Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-20

mittee on revision of code of playing
rules Of the National base ball league
has prepared it's report and forwarded
the same to President Young. The re-
port, which is signed by its three mem
bers Of the committee, Messrs. Hart,
Reach and Hanon, recommends in sub
stance the following changes in the
present rules:
Rule 1.-THE catcher must stand
within the lines of his position as de-
fined in Rule 8, whenever the pitcher
delivers the ball to the bat.
This change is recommended to pre-
vent the catcher from playing outside
the lines of his position in order to
field hunted balls, which action per-
mits the pitched ball to go to the back
stop from whence it has to be followed,
greatly delaying the game.
Rule 19-Every club shall adopt uni
forms for its players, and the suits of
each team shall conform in color and
style.
Rule 20-The players benches must
be placed upon a portion of the
ground % feet, no more, no less, out
side of the players lines. The benches
must be covered by a roof and closed
at the back and at each end, a space,
however, not more than six inches
wide may be left just under the roof
Cow ventilation C111h nrncidnntc. arQ
not, as formerly, permitted to occupy a
seat on the bench. Section 2 of this
rule is changed so that a player dis
obeying the rule in regard to taking
his seat on the bench may be fined $40,
and if the umpire's order is not then
obeyed the offending player shall be
debafred from the game and obliged
to leave the field.
According to the terms of rule "a, if
a game is called on count of dark
ness or rain, if the side at bat shall
be for completion of its unfinished in
ming have one or more runs than the
side first at bat, the score shall be the
total number of runs made.
Rule q provides that substitute
players shall be required to wear uni
forms conforming to the suits worn
by their team mates.
Rule 32-A balk shall be:
Section 2: The throwing of the ball
by the pitcher to any base to catch the
base runner without first stepping
directly towards said base Immediately
before throwing the ball.
Section 3: Any delivery Of the ball
to the bat by the pitcher while his
pivot foot is not in contact with the
pitchers plate and he is not facing the
batsman as defined in rule 20.
Section 4: Any motion in deliver
ing the ball to the bat by the pitcher,
while not in the position defined in
rule 20.
Section 5: The holding of the ball
by the pitcher so long as, in the opin-
ion of the umpire, to delay the game
unnecessarily.
Section s: Standing in position and
making any motion to pitch without
having the ball in his possession.
Section s: If the pitcher delivers the
ball to the bat when the catcher is
standing outside the lines of the
catcher's position, as defined in rule 8.
If the pitcher fails to comply with
the requirements of any section of this
rule, the umpire must call "a balk."
Sections l and Z are similar to the
rules in force last season.
These recommendations contemplate
radical changes, and are in the interest
of base running:
Rule AZ provides that a fair battea
ball that goes over the fence at a less
distance than 2S5 feet from the home
base shall entitle the runner to two
bases only.
Section 5 of rule 43 makes a caught
foul tip a strike.
To rule As, which defines when the
batsman is out, a new section is added
as follows:
If when leaving the home plate a
batsman Injuries the umpire or catcher
by the act of throwing his bat; in
which case no bases shall be run or
run scored.
This is to prevent the vicious prac-
tees of Intentionally injuring an UNI
pire or catcher by striking them with
a thrown bat.
Rule 46-The batsman becomes a
base runner
Section 5: Instantly after a "balk"
is called by the umpire.
Section 6: If while he be a batsman,
the catcher interferes with him., pre-
venting him from striking the ball.
Rule % makes it an offense for a
coacher to incite or try to incite the
spectators to demonstrations, and he
shall not use language which will in
any manner refer to or reflect upon a
player of the opposite club, the UNI
pire or the spectators. The umpire
shall at once fine a player $40 for il
legal coaching and remove him from