1887
The National League and American Association adopt a uniform set of rules.

The Joint Rules Committee will be the governing body. The National Playing Rules of Professional Base Ball Clubs AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETING IN CHICAGO, NOVEMBER, 1886, AND FORMALLY ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE AND AMERICAN ASSOCIATION AT THEIR RESPECTIVE CONVENTIONS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1886.

The Materials of the Game.

Rule 1. The Ground must be an inclosed field, sufficient in size to enable each player to play his position as required by these Rules.

Rule 2. The Infield must be a space of ground thirty yards square.

Rule 3. The Bases must be
(1) Four in number, and designed as First Base, Second Base, Third Base and Home Base.
(2) The Home Base must be of whitened rubber twelve inches square, so fixed in the ground as to be even with the surface, and so placed in the corner of the infield that two sides will form part of the boundaries of said infield.
(3) The First, Second and Third Bases must be canvas bags, fifteen inches square, painted white, and filled with some soft material, and so placed that the center of the second base shall be upon its corner of the infield, and the center of the first and third bases shall be on the lines running to and from second base and seven and one-half inches from the foul lines, providing that each base shall be entirely within the foul lines.
(4) The Foul Lines must be drawn in straight lines from the outer corner of the Home Base, along the outer edge of the First and Third Bases, to the boundaries of the Ground.

Rule 5. (Sec. 1.) The Pitcher’s Lines must be straight lines forming the boundaries of a space of ground, in the infield, five and one-half feet long by four feet wide, distant fifty feet from the center of the Home Base, and so placed that the five and one-half feet lines would each be two feet distant from and parallel with a straight line passing through the center of the Home and Second Bases. Each corner of this space must be marked by a flat iron plate or stone, six inches square, fixed in the ground, even with the surface.
(Sec. 2.) The pitcher shall take his position facing the batsman, with both feet squarely on the ground, the right foot on the rear line of the “box,” his left foot in advance of the right, and to the left of an imaginary line from his right foot to the center of the home base. He shall not raise his foot, unless in the act of delivering the ball, nor make more than one step in such delivery. He shall hold the ball, before delivery, fairly in front of his body, and in sight of the Umpire. In the case of a left-handed pitcher the above words “left” and “right” are to be reversed. When the pitcher feigns to throw the ball to a base he must resume the above position and pause momentarily before delivering the ball to the bat.

Rule 6. The Catcher’s Lines must be drawn from the outer corner of the Home Base, in continuation of the Foul Lines, straight to the limits of the Ground back of the Home Base.

Rule 7. The Captain’s or Coacher’s Lines must be a line fifteen feet from and parallel with the Foul Lines, said lines commencing at a line parallel with and seventy-five feet distant from the catcher’s line, and running thence to the limits of the grounds. And should the said Captain or Coacher willfully fail to remain in said bounds, he shall be fined by the Umpire five dollars for each such offence, except upon an appeal by the Captain from the Umpire’s decision upon a misinterpretation of the rules.

Rule 8. The Players’ Lines must be drawn from the Catcher’s Lines to the limits of the Ground, fifty feet distant from and parallel with the Foul Lines.

Rule 9. The Players’ Benches must be furnished by the home club, and placed upon a portion of the ground outside the Players’ Lines. They must be twelve feet in length, and must be immovably fastened to the ground. At the end of each bench must be immovable fixed bat rack, with fixtures for holding twenty bats; one such rack must be designated for the exclusive use of the Visiting Club, and the other for the exclusive use of the Home Club.

Rule 10. The Batsman’s Lines must be straight lines forming the boundaries of a space on the right, and similar space on the left of the Home Base, six feet long by four feet wide, extending three feet in front of and three feet behind the center of the Home Base, and with its nearest line distant six inches from the Home Base.

Rule 11. The Three Feet Lines must be drawn as follows: From a point on the Foul Line from Home Base to First Base, and equally distant from such bases, shall be drawn a line on Foul Ground, at a right angle to said Foul Line, and to a point three feet distant from it; thence running parallel with said Foul Line, to a point three feet distant from the First Base; thence in a straight line to the Foul Line, and thence upon the Foul Line to point of beginning.

Rule 12. The lines designated in riles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 must be marked with chalk or other suitable material, so as to be distinctly seen by the Umpire. They must all be so marked their entire length, except the Captain’s and Players’ Lines, which must be so marked for a distance of at least thirty-five yards from the Catcher’s Lines.

