The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-30
FROM OLD BASEBALL GUIDES
QUAINT AND ODD THINGS IN
RULES OF THE COS.

Early Rule Makers BulIded Well. Game I'm
proving ChIeny In Science NJ Tactics
Ground Troubles Of the Pioneer
FIRST Baseball Invasion OF England
STbose who remember the leading base
ball contests Of 1857 at Hoboken, then the
headquarters Of the fraternity and the
scene Of the principal matches, cannot but
be impressed with the contrast between
the style of play then In vogue and that
which prevails now.
So says the baseball guide of 1871. Prob
ably those who remember baseball OF 1871
nave more reason 70 be impressed by
the changes that have taken place be-
tween then and now than the old timers OF
the still remote period saw a place In
the game. Whatever baseball may have
been before the war, changes in playing
rules and in the tactics Of the game have
been plentiful and extensive since the
late eos and early '7os. The funda-
mental rules Of the game remain much the
same, however. for the first rule makers
builded well. and it is moro in tactics than
in rules that the game has changed-chang-
ing in most cases for the better. In speed
dexterity. science. the game has gone on
improving.
But there is very much Of interest in the old
rule books lore of which the great majority
Of present day baseball patrons know moth
ing Ball grounds in the dim long ago
were not the expensive and elaborate
plants they are now. Hearken to the
book OF 1858:
up to the present season the Union
Club OF Morrisania. N. Y, has practised on
a ground shaped like a triangular segment
Of a circle. fenced in IN all sides with en-
bankments. on which railroads are laid.
and 30 small that while the catcher was
obliged TO play at the apex Of the triangle
the outfelders were compelled to stand
close to the embankment at the lower part
of the field and be ready TO mount the bank
in order to field the ball when batted over
the railroad tracks. as very frequently
happened.
THE noted Athletic Club Of Philadelphia
practises on a ground most miserably
situated and much too small in every way
for a club Of such standing. The ~Irvington
Club OF Irvington, N. j.. for several years
practised on a ground which was 80 irregu-
lar that at times some Of the out
felders would disappear into a miniature
ultSIlt dlld Al oIHO Vi bllo iiiOoN AAiDOb sNAAAe
match games of last season-with the
Mutuals OF New York-played on the new
grounds Of the club after a short but heavy
thunderstorm. the fielders were obliged to
wade after the ball, 30 imperfect was the
drainage and peculiar the formation Of
the ground"
The pitchers box was different then from
now. In 1858 ito determine the pitchers
position it will be necessary TO mark of
IS feet on the line from home TO second
base and here locate the foremost point
OF the position, which must be marked OF
by a line two yards in length; and four feet
from this line, toward second base. a SINH
lar line must be marked as the other bound
airy of the position. Two boards. each two
yards in length, placed edgewise in the
ground, will be found the most eligible
method Of marking the boundary lines
Eligible methods " have changed some
what in forty yearsi
Ethical improvement, too. has taken
place. judging from the following: During
some