FIELD RULES.

NO BETTING. No club, one of the National Agreement compact, is allowed to have open betting on its grounds, or pool selling either on the grounds or in any building the club owns, leases or occupies. The penalty of a violation of this rule is explained from the National Agreement list of clubs.

NONE BUT PLAYERS ON THE FIELD. No person other than the players of the two contesting teams in a match, viz., nine on each side, with two substitutes in uniform, are to be permitted upon any part of the playing field during the progress of a game, except the manager of each competing club, the Umpire, and such officers of the law – the police – as may be in uniform, and such club officials as may be necessary to preserve the peace in case of any disturbance.

PROTECTION FOR THE UMPIRE. It should be borne in the mind that rules now require the ejection from the grounds of any person offering any insult to the Umpire, verbal or otherwise.

NO INTERFERENCE ALLOWED. In the case of the crowd of spectators encroaching on the playing field, or interfering in any way with the progress of the game, the home club – at the request of the visiting club – must at once clear the field, and unless that is done within a quarter of an hour of the commencement of the interruption of the game, the Umpire must declare the game forfeited to the visiting club, no matter what number of innings may have been played at the time the interruption began.

PLAYERS AND THEIR POSITIONS. NUMBER OF PLAYERS. Nine players on each side – neither more nor less – constitute the playing sides in a match game, one of which, on each side, is to act as the Captain.

THE PLAYERS’ POSITIONS. The Captain on each side is privileged to place his players on the field in any position he chooses, thus having two men behind the bat for catching purposes, a player at right short, with but two out-fielders, or no shortstop and four out-fielders, or other wise as he may see fit. There is but one exception to this rule, and that is that whoever may be designed to act as pitcher, that player must occupy the box. The pitcher can be changed at any time of the game, or in any inning.

PLAYERS ON THE BENCHES. Under the new code all players of the batting side not engaged either as base runners, coaches, or in occupying the batsman’s position, must be seated on the bench, and remain there until called to the bat, or to act as coaches, and only the Captain and one assistant are allowed to do this.

DEFINITIONS. A FAIR BALL. There are two classes of fair balls, viz., a “fair” ball, as delivered by the pitcher, and a “fair” ball, as hit by the batsman. A fair ball delivered by the pitcher is a ball which is “legally” delivered, and which passes over the home base, and not lower than the range of the batsman’s knee, nor higher than that of his shoulder. The rule in vogue last year, which allowed the batsman the privilege of calling for a “high” or a “low” ball, at his option, has been repealed. A “fair” ball hit by the batsman is a ball hit high in the air which falls to the ground on fair ground, or, which is hit direct to the ground from the bat, first touches foul ground, and then rebounds or rolls onto foul ground before passing over or touching first and third bases.

AN UNFAIR BALL. An unfair ball is a ball “legally” delivered, but which does not pass over the home base, or if it does so pass, does not come to the bat within the range designated in the case of a fair ball, that is, it either comes in below the batsman’s knee, or above his shoulder.

ILLEGAL BALLS. An illegally delivered ball is one sent in by the pitcher after he has raised his foot from its position on the rear line of the “box” before he delivers it to the bat; or after taking more than one step in delivery; or after stepping outside the lines of his position; or after failing to resume his standing position before delivering the ball to the bat, after making a feint to throw to a base. The penalty for delivering any such illegal ball is the giving the batsman his base.

ON BALKING. The rule a balk is unmistakably plain in its wording, except wherein it states that a balk is “any motion calculated to deceive a base runner” and this is officially defined as referring to any side
movement of the pitcher, which, while not violating the express wording of the rule in regard to the motions to pitch to the bat, do constitute a balk by leading the base runner to think that the side motion made is that of pitching to the bat, and not throwing to the bat. It does not, however, include a feint to throw to a base which is followed by the pitcher’s resuming his original position, and pausing before delivery.

DEAD BALLS. “Dead” balls include all balls which are not expressly designated as “fair” or “foul” hit balls, or which are unfair balls, or illegally delivered balls, such, for instance, as a ball touching any part of a batsman’s bat without his plainly striking at the ball with the purpose of hitting it; or which hits the batsman, or touches his clothing, while standing in his regular position, without his striking at the ball; or which hits the person of the Umpire before the ball passes the catcher. All “dead balls” not fairly delivered to the bat must be called a “ball.”

BLOCK BALLS. A “block” ball is one that is either batted to the field, or overthrown to a base, which is either stopped or handled by any person not one of the players engaged in the game.

FOUL HITS. A foul hit ball is a ball hit in the air which falls on foul ground; or which is hit direct from the bat to the ground on the fair ground, and then either rebounds or rolls on to foul ground before passing over or touching first or third bases.

BALLS OVER THE FENCE. When a ball is batted over the fence inclosing the grounds, the umpire is required to decide it to be a fair ball if it first disappears over the fence within the lines of a fair ball; or foul if it similarly disappears within the foul lines. No matter if the ball be thrown in its passage over the fence so as to insure its falling outside on foul ground, only the line of its range in going over the fence is to decide its character as fair or foul.

CALLING STRIKES. In calling strikes the Umpire must call a strike on the batsman whenever he fails to strike at or hit at a legally delivered fair ball; and also whenever the batsman purposely hits a ball foul. In this latter case the purpose he has in view must be plainly obvious in the opinion of the Umpire, as to the intention of the batsman in the matter; the Umpire is the sole judge.

TIME AT BAT. The batsman is now charged with a “time at bat’ every time he makes a fair, or is put out, or becomes a base runner; except in the latter case when he is sent to his base from being hit by a pitched ball, or in consequence of the pitcher’s delivered the ball illegally.

