| Author | Message | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3637 Registered: 1-2001 |
When the game of Baseball was introduced in North America (1796), there was something that most, if not all baseball players could accomplish. Over time (a few decades), no baseball players could accomplish this in the US but probably could have accomplished it in other countries. Today, there may still be parts of the world where a group of baseball players could accomplish this, but it is very unlikely that it could be done anywhere in the United States. So...what is it? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 139 Registered: 1-2012 |
To accomplish it, would you have to be: Human? Adult? Male? Female? Is the accomplishment physical? Mental? Would it be helpful to discover places where it could be accomplished? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16466 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are professional baseball rules relevant? Are the major leagues? The farm system (minor leagues)? Little League? Equipment? | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 994 Registered: 6-2003 |
Could it be called an achievement? Something somebody would try to accomplish? or rather avoid to accomplish? or is it something that can be achieved only without trying to do so? something that just has to happen? by chance? by mistake? Did it become gradually more difficult to achieve this in the US? Is a change in the rules relevant? Different units of measurement in the US and elsewhere? Different size of the field? Are the US as geographic location relevant? (i.e. could a US baseball player achieve this when playing with his team abroad?) Does the achievement indeed involve catching the ball? over a particular distance? in a specific way? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3639 Registered: 1-2001 |
To accomplish it, would you have to be: Human? Yes Adult? Not necessarily Male? Yes, or... Female? ...this too Is the accomplishment physical? Yes Mental? Not so much Would it be helpful to discover places where it could be accomplished? Yes Are professional baseball rules relevant? No Are the major leagues? The farm system (minor leagues)? Little League? None of these Equipment? Yes Could it be called an achievement? Yes Something somebody would try to accomplish? Yes or rather avoid to accomplish? No or is it something that can be achieved only without trying to do so? No, it is intentional something that just has to happen? No by chance? by mistake? Neither, it would be deliberate and planned - good question Did it become gradually more difficult to achieve this in the US? YES - great q Is a change in the rules relevant? No, baseball rules are not relevant Different units of measurement in the US and elsewhere? No, not relevant Different size of the field? No, but explore Are the US as geographic location relevant? (i.e. could a US baseball player achieve this when playing with his team abroad?) Yes, geography is very relevant. There's an FA in one aspect of your q. Does the achievement indeed involve catching the ball? Yes, part of it does over a particular distance? Yes in a specific way? No | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 998 Registered: 6-2003 |
Is the relevant equipment: the ball? the bat? gloves? mitts? helmets? shoes? the baseball field relevant? its size? shape? other characteristics? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3640 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the relevant equipment: the ball? Yes, and 1 other item... the bat? No gloves? ...yes, these mitts? helmets? shoes? None of these the baseball field relevant? No, not at all its size? shape? other characteristics? No | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 1001 Registered: 6-2003 |
The other region(s) where this could be accomplished: Europe? Latin America? Canada? Asia? Africa? Australia? Is the material of the ball relevant? Did it change over the time? Relevant that in former times the balls got re-used more often? and so, became softer and slower? Is the price of the equipment in different parts of the world relevant? Is climate relevant? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16478 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does the ball remain intact throughout the puzzle scenario? | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 4722 Registered: 9-2009 |
Is the achievement in beating some record? Is altitude relevant? | ||
| Ostap (Ostap)
New member Username: Ostap Post Number: 105 Registered: 6-2005 |
Relevant that the territory of the US has increased over the last 200 years? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3641 Registered: 1-2001 |
The other region(s) where this could be accomplished: Europe? Latin America? Canada? Asia? Africa? Australia? It could be accomplished in any of these places Is the material of the ball relevant? No Did it change over the time? Did what change? Relevant that in former times the balls got re-used more often? and so, became softer and slower? Ah, no, but good thinking Is the price of the equipment in different parts of the world relevant? No Is climate relevant? No Does the ball remain intact throughout the puzzle scenario? No, it doesn't - good q Is the achievement in beating some record? Yes Is altitude relevant? It could be, yes Relevant that the territory of the US has increased over the last 200 years? Yes. I hadn't thought about this until this question but in a way this is relevant. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16484 Registered: 4-2010 |
