|
Navigation
Home
Beverage Baseball
|
The Rules of Beverage Baseball
Above all else, know these things, as they are the spirit of BB:
1. Batters get to choose their own pitcher.
2. There are no "outs." When it's your turn, you are up to bat until you
get a hit.
3. Fair rotation: Everyone goes once before someone goes twice.
Detailed Rules
There are two necessary positions: the batter and the
pitcher. However, a catcher is recommended, as is a game guide and other
people to shake the Fresca.
Positions:
Batter (or "hitter"):
-
When it is your turn at bat,
you may choose your pitcher. No one can choose for you, and you may ask
whoever you want. In games with big groups or strangers, it is typical
to designate a few pitchers.
- Batters must maintain
grip on the bat. Don’t let go.
- There is no limit to how many
swings a batter may take to hit the can of Fresca. If s/he misses, s/he will return the can to the
pitcher for another try. This may continue until the can is kinetically
dispatched or the Game Guide calls out “Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!”
(For example, if the Fresca is "bleeding.") This
is the signal for the batter to kill the can on the ground, preferably
with extreme prejudice.
- After successfully
dismembering their projectile victim, the batter will “collect the
dead,” picking up the shattered aluminum and adding it to the pile.
Pitcher:
- If you are asked to be a
pitcher for someone, you have the option to ask to opt out. However
doing so is a Beverage Baseball faux pas, and it’s not really in the
spirit of the thing.
- When pitching, the pitcher
will verbally confirm that the batter is ready. S/He will call out an
audible count to three in tune with an underhand swing and upon the
fourth beat, throw the can. (e.g., “One…Two…Three…<Throw>”)
- Only underhand pitches are
allowed. Trust us on this one…
Other participants:
- When not at bat, all
participants shall be “shaking" the Fresca. This is to agitate the Frescites who live inside the can and make them angry enough to explode
when signaled by an oncoming club.
- The Game Guide is simply the
person facilitating the game. Most often, this is a de facto position
unknowingly filled by someone who likes to hear their own voice. Their
job is to ensure that everyone gets equal turns and sufficient
opportunity to attempt Fresca-cide. If the batter proves to have no
hand-eye coordination or depth perception, the Game Guide will give them
enough chances to try before declaring that they “Kill it" on the
ground.
Game Play:
- Game starts in an area with plenty of
space. Make sure you have enough space to throw, hit, and catch. A large
backyard is ideal, as is a park or a ballfield.
- The Game Guide will direct
proceedings, explain the rules, and get participants to shake the Fresca.
- See above for what each person does in
turn.
- The game concludes when no
Fresca remains.
- After everyone has batted, all players
must clean up their dead. That is to say, all Fresca cans must be
accounted for and recycled. One should only play Beverage Baseball if
they're willing to clean up their kills after they're done.
|
