Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-14

question A could not, on account Of the
termination of the game in the third in
ming, win his bet; therefore. how Is 1t
possible for him to lose? It is well set
tied that where a man cannot possibly
lose. he cannot win.
Had this game lasted five innings
there can be no doubt but what B would
have won his bet, but under the circum-
stances I am inclined to the belief that
there was no legal game played and that
all bets are off.
/ would be glad if you will give this
question careful consideration and print
your decision in The Sunday Star. Very
truly yours. A FAN.
Answer-B undoubtedly wins the bet.
The consideration Of the phase of the
question you mention did not pass I'M
noticed, but you are wrong in your COM
parison. You say: THAT where man
cannot possibly lose, he cannot win. "
True enough, but then, you say in the
real condition existing in your problem
that could not win his bet, therefore.
how is it possible for him to lose" This
latter is the true condition. A could
not possibly have won his bet, no matter
how many innings of the game had
been played. He bet that the Cubs would
not score a run. and the moment that
they did score his bet was lost. Had
the bet been that the Tigers would
score more runs than the Cubs. it would
have been "a different matter. Under
the conditions of the bet, the moment
that the Cubs scored, AS bet was lost,
because he had bet that the Cubs would
not score. Had no run been scored be-
fore five innings were completed then the
bet would have been off. because the
tacit understanding was that the Cubs
would not score a run during the game,
and If the contest had not gone five in
nings there would have been no game.
AS it was, though, the Cubs got that
run in the very first inning, and had
the play gone twenty innings A could
not possibly have won. because he had
already lost. In short. it was impossible
for A to win, because had, as has been
said, already lost.
Sporting Editor Star:
From the following state of facts, will
you kindly advise as to whether a man
should be called out:
He as on second when the pitcher
threw the ball to second. The bag was
three feet out of line with the home plate.
The man running was on the spot where
the bag should have been, before the
ball was caught at second. Is he re-
quired to touch the bag, regardless of
the fact it was three feet from line?
Please publish the answer for general
information. Respectfully,
E. SHERIFF..
Senate Office Building
Ans The bag is supposed to be sta
tionary. If it is not some understanding
as to what will be done should be had
before the game. In the game men,
toned the man probably would be re-
quired to touch the bag.
Sporting Editor Star:
Please explain in next issue the term
Cincinnati base hit" A FAN
Ans. A Cincinnati base hit'' was
given last year to any player who should
reach first when an attempt to get an
other base runner failed. provided there
was no exror. The rule is not now In
effect.
Sporting Editor Star: .--.-.
While you have before rendered a de-
cision in the same matter, to decide an
issue, will you kindly publish in the In
quisitive Fan Column the ruling on the
following:
A is on first base: B bats ball to first
baseman, who places the ball on first,
then throws to second: A. without being
touched by the ball, returns to first. Is
A out or safe? Or forced by ball reach
ing second after batsman declared out?
Answer--A is safe, The moment the
first baseman touched that bag A was
not forced and, consequently, had per-
feet right to return to the base.