Hitting the cover off the ball? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3642 Registered: 1-2001 |
Hitting the cover off the ball? No | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 1009 Registered: 6-2003 |
Is the number of baseball fields in a particular country relevant? the number of baseball players? Is the accomplishment easier to achieve in smaller countries? If altitude is relevant: does high altitude help? low altitude? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3644 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the number of baseball fields in a particular country relevant? Not this, but...the number of baseball players? ...this is! Is the accomplishment easier to achieve in smaller countries? The size of the country does not matter but there is a geographical issue that is somewhat relevant If altitude is relevant: does high altitude help? It doesn't so much help this accomplishment as much as it makes others more difficult low altitude? Yes, this would be helpful | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1201 Registered: 8-2001 |
Something relevant about the players that is important? Race? color? ethnicity? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3646 Registered: 1-2001 |
Something relevant about the players that is important? Yes, but...Race? color? ethnicity?...none of these. | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1204 Registered: 8-2001 |
Players that play certain positions more relevant? Pitchers? Catchers? Is this accomplishment something that would most likely be done outside of a formal game? or only during a game? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3647 Registered: 1-2001 |
Players that play certain positions more relevant? Yes - actually there's probably only 1 position in which the player wouldn't be as relevant... Pitchers? These would be relevant, and...Catchers?...these would be least likely to be relevant, although not impossible Is this accomplishment something that would most likely be done outside of a formal game? Absolutely, yes or only during a game? No, this would not be done in the context of a game | ||
| Mlamanno (Mlamanno)
New member Username: Mlamanno Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2012 |
Did they use a different amount of baseball players back in 1796 than they do today? Could this still be done in mountainous areas? Snowy areas? Grassy areas? Hot areas? Cold areas? Dirt? Mud? Concrete? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3648 Registered: 1-2001 |
Did they use a different amount of baseball players back in 1796 than they do today? Not relevant Could this still be done in mountainous areas? Yes Snowy areas? Yes Grassy areas? Yes Hot areas? Yes Cold areas? Yes Dirt? Yes Mud? Yes Concrete? Yes - I could have just answered one "yes", but the specifics of your question are very good and should prove helpful | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1208 Registered: 8-2001 |
Does it involve throwing the ball from one player to another so that the ball traverses the entire country from one boarder to the other? east-west? north south? relevant? If so, does it matter how many players are involved? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3649 Registered: 1-2001 |
Does it involve throwing the ball from one player to another so that the ball traverses the entire country from one boarder to the other? YES! Doesn't even have to be the entire country, could be just a region of it east-west? north south? relevant? No, could be any direction If so, does it matter how many players are involved? No So what it the purpose of throwing the ball? | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1209 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is the purpose to set a world record? Is it a publicity stunt? To raise money for charity? Some kind of superstition? To prove it can be done? To settle a bet? a dare? Is it a symbolic gesture? Have anything to do with the world record for throwing a baseball (426 ft, 6 1/4 inches)? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3650 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the purpose to set a world record? Yes, likely, but for something specific besides simply throwing a ball Is it a publicity stunt? Prehaps To raise money for charity? Probably not Some kind of superstition? No To prove it can be done? Well it is done to prove something, yes To settle a bet? Maybe a dare? Less likely Is it a symbolic gesture? No Have anything to do with the world record for throwing a baseball (426 ft, 6 1/4 inches)? Not directly | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1210 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is the number of throws important? or just spanning the distance? Is it intended as practice for players so they don't drop the ball? I would imagine it would involve running too as they move to the end of the line. Are the players trying to determine how long it takes (how many catches) to wear out a baseball? Is the goal to see how quickly it can be done? so, the goal is to beat the previous record? