Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-05-23
BASEBALL RULESj
w. l. Harris Writes of This
Seasons Changes in Them.
LAW REGARDING SUBSTITUTES.

The baseball rules of 1890 will not differ.
! greatly from those of 1889, but some changes
have been made, a few of which are radical;
The most important of the changes made by
the playing rules committee of the League
and Association was that in regard to substi-
tute players. Last season only one man could
be put in, and lie only at the completion Of
an even innirg. Now a club can have two
extra men in uniform, and put them into the
game at any moment it's captain deems it de-
sirable. This rule gives q club great leeway
in close contests which may decide the PEN
nant, because under it a team may use three
different pitchers in one game.
Last season, when n base runner was hit
with a batted ball, he was out, and an in
fielder might regain the ball and also put the
/ batsman out. Such double plays are not
now permitted. The man who hits the ball is
entitled to his base, and the man who is hit
by the batted ball is out.
A good many teams last season won games
by reason of darkness, by taking advantage
of the time limit. This was done by making
a kick and when the umpire declined to allow
it the captain of the kicking nine would re-
fuse to play. Under the rule the umpire
would give him five minutes to play. AT the
expiration of time the oNjector would decide
not to forfeit the game; indeed, he never had
the slightest intention Of doing SO, but he
gained about five minutes, or as long as the
umpire would listen to argument, and then
five minutes on top of that. Nine times out
of ten the time So gained was sufficient to
drag the game into darkness and gain the de-
sired object. This year the umpire will be
able to prevent this. He is authorized to for
felt the game if either side delays one minnie
ofto,. I. 1,nt ,,l,r,,1 3l,,,,, 80 ,1.,-
The balk rule, generally Il dead letter, will
be strictly enforced this season. Any motion
toward pitching must be followed by an i'm
mediate delivery of the ball, otherwise u balk
must be called. This enforcement will indi-
rectly tend to greatly increase base running.
This season batsmen will derive every ad-
vantage that comes from Il new ball. When
n new one is put into play the pitcher must
deliver it at once without doing the old
tricks of rubbing it in the dirt and passing it
around 50 that the tielders may discolor it.
The effect of this rule will be felt toward the
end of games, when a new ball can be more
! easily located than an old one. Delay for
discolorution of the shcepskin is now an an
noyance Of the past.
In regard to the calling Of strikes, the new
rules empower the umpire to call a strike on
the batsnan in the case of the ball of the
third called strike hitting his person after be-
ing struck at, in which case he is declared
out at once. The rule declaring a batsman
out now retires him if he in any way at
tenpts to hinder the catcher from fielding
the ball, and also if the pitched ball touches
his clothing while making the third strike.
This year the old rule about the ending of
the games is again in force. The game is
over the moment the winning run is scored.
TT,,5ar tba ,,,ln yvhiol, ,rn,-,;l,J l,et on, &La
game did not end until the ball was returned
to the pitcher after the winning run was
made. The change was adopted in order to
give a player the full benefit of any long hit
he might make that brought in the winning
run but it acted unfairly, because the ball,
after the winning hit was made, generally
got into the crowd, and men making single
hits were able to get credit for home runs.
The old rule was the best, and the change
back to it was wise.
There are some other minor changes, among
which are a provision for rubber plates in the
pitchers box, and a rule requiring all players
to say "Mr. Umpire" 1t is intended to stop
the familiarity between umpires and PLAYERS,
which is believed to interfere with Il proper
observance of the umpire's dignity and to
cause a lack Of field discipline. The rule has
a good basis, but will probably prove a dead
letter unless the umpires fine the players when
they break it, which they are not likely to do.
On the whole, it will be seen that the changes
are not likely to confuse the enthusiast, and
indicate that the rules are pretty near perfect
as they stand.
The rules of the Players league vary but
little from those of the National league.
There are some additions and one innovation.
The most important addition is the rule re-
pl1iriOp tVp t,pnirac fn. aocl, ro,ro T. Sc;
good rule, and one that the public generally
has demanded for a long time. The National
league would do well to adopt it. 1t is only
a question Of time when they will be forced
to do so.
The one radical change made by the rules
committee of the Players league is to put
the pitcher back one and o.e-Lnlf feet. The
result of this innovation Will be closely
watched as it is in line with the policy ndvo-
Gated by made experts toward incrpu. ing the
bntting. 1t was made as a sort Of c0nIpro-
mise with the men who wanted to rl, the
pitcher back five feet. l do not think myself
that the eighteen inches adopted b; lie Play
ers' league will prove much of Il lan,.icap on
the pitchers; indeed. l am doubtful if it will
make a difference that the crankicst of cranks
can figure out.
The Play ers made u rule which will stop
u pays ILiue IlclGIOlUIt Ut 1uNgllng
fly balls when there are men on bases. Here
is the full text of the rule: ''If, when there is
a base runner on the first base and less than
two players on the side at bat have been put
out in the inning then being played, the bats
man makes a fair hit SO that the ball falls
within the infield and the ball touches any
fielder, whether held by him or not, before it
touches the ground the batsman is OUT
1t will be seen that in order to make a
double play the ball must be allowed to drop
clean. 1t may be ''smothered," but the
'smothering" must be unmistakable.
The umpires are designated as mo. l" and
"No. g" No. l goes behind the bat. He de
cides upon and calls all balls, strikes, blocks,
dead balls, fair hits. foul hits, foul strikes.
intentional fouling of palls, all questions as
to delays, all decisions at the plate and shall
call "Play" and Time" All other ques-
tions, including balks and illegal deliveries.
shall be settled by umpire No. 2.
There were a number of minor changes
made, such us abolishing catchers' lines and
a rule providing that when a ball goes out of
the unpire's sight a new ball shall be put into
play.
Rule 5 provides for wooden pegs in the cor
ners of the pitchers box, and rule 8 limits the
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