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Base Running Gates (incorrectly!)

(Mouse over the buttons to show the action or over PLAY to animate.)

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button one button two button two button two button two button two button two button two button two blank button play

(explanations, mouse over button to display the numbered step)

button one

The ball is a runner heading for second base.


button two

The ball goes lifts the wire frame and is about to arrive at second base.


button 3

The runner (ball) stops at second base and is held by the square of the wire frame. This completes the double hit by the player.


button 4

A second double is made by the player and the runner is approaching second.


button 5

The second ball goes under the wire frame and lifts it sufficiently to release the ball that is currently on second base.


button 6

The first ball is now released and is headed for third. The second runner is now stopped at second and awaits another hit. This completes the hit.


button 7

With a runner on second, a batter has hit a home run. The home run ball is advancing down the far channel.


button 8

The home run ball is lifting the gate and passing on by. This will release the base runner on second.


button 9

The home run ball and the base runner on second now both are headed for third.


Objectives

The objectives for a coin slide are:

  1. accept a coin
  2. reset and start a new game, the full stroke of the slide must accomplish everything needed
  3. reject coins that are the wrong size or thickness
  4. allow the last coin played to be viewed, allowing the operator to check before paying out
  5. prevent the player from jiggling the slide in and out, once partially pushed, in order to gain free games

Additional Notes:

  1. The wire frame is carefully designed to server multiple functions.
  2. The first ball is allowed under the ramp of the wire frame but is captured by the square end.
  3. The second ball will release any balls already captured by raising the gate. Unfortunately the release ball must start rolling and will not keep up with any balls in the upper channels.
  4. A hit that advances the base runner, such as one coming in one of the two upper channels, will release the base runner at second and will continue on.
  5. Note the reset button just to the right of the second base drawing on the diamond. This button raises the wire frame and releases all balls when the coin slide is pushed in.
  6. The adjustment and shape of the wire frame is absolutely critical to proper functioning. The depth of the ramp that raises the wire frame, the distance from the end of the wire ramp to the square gate, and the shape of the square gate are all critical.
  7. The base runners do not maintain their correct positions when running the bases. View this animation of a home run to see some of the problems.
  8. The picture of the playfield below shows the various channels allocated to each hit and out. Reading the gates from left to right, Home Run, 3rd (triple), 1st (base hit), and 2nd (double). You can see the gates that control first, second and third bases.
Genco Official Baseball playfield
gates

See if you can simulate the balls for a single, double and triple in the gates above.