# Peanuts/Baseball quickie **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 10, 2001, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460 "2001-04-10T10:35:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/1 "2001-04-10T10:35:40Z")
Charlie Brown is batting and the ball bounces infront of him while at the same time someone shouts out “Ball four” and then everyone runs around saying that they’ve just won their first game. I don’t know anything about baseball so someone explain this please, all I know is that CB has a crap baseball team. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/2 "2001-04-10T11:16:40Z")
If CB was batting with the bases loaded in tie game in the bottom of 9th, ball four means CB has drawn a walk and forced home the winning run. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/3 "2001-04-10T12:14:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*If CB was batting with the bases loaded in tie game in the bottom of 9th, ball four means CB has drawn a walk and forced home the winning run. \*\* I agree that this is how they would’ve won on a Ball 4 pitch. But it’s hard to imagine that 3 other teammates of Charlie Brown’s got on base in the same inning. Their opponents’ pitcher must’ve had a really bad day. :D:D ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/4 "2001-04-10T13:18:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*If CB was batting with the bases loaded in tie game in the bottom of 9th, ball four means CB has drawn a walk and forced home the winning run. \*\* For someone who knows nothing about baseball this is magnificently understandable. There is a player at every base and by running CB forces the guy on the third base to start running and thereby wins the game because this guy is now home, am I correct? ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/5 "2001-04-10T13:57:41Z")
Just for the record, the kid at the plate in this little scenario is Limus and Lucy’s little brother, Rerun. He draws the walk because he is so small, and the pitcher can’t find the strike zone. Just thought ya might like to know. Chris W ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/6 "2001-04-10T14:00:33Z")
Also, Rerun’s brother’s name is LINUS, not Limus. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/7 "2001-04-10T14:04:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pushkin \* > For someone who knows nothing about baseball this is magnificently understandable. > There is a player at every base and by running CB forces the guy on the third base to start running and thereby wins the game because this guy is now home, am I correct? Yes, that is essentially correct, **Pushkin**. The bases are “loaded,” meaning there is a runner at each of the 3 bases. When the batter, the player at the plate, receives his fourth “ball” (a pitch deemed by the rules to be not hitable, which gets complicated), he is given first base. This moves each of the other base runners up a base, “forcing in” the runner at third to cross home and score a “run.” You actually did a very good job of understanding it, I think, and you deserve a big pat on the back. Baseball’s easy to figure out, but hard to get to know. Welcome. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/8 "2001-04-10T14:47:28Z")
If I remember this storyline correctly, the league later takes back the win because they find out that Rerun was betting on the game. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/9 "2001-04-10T15:08:57Z")
Rerun was betting with Snoopy, no less. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/10 "2001-04-10T15:33:44Z")
Anybody remember the famous cartoon which shows Charlie Brown doing somersaults all over the place, celebrating the fact that he hit a home run to help his team win the game? The only thing that would’ve been better would be Charlie “accidentally” kicking Lucy’s head instead of the football. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/11 "2001-04-11T09:56:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \* > > The bases are “loaded,” meaning there is a runner at each of the 3 bases. When the batter, the player at the plate, receives his fourth “ball” (a pitch deemed by the rules to be not hitable, which gets complicated), he is given first base. This moves each of the other base runners up a base, “forcing in” the runner at third to cross home and score a “run.” > > You actually did a very good job of understanding it, I think, and you deserve a big pat on the back. Baseball’s easy to figure out, but hard to get to know. Welcome. \*\* Thank you once again **KneadToKnow** ,to be honest if anything has advanced my knowledge of baseball its my wee sister’s insistance on staying late to watch baseball and icehockey on channel5, she’s a bit of an ameriphile (if such a word exists.) ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/12 "2001-04-11T17:04:35Z")
Charlie Brown’s team won at least two baseball games by forfeit. I believe Peppermint Patty’s squad decided not to show up a couple of times because she felt sorry for her pal, Chuck. That and the gender confusion. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/13 "2001-04-11T17:11:32Z")
