# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 97
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1921 "2024-04-24T14:57:00Z")
Did all 3 do something together in a single game? Did each of the 3 do something separately in a single game? Did they perform an offensive achievement? an offensive failure? a defensive achievement? a defensive failure? an activity unrelated to offense or defense? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1922 "2024-04-24T16:40:39Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > Did all 3 do something together in a single game? > Did each of the 3 do something separately in a single game? I interpret the first one as yes but when you here the answer you may say, “That’s not what I meant.” Nope. Not as far as the puzzle cares. > [@Rhodes](#): > > Did they perform an offensive achievement? an offensive failure? a defensive achievement? a defensive failure? an activity unrelated to offense or defense? It has nothing to do with anything offensive or defensive, either together or separately. As for the last question … no. Whah? Think about your first question. Did they “do” something? Yes. Was it an activity? No ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1923 "2024-04-24T16:57:01Z")
Were they all on the same roster at the same time? Were they all called up on the same day? Were they grouped by an outside party (such as a journalist) as having something in common? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1924 "2024-04-24T17:25:06Z")
Did they play for the Baltimore Orioles? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1925 "2024-04-24T23:56:50Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Were they all on the same roster at the same time? > > Were they all called up on the same day? > > Were they grouped by an outside party (such as a journalist) as having something in common? Yes Called up from the minors? No No > [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > Did they play for the Baltimore Orioles? No ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1926 "2024-04-25T00:37:59Z")
Was the thing that happened something that could have happened at a game of some other sport? Was it something that could have happened at a non-sport mass gathering of people? If it could have happened in some other context, would it have been as notable? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1927 "2024-04-25T00:57:03Z")
Yes No Not sure. What other context? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1928 "2024-04-25T01:18:56Z")
OK, given that the same thing could have happened at some other sport: If it had happened there, would it have been similarly notable? And to expand on that a bit: Could this have happened at a game of just any sport at all, no matter what it was? Could it have only happened at a sport similar to baseball, like say softball or (maybe) cricket, but not at a football game? Could it have happened at an amateur, scholastic, and/or minor league game? Would it have been as notable if it had happened there? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1929 "2024-04-25T02:00:15Z")
It could have happened in any game in any sport with 3 or more people. At the time it was not notable. I think that answers a few of the questions here. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1930 "2024-04-26T16:28:27Z")
Did they all retire after the same game? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1931 "2024-04-26T21:23:05Z")
Nope. Giving a hint There is a reason I left Lou Gehrig out of the original question. I was worried that including him would make it too easy. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1932 "2024-04-26T21:35:23Z")
Were they the first three to bat left-handed in a row, like they were three straight lefties? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1933 "2024-04-27T23:10:33Z")
nope. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1934 "2024-04-27T23:19:53Z")
Is Lou Gherig’s medical condition at all relevant to the answer? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1935 "2024-04-28T01:12:54Z")
Ill say no ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1936 "2024-04-28T01:28:50Z")
Did the three of them do a baseball achievement of sort? Relevant to this puzzle, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1937 "2024-04-28T01:36:48Z")
Nope. What happened was really humdrum. No one left the stadium saying OMG we saw history being made. Hint Lou Gehrig ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1938 "2024-04-28T01:41:59Z")
Are there other similar trios in baseball? Did it have to be three people? Could four players have achieved the same thing? Two? More than four? How about wordplay and the spelled names? Relevant? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1939 "2024-04-28T01:47:55Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Are there other similar trios in baseball? Did it have to be three people? Could four players have achieved the same thing? Two? More than four? Yep. I’m sure it happens all of the time. The reason for creating this particular trio is what I’m really after. Oops I just gave a hint that this trio was created. > [@Biotop](#): > > How about wordplay and the spelled names? Relevant? Nope ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1940 "2024-04-29T14:16:38Z")
Is this a thing that happened to these three multiple times during the season or just once? Did it have to do with Batting? Fielding? Uniforms? Off the field activity? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=96) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=98)