# 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:** 98
**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 29, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1941 "2024-04-29T23:01:41Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Is this a thing that happened to these three multiple times during the season or just once? I’d have to check, but even so that is immaterial for where I’m headed with this puzzle. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Did it have to do with Batting? Fielding? Uniforms? Off the field activity? None of the above If we don’t make progress another hint tomorrow. ---
**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 30, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1942 "2024-04-30T13:57:34Z")
Ok, so the three players were in the same game at the same time? This type of grouping “happens all of the time”. It could happen in any game in any sport with 3 or more people. It was not a notable event at the time. It involved Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse, Hall of Famer and one of the greatest and most accomplished players of his game, and 2 other players who were not notable for their acheivements. I have no idea. ---
**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 30, 2024, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1943 "2024-04-30T15:30:23Z")
I need a hint beyond “including Lou Gehrig might have given it away”. I guessed Gehrig and still have no idea. I know he was great and died very young. I know “luckiest man on the face of the earth”, etc., but not a lot else. ---
**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 30, 2024, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1944 "2024-04-30T15:39:36Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Ok, so the three players were in the same game at the same time? > > This type of grouping “happens all of the time”. > It could happen in any game in any sport with 3 or more people. > It was not a notable event at the time. > > It involved Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse, Hall of Famer and one of the greatest and most accomplished players of his game, and 2 other players who were not notable for their acheivements. > > I have no idea. You do have an idea. You’re putting all of the pieces together AND your the first person to pull in the Lou Gehrig Iron Horse path. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > I need a hint beyond “including Lou Gehrig might have given it away”. What as a baseball player is Lou Gehrig famous for? And that was the hint I was planning on giving today anyways so there you go. ---
**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 30, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1945 "2024-04-30T15:49:20Z")
Lou Gehrig played in every game that season. Benny and Howie did not do that. ---
**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 30, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1946 "2024-04-30T15:49:25Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > What as a baseball player is Lou Gehrig famous for? Playing with Babe Ruth and being really good. And dying of Lou Gehrig disease. And being a Yankee. I’m not sure of anything else. ---
**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 30, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1947 "2024-04-30T15:59:23Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Lou Gehrig played in every game that season. > > Benny and Howie did not do that. We’ve said it was a one game thing. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Playing with Babe Ruth and being really good. And dying of Lou Gehrig disease. And being a Yankee. > > I’m not sure of anything else. I’ll let someone else fill this in. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1948 "2024-04-30T17:11:17Z")
Is the answer something you might call a coincidence if you’re someone who wants to strictly adhere to the precise dictionary definition of coincidence? What about if you’re willing to play fast and loose with the definition? ---
**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 30, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1949 "2024-04-30T17:55:36Z")
Nope. I think I prompted the Lou Gehrig sufficiently. At least Cheesesteak has a hint. Let me ask you this, who formed the Triumverate? ---
**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 30, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1950 "2024-04-30T18:10:45Z")
Did Babe Ruth group these three together? Did someone give the three a nickname? ---
**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 30, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1951 "2024-04-30T23:08:18Z")
No and no ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1952 "2024-05-01T09:45:58Z")
Apparently this could apply to any sport, but I know nothing about baseball. Do I need to understand baseball to get some of these clues? ---
**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:** [May 1, 2024, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1953 "2024-05-01T11:16:05Z")
Does it have anything to do with consecutive games played? The record Lou Gehrig had for a long time? I’m not saying I don’t know much unique or interesting things about Gehrig…but I kind of don’t. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1954 "2024-05-01T13:28:24Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Apparently this could apply to any sport, but I know nothing about baseball. Do I need to understand baseball to get some of these clues? Not at all ---
**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:** [May 1, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1955 "2024-05-01T13:29:38Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Does it have anything to do with consecutive games played? In an indirect way. I think the key next step is figuring out who formed the triumverate. That may unlock it. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2024, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1956 "2024-05-01T13:44:04Z")
Did the other players also play a lot of consecutive games? Is the game in question the start of a long streak? The end of a long streak? ---
**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:** [May 1, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1957 "2024-05-01T13:45:09Z")
Who formed the triumverate… was it the manager Miller Huggins? A reporter? A fellow player? An opponent? Did this happen on the first day of Gehrig’s streak? Before his streak? ---
**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:** [May 1, 2024, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1958 "2024-05-01T13:48:04Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I think the key next step is figuring out who formed the triumverate. That may unlock it. Was it the news? Was it the fans? Was it the players themselves? Was it the Hall-of-Fame? Was it the MLB? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1959 "2024-05-01T14:52:07Z")
Did these players come from the same school or small town or something? ---
**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:** [May 1, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1960 "2024-05-01T14:53:11Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > Did the other players also play a lot of consecutive games? Is the game in question the start of a long streak? The end of a long streak? Nope YES!!! Nope > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Who formed the triumverate… was it the manager Miller Huggins? YES!!! > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Did this happen on the first day of Gehrig’s streak? Technically no, but for the purpose of the puzzle I’ll say YES!. Now we’re getting close. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was it the news? > > Was it the fans? > > Was it the players themselves? > > Was it the Hall-of-Fame? > > Was it the MLB? Manager Miller Huggins [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=97) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=99)