Description
The Parlor Baseball Game was first produced by the American Play Games Company of Oradell, NJ, in 1903 and was popular for about 10 years. It originally sold for $1.50, which was a substantial amount back then. We have tried to maintain the same look as the original game board, except we have improved the quality by using laser engraving for the text and field as opposed to printing on the original.
We have also made a special laser engraved die and included 10 high quality colored pegs for each team.
The Board measures 9" x 11" and we have made a beautiful wood box for the set. Made in our Hudson, Florida shop. Thanks to Justin Yarosevich of Storm Lake, IA, for suggesting the build of this and researching the original design.
If you would like us to laser engrave a name or short message on the cover, select the option at the bottom of the page. Note, can also laser engave teams name or names on the board itself. Please contact me on the side for this. There is a $10 added charge.
Though the game is very simple to play, the original rules were quite lengthy.
The game included a brief explanation of the general rules of baseball, as back then it was not assumed people were knowledgeable of baseball. I omit those, but below are the rules as they were written back in 1903 with only minor changes to improve clarity.
RULES GOVERNING PARLOR BASEBALL
1. Nine Innings constitute a game.
2. Two or more persons can play the game
3. At the beginning of the game, both sides throw the dice once. "High dice" has the choice of color and first inning order.
4. Peg the number of your half of each inning at the time you commence play.
5. The side at play throws the dice until "THREE OUTS" have been made, which closes an inning.
6. A dice thrown on the floor or onto the counting board shall be determined a foul or dead throw and must be thrown over.
7. A dice must lay flat to count; if tipped up against any onstruction whatsoever, the throw shall be considered a foul or dead throw and must be thrown over.
8. When two or more persons are at play on a side, then each player shall throw the dice in turn until he or she has thrown "ONE OUT". This manner of play continues until THREE outs have been made which closes the inning.
9. High score after nine innings is the winner. In case of a tie score at the end of the 9th inning, each side continues to play until the tie is broken after the end of an inning.
10. After you have thrown the dice and seen the result of the throw, you first transfer your men occupying bases to the position they have gained by this throw; next advance the batter for what he has turned up, tehn change your count (provided you have added to the score) DO ALL THIS BEFORE DISTURBING THE DICE. Adhere to this method strictly as it gives you a system to avoid all errors.
MANNER OF POSITIONING PEGS AND COUNTING SCORE
The row of figures running horizontally from 1 to 9 above the diamond is for the purpose of keeping a record of innings played for each team. Use one peg of appropriate color for each team and advance as needed.
Note to the left and right of the diamond are columns of numbers used to keep score. Runs are counted by placing pegs in the appropriate numbered holes. Use the outside rows for making your first count and any score less than 10. For 10, place a peg in the 1 hole of he inner column and a peg in the 0 hole of the out column. Thus as the score grows, the inner rows are the tens column and the outer row the ones column. For instance, to score 35, place a peg in the 3 hole of the inner column and a peg in the 5 hole of the outer column.