These scans are intentionally at low-resolution, due to space considerations (a more detailed scan takes a huge amount of space), but they should suffice for demonstrative purposes.
Disclaimer: the final versions of these two charts may not necessarily (and likely won't) appear exactly as these two appear above. These charts are for examples only.
On the left is the new pitching chart format, which will be used at the upcoming World Boardgaming Championships, measuring about 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches. At the top of the chart, in a green band, is the player's name and the best five consecutive seasons of his career (Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, 1906-1910). The green coloring indicates that he throws right handed, though you can also see that below his name where 'TR/BB' indicates that he throws with his right hand and bats both ways. His defensive rating is a '+1.' 'HoF' denotes that he is a member of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY (this designation has been eliminated from the final version of these charts). The two boxes below his defensive rating are new features of the Sports Illustrated/Superstar Baseball game system. The box on the left is Brown's 'Tire' factor (15, in the example). The box on the right is his '2 Wind' rating (27, in the example). These will be discussed later. Below the tire/second wind rating boxes are three boxes: the 'salary (aka $)' rating, the bunting rating, and the running rating (7, A, and 0, respectively). And then below all of that is the actual chart of Three Finger Brown. The chart is divided into three sections: 10s, 20s, and 30s, which is the number indicated on the black die when dice are rolled. Each of these sections is further divided into a Batting and a Pitching column. The Batting column is used when Mr. Brown stands at the plate. The Pitching column is consulted when Mr. Brown toes the rubber.
You'll notice that the columns are not of uniform width. This is because numbers in the teens (the 10s column) are pretty rarely rolled when playing Sports Illustrated Baseball. Numbers in the thirties (30s) are rolled half the time. Hence, the reason for enhancing these columns. Likewise, the units die roll (white dice), which appear on the left side of the chart, are of varying sizes, due to the probabilities of rolling numbers ending with each of these figures. In summary, the largest boxes on the card are for the numbers 34 and 35, the most commonly rolled numbers. The least commonly rolled number, 19, is given the smallest box.
A sample batter's card is shown at the right. Babe Ruth was lefthanded, so his color band is red. Below his name, you'll note that he bats left handed and throws left handed. You'll also note that his salary is 14, he bunts poorly, and has a speed of 2. The chart below all this is similar to the pitching chart except that the two columns for each of the headings (10s, 20s, 30s) are used to divide Ruth's chart between 'facing Left Handed Pitchers' (on the left) and 'facing Right Handed Pitchers' (on the right). At the very bottom of both charts is an indication of which 'team' the player is on. In Brown's case, he is on the 1900s team in the new Teams of the Decade edition. Ruth is on the 1920s team. For the World Boardgaming Championships, this area will state your team's name (e.g. Cox's Country Bombers).
About the dice
All Sports Illustrated sports games (I'm talking about those made by Time, Inc, not the ones made by Avalon Hill to which they affixed the SI name) use three dice, two of which are white and the other black. The black die is read and multiplied by ten. The two white dice results are added together and added to the 'times 10' result of the black die. So, the example above has a '2' on the black die, indicating 20. The white dice are '3' and '4', which sum to seven. The net result, therefore, is 27.
Flow of the Game
The game is really very simple. Assuming you understand the game of baseball, you should have no trouble.
First, the player whose team is in the field rolls the dice and consults his pitcher's pitching chart. Let's assume for a moment that Three Finger Brown's manager rolls a 27, as in the example above. Consulting the 'Pitching' column under the '20s' section (after all 27 is in the 20s), and crossreferencing with the '7' row, we see an empty green space on Mr. Brown's chart. An empty green space, in SI Baseball parlance, indicates that the batter may 'swing' at the ball.
So, the other manager will roll the dice for Ruth. Let's assume that Ruth's manager rolls a 31. Crossreferencing the roll of 31 vs. a right handed pitcher reveals a blue box with something unintelligible in the center. The unintelligible part actually reads 'SO' and stands for strike out. However, results which are blue always indicate a strikeout in this game, so the color alone told us that the Bambino has struck out. You may notice that, had Three Finger been a left-handed hurler, the result of 31 under the 'vs. L' column would have been a green 'HR'. That's a homer.
So, simply put, for each plate appearance, the pitcher rolls the dice to see if his pitcher's chart indicates a final result to the play. Then, if the play isn't over, the batter rolls, consults his chart and determines the result of the play. That's it, really.
Of course, there are a few other charts used for stealing bases and such, but those situations come up during game play and the system handles those options seamlessly.
What you might want to know are all the possible results which can occur on pitchers' and batters' charts. Let's examine them.
