Question For Baseball fans.. Especially over 40

[SmashMouth]

I recently read a bout bookies in the 50's who ran what was called a six hit bet. Players had to name three players before the start of the days games who they thought would combine for 6 or more hits. If they were successful they got paid if not they paid.
If anyone has any info or literature on this I would be very greatful for it.

 

[yyz]

I remember reading about Bob Martin doing this when he was a kid in high school. He paid 6-1 odds on you hitting it.

 

[SmashMouth]

Wow 6-1??? That seems pretty high.

 

[KotysDad]

Ok, this sounds like a good math problem. If no one else wants to tackle it, I can get my pencil and paper out lol.

Should we assume for the sake of argument, that you are going to pick 3 hitter that are .300 hitters??

 

[SmashMouth]

I t just sounds easy to me guys. I was just wondering how this guy didn't lose his shirt. YYZ was right though I just did a yahoo search. He was giving 10-1 odds and then dropped it to 6. Kotys DAd if you can help me with what the odds would be, that would be great.

 

[KotysDad]

Assuming you pick 3 hitters hitting close to .300
Assuming they get 4 ABs a game

Fair odds would be approximately 7.5 : 1

 

[KotysDad]

Ran the numbers again for hitters batting .320

I wasnt sure if you had to pick 3 batters from the same game or if you could pick any 3 hitters in action in either league. If you can pick any 3 hitters in action that night, then .320 is probably closer to what you would pick than the .300 hitters.

Anyway, with .320 hitters the odds come down to 5.7 : 1

 

[SmashMouth]

Thanks for the help with this. I'm seeing a goldmine oppurtunity here at work.

 

[djv]

I remember and learned fast was not that easy. Walks, Good Hitters that could bunt well being asked to lay one down. And funny thing is some good hitters. They strike out a lot.

 

[SmashMouth]

Exactly.. I'm going to hold the action.

 

[SmashMouth]

You used to be in something like this DJV??
If you could give me some detais of how it was run.

 

[GENO]

I imagine the bets had action even in the event of a RAIN OUT ?

I don't see this as being as lucrative in those days it might be now I know about Ted Williams, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle etc etc, but with the lack of DH and double switch for pitchers not sure how this could be real lucrative then. The pitching was better in my opinion in those days, but hey I was just a kid in the 50's & 60's.

 

[SmashMouth]

Like in anything I would think some sharp's could probably win sometimes in this. Strength is in numbers. The more guys I have the better. Most guys are going to lose. I'm going to keep it small time as far a s limits. Probably like 2 to 20 to start. I figure I got like 25 guys who will get involved. Just need to get the odds right.

 

[Palmetto Pimp]

Exactly.. I'm going to hold the action.

Good choice

 

[dunclock]

Smash,

Offer 5-1 odds and your players will think they are stealing from you, but obviously not

 

[SmashMouth]

I'm going to offer two ways to win
Flat bet, which will pay 4-1 if they get 6 or more.
Or bonus bet
WHich will pay the following
Exactly 6 hits 4-1
Exactly 7 hits 5-1
Exactly 8 hits 7-1
exactly 9 hits 10-1
10 or more hits 12-1
But if they only combine for
3 hits you lose 1.5 times your bet
2 hits double your bet
1 hit 2.5 times your bet
0 hits 3 times your bet.


I already had like 6 of my coworkers ask if we could start in spring training.
:thefinger

 

[djv]

Were talking the 60's. To play we had to use tree guys from same team. At least that's how it was ran in my neighborhood. Dam thats along time ago. I dont remember anything like that after we got into the early 70's. Believe it was 6 to 1.
Just had another thought. Back then a little bit of a dead ball time compared to today. Seems everyone hits better last few years. Not sure if true, seems that way. I would guess much like back then. You dont want to play this if your facing a Kofax or Spawn.
Sure you know what I mean.

 

[SmashMouth]

Thanks djv. 3 guys on 1 team now that would be tough..

 

[SmashMouth]

I'll keep you guys updated how it progresses.

 

[yyz]

WOW!!! This thread got a lot of action!

Smash, I think this is a little like the football wager, "Team to score three consecutive times". The uninitiated get fooled as to which side to take. I believe you are in the right in "booking" the bet rather than making it. (I also get the feeling you thought it should be an even money wager.)

That being said.........you may have killed a golden opportunity.

I can almost promise you, if you would have offered these guys even money on this, they would have still jumped in with both feet. Let's face it.........guys get two,three, or four hits all of the time! These guys would have been having a hard time choosing which guys to play on a given day!

(Kind of like the fist time you saw a parlay sheet and said, "You mean I only have to pick three of these games to win?")

Once you start slaughtering the sheep at even money, they will start to lose interest. THAT is when you say, "Okay.........I'll give you two times your bet when you win." And you regenerate their interest!