We’ve been discussing baseball basic game a lot recently. During the comment discussions, the Unusual Play Card and Error Chart have been brought up. I assumed a lot of APBA Baseball fans have used these modifications and if not, have at least heard of them.
Then again, there are a lot new APBA fans out there and others coming back to the game. Finally, I could be erroneous in my thinking. Perhaps the Unusual Play Card and its brother, the Error Chart may be popular in my neck of the APBA woods but not be as well known elsewhere. So I thought I’d pass both it on for everyone so could evaluate them and use them if they find them useful. Note: both of these modifications have been around for decades and I don’t know who was the original creator of either. If anyone knows, please inform me so I can give them credit.
Similar Purpose
The UPC and Error Chart both serve a similar purpose. While easy to implement, both serve to randomize result numbers that occur on players’ cards which mostly appear due the position that they position. For example, it addresses the question: “Is it right that a baserunner has a much higher chance to get caught stealing if a shortstop is at bat?”. It takes away the inherit unfairness that comes with the game.
With both modifications, it requires an extra dice roll every so often but not so much to extend the length game significantly.
I should say at this time that the cards displayed below and methods described are not canon. These are the cards that our league has used for used and I have used for replays. I’m sure there are variations that work just as well. If you like the concept but the rules or cards don’t quite work for you, feel free to change them. Better yet, let us know HOW you change them and why.
Unusual Play Card
The rules for the UPC modification are simple:
If bases are not empty and the offensive manager’s result (red number on the card) is a 23 or 36-41, the offensive manager rolls two dice again and refers to the UPC.
The result (again the red number) is the actual result number the offensive manager will use to refer to the boards.
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Unusual Play Card 11-38 31-37 51-36 12-39 32-39 52-39 13-37 33-38 53-37 14-39 34-39 54-39 15-36 35-36 55-36 16-40 36-40 56-40 21-41 41-41 61-41 22-36 42-40 62-37 23-23 43-23 63-23 24-40 44-36 64-40 25-36 45-37 65-40 26-40 46-40 66-38 |
Error Chart
The Error Chart works much in the same way.
If the offensive manager’s result (red number on the card) is a 15-21, the offensive manager rolls two dice again and refers to the Error Chart (the Error Chart is referred to with bases empty unlike the UPC).
The result (again the red number) is the actual result number the offensive manager will use to refer to the boards.
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Error Chart 11-20 31-18 51-18 12-21 32-16 52-21 13-17 33-20 53-17 14-19 34-15 54-15 15-20 35-18 55-20 16-19 36-18 56-19 21-15 41-21 61-18 22-20 42-18 62-18 23-17 43-16 63-16 24-15 44-20 64-18 25-20 45-17 65-21 26-16 46-19 66-20
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One drawback (because someone will bring it up if I don’t) is the 15. I’m sure APBA uses the 15 to increase HBP totals on batters and using the Error Chart will skew this a little.
All in all if you don’t mind rolling the dice a few more times per game, these two modifications are pretty decent if you’re looking to randomize those position-related numbers. I’d like to hear from others who have used similar modifications. Did they work for you??
TBL uses something like this, and it’s worth it. Our error randomizer includes 22s. But we have one modification – if the real error number on the card results in a HBP, it’s a HBP. And if the result from the error randomizer is an HBP, we re-roll.
This is important – the game company gives 15s and 19s on 53 to replicate a players’ hit by pitches, so to take them away is inauthentic.
Steve, re your HBP rule… I’ve always had that in the back in my head as a amendment in our league. :)
It takes total sense.
In my world, Chuck Bennett invented everything that has ever been invented. So I think he invented these cards, too.
Chuck, if you are reading, here’s a toast to Otto Velez.
DonS.
Do you roll first to see if there was an error made or do you just automatically roll for the new error number and defensive player?
Thanks.
Yes you do.
Seems you would have quite a few rainouts.
I ended a little quickly. I haven’t played using the basic boards in years. I seem to recall the 23 being an injury number, and along with 41 a triple play number. It seems there would be quite a few more of those too. Since there were few rainouts, I guess having more wouldn’t be so bad, but maybe a pain. of course I guess you could just ignore rainouts if you wished. I don’t recall the triple play on a hit and run .Probably 41 but it’s in there somewhere. like your blog.
I play actual lineups and ignore injuries and rainouts. I have been playing using this chart and have had neither for a year now. I think we are good. If its a HBP with 15 or 22 I leave it
I like the concept of these charts. I’ve been using them for a few days and I’m going to stick with it for a while and see how it goes. However, day 2 of using the chart I had a game that resulted in 3 injuries and 7 errors. I’m going to assume that it was an anamoly and keep going.