Possible Pitcher Results:
Empty green box indicates that the batter 'swings' and the opposing manager rolls for his batter
Dark blue box indicates that the batter has struck out and the opposing manager does not roll the dice
Yellow boxes with a 'BB' result means that the batter has walked. He is awarded first base and the opposing manager does not roll the dicel
Yellow boxes with a 'H' result means the batter was hit by a pitch. He is awarded first base and the opposing manager does not roll the dice.
Yellow boxes with a 'WP' or 'PB' or 'BK' indicate that a Wild Pitch, Passed Ball, or Balk has occurred. Regular baseball rules apply and the pitcher rolls the dice again.
Red boxes with a 'G' or 'F' means that the batter does not roll the dice, as he has grounded out (G) or lined out (F).
Green boxes with the letter 'D' means that the manager must consult the defensive table to see if his team (which has a composite defensive rating which is the sum of all the players' individual defensive numbers) has made a stellar (or bonehead) play in the field. If the defensive chart says that a superb play was made, then the batter has grounded out; if the defensive chart says that a bonehead play was made, then the batter receives a '1+'. Otherwise, this result is handled as a 'swing.'
Green boxes with '1+' indicate that the batter has singled without even having to roll the dice. Runners on second and third score.
Green boxes with 'K' indicate that the batter must 'swing.' However, if the batter's dice roll does not result in a hit of any kind, then the batter has struck out.
Green boxes with '(HR)' indicate that the batter must 'swing.' However, if the batter's result is a HR, that result is reduced to a '1+,' as the pitcher is not a gopher-ball pitcher. This is a new result with the Teams of the Decades edition.
Green boxes with 'HR' indicate that the batter must 'swing.' However, if the batter's result is any hit, that result is changed to a 'HR,' as the pitcher is prone to offering up gopher balls.
Yellow 'X' results (always on 38, for all pitchers) mean that the pitcher's manager rolls again and consults the general 'Yellow X' chart. Some unusual result will occur, including Hit Batsmen, Wild Pitches, Passed Balls, Balks, and Injuries to players in the field. After completing the result of the 'Yellow X,' the pitcher will roll again.
Possible Batter Results:
All green boxed results are hits (if the color makes no sense, assume a printer error and go with the result without regard to the color of the box):
'1' is a single, all runners advance one base
'1*' is a single, all runners advance two bases
'1+' is a single, runners on second and third score
'(1)' is a single, runners may attempt to take an extra base with the 'Managers Decision' chart
'(1+)' is a single, runners on second and third score, runner on first may attempt to take third with the 'Managers Decision' chart
'2' is a double, all runners advance 2 bases
'2*' is a double, all runners score (sometimes appears as '2+')
'(2)' is a double, all runners advance 2 bases, runner on first may attempt to score with the 'Managers Decision' chart
'3' is a triple, all runners score
'HR' is a home run, all runners and the batter score
All red boxed results are outs (again, assume stupidity of the printer if the color makes no sense, and go with the result without regard to the color):
'F' is a fly out, all runners hold
'(F)' is a fly out, runner on third may attempt to score with the 'Managers Decision' chart
'SF' is a fly out, runner on third scores if not last out
'(SF)' is a fly out, runner on third scores if not last out, other runners may attempt to advance with 'Managers Decision' chart
'G' is a ground out-force
'G*' is a ground out, all runners advance one base
'DP' is a double play, if runners are forced
Blue boxes are strikeouts
Yellow and white boxes will grant the batter first base:
'E' is an error, all runners advance 1 base
'H' is a hit-by-pitch
'BB' is a walk
Special rules:
Pitcher fatigue
Earlier, I mentioned the 'Tire' and '2 Wind' ratings. Here's how they work.
Each pitcher must, prior to pitching to his first batter of every inning, roll the dice and consult his 'Tire' rating. If the number rolled is less than the 'Tire' rating, the pitcher has 'lost his stuff' and all out results on his chart (G and F) become 'swings.' For tired pitchers, 'SO' results become 'green K's. '(HR)' results are unaffected. This roll must also be made for relievers entering in the middle of an inning.
Once a pitcher is tired and has 'lost his stuff,' then he rolls each inning (commencing the inning after becoming tired) just prior to facing his first batter to see if he has 'regained his stuff.' This is done by rolling the dice and consulting the '2 Wind' rating. If the roll is less than his '2 wind' rating, then he has regained his stuff and his chart reverts to normal. Strict relievers have no '2 wind' rating and can never regain their stuff.
So, in either case, the first thing any pitcher does in each inning is to roll the dice once to see how he's doing in terms of fatigue. Never will a pitcher roll twice in an inning to check his fatigue (so, if he rolls poorly on his 'Tire' check, he must struggle through an inning if he wants to roll for his '2 Wind' check, unless he is taken out for a reliever).
Salaries
A salary figure is included on each chart to aid in drafting players, if you decide to hold a draft league. There is no function for this figure in terms of the play of the game. This figure will, however, be used for creating teams for the World Boardgaming Championships.