which it can be reflected to and truly simulates to the baseball game in real. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG.  1 . is a perspective view of the baseball board game 
     FIG.  2 . is a top view of the baseball board game showing batting mechanism below 
     FIG.  3 . is a side view of a glove 
     FIG.  4 . is a side view of a pitching ramp 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present art relates to a baseball board game, and more particularly a simulated baseball board game with pitching and batting played on a simulated miniature field by opposing players. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The board game has a rigid playfield  100  resembling miniature baseball stadium, including a batting mechanism  200 , a pitching mechanism  300 , fielding mechanisms  400 , a home plate  101 , an infield diamond  102 , an outfield  103 , foul territories  104 , a homerun box  105 , and audience seating sections  106 . The rigid play field  100  may be formed of a planar sheet of fiberboard or plywood and then painted with appropriate baseball markings. The play field  100  is inclined as in pinball such that a spherical ball  500  rolls toward home plate  101 . A stainless steel ball  500  used represents a baseball. The ball  500  can be pitched from a ramp  302  and hit by a bat-shaped paddle  201 . 
     The bat-shaped paddle  201  hits the ball  500  along the field an into play where it may lodge in a depression in the field to score a double, triple, single, fly out or ground out. The ball  500  may also be hit up the pitching ramp groove  301  and into the stands for a home run. The stands are shaped to retain a ball  500  that flies up into the stands. 
     The batting mechanism  200  comprises a bat-shaped paddle  201  that swings to a manual pull on a side lever bat handle  205 . The paddle  201  rotates along the axis of a perpendicular core shaft attached to the paddle  201 . The batting paddle  201  is mechanically connected to the side lever bat handle  205  via the perpendicular core shaft. The side lever bat handle  205  is on the right side for right-handed players. A player can swing the bat-shaped paddle  201  softly and bunt the ball  500 . A player can also swing the bat-shaped paddle  201  vigorously and hope to score a home run. 
     The bat-shaped paddle  201  swings from a resting position to an extended position. The spring  204  pulls the bat-shaped paddle  201  back and provides a restoring force to allow a user to release the bat handle  205  and retracted the bat-shaped paddle  201  from extended position. The other end of the shaft protrudes from the sidewall of the playing field  100  forming a lever  203  with a handle  205 . 
     The pitching mechanism  300  comprises a ramp pitching stand  302  having an inclined groove  301  that slants downwardly toward the home plate  101 . The inclined groove  301  is designed for the ball  500  to roll from the upper portion of the groove  301  toward the batting mechanism  200  located on the home plate  101 , after the ball  500  is fed manually from the top upper portion of the groove  301 . The ramp  302  can rotate left and right across a limited angle allowing a defensive player to pitch a slider, straight or curveball. 
     If a user fails to hit the ball  500 , the ball will roll into a well that represents an out result. The well is shaped to retain the ball  500  within the playing field  100 . 
     The glove-shaped fielding mechanisms  400  comprise seven glove-shaped apparatus simulating the seven defensive fielders in a baseball game. The three larger gloves  401  in the outfield  103  represent the outfielders and the four smaller gloves  402  in the infield  102  represent the infielders. Each glove has a swivel peg  303  mounted on it that inserts into a swivel peg hole in the playing field  100 . The glove-shaped apparatus are adjustable by selecting from a number of swivel peg holes and pivoting the glove opening direction. The swivel peg  303  rotates freely within the swivel peg hole to allow the defender player to pivot and change the direction of the glove before pitching the ball  500 . 
     The playing field  100  has a plurality of marked holes  107  spreading out over the infield  102  and outfield  103  on the playing field  100 , being adapted to receive a hit ball  500  and being selectively designated to define a value, or a event, such as “hit”, “foul”, “fly out”, or “ground out”. This manner is designed to simulate the frequency and occurrence with which game events occur in a real baseball game. The depressions retain the ball  500  if the ball becomes lodged within the depression. When the ball  500  comes to rest in any depression, the play is over and the type of depression, or hole that the ball  500  falls into determines the result of the play. After the ball  500  comes to rest, a player picks up the ball  500  and records the play. The next play begins when the defensive player pitches the ball  500 . 
     A depression is an area that retains a ball  500 , and a hole  107  is a depression that defines an opening through the game board. A hole  107  less than the diameter of a ball  500  retains a ball  500  without allowing it to drop through the game board. A number of holes  107  through the game board is not necessary. Only a depression is necessary to retain a ball  500 , but the use of holes  107  is preferred. 
