According to ESPN Magazine, there are 23 different ways for a batter to get to first base in a baseball game. Not all of these are scored differently in a typical scoresheet, and some of the distinctions are almost nonexistent, but they're all mentioned separately in the Official Baseball Rules. Here they are:
- Hit
- Fielder's choice (throw + tag play)
- Forceout (at another base)
- Preceeding runner put out (tag)
- Failed sacrifice bunt
- Hit by pitch
- Error
- Walk
- Intentional walk
- Pinch-runner
- Dropped third strike
- Catcher interference
- Batted ball hits runner
- Fielder obstructs runner
- Fielder interference
- Fan interference (with ball)
- Fan obstruction (of batter)
- Runner out on appeal play
- Failure to pitch within 20 seconds
- Four illegal pitches
- Runner on first; game suspended; runner is traded before game is made up. New player may take his place at first.
Oddly enough, I was browsing WASAW, who recently posted a review of baseball cupcakes:
http://snacks.cyberpunks.org/hostess-baseball-cupcakes.html
Posted by: Mark Dalrymple | Monday, April 25, 2005 at 11:53 AM