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Vintage Base Ball Rules and Customs
The Rules of 1873, as adopted by the National Association of Professional Base-Ball Players.
The rules as adopted for 1873 to come.
Interpretation Notes.
1873 game summary, courtesy Paul Salomone, 1873 Elizabeth Resolutes
1873 RULES OF BASE BALL - SUMMARY
RULE 1. - THE MATERIALS OF THE GAME
THE BALL - The ball must weigh not less than five nor more than five and one-quarter ounces avoirdupois. It must measure not less than nine inches nor more than nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. It must be composed of India rubber and yarn, and be covered with leather. The quantity of rubber used in the ball shall be one ounce, and the rubber used shall be vulcanized and in mould form.
THE BAT - The bat must be round, and must not exceed two and a half inches in diameter in the thickest part. It must be made of wood, and shall not exceed forty-two inches in length.
THE BASES-The home base is a one square foot hard rubber base(stone or marble was used in the 1870s), placed so that the lines which form the corner of the diamond and extend to the first and third bases meet in the center of the base, with the front corner of the base pointing to the pitcher's position. The first, second, and third bases should be square canvas bags which cover one square foot of space. The first base should be placed so the front left corner, and the back right corner are on the base/foul line. The third base should be placed so the front right corner and back left corner are on the base/foul line. These placements ensure the correct percentage of the bases in fair and foul territory. The second base should be placed so that the front side of it's square is parallel with the line from the first to third bases, and so that the corner of the diamond is in the center of the base.
RULE 2. - THE PITCHING DEPARTMENT
RULE 3. - THE BATTING DEPARTMENT
RULE 4. - BASERUNNING
RULE 5. - THE GAME - THE INNINGS
RULE 6. - THE DUTIES OF THE UMPIRE
RULE 7. - MISCELLANEOUS - SPECIAL GROUND RULES
Places where these are the home rules. Elizabeth Resolutes
· Making any motion to deliver the ball to the bat from outside the lines of the pitcher's position results in a balk. The pitcher, in making any of his normal motions to deliver the ball to the bat must deliver it, or he commits a balk. The ball must be pitched with an underhand motion. The arm or wrist may bend during the delivery, but the ball must be released from below the hip. Jerking the ball is legal. No motion which resembles an overhand throw may be used without committing a foul balk. Repetition of a foul balk shall cause a warning to the pitcher from the umpire. All baserunners advance one base on any type of balk. Persistence in the action of foul balking shall cause the umpire to declare a forfeit.
Dead Balls
The first ball delivered to the striker is a dead ball, and may not be called a ball or a strike. If the striker swings at this pitch, he puts the ball in play and the fielders must make the appropriate play, and the umpire the appropriate call. If the pitch is swung at and missed their is no second dead ball.
Unfair Balls
All balls delivered to the bat which are sent in over the striker's head, or on the ground in front of the home base, or on the side opposite to that which the batsman strikes from, or which hit the striker
while he is standing in his proper position, or are sent in within a foot of his person, shall be considered unfair balls, and must be called in order of their delivery, except for the first ball delivered to the striker.
Fair Balls
All balls delivered to the bat which are sent in over the home base, and high or low as the batsman calls for shall be considered fair balls.
Dead Fouls
Any pitched ball which accidentally hits the striker's bat is a dead foul ball. No baserunner may advance or be put out on a dead foul.
Calling Balls
After the first pitch, all unfair balls must be called in order of their delivery. The first fair pitch delivered at the opposite height called for by the striker is to be referred to by the umpire as "counted, not called," and does not count against the pitcher. Any such ball delivered thereafter shall be a called ball. Three called balls is a base on balls. No baserunner advances on a base on balls unless forced.
· The striker must stand astride a line which extends three feet to either side of the home base, and at a distance no less than one foot from the base. The striker may not have both feet in front of or in back of the line. A "foul strike" shall be called for infringement of this rule. Three foul strikes is an out.
· A ball hit fair or foul and caught on which a foul strike has been called is an out. No baserunner may advance or be put out returning to his base on a foul strike. As soon as the striker has hit a fair ball he shall be considered a baserunner.
· Strikers must bat in regular order. After the first inning, the batting order resumes with the player next in line after the player who made the third out of the previous inning, regardless of whether it was a batting or baserunning out.