     The gloves position over “out slots” so that a ball  500  caught in the glove will likely fall into the “out slot” that the glove extends over. Sometimes, the ball  500  falls out of the glove after entering the glove. If the ball  500  falls out of the glove after entering the glove, this simulates an outfielder  401  failing to field the ball  500 . 
     The singles are predominantly placed in the outfield  103  between the infield  102  and the outfielders  401 . The doubles are predominantly placed in the outfield  103  near or past the outfielders  401 . The triples are located in the extreme corners of the field, one on a left side and one on a right side. The walks arc located in the infield  102 . Other outs are located in the infield  102  and outfield  103 . A plurality of pegs  600  representing runners on base fit into peg holes marked on the game board. 
     The ball  500  representing the baseball is usually made of steel and rolls along the flat baseball playing field  100 . In a game of baseball, the batter can swing only once. Alternate rules allow a batter to swing more than once. A batter may swing at a ball  500  more than once if the ball  500  is hit and it does not lodge in any of the holes  107  or gloves. The bat-shaped paddle  201  is placed over the home plate  101  and return bumpers are placed to the left and right of the home plate  101  to direct the ball  500  to the back paddle  201  if the ball  500  is hit and does not lodge in any of the holes  107  or gloves. The return bumpers are aligned in a funnel shape and are analogous to pin ball  500  return bumpers. 
     Pitching allows a defensive player to select a pitching angle and manually slide a ball  500  down the ramp  302  and toward the home plate  101 . Positioning the gloves also simulates positioning of outfielders  401  depending on batting strategy. Thus the defensive player participates in the play. The offensive player also participates in the play and swings at the pitch. The defensive player has a large role in the simulation game, which is similar to an actual baseball game. 
     The homerun box  105  is placed in the very rear. A batted ball  500  may be hit back up the pitcher&#39;s ramp  302  and land in the homerun box  105  in center field. Also, if a ball  500  hits the stands or scoreboard and bounces back on the playing field  100 , it is also considered a home run. Because the ball  500  is pitched on the surface of the playing field  100  and hit along the surface of the playing field  100 , the ball  500  usually rolls and there is a low likelihood of the ball  500  flying into the stands in the rear of the stadium. Optionally, a groove  301  is cut into the middle rear of the stadium wall so that it becomes easier for a player to hit the ball  500  through the groove  301  and into the homerun box  105 . The groove  301  creates an opening and communicates with the homerun box  105 . The home-run box is preferably placed directly behind the center field. 
     The field is placed in the stadium and recessed. Stadium walls enclose the field and retain the ball  500  during the play of the game. In the outfield  103 , the rear stadium walls rise up about 4 in. and define the stands. The stands are an area behind the rear stadium walls and represents actual stands having sports spectators. A picture of spectators can be painted on the stands. The stands are made of a flat planar shape behind the rear stadium walls. 
     The players additionally decide to move base runners depending upon strategy. Dice rolls determine success or failure of base running and pegs  600  placed on bases represent runners on base. The game decisions determined by dice rolls can use a six sided die, or an eight sided die or a ten sided die. 
     The base running is determined by a set of rules. The rules usually assume that baseball players (runners) have similar physical skills. The odds are fair and even. This is the best mode because it is simple and easy to remember. 
     Alternatively, a team may be selected by randomly dealing a stack of cards such as baseball cards. Each card represents a player and each player may have personalized modified statistical odds for base stealing, and base running. A player may for example have a plus one added to his base stealing dice roll to represent improved odds of stealing a base. In this case, actual cards can be used for picking fantasy teams. Fantasy teams are teams that are created by modeling fantasy players from actual baseball players. Alternatively, players may choose to form teams of actual major league baseball teams that may use recent or past season statistics. 
     Standard Rules of the Game 
     All standard baseball rules are in effect such as 3 outs for each team per inning, 9 innings to complete each game (unless tied). Game rules reflect standard baseball rules. The game rules arc a means for determining game events including the advancement of runners on bases, stealing of bases, advancement of extra bases, grounding out, flying out, and striking out. The following rules are the best mode. 
