Pass the Cup Live

OFFICIAL RULEBOOK

Complete Pass the Cup Rules

Start with the basics, then open any topic for the complete rule cards that apply.

START HERE

Game Basics

Pass the Cup is played within the baseball game you are watching. Everyone contributes to one shared cup, and one player holds it during each at-bat. Good results let the holder take units from the cup; bad results make the holder pay units into it.

Choose a unit

A unit is the group’s chosen base denomination. $0.25 is most common, but the group may choose another amount.

Fill the cup

At the start, everyone pays a four-unit buy-in. Whenever a rule says to replenish, every player pays four units. Nothing is replenished after the play that ends the game.

Pass after each at-bat

Pass the cup in player order at the end of every completed at-bat unless a rule below says to retain it, awards the cup, ends the turn, or ends the game.

Follow the official scorer

Use the official baseball ruling, not simply where a runner finishes. A single plus an error is still a single, and pitcher indifference is not a stolen base.

Late joiners pay the current cup divided by the active players before they join, plus 4 units.

The Prime Directive: Have fun. Go Cubs!

Hits, Productive Outs, RBIs & Long At-Bats

Use the official ruling for the completed at-bat. HBP uses the same +1U reach value as a walk, and any official RBI adds +2U on a supported non-home-run result. On supported non-home-run results, a 10+ pitch at-bat adds +1U to the rest of the play’s score, and the at-bat always pays the holder at least +1U. Home runs use the home-run rules.

Single / Walk / HBP / Interference

+1 Unit

Double

+2 Units

Triple

+3 Units

Sacrifice Bunt or Fly

+1 Unit

only if runner(s) advance

Productive Out

+1 Unit

batter out, runner advances on the play; RBI bonus still applies

RBI Bonus

+2 Units per official RBI

ANY supported non-home-run play; HR excludes RBI/extras

Long At-Bat (10+ pitches)

additional +1 Unit

stacks with the plate appearance’s other scoring; the at-bat pays at least +1 Unit

Ground Out / Fly Out / Fielder's Choice

-1 Unit

Fly Out in Foul Territory

-2 Units

unless runner tags and advances

Bad Sacrifice Bunt Pop Out

-3 Units

bunt pop out with runners on, or a foul-bunt strikeout

Out Stretching a Credited Hit for an Extra Base

-1 Unit

official RBI still awarded

Reached via Error

-1 Unit

treated as an out

Steals, Runner Outs, Loose Balls & Extra Innings

Runner events may happen before the at-bat ends. The card tells you whether to keep the cup or pass it.

Successful Stolen Base

+1 Unit per runner

must be official SB during AB

Balk / Wild Pitch / Passed Ball

+2 Units per verified run

includes official disengagement violations ruled as forced balks; keep cup

Runner Steals Home

regular +1U official SB

wins cup; everyone replenishes 4U

Runner Caught Stealing / Picked Off

-1 Unit

keep cup if AB/inning continues, pass if it ends inning

Runner Tagged Out While Advancing

Use the official play details: a tagged-out advance with official caught-stealing evidence is Caught Stealing; otherwise it is a Pickoff. Do not guess from a sentence description alone.

Extra-Innings Courtesy Runner

When verified inning-start information identifies the runner, show “Courtesy runner on 2nd: [name]” until the next verified official play. Ignore missing, stale, rejected, or wrong-game information.

Strikeouts, Double Plays, Sombreros, 12-K & Immaculate Innings

Apply every listed add-on that qualifies. A dropped third strike still counts as a strikeout even if the batter reaches first. Compound totals are Sacrifice Fly Double Play -3U, Sacrifice Bunt Double Play -4U, and Grounded Triple Play -20U; add the listed -1U when a strikeout or double play ends the inning.

Strikeout Swinging

-2 Units

includes caught foul tip; a foul-bunt strikeout is -3 Units

Strikeout Looking

-3 Units

Strikeout add-on: exactly 3 pitches

add -2 Units

Strikeout add-on: ends inning

add -1 Unit

Double Play on Hit

-3 Units

applies even if the batter is not out and even if a runner scores; add -1 Unit if it ends inning

Strike 'Em Out + Throw 'Em Out DP

-3 Units or more

K penalty plus -1 CS, with K add-ons stacking

Player Ejected During/After AB

-10 Units

Only the batter being ejected during or immediately after that at-bat, before the next batter steps in, triggers this penalty. A coach or manager ejection does not.

Triple Play (Normal)

-20 Units

Triple Play to End Game

-100,000 Units

Immaculate Inning

One pitcher, exactly nine verified official pitches, three strikeouts, and three batters in one half-inning: the third-strikeout holder wins the cup and receives +8U from every other player. Ordinary strikeout and inning-ending charges stack.

Individual Pitcher’s 12th Strikeout

Each pitcher’s verified official 12th strikeout triggers once: the holder wins the cup and receives +4U from every other player. Ordinary strikeout scoring stacks.

Golden / Platinum Sombrero

A batter’s verified official fourth strikeout adds -4U for a Golden Sombrero. That batter’s fifth strikeout adds -8U for a Platinum Sombrero. Each triggers once and stacks with the ordinary strikeout and inning-ending penalties.

Home Runs, Cycle, No-Hitters, Perfect Games & Special Bonuses

Home runs and the other rare events below can award the cup and may add payments from every other player.

Home Run

wins cup

no RBI/extras; no per-player bonus; replenish the cup after the award

Grand Slam OR Inside-the-Park HR

wins cup

+4 Units each

Walk-Off Home Run to Win Game

wins cup

+4 Units each, stackable

Walk-Off Grand Slam OR Inside-the-Park HR

wins cup

+8 Units each total. This includes the home-run award and any walk-off amount; do not add either again.

Batter Completes Cycle

wins cup

+4 Units each

Break up No-Hitter / Perfect Game in 7th inning or later

wins cup

+4 Units each; replenish the cup after the award

Player's 3rd Home Run

normal HR/cup result

+4 Units each

Player's 4th Home Run

normal HR/cup result

+20 Units each

Impossible Dream Walk-Off (inside-the-park grand slam)

wins cup

+1,000,000 Units each

Final No-Hitter or Perfect Game

At game end, a completed no-hitter awards the final-out holder +20U from each other player. A one-pitcher perfect game awards +100U instead, not both. Combined no-hitters qualify. If the official record is missing or conflicting, wait for confirmation.

Official Revisions, Shortages, Inning & Game Endings

A completed official revision replaces the old result. Shortages and game endings override the ordinary pass. A normal final includes a final out or an early called game.

Official scoring revision

When the official scorer completes one clear revision, replace the original ruling and recalculate the game in chronological order exactly once. If the official record is unclear or conflicting, pause for manual review.

Balk/WP/PB with no runs

no payment

includes official disengagement violations; holder keeps cup

Shortage

take remaining cash

everyone replenishes 4U

Inning ends with batter still up

turn over/pass cup

e.g. caught stealing ends inning

Non-walk-off

person next in line wins existing cup

holder pays $0; no replenishment for normal final

Walk-off ending

final holder wins cup plus all bonuses

including balk/WP/PB walk-off

Attendance Side Game

This optional guessing game is separate from baseball-event scoring.

Binny’s Attendance Side Game

Each entry adds $1 to the side pot. All equally closest guesses split the pot in cents. Any remainder goes to the lower guess first, then by original entry order when duplicate guesses remain tied. This side game never enters cup units or the cup ledger, and the scorekeeper moves no money.