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3651 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the number of throws important? No or just spanning the distance? Spanning the distance is part of it, yes Is it intended as practice for players so they don't drop the ball? No I would imagine it would involve running too as they move to the end of the line. No, there is no running involved Are the players trying to determine how long it takes (how many catches) to wear out a baseball? No Is the goal to see how quickly it can be done? The goal is to do something quickly, yes so, the goal is to beat the previous record? Well the action that this puzzle is based on may not have ever happened in actuality, it is based on information contained in an old lateral puzzle. While it very well could have happened in real life, at the time it was happening there may have been no existing "previous record" for the accomplishment. | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1211 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is the goal something productive? like transporting a number of balls from one place to another? Is part of the challenge to find enough players to complete the string? You say the ball does not remain intact. is it damanged by the throwing process? catching? bouncing? collision with terrain? trees? rocks? shrubberies? animals? people? structures? lamp posts? pavement? a road? road signs? relevant what causes the damage to the ball? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3652 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the goal something productive? Yes like transporting Yes, but...a number of balls...not this...from one place to another?...but they are transporting something, yes Is part of the challenge to find enough players to complete the string? Yes You say the ball does not remain intact. is it damanged by the throwing process? catching? bouncing? collision with terrain? trees? rocks? shrubberies? animals? people? structures? lamp posts? pavement? a road? road signs? relevant what causes the damage to the ball? FA - the ball is never "damaged." It remains intact at all times during the throwing process and ideally will not collide with anything. | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1213 Registered: 8-2001 |
Check this post above: Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 3:25 pm: The other region(s) where this could be accomplished: Europe? Latin America? Canada? Asia? Africa? Australia? It could be accomplished in any of these places Is the material of the ball relevant? No Did it change over the time? Did what change? Relevant that in former times the balls got re-used more often? and so, became softer and slower? Ah, no, but good thinking Is the price of the equipment in different parts of the world relevant? No Is climate relevant? No Does the ball remain intact throughout the puzzle scenario? No, it doesn't - good q Is something attached to the ball? Is the "ball" not a regulation ball in some way? Is something is attached, would it be helpful to know how it is attached? nailed? stapled? glued? tacked? welded? taped? tied? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3653 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is something attached to the ball? No Is the "ball" not a regulation ball in some way? No, it's not a regulation baseball, or likely not even a baseball at all for that matter Is something is attached, would it be helpful to know how it is attached? nailed? stapled? glued? tacked? welded? taped? tied? There is nothing attached to the ball | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1214 Registered: 8-2001 |
Ah, now there is something to tug on....is the ball a chicken egg? Something living? vegetable? mineral? Is it spherical? Jello? Is it a food item? does it contain liquid at all? Water balloon? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3654 Registered: 1-2001 |
Ah, now there is something to tug on....Indeed there is is the ball a chicken egg? No Something living? No vegetable? mineral? Neither Is it spherical? Yes Jello? No Is it a food item? No does it contain liquid at all? No Water balloon? No | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1217 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is the ball from some other sport? Is the ball something most people would be familar with? Is the ball purchased? Homemade? Is more than one ball used in this effort? If so, relevant how many? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3655 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the ball from some other sport? Unlikely, keep reading... Is the ball something most people would be familar with? ...also not likely, read on... Is the ball purchased? ...doubtful, it is most likeley... Homemade?...this. Is more than one ball used in this effort? No If so, relevant how many? Only one | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1218 Registered: 8-2001 |
Is the ball made from natural things? manmade things? combination of the two? Clothing used to make the ball? wood? grass? weeds? seeds? cardboard? rocks? mud? string? rubberbands? glue? tape? Is there something hidden inside the ball? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3656 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the ball made from natural things? manmade things? combination of the two? Doesn't matter, there's only one relevant feature about the ball (read on) Clothing used to make the ball? wood? grass? weeds? seeds? cardboard? rocks? mud? string? rubberbands? glue? None of these matter, but...tape? ...there's a chance that some kind of fastening object like tape would be used, yes Is there something hidden inside the ball? YES - not really hidden, more like concealed, but there is something relevant inside the ball | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2903 Registered: 2-2011 |
