The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-09
DEFINING THE BasEBALL RULES.
Mr.. Chadwick Points Out some Particular
distances of rlay.

Instances OF riay.
To TRE EDrron OF THE SuS-SYr. Up to the
time OF the appearance OF the now code OF
playing rules OF baseball. ms published in the
League Guide for 1879. no official report o:
the amendments made TO the code by tho mag
mates OF the League at their March meeting
had ever been In print. As 1t is important at
this early period OF the season that tho re-
vised code OF playing rules should 10 fully I'M
dcrstood. I have obtained from reliable author
ity a review OF the new rules. with explana-
tory comments on the official Interpretation OF
the most important sections. with n view OF
having our local cranks. Ms well rs the large
class OF a amateurs OF the Metropolitan district.
well posted on the correct definitions OF the
new amendments.
The committee, in their report to tho
League. amended the rules governing the de-
livery OF the ball to the bat. so rs to place the
pitchers position In the centre OF the dia-
mond. thus placing him ut a distance OF sixty
three feet from the home base. or eight feet
further back than the position he occupied in
1892. This change the mngnates modified by
making the setback only lye feet six inches
further thar it was in 1892, it then being iiity-
live feet elN inches.
Ruls 5-The pitchers boundary shau be marked by n
white rubber , nte Twelve inens. iSns and four inches
surface at the distance OF sixty feet ak inches from
from the centre Of Il the he home Ease and il" ecu III re OF tue
second base shall give SIX incnes on either side.
Tho front limo Of the box in 1892 was distant
nifty feet from the home bnse. tho pitchers
pivot foot standing on the bnck line 81 the box.
. leet q inches hack Of its front line. Under the
TO twelve inches by four inches. the front line
of which is 20 feet inches distant from the
home base. Here is the rule defining tho
The new rule defining the movements OF the
pitcher in delivering the ball is rs follows:
the batsinan win both feet square on tie ground. and
i, !t tne s "a !" one ef foa, ms i R'G be IN 0 een u ,ae SI,h II the sI pitth:
err plate DEFINED IN .uls 9 He sna!l not raise sitner
more han one stsp in sue, deliver: lie slall hold ne
throw mo bull 10 i base he mus. resume the atoys posi-;
to ,t0 the sH Sal pause m0n''n'AF''' before delivering the ball
There have been several comments made on
the wording. ofthis rule. bat it is as near the
correct point as any rule can he worded. IL
should be Lorhe IN mind that the pitcher can
stand in front OF tho box without his feet being
on the space twelve inches Uy four inches. and
take any step he, likes in throwing to a buse.
But the moment he TOUCHES the box srace his
i irSm nas ihs S Sny to tof The T bat. except In DE-
pitcher should do it only by signal from the
catcher. and then he cannot take u step to
throw unless he stands with both feet or tho
twelve inches by four inches position. All the
the movement Of the pitcher istb see that he
runner can start the moment the pitcher lifts
his foot. for when he does lit 1t in making the
step lie cannot throw tho ball to any other
base except the home plate.
The new rule governing the stealing Of bases
is AS follows:
lows: Any attempt TO steal n base must go TO the credit
OF nun me- ed p Ss nv, Fr' i. ,Ie MG BE- nn ti S. .nlt IL 's sTq"r I" ! VIA 10 Ss
charged 10 the fielder making the same. II the base
. sS"Ii rot 1' pe er.dit eHV Wiih a ' :,ole iHf bass. ann na1 the s.f fsld es
an sri snk M If a hs rs niss 10 stare ST s sn1' I Sa, T.fs
error IS male, the runner secures the credit Of stolen
, ,nsn Ss IT so, Ni oSs h. " s .Tsi, rp pns.,y. "y ,s , .1.S 3 Oa ts and ind
sto.sn base. ii base runner advance, a base o. \ ny
S Ssis or rs TH nr , ,wo nSss' o "n S e . .nsII he base st.d h. or r an in 4
paipabie attempt made to retire MN.
It will be plainly seon that under this new
rule, the record OF stolen bases this season is
likely to be greatly in excess Of al Preyipus
stolen base in spite Of, the poor throwing Of
the catcher or the muflng OF the thrown bail
eryed lite S Tiss t T%n Stolen b bns f i. on q b rs n bis
which yioi'ls tho batsman hut 2 single, base.
the runner on first gets to third on the hit. or
The halk rules have boon simpliied to the
following extent:
Rule SDIA baik shall DO:
the Se bail to ) the np BAT i" Without iat de HfiSs f. n.'e'ef 20 "e''ee
Al. s ;S a = T' sh eG sams S Of nes Sn.i ~ the pitcher SO long
sy Is s. ? p s"S %' when :" not "' 's III. p s"f ss' d 'S nee bat at
According to tho wording OF section 3 the
OF the position. take any step to throw to first
base to catch a runner. but il. while thus
standing. h, makes any motion to deliver the
ball to the mt he makes u balk. This renders
it easy for the runner to watch tho pitchers
motions. The important point to both the
pitcher and the runner Is whether the pitcher
Is standing in the box or not. II he stands
outside he can take u step to throw to first.
hut n he stands in tho box he cannot take a
step without making a palnable balk.
HENRI