The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-08
Text OF the Report Made tn President
Young by j. 4. Hart, Edward
Hanlon and A. * Reach.
BUT ONE COACHER ALLOWED
EXCEPT THE BASES ARE FULL,
WHEN TWO MAY GIVE ADVICE.
How the Diamond Should he Laid Out
Duties of the Umrire-Cen-
trail League Organized.

WASHINGTON Feb. flames A Hart
chairman, Edward Hanlon and A. X.
Reach. the committee of the National Base
ball League appointed to- recommend
changes in the code Of rules, have submitted
their report President N L. Young The
report is as follows:
I'VE recommend 10 change In Rules TO
13 inclusive, which are those governing
the laying off of a ball ground, but suggest
the incorporation in the rules of footnote
calling attention to an addendum To the
playing rules. in which will be found direc-
ton for a simple way for laying off ball
field which is as follows:
" Lay a tapeline from center of back
stop out into the field 2l7 feet 3i2 inches to
second base. At % feet from backstop place
home plate with tapeline dividing il dag
onally. Between 15J feet inches and 10
feet 10 inches from the backstOp place the
pitchers plate. with the tapeline dividing it
at the center; l53 feet "a inches from back
stop drive stake. AT right angles to the
taPeline and 63 feet IA inches from the
stake and 30 feet from both home plate
and second base place first base on one side
and third base on the other. This DONE
move the stake; lay lines connecting the
bases thus laid. forming the diamond, ex-
tending the lines from home base and first
base and home base and third base in each
direction to the fence. thus forming the foul
lines and the catchers position. Parallel
with these lines and so feet away. lay the
players lines, extending from intersection
with lines already laid 20 feet. From this
point lay lines at right angles to the lines
just described. extending TO the base lines.
AT right angles to- these and parallel to the
base lines 10 feet distant. lay the cOacher's
lines. extending, say, 30 feet towards the
outfield. Parallel with and feet distant
from the base lines from home plate to first
base lay line beginning a feet from home
plate and extending just past first base. On
each side of home plate parallel with line
from center of backsuop to second base and
inches distant from home plate, lay lines
feet long. running feet each way from
n line through the center of home plate;
also lay other lines parallel with and feet
distant from the ones just described; from
these into parallelogramS feet by feet
in dimension, thus forming the batsmanS
position. Observe Rules IL, II and 49,
I'VE consider these directions necessary.
The rules as printed are positively correct,
but being drawn from a surveyors stand
point. so burdened with technicaiitieS
as to render them almost undefinable by
junior player or the average groundkeeper
IN REGARD TO A NEW BALL.
In Section 9 of Rule IA, regarding the
ball. we suggest the addition of the words
In the event of a new bali being intention
ally discolored or otherwise injured by
player the umpire shall, upon appeal from
the captain of the opposite side, forthwith
demand the return of that ball and shall
substitute another new ball and impose a
fine of s. upon the 'offending player This
addition is made so that the umpire may
rule.
I'm Rule Il following the word pitcher
Is added, while in the act Of delivering the
ball TO bat This is to make the rule more
ex2Iteit; ro,,.,d tho aad,4io,, 70 p,,o %
which relates TO players benches, of a new
section. which is as follows:
'' Section p To enforce this rule, the
captain of the opposite side may call the
attention of the umpire to violation.
whereupon the umpire shall Immediately
order such player or players &c be seated.
If the order is not obeyed within one min
Ute the offending player or players shall
. be debarred from further participation i'm
the game and shall be Obliged to leave the
playing field forthwith
I'm Section 8 OF Rule % change is made
whereby what did read: Rule 90. Section
5. now reads: Rules 20 and Co. To Section
of the same rule, which requires the UNI
pire to notify the president of a forfeited
game, is added the following: However, a
notify the president shall not affect his de-
cision declaring the game forfeited This
is dope TO avoid technicality.
Section 1 of Rule q relating to substi-
tutes is made to read as follows: In every
championship game. each side shall be re-
form sufficient number of substitute play
ers TO carry out the provision which re-
quires that not less than nine players shall
occupy the field in any innings of a game
In Rule %. which defines the pitchers
position. IS added: If the pitcher fails to
the umpire must call a balk'
Rule % regarding baking. is changed
Il,
the word long as in the opinion of the
umpire. and the addition of Section 5,
Without hayinR tR IN position to pitch
except in case of a block ball. as provided in
Rule %, Section 2.
BUT ONE COACHER
Section 1 of Rule 81. which requires
players to be seated on the players benches
although not changed much in diction. is
radically changed in effect, now reading
When their side QOeS 70 hat tho .,Ia vars
must Immediately return TO the players
bench. as defined in Rule 20, and there re-
called to the bat or they become substitute
base-runneTs; provided, that the captain or
one player only Except that If base-runners
third bases). then the captain and one play
er or two players may occupy the space be-
tween the players lines and the captains
lines to coach base-runners.'
This permits but one cOacher, when less
than three base runners are on the bases.
I'm the uniform of the. club. who may stand
In either box known as the coacherS' box.
This change is recommended because IL has
been proven in the past that the presence OF
two coacherS allows a cross fire. of talk be-
tween them foreign TO the game. and fire.
quently of a character Questionable TO the
The batting rules have been changed in
diction materially. but not in their require
ments. We recommend that they stand
follows:
:. Rule IS. Section l. a fair hit is ball
batted 10y the batsman-while he is standing
touches fair ground. or the person of
player. or the umpire. while standing IN fair
ground, and then settles in fair around be-
fore passing the line OF first or thYfdsbases
Sec. ? y foul hit is similarly batted
ball that first touches foul ground, or the
person OF a player. or the umpire while
standing foul ground.
Sec. J. Should such fair hit BAH bound
or roll TO foul ground before passing the
line OF first or third base and settle on foul
ground II shall be declared by the umpire
foul ball.
- Sec. T. Should such foul hit ball bound
or roll on fair ground and settle there be-
fore passing the line of first or third base
II shall be declared by the umpire a fair
ball.
- Rule 80. A foul tip is a bail batted by
the batsman while standing within the lines
or his position that goes foul sharp from
the base TO the catcher's hands
Rule ~. bunt hit Is ball delivered
BY The pitcher to the hatsman. who. while
standing within the lines OF his position
makes deliberate attempt TO hit the bali
be fielded in time 10 retire the batsman. II
such a bunt hit goes 20 foul ground a strike
ball shall be called by the umpire
SECTION I. of Rule "a. dehINag strikes
Is made 10 read: An Intentional effort 10 hit
the ball 10 foul ground. also i'm the case. of a
bunt hit. which sends the ball TO foul
ground. either directly or by bounding or
rolling from fair ground to foul ground. and
which settled on foul ground This is con-
sidered an Improvement in Yerbiage.
From Section 6. OF the same rule Is
ss.1cken the words. 'ten-fOOt lines ard
added. within ten feet from home base
the ten-foot lines having been discarded
some time since
ITO Section / of Rule IS. which defines