feathers? elastic? rubber? | ||
| Beachbum (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 12 Registered: 2-2012 |
Was this baseball (meaning the ball itself) legal in for use in Professional USA baseball at the beginning of the 19th century? Could you please also answer the same for European Baseball? Was there only one "baseball" used? Did the people throwing and catching the ball know that there was something concealed within it? The substance or item concealed within the ball.. Something of value? A prize? Something unknown to the people that are throwing and catching the ball? | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 318 Registered: 1-2012 |
Is the ball opened to get at the item inside the ball? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3657 Registered: 1-2001 |
feathers? elastic? rubber? What about them? Was this baseball (meaning the ball itself) legal in for use in Professional USA baseball at the beginning of the 19th century? Could you please also answer the same for European Baseball? Neither is relevant, but a safe assumption is that this kind of ball would not have been suitable for use in a regulation game Was there only one "baseball" used? Yes Did the people throwing and catching the ball know that there was something concealed within it? Yes The substance or item concealed within the ball.. Something of value? Perhaps, although not monetary value A prize? No Something unknown to the people that are throwing and catching the ball? Not relevant Is the ball opened to get at the item inside the ball? At some point, yes | ||
| Solitiare (Solitiare)
New member Username: Solitiare Post Number: 773 Registered: 7-2011 |
Is the purpose of the ball communication? Is there a message inside? And the purpose of all this is to get a message from point A to point B as quickly as possible, by only human means? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3658 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the purpose of the ball communication? Is there a message inside? And the purpose of all this is to get a message from point A to point B as quickly as possible, by only human means? Yes to all! Nice job putting pieces together (pun intended). So why would this be considered an "accomplishment" at one point but less impressive over time? | ||
| Wildcard (Wildcard)
New member Username: Wildcard Post Number: 1220 Registered: 8-2001 |
It is less impressive now because of telephone, email, etc. | ||
| Solitiare (Solitiare)
New member Username: Solitiare Post Number: 775 Registered: 7-2011 |
You would need a large number of pitchers with good, and accurate arms. Catchers not so important, as the next person in line could just pick up the ball and throw it on, but accuracy very immportant. You could then cover the width of the country. As the nation expanded, this became more and more difficult. {I'd like to see someone throw a baseball over the Rocky Mountains!) If that is correct, was all this to win a bet? | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 1014 Registered: 6-2003 |
Was this, at some point in time, the fastest way to pass a message (or a small item) from one place to another one? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 3659 Registered: 1-2001 |
*** SPOILER *** It is less impressive now because of telephone, email, etc. That's right! You would need a large number of pitchers with good, and accurate arms. Catchers not so important, as the next person in line could just pick up the ball and throw it on, but accuracy very immportant. You could then cover the width of the country. As the nation expanded, this became more and more difficult. {I'd like to see someone throw a baseball over the Rocky Mountains!) If that is correct, was all this to win a bet? No bets involved, but great statement! Pitchers, as well as infielders and outfielders, are trained to be able to throw a ball accurately over distance (catchers not as much). It would require more participants as the distance increased, but even an obstacle such as a mountain could be quickly passed with this method. While it may be possible to carry a message quickly on horseback or horse-drawn vehicle, obstacles such as rivers/streams and inclines would slow these things down while a chain of throwers and catchers would cross them just as quickly as on open ground. Was this, at some point in time, the fastest way to pass a message (or a small item) from one place to another one? Yes, at least according to an old lateral puzzle. Prior to inventions such as the telegraph (1837), a relay-based method would have been the fastest way to pass a message other than on horseback, but as mentioned above horses could be slowed by numerous obstacles, as well as their own fatigue or the fatigue of the rider. In theory, with enough participants a message in a ball could be transferred the fastest over a distance compared to any other method. Thanks to Verizon and AT&T, virtually all of the United States has cell phone coverage. With the availability of satellite phones and radio signals it is now possible to relay any message over any distance almost instantly anywhere in the world. Now whether the ball-message-throw was even attempted is unknown, but if you could find somewhere in today's world where communication methods were still somewhat primitive this may be the fastest way to send messages over long distances. Great job everyone! Very nice solution summary put together by Wildcard, Solitaire and Sundowner. |