Rule 13. The Ball.* (Section 1.) Must not weigh less than five nor more than five and one-quarter ounces avoirdupois, and measures not less than nine nor more than nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. The Spalding League ball, or the Reach American Association ball, must be used in all games played under these rules.
(Sec. 2.) For each championship game two balls shall be furnished by the home club to the Umpire for use. When the ball in play is batted over the fence or stands, on to foul ground out of sight of the players, the other ball shall be immediately put into play by the Umpire. As often as one of the two in use shall be lost, a new one must be substituted, so that the Umpire may at all times, after the game begins, have two for use. The moment the Umpire delivers the alternate ball to the catcher or pitcher it comes into play, and shall not be exchanged until it, in turn, passes out of sight on to foul ground.
(Sec. 3.) In all games the ball or balls played with shall be furnished by the Home Club, and the last ball in play becomes the property of the winning club. Each ball to be used in championship games shall be examined, measured and weighed by the Secretary of the Association inclosed in a paper box and sealed with the seal of the Secretary, which seal shall not be broken except by the Umpire in the presence of the captains of the two contesting nines after play has been called.
(Sec. 4.) Should the ball become out of shape, or cut or ripped so as to expose the yarn, or in any way so injured as to be - in the opinion of the Umpire - unfit for fair use, the Umpire, on being appealed to by either Captain, shall at once put the alternate ball into play and call for a new ball. * THE SPALDING LEAGUE BALL has been the official ball of the National League for the past nine years, and has again been adopted for 1887. It is in general use by all leading professional, college and amateur clubs throughout the country, and stands without a rival as the best ball made. The Spalding Ball has been officially adopted and used exclusively by the following associations: The National League; International League; Northwestern League; Eastern League; Western League; New England League; N.Y. Inter-state League; Canadian League; Colored league; American College Association; N.W. College Association, and nearly all the minor State and City leagues throughout the United States and Canada. Beware of counterfeits; none genuine without the Spalding Trade Mark on each box and ball.

Rule 14. The Bat. (1) Must be made wholly of wood, except that the handle may be wound with twine, or a granulated substance applied, not to exceed eighteen inches from the end. (2) It must be round except that a portion of the surface may be flat on one side, must not exceed two forty-two inches in length. FIELD RULES.

Rule 15. No Club shall allow open betting or pool selling upon its grounds, nor in any building owned or occupied by it.

Rule 16. No person shall be allowed upon any part of the field during the progress of the game, in addition to the players in uniform, the manager on each side and the umpire; except such officers of the law as may be present in uniform, and such officials of the Home Club as may be necessary to preserve the peace.

Rule 17. Players in uniform shall not be permitted to seat themselves among the spectators.

Rule 18. The Umpire is the sole judge of play, and is entitled to the respect of the spectators, and any person offering any insult or indignity to him, must be promptly ejected from the grounds.

Rule 19. Every club shall furnish sufficient police force upon its own grounds to preserve order, and in the event of a crowd entering the field during the progress of a game, and interfering with the play in any manner, the Visiting Club may refuse to play further until the field be cleared. If the ground be not cleared within fifteen minutes thereafter, the Visiting Club may claim, and shall be entitled to, the game by a score of nine runs to none (no matter what number of innings have been played).

Rule 20. No Umpire, Manager, Captain or Player shall address the audience during the progress of a game, except in case of necessary explanation.

Rule 21. The Players of each in a match game shall be nine in number, one of whom shall act as Captain. Every club shall be required to adopt uniforms for its players, and in no case shall less than nine men be allowed to play on each side. Each player shall be required to present himself upon the field during said game in a neat cleanly condition, but no player shall attach anything to the sole or heel of his shoes other than the ordinary base ball shoe plate.

Rule 22. The Player’s Position shall be (Section 1.) When in the field (designated “Fielders” in these Rules) such as may be assigned them by their Captain, except that the Pitcher must take his position within the Pitcher’s Lines, as defined in Rule 5. (Sec. 2.) When their side goes to the bat they must immediately seat themselves upon the player’s bench and remain there until the side is put out, except when batsman or base runner. All bats not in use must be kept in the bat racks, and the two players next succeeding the batsman, in the order in which they are named on the score, must be ready with bat in hand to promptly take position as batsman; provided, that the Captain and one assistant only may occupy the space between the players’ lines and the Captains’ lines to coach base runners. (Sec 3.) The Batsman must take their positions within the Batsmen’s Lines, as defined in Rule 10, in the order in which they are named on the score, which must contain the batting order of both nines, and must be followed, except in case of disability of a player, in which case the substitute must take the place of the disabled player in the batting order. (Sec. 4) No player of the side at bat, except when Batsman, shall occupy any portion of the space within the Catcher’s Lines, as defined in Rule 6.

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