     1. Offence 
     a. means for determining a Walk . . . when a batted ball lands in a hole marked with a “W”, runner (peg) should be placed at first base. 
     b. means for determining a Single . . . when batted ball lands in a hole marked with a “ 1 ” 
     c. means for determining a Double . . . when batted ball lands in hole marked with a “ 2 ” 
     d. means for determining a Triple . . . when batted ball lands in a hole marked with a “ 3 ” 
     e. means for determining a HOME RUN . . . when batted ball is hit back up the pitcher&#39;s ramp and, as a result, lands in the Homerun Box in center field. Also, if ball hits stands or scoreboard and bounces back unto the playing field, that shall be considered a HOME RUN. 
     f. means for determining a Stealing of a base . . . 2 nd  or 3 rd  . . . Prior to a pitch, the team at bat may declare he intends to attempts a steal. Each player shall then roll the dice. If the batting team rolls the higher number the steal attempt is successful. If the team in the field rolls the higher number the base runner is out. 
     If both roll the same number that is a foul ball and runner goes back to previously occupied base. 
     If a runner is on third base and wants to attempt to steal home, the batting team only will roll the dice. Batting team will declare what number he wants to roll. If that number is rolled, steal of home is successful. If number is not rolled, the runner is out. 
     With multiple runners on base the same rules apply but only to the lead runner. The trailing base runner will always advance automatically. 
     2. Defense 
     The defensive team has the option of repositioning the defenders by adjusting the 3 outfielders&#39; “gloves” in three of the four positions in the outfield and the 4 infielders&#39; gloves in the infield. The gloves can be adjusted by moving them into the desired pegged holes. Although the pitching ramp is also considered an infielder, the pitching clement is not a glove that can retain the ball. 
     a. means for determining a Ground out . . . when a batted ball lands in any of the holes circled in red in the infield it is considered a ground out. 
     b. means for determining a Ground out with base runners in force situation (1 st  base, 1 st  &amp; 2 nd  base, bases loaded) . . . Each player will roll the dice. If the batting team rolls the higher number, only the lead runner is out. If the defenders roll the higher number then a double play will be rewarded. In the case of multiple base runners (1 st  &amp; 2 nd , bases loaded), the lead runner as well as the batter will be declared out. 
     c. means for determining a Fly out . . . when a batted ball lodges in any of the holes circled in red (whether they are covered by a glove or not) is considered a fly out. 
     d. means for determining a Strike out . . . If the batter swings and misses (only once) that is a strikeout. 
     3. Game Situation Decisions 
     a. means for determining a Ground out with runners in non-force situation (2 nd  base, 2 nd  &amp; 3 rd  base, 3 rd  base) . . . Batting team will declare if he wants to try to advance the runner(s). If batting team chooses not to advance, the ground out will remain in effect. If the batting team wants to attempt to advance, then each player shall roll the dice. If defending team rolls the same or higher number the lead runner is declared out and the batter is safe at first. If the batting team rolls a higher number all runners advance, batter is safe at first with fielder&#39;s choice, and is not out. 
     b. means for determining a Fly out with runners on base . . . . Batting team will declare if he wants to try to advance the runner by tagging up. Each player shall role the dice. If batting team rolls the higher number the base runner advances. If defending team rolls the higher number the base runner is declared out. 
     c. means for determining Extra base advancement . . . . Normally the runners will advance only in increments of the value of the hit . . . i.e. a runner on first will go to 2 nd  on a single or 3 rd  on a double etc. If the batting team decides they wish to attempt an extra base advancement they declare their intentions. Each team will roll the dice. If the batting team rolls the higher number the base runner successfully advances to the extra base. If the defending team rolls the higher number the lead base runner is out. In each case, however, the trailing runner advances an extra base. 
     Call Out List of Elements 
       100 . Playing Field 
       101 . Home Plate 
       102 . Infield 
       103 . Outfield 
       104 . Foul Territories 
       105 . Homerun Box 
       106 . Audience Seating Section 
       107 . Holes 
       200 . Batting Mechanism 
       201 . Bat-Shaped Paddle 
       202 . Rack 
       203 . Lever 
       204 . Spring 
       205 . Side Lever Bat Handle 
       300 . Pitching Mechanism 
       301 . Ramp Groove 
       302 . Ramp 
       303 . Ramp Swivel Peg 
       304 . Ramp Swivel Axis 
       400 . Fielding Mechanism 
       401 . 3 Outfielders 
       402 . 4 Infielders 
       403 . Side part of Glove 
       404 . Rear part of Glove 
       405 . Glove Body 
       406 . Glove Cover 
       407 . Glove Swivel Peg 
       500 . Ball 
       600 . Pegs