In honor of the start of the major league season, I’ve decided to shake things up a bit. Since we are only one week into the season, it makes sense to give teams a little more time to develop before we hastily judge a squad that lost its first three games to the defending AL champs
(Despite what the “experts” on ESPN tell you, the panic meter is not at a 10. The 1998 New York Yankees started 1-4. They ended up winning 114 regular season games and the World Series. Relax people. If the leaders of our country pressed the proverbial “panic button” as much as ESPN pundits did, we never would have survived the Cuban missile crisis.).
(John F. Kennedy. Not a current baseball pundit)But don’t think I’m going to take a week off and leave you without a column. I’ve decided to break down one of my personal favorite games to pass those college nights.
The perfect game to kick off the season right: Baseball.
I’m guessing most of you have heard of this great drinking game, but for those of you who haven’t, pay attention. If you’re like me, then by this point in the semester, you’re pretty sick of traditional Beer Pong. In fact, you’ve probably been cheating with every card game in sight just to spice things up.
I’m here to tell you that there are better games out there than Kings and Baseball is the best of them. And for those who tend to be conservative with your drinking games, fear not: Baseball is very similar to classic Beirut.
So without further ado…
Baseball
Disclaimer: Like all drinking games, there are a number of ways to play Baseball. Rules change depending on where you play.
This is how I play Baseball. My house rules. If you play a slightly different version or want to find out the various ways to play, I suggest an investigation of your own (a Google search of “baseball drinking game” will probably do the trick).
What you need:
- Normal pong-sized table (Your personal preference, really any flat surface will do)
- At least one ping pong ball (I prefer 3, but it depends on how many people are playing)
- 8 cups (4 for each team. Add an additional cup per team if stealing is allowed. Water cups not included)
- 2-18 players. (1-9 per team. Honestly, you can make the number infinite, but strictly playing by baseball rules there should be no more than 9 to a lineup. The most I’ve ever played with was 5 to a team. The ideal number is 4-10.)
- At least one case of some cheap beer. Do not try this with hard alcohol. This is not Beer Pong. You WILL die.
(As a reminder. For everyone's sake)How to play:
- Set four cups up in a straight line with the last cup touching the back end of the table (see: “the Maryland I” or traffic light + one) for both teams.
- The closest opposing cup represents 1st base (single), then 2nd base (double) is the 2nd opposing cup and so on.
- Whenever the opposing team makes a cup your team must drink that cup and all the cups in front of that (I like to fill all cups up halfway. This is up for debate. Some fill the single cup 1/4 of the way, the double 1/2, and so on until the home run cup is full). The hitter than moves to that base of the cup they made.
- Always re-fill the cups to the appropriate amount before resuming play.
- Whenever a cup is made, all runners advance that many bases (Example: A double would advance all runners two bases and place the “hitter” on second).
- If you miss completely, it counts as one out.
- If you hit the cup, it bounces (a foul ball), and the opposing team catches it, it counts as one out.
- Foul balls occur when a ball bounces off a cup and the opposing team fails to catch it. In that case, the hitter gets to reshoot (I prefer to play with one foul given per at bat, meaning after the first foul, the batter is out regardless of if it is caught or not. Some may play with as many as 3 fouls and a few as none. It’s all preference. Make the game your own.). If the ball grazes the cup and hits the table, it is still a foul ball.
(Don't be Steve Bartman, and mess up your partner's concentration)- Like baseball, there are 3 outs to an inning and 9 innings of play. Some prefer to have inning limits and mercy rules, but again this is all preference. The team with the most runs scored at the end of play is the winner.
- Defense (taunting the other team in a variety of ways while they “hit”) can be fun, but don’t over-do it. Nobody likes that guy. Feel the room out and defend the appropriate amount.
(On defense, try to be as classy and good as Brooks Robinson)- It’s not unusual to go through 15-20 beers in a single game, so be prepared to drink, and be a team player about it. Don’t shy away from taking the cup every time there is a single. Pull your weight on the team.
Optional: Stealing:
If you are on base and wish to steal you can play a game of flip cup against a player from the opposing team (the catcher). If the runner finishes first, he is safe and advances one base. If the catcher wins, you are thrown out. You are off the bases and one out is recorded. Sometimes this is a fun rule to have. Other times players like to get a single and try to steal three consecutive bases to score a run. This tends to ruin the game. I say play it by ear. Some games it works for, others it doesn’t, and you’re spewing out an Ozzie Guillen-worthy tirade on the Ricky Henderson across from you.
Why it’s great:
Baseball is a lot like a Tarantino film: It borrows heavily from proven greats. It’s basically a cousin of beer pong with emphasis on defense, and a little flip cup thrown in if stealing is enabled.
There are a number of criticisms of Beer Pong, but I have two issues that tend to outweigh the rest. The first concerns that magical night when you can do no wrong. Every ball is going in and even the game you play poorly, you manage to outlast the other team. You’re too prideful to walk away from the table, but you have no interest in spending the whole night there. With Baseball, there are more players and therefore, more time away from the table. Secondly, since there are more players, you likely wont be as inclined to want to leave in the first place. More players means more fun. Plus, there isn’t time spent waiting to get on the table.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love Beer Pong as much as the next guy. It’s a college staple and some of my fondest memories took place across a beer soaked table in a sketchy basement (or so I’ve been told).
Every now and then, though, shake things up and show a little love for America’s pastime.
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