DEFINITIONS.
Rule 23. A Fair Ball is a ball delivered by the Pitcher while standing wholly within the lines of his position, and facing the batsman, the ball, so delivered, to pass over the home base, not lower than the batsman’s knee, nor higher than his shoulder.
Rule 24. An Unfair Ball is a ball delivered by the Pitcher as in Rule 23, except that the ball does not pass over the Home Base, or does pass over the Home Base above the batsman’s shoulder or below his knee.
Rule 25. A Balk is (Sec. 1.) Any motion made by the Pitcher to deliver the ball to the bat without delivering it, shall be held to indicate any and every accustomed motion with the hands, arms or feet, or position of the body assumed by the Pitcher in his delivery of the ball, and any motion calculated to deceive a base runner, except the ball be accidentally dropped. (Sec. 2.) If the ball be held by the Pitcher so long as to delay the game unnecessarily; or (Sec. 3.) Any motion to deliver the ball, or the delivering the ball to the bat by the Pitcher when any part of his person is upon ground outside of the lines of his position, including all preliminary motions with the hands, arms and feet.
Rule 26. A Dead Ball is a ball delivered to the bat by the Pitcher that touched the batsman’s bat without being struck at, or any part of the Batsman’s person or clothing while standing in his position without being struck at; or any part of the Umpire’s person or clothing without first passing the Catcher.
Rule 27. A Block is a batted or thrown ball that is stopped or handled by any person not engaged in the game.
Rule 28. A Fair Hit is a ball batted by the Batsman, standing in his position, that first touches the ground, the First Base, the Third Base, the part of the person of a player, or any other object that is in front of or on either of the Foul Lines, or (exception) batted directly to the ground by the Batsman, standing in his position, that (whether it first touches Foul or Fair Ground) bounds or rolls within the Foul Lines, between Home and First, or Home and Third Bases, without first touching the person of a player.
Rule 29. A Foul Hit is a ball batted by the Batsman, standing in his position, that first touches the ground, the part of the person of a player, or any other object that is behind either the of the Foul Lines, or that strikes the person of such Batsman, while standing in his position, or (exception) batted directly to the ground by the Batsman, standing in his position, that (whether it first touches the Foul or Fair Ground) bounds or rolls outside the Foul Lines, between Home and First, or Home and Third Bases, without first touching the person of a player.
Rule 30. When a batted ball passes outside the grounds, the Umpire shall decide it fair should it disappear within, or foul should it disappear outside of the range of the Foul Lines, and Rule 28 and 29 are to be construed accordingly.
Rule 31. A Strike is (1) A ball struck at by the batsman without its touching his bat; or, (2) A Fair Ball, legally delivered by the Pitcher, but not struck at by the Batsman. (3) Any obvious attempt to make a foul hit.
Rule 32. A Foul Strike is a ball batted by the Batsman when any part of his person is upon ground outside the lines of the Batsman’s position.
Rule 33. Play is the order of the Umpire to begin the game, or to resume play after its suspension.
Rule 34. Time is the order of the Umpire to suspend play. Such suspension must not extend beyond the day of the game.
Rule 35. Game is the announcement by the Umpire that the game is terminated.
Rule 36. An Innings is the term at bat of the nine players representing a Club in a game, and is complete when three of such players have been put out as provided in these Rules.
Rule 37. A Time at Bat is the term at bat of a Batsman. It begins when he takes his position, and continues until he is put out, or becomes a base runner; except when, because of being hit by a pitched ball, or in case of an illegal delivery by the Pitcher, as in Rule 48.
Rule 38. Legal or Legally, signifies as required by these Rules. The Game.
Rule 39. A Game shall consist of nine innings to each contesting nine, except that, (1) If the side first at bat scores less runs in nine innings than the other side has scored in eight innings, the game shall then terminate. (2) If the side last at bat in the ninth innings scores the winning run before the third man is out, the game shall then terminate. (3) If the score be a tie at the end of nine innings to each side, play shall only be continued until the side first at bat shall have scored one or more runs than the other side, in an equal number of innings, or until the other side shall score one more run than the side first at bat. (4) If the Umpire calls “Game” on account of darkness or rain at any time after five innings have been completed by both sides, the score shall be that of the last equal innings played unless the side second at bat shall have scored one or more runs than the side first at bat, in which case the score of the game shall be the total number of runs made.
Rule 40. A Draw Game shall be declared by the Umpire when he terminates a game on account of darkness or rain, after five equal innings have been played, if the score at the time is equal to the last even innings played; but (exception) if the side that went second to bat is then at the bat, and has scored the same number of runs as the other side, the Umpire shall declare the game drawn, without regard to the score of the last equal innings.
