Here's a challenge focusing on Casey at the Bat (full poem below). Assume that, during that famous game, there were no substitution of players, and there were also no changes in the Mudville line-up. Further, assume that, because of his star status and ability, that Casey is the team's lead batter, and that he's been up to bat each inning.

Under those conditions, is it possible, as in the poem, for Mudville to have only 2 points by the last inning? What is the fewest number of runs that Mudville could have scored under those conditions?



Casey at the Bat
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer ©

Published: The Examiner (06-03-1888)

The Outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, if only Casey could get but a whack at that -
We'd put up even money, now, with Casey at the bat.

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despis-ed, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped-
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand;
And its likely they'd a-killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew;
But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said, "Strike two."

"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered fraud;
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out.

By my reckoning, it is possible for Mudville to have scored as few as zero runs through the eighth.

Correct! Would you like to explain how it's possible?

It is possible for a baseball team to bat up to six people in one inning without scoring a run. Three batters can reach base (by hit, error, walk, whatever) without a run scoring; two can get picked off, and two more reach base, and the sixth batter can make an out.

6 batters up each inning won't get Casey an at-bat each inning.

Actually, there is a way.

1st inning: Casey, and the two batters following him, all walk. The next three strike out, so the inning is over.

2nd inning: The first 3 walk again, and Casey comes up to bat. However, before Casey even gets to swing at a ball, each of the three runners are caught by the pitcher off base, resulting in 3 outs, and the inning is over.

3rd inning: Casey starts this inning still at bat (thanks to the pick-off play in the 2nd inning), and the process from the 1st inning and the 2nd inning can be repeated from here for the remainder of the game.

Yeah, but can you name the 6 (it might even be 8) ways your can reach base WITHOUT hitting the ball?