What is a 13 Run Pool in Baseball?

A 13 run pool is a baseball pool game where participants track the run totals of an assigned MLB team with the goal of being the first to have that team score 0 through 13 runs in their games. It brings excitement to every game as you root for specific scores to mark off your card.

As a lifelong baseball fanatic and gamer, I live for these creative pools that let me showcase my passion. There‘s nothing more thrilling than sweating out a 1 run game when you need a zero, or cheering a 13 run onslaught to inch closer to victory. Today, I‘ll break down everything you need to know about this classic pool.

How Does a Baseball 13 Run Pool Work?

Here are the official rules to run a smooth 13 run pool:

• Up to 30 people can join a pool
• Everyone is randomly assigned an MLB team
• As your team plays, you track the runs they score each game
• When your team hits one of the scores from 0 to 13 runs, you check it off or "claim" it
• The first person to check off all 14 boxes (0 through 13 runs) wins

On your tracking sheet, there are boxes numbered 0 through 13. Every time your squad puts up one of those totals, you cross it off.

You need an interesting mix of blowouts and squeakers. Even no-hitters, rain delays, and extremely high totals can play a factor on your quest for pool glory.

This creates a dynamic where you care deeply about each of your team‘s box scores over the long 162 game MLB season. Let‘s analyze the key run totals and statistics.

Key Run Frequencies and Past Performance

According to historical data, it takes an average of 47 games for someone to complete their card and win a 13 run pool. However, this can vary greatly based on the randomly assigned teams and luck of the draw. Some quick hit stats:

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As you can see, the most common result is 4 runs scored, occurring every 3.2 games on average. However, the toughest totals to hit are those very low scores of 0 and 1 – the coveted shutouts and squeakers.

On the flip side, an offensive explosion of 8+ runs happens more frequently than you may assume, about once every 6 games. This is why power-packed American League lineups tend to have an advantage.

Let‘s analyze some quick baseball pool strategy tips:

Best Teams to Have

• American League squads score more on average
• Lineups with strong power hitters
• Teams with hitter friendly home ballparks

Key Games to Watch For

• Holiday games often have high, odd scores
• Rivalry games tend to produce upsets
• Last game before All-Star break sees strange results

While the 13 run pool leaves most outcomes up to chance, every little edge counts when chasing pool primacy!

Origins: Why Is It Called Playing Pool?

The term "pool" originated from billiards over 100 years ago, referring to the collective bets placed on game outcomes. Back in the late 1800s pool halls were major gambling hubs, so "pool" became synonymous with placing bets.

This carried over to a variety of games that involved putting money into a collective pot, including poker, basketball brackets, football squares, and even fantasy sports. While a baseball run pool itself doesn‘t require financial stakes, awarding a cash prize or trophy to the winner maintains the "pool" tradition.

Notable Variations and Related Games

While the classic format detailed above is most common, there are many fun variations of baseball run pools:

Playoff Box Pools

• Participants claim boxes in a grid numbered 0-9
• Boxes correspond to last digit of playoff teams‘ scores
• Great for MLB postseason excitement

Survivor Pools

• Pick one team per week to win their game
• Stay alive by only picking winners all season
• Popular huge pools with big prizes

Run Line Pools

• MLB teams must cover the -1.5 run spread
• Additional strategizing around run line odds
• Chance for big upsets = more variance

And there are even more creative twists – like pools for most strikeouts, fantasy points, or home runs hit.

In the end, while I love optimizing every possible advantage, half the fun lies in sweating out those surprise 2 run nail biters and hot streak 13 run massacres. A 105 win juggernaut losing 1-0 on opening day. Celebrating an improbable walk-off inside the parker. The thrill and randomness is what brings me back year after year.

Let me know if you have any other baseball pool questions – I could do this all day! Whether veteran fan or rookie bettor, hopefully this guide gave you some entertaining and helpful info. Play ball!