Rule 41. A Forfeited Game shall be declared by the Umpire in favor of the Club not in fault, in the following cases: (1) If the nine of a club fail to appear upon the field, or being upon the field, fail to begin the game within five minutes after the Umpire has called “Play,” at the hour appointed for the beginning of the game, unless such delay in appearing or in commencing the game be unavoidable. (2) If, after the game has begun, one side refuses or fails to continue playing, unless such game has been suspended or terminated by the Umpire. (3) If, after play has been suspended by the Umpire, one side fails to resume playing within five minutes after the Umpire has called “Play.” (4) If, in the opinion of the Umpire, ant of these Rules is willfully violated.
Rule 42. “No Game” shall be declared by the Umpire if he shall terminate play on account of rain or darkness, before five innings on each side are completed.
Rule 43. A Substitute shall not be allowed to take the place of any player in a game, unless such player be disabled in the game then being played, by reason of illness or injury, of the nature or extent of which the Umpire shall be sole judge.
Rule 44. The choice of innings shall be, (1) Given to the Captain of the Home Club, who shall also be the sole judge of the fitness of the ground for beginning a game after rain, and no game shall be begun later than two hours before sunset. (2) In every championship game each team shall be required to have present on the field, in uniform, at least one or more players, and no player except he be so in uniform shall be substituted for any sick or injured player.
Rule 45. The Umpire must call “Play” at the hour appointed for beginning a game. The game must begin when the Umpire calls “Play.” When he calls “Time,” play shall be suspended until he calls “Play” again, and during the interim no player shall be put out, base be run, or run be scored. The Umpire shall suspend play only for an accident to himself or a player (but in case of accident to a Fielder, Time shall not be called until the ball be returned to, and held by the Pitcher, standing in his position), or in case rain falls so heavily that the spectators are compelled, by the severity of the storm, to seek shelter, in which case he shall note the time of suspension, and should such rain continue to fall thirty minutes thereafter, he shall terminate the game; or to enforce order in case of annoyance from spectators. The Umpire shall also declare every “Dead Ball,” “Block,” “Foul Hit,” “Foul Strike,” and “Balk.”
Rule 46. The Umpire shall count and call every “unfair ball” delivered by the Pitcher, and every “dead ball,” if also an unfair ball, as a “ball,” and he shall also count and call every “strike.” Neither a “ball” nor a “strike” shall be counted or called until the ball has passed the home base.
Rule 47. The Batsman is out: (Sec. 1.) If he fails to take his position at the bat in his order of batting, unless the error be discovered, and the proper Batsman takes his position before a fair hit has been made, and in such case the balls and strikes called will be counted in the time at bat of the proper Batsman. (1) If he fails to take his position within one minute after the Umpire has called for the Batsman. (2) If he makes a Foul Hit, and the ball be momentarily held by a Fielder before touching the ground, provided it be not caught in a Fielder’s hat or cap, or touch some object other than the Fielder before being caught. (3) If he makes a Foul Strike. (4) If he plainly attempts to hinder the Catcher from fielding the ball, evidently without effort to make a fair hit. (5) If, while the First base be occupied by a base runner, four strikes be called on him by the Umpire, except when two hands are already out.
Rule 48. The Batsman becomes a Base Runner (1) Instantly after he makes a Fair Hit. (2) Instantly after five Balls have been called by the Umpire. (3) Instantly after four Strikes have been declared by the Umpire. (4) If, while he be a batsman his person or clothing be hit by a ball from the pitcher, unless – in the opinion of the Umpire – he intentionally permits himself to be so hit. (5) Instantly after an illegal delivery of a ball by the pitcher.
Rule 49. The Base Runner must touch each Base in Regular order, viz: First, Second, Third and Home Bases, and when obliged to return, must retouch the base or bases in reverse order. He shall only be considered as holding a base after touching it, and shall then be entitled to hold such base until he has legally touched the next base in order, or has been legally forced to vacate it for a succeeding Base Runner.
Rule 50. The Base Runner shall be entitled, without being put out, to take one Base in the following cases: (1.) If, while he was batsman, the Umpire called five Balls. (2.) If the Umpire awards a succeeding Batsman a base on five balls, or for being hit with a pitched ball, or in case of an illegal delivery – as in rule 48 – and the Base Runner is thereby forced to vacate the base held by him. (3.) If the Umpire calls a “balk.” (4.) If a ball delivered by the Pitcher pass the Catcher and touch any fence or building within ninety feet of the Home Base. (5.) If he be prevented from making a base by the obstruction of an adversary. (6.) If a fielder stop or catch a batted ball with his hat or any part of his dress.