Charlie Brown’s team won at least two baseball games by forfeit. I believe Peppermint Patty’s squad decided not to show up a couple of times because she felt sorry for her pal, Chuck. That and the gender confusion. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/14 "2001-04-11T17:14:06Z")
Sorry about the double post. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/15 "2001-04-11T17:44:59Z")
**Pushkin** , I see from your profile that you live in Northern Ireland. Is there any baseball near where you live? I’ve heard the popularity of “America’s pastime” is growing among the British Commonwealth. You may like it, although it definitely isn’t cricket. There’s no such thing, for example, as a baseball game that lasts for five days and then ends in a draw. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/16 "2001-04-11T17:59:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiver \* > > You may like it, although it definitely isn’t cricket. There’s no such thing, for example, as a baseball game that lasts for five days and then ends in a draw. \*\* This is fairly accurate, but not technically true. There have been baseball games that have lasted over the course of different days, though it isn’t common at all, as I understand it is in cricket (a sport I know NOTHING about). Many teams/cities have curfews, and tied games can resume the following day. Weather is another factor–a rain delay can cause a game to be resumed at a later date. Baseball IS becoming more and more popular worldwide. Ironically, many American kids these days don’t appreciate it at all, finding it “boring” compared to the other sports and activities they’re into. This is obviously not the case. Any non-American out there who hasn’t seen a baseball game, be sure to check it out. Every play is interesting in its own way. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/17 "2001-04-11T18:22:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiver \* > \*\*You may like it, although it definitely isn’t cricket. There’s no such thing, for example, as a baseball game that lasts for five days and then ends in a draw. \*\* We had those in my neighborhood all the time. Assuming your definition of “draw” includes one or more people getting upset, storming off, and vowing “never to play with you EVER AGAIN as long as I live.” -amarinth ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2001, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/18 "2001-04-12T02:01:56Z")
**KneadToKnow** said: > [@](#): > > The bases are “loaded,” meaning there is a runner at each of the 3 bases. When the batter, the player at the plate, receives his fourth “ball” (a pitch deemed by the rules to be not hitable, which gets complicated), he is given first base. Actually any pitch judged by the umpire to be out of the strike zone is called a ball. They can still be hittable, and plenty of players (Yogi Berra, to name just one) have gotten plenty of base hits swinging at pitches out of the strike zone. The strike zone, while somewhat malleable, is generally defined as the width of home plate and encompassing the area between the knees and the armpits of the batter. That “box” is the strike zone, more or less. Different umpires have different strike zones, of course, and it may even differ from game to game with the same umpire. But it’s nothing that kicking a little dirt on his shoes won’t resolve. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/19 "2001-04-12T03:49:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sauron \* > \*\*Anybody remember the famous cartoon which shows Charlie Brown doing somersaults all over the place, celebrating the fact that he hit a home run to help his team win the game? > > The only thing that would’ve been better would be Charlie “accidentally” kicking Lucy’s head instead of the football. \*\* That famous home run was in 1994, and was perfectly legal. It was CB’s only game win. Oh, and Charlie Brown kicked Lucy’s thumb by mistake after a hospital stay in 1979 (Lucy missed him so much during his stay, she promised she wouldn’t pull it away), is that good enough for you? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2001, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460/20 "2001-04-12T11:54:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DAVEW0071 \* > Actually any pitch judged by the umpire to be out of the strike zone is called a ball. They can still be hittable, and plenty of players (Yogi Berra, to name just one) have gotten plenty of base hits swinging at pitches out of the strike zone. Far be it from me to disagree, but this is why I said it gets complicated. The [rules](http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/baseball_basics/mlb_basics_define_terms.jsp) do in fact state that “A BALL is a pitch which does not enter the strike zone in flight and is not struck at by the batter.” They go on, however, to state that “If the pitch touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone it is a ‘ball.’” This seems to be the operative part of the definition in this case, but didn’t at the time seem worth going in to. Thanks to **DAVEW0071** for keeping me honest. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-baseball-quickie/61460.md?page=2)