THE GAME. WHAT CONSTITUTES A GAME. A “game” consists of nine innings for each contesting side in a match. But five completed innings on each side may constitute a game under the circumstances of an interruption to further play caused by darkness or rain. Also a game is completed if the side first at the bat after completing their ninth innings, fail to score as many runs in their nine innings play, as the side second at the bat did in eight innings play. In the case of rain or darkness stopping a game during the play of the last part of the fifth innings, it is no game, no matter if the score is equal or otherwise. The five innings must be played to a finish by both sides to constitute a game when stopped by rain or darkness. After five innings, however, should the side at the bat in the latter part of innings have scored more runs than the side first at the bat, and should rain or darkness then stop further play, the party having the most runs wins the game, no matter where there are one, two or three hands out, or no hands out at all. It is the same in the case of a nine innings’ game, the game being won by the side last at the bat the moment they scored one run more than the opposing side, even if no hand should be out at the time.

DRAWN GAMES. A draw game is to be recorded in every case when the score remains equal after five innings on each side have been completed and rain or darkness puts a stop to further play. Or if the score be equal after nine innings have been completed on each side and the game be stopped by rain or darkness; or if the score remain equal and the side last at the bat in any innings – after five completed innings – are prevented from completing their innings by rain or darkness.

FORFEITED GAMES. A game is to be declared by the Umpire to be forfeited in the following cases: For failing to be on the field to play a regularly appointed and scheduled game. For refusing to play, or to continue to play if the Umpire calls “Play.” For refusing to resume play after a game has been suspended by the Umpire within five minutes after the Umpire’s call of “Play.” For violating any rule of the “National Code of Playing Rules.”

THE EMPLOYMENT OF SUBSTITUTES. No substitute player can take the place of any player of either nine in a match game, unless by reason of illness or injury, of the nature or extent of which the Umpire is the sole judge, and not either of the captains.

FITNESS OF GROUNDS FOR PLAY. Under the new rules the captain of the home club’s nine is the sole judge as to the fitness or the condition of the ground for play after rain has fallen, and not the Umpire.

TIME FOR BEGINNING A GAME. Hereafter no championship match shall be commenced later than two hours before the time stated for sunset in the city where the game is played.

UNIFORMED SUBSTITUTIONS No player not ready in the field as a substitute player in uniform shall be substituted for a player disabled by illness or injury.

CHOICE OF INNINGS. There is no longer any tossing up for innings. The choice of innings remains with the captain of the home club.

OUT ON STRIKES. The batsman is out on strikes the moment the Umpire calls “four strikes,” whenever the first base is occupied and only one man is out, without regard as to the catch of the ball from the fourth strike or not. In all other cases of four strikes being called, the ball on the fourth strike must be caught on the fly, or the batsman – then becoming a base runner – must be thrown out at first base.

BASES ON BALLS. The batsman who is given his first base on five called balls, is now charged with a “base hit,” and consequently with a “time at bat.”

BASES ON WALKS. None but base runners can be given bases on balks; but the batsman can be given his base whenever the pitcher delivers an illegal ball, but not when a balk is made.

BASES ON PITCHED BALLS HITTING THE BATSMAN. Every time the ball from the pitcher hits the person or touches the clothing of the batsman, he latter must be given his base; Provided, That the batsman makes a plain effort to avoid the pitched ball and prevent it striking him. The Umpire is to judge whether it was the intention of the batsman to allow himself to be hit or not.

DETACHED BASES. If a base runner, in running a base detaches the base bag from its fastening to the base post, and he be not put out before touching the bag, the mere fact of his not touching the bag after it becomes detached shall not be cause for his being decided out from being “off the base.” This rule does not apply, however, in the case of a “force out.”

NO SUBSTITUTE IN BASE RUNNING. No base runner temporarily disabled in running a base can be allowed a substitute merely to run bases for him. If the runner is disabled from base running he must retire from the game, and then the substitute player can run bases, but only as a player of the nine replacing a retired player.

OVER-RUNNING FIRST BASE. An important change has been made in the rule governing the over-running of first base. The amended rule requires the runner to turn to the right after over-running the base, or otherwise he is not entitled to exemption from being put out in returning to the base after over-running it. He can return to the base after over-running or not at his option. If he see a chance to get to second after over-running first, he can run to that base without returning to touch first base, the only penalty incurred in not returning being that of forfeiture of exemption from being put out. This latter privilege he forfeits if he turns to the left after over-running.

RETURNING TO BASES ON THE RUN. Base runners, running bases on foul balls, are no longer required to return on the run. But they must not walk back so lazily as to delay the game.

DISPUTING DECISIONS. The captain of the nine is now alone allowed to question any decision of the Umpire, and he can only do so when the question involved is that of a misinterpretation of the rules, and not that of a mere error of judgment. The fine for each violation of this rule is five dollars for each separate offence.

THE UMPIRE’S DUTIES. The Umpire is declared by the rules to be the sole judge of every point of play in the game not otherwise expressly designated in the code. In no case is any player of the competing nines in a match game – except the captains under specified conditions – allowed to question by word or act any decision made by the Umpire, under the penalty of a fine of ten dollars for each separate offence; and this fine the Umpire must inflict and report it, or pay the fine out of his own salary. The Umpire cannot reverse any decision he may make on the testimony of any player or spectator. The Umpire cannot suspend a game by reason of rain falling unless it fall in such a manner as to compel the players and spectators to seek shelter by the severity of the storm. An ordinary drizzling rain, or a temporary slight shower is not a sufficient cause for the suspension of play.