· Strikers may ask the umpire for low or high balls. The umpire will inform the pitcher of the batter's preference. A high ball is one pitched between the waist and top of the shoulder. A low ball between the waist and one foot from the ground. If the striker fails to designate a low or high ball preference before the first pitch be delivered, than any ball delivered between one foot off the ground and the top of the shoulder may be called a strike. Three strikes, either called or swung at and missed, are an out.
· A batted ball is judged fair or foul by where it first touches the ground. A ball hit in fair territory and bounding foul before passing first or third base is a fair ball and known as a "fair-foul" hit.
· A batter may make contact with the bat to the ball in any way he chooses as long as his feet remain astride the line. Whatever fashion of a bunt that can be utilized under these conditions is a legal hit.
· The striker is out if a foul ball is caught on the fly or the first bound from the ground; or if a fair ball is caught on the fly; or if a fair ball is struck and the ball be held by an adversary on first base before the baserunner touches that base; or if a fair ball is caught after touching any part of a player's body but before touching the ground; or if a foul ball is similarly caught after the first bound from the ground.
· No fair or foul ball caught after hitting any other object than the person of a player, even before touching the ground, shall put a player out.
· A foul ball, whether hit on the ground or in the air, must be called by the umpire unasked, in an audible manner, as soon as possible.
· Baserunners must take their bases in the order of striking. Baserunners may overrun first base, either directly on the foul line, or into foul territory. Overrunning towards second base subjects the player to being tagged out. All force rules are the same as modern baseball. Anytime a baserunner is put out, all baserunners ahead of him cease to be forced. Baserunners must touch all bases in order or be called out, unless returning to an untouched base before the ball is held on it. Players returning to bases must touch all bases in reverse order or be called out. Baserunners may not advance on a foul ball. A foul ball is considered dead and not in play until settled in the hands of the pitcher, who may be in any position on the field.
· A baserunner returning to a base after a foul ball may be put out in the same manner as when running to first base; the pitcher may take a throw at that base, simultaneously putting the ball in play and the baserunner out.
· Baserunners must tag up before advancing on a fly. All baserunners advance on any type of balk.
· Baserunners that knock a ball from an adversary's hands when not touching a base shall be considered tagged out.
· Baserunners prevented from making a base by intentional interference from a fielder shall be awarded that base. Any interference which could have been readily avoided shall be considered intentional.
· Baserunners running three feet or more out of the base line to avoid being tagged out shall be called out.
· Baserunners shall not be substituted for except in the case of illness or injury.
Nine innings shall constitute a full match. At the end of nine innings if the score is even, extra innings shall be played until a winner is determined. In the event of a team being unwilling or unable to continue, the game shall be forfeited and the team willing to continue shall be declared the winner by a score of 9 to 0. Five innings must be completed to constitute an official match.
No decision given by the umpire shall be reversed upon the testimony of a player; and neither shall the umpire be guided in his decision by any such testimony. The captains of each nine shall alone be allowed to appeal for a reversal of the decision of the umpire, and then only in the case of a palpable error in misinterpreting the rules. The umpire shall require the captain or players of the side at the bat to remain at a reasonable distance (at least 15 feet) from the home, first, third base, and outside the foul lines; also to avoid interfering with the fielders when directing the movements of the players running the bases. Whenever a pitched ball touches the umpire, or is accidentally stopped by him, unless it be a passed ball, it shall be considered dead, and not in play until settled in the hands of the pitcher while in his position. No such dead ball shall put a player out, nor any base be run, or run scored on such a ball.
· Clubs may adopt such rules respecting balls knocked beyond the bounds of the field as the circumstances of the ground may demand provided they are distinctly made known to the umpire before the commencement of the game.
· If a fielder catches a ball with his hat, no player can be put out on such ball, and each baserunner shall be entitled to one base.
· If a ball be stopped by a person not involved in the game, no player can be put out unless the ball shall have been first settled in the hands of the pitcher while he stands within the lines of his position.
· Any baserunner who intentionally interferes with a player fielding a ground ball shall be declared out.
· Any interference which could have been avoided shall be considered intentional.
· Any baserunner who prevents a fielder from catching a fly ball, fair or foul, under any circumstances shall be declared out.
· Any batter who shall intentionally let the ball hit him, or kick the ball when at the bat, or when running the bases, thereby preventing an adversary from fielding the ball shall be declared out.