Commercially available are many different types of dart targets for scoring baseball, some more complicated than others. One of the simplest designs is outlined in A, Figure 5.10, yet it includes sixteen different plays, and requires considerable skill (or luck) to master it.

The board may be any convenient size or material; for darts with rubber vacuum tips an 18-in. square of hardboard is large enough. After its smooth side has been enameled white or a light sand color, the large circle is marked off with an 8-in. radius around the smaller central circle of 21/4-in. diameter. The "H" in the inner circle stands for Home Run. The sixteen segments may be of equal size or may vary, narrowing down for Singles, Doubles and Triples, for example, and widening out as traps for the "hard luck" plays. It must be remembered, however, that the average rubber vacuum cup attached to darts or arrows has a 1-in. diameter, hence the segments should be kept wide enough to give players an even break.

Even the most skillful adult players find it a tricky proposition to throw feathered darts with vacuum cupped tips so that they will hit the target flat enough to stick. Nowadays, however, in many homes there are some rubber tipped darts or arrows left over from broken pistol dart, or bow and arrow games. In such cases it is an easy matter to cut off a 12-in. length of broomstick, bore a loose hole for the dart in the upper third, and lash a heavy rubber band sling above and below the hole as shown in detail B. Knots at the ends of the rubber will prevent them slipping through the carpet thread lashings, and a piece of leather inserted in the center of the rubber like a slingshot will save wear and tear from the dart ends. Instead of rubber bands, model airplane rubber strands can be used, or strips may be cut from a discarded inner tube.

Fig. 5.10. Dart baseball equipment.

For older players who can be trusted with standard, sharp-pointed darts, target A can be outlined on a piece of thick wallboard such as Cellotex, which will give good service for a considerable number of games. A duplicate tracing on the rear will insure an extended life for the target.

Some sort of graphic scoreboard, as suggested in C, will not only add interest to the game but will aid in visualizing why certain directives "scored" on the target cannot be obeyed, as for example, a sacrifice hit with none on base, and so forth. A piece of any material thick enough to serve as a peg board for golf tee "men" is used for the diamond, which is marked out with India ink or paint. A smooth section below is painted dull black and outlined with white lines as a blackboard scoreboard by innings. Hang it on the wall near the target so that if there is a non-player underfoot, he or she can be kept occupied as official scorekeeper.