[WiZ] First among First Losers

[WiZ]

The second-highest score ever achieved in a particular sport will likely be beaten again, but probably never equalled. Why not?

ROIMBT. Caveat Earlispoiilor. OAATP rules apply.

[Sarisberie2]

Is the sport: Indoor/outdoor, land, sea, air, countryside, stadium, field, game, team sport, individual sport, not really a sport (e.g. darts, snooker)?
Was the second-highest score previously beaten?

[WiZ]

Is the sport: Indoor usually /outdoor occasionally, land yes, sea, air, no to both countryside rarely, stadium no, field rarely, game yes, team sport, individual sport, both, often enough not really a sport (e.g. darts, snooker)? Going by your examples, I'll say yesish
Was the second-highest score previously beaten? yes

[WiZ]

It looks like we both forgot this was an OAATP, so let's forgive and move on

[Sarisberie2]

It looks like we both forgot this was an OAATP, so let's forgive and move on

Oh, sorry!

[BitterLemonCurry]

Is this second highest score unusually granular?

[Sundowner64]

Is there only one possible way to score better than the second best? (i.e. will the second best remain the second best for ever, even if beaten multiple times?)

[WiZ]

BitterLemonCurry

Is this second highest score unusually granular? I will say yes, FAs lurking

Sundowner

Is there only one possible way to score better than the second best? Yes, barring a truly exceptional circumstance (i.e. will the second best remain the second best for ever, even if beaten multiple times?)

[BitterLemonCurry]

Is it bowling?

[GalFisk]

Is the score a: tally? Time? Height? Length? Force? Weight? Count? Judgement?

[WiZ]

BitterLemonCurry

Is it bowling? It is!

GalFisk

Is the score a: tally? this Time? Height? Length? Force? Weight? Count? Judgement?

[trebor2]

Is it because it’s more common to get a perfect game than to bowl all strikes but for your last shot (or whatever it’s called)?

[WiZ]

Is it because it’s more common to get a perfect game than to bowl all strikes but for your last shot (or whatever it’s called)? no/FA

[BitterLemonCurry]

Does the second-highest score include a broken pin? A broken ball? Machinery malfunction? Another unusual occurrence?

[Sarisberie2]

Has anything been adjusted, e.g. size of bowl?

[WiZ]

BitterLemonCurry

Has anything been adjusted, e.g. size of bowl? no

BitterLemonCurry

Does the second-highest score include a broken pin? yes! A broken ball? Machinery malfunction? Another unusual occurrence?

[BitterLemonCurry]

Was the game in question scored at a fraction of a point short of a perfect score, as the stump of a broken pin remained standing at the last shot?

[GalFisk]

Would equalling it entail breaking a pin? Breaking a pin and having the remnants stay standing?

[Sundowner64]

Was half a point deducted from the perfect score for a foul or technicalities?

[WiZ]

Was the game in question scored at a fraction of a point short of a perfect score, as the stump of a broken pin remained standing at the last shot?

***** SPOILER *****

In 1905, James Blackstone officially bowled a 299-and-a-half game. This took place in Seattle, Washington, where he was denied a 300 game when a pin cracked in half on his last ball in the 10th frame. The bottom of the pin remained standing, while everything else fell. After some deliberation, officials decided to give him a score of 299.5.

Congratulations, BitterLemonCurry, on the solution, and thank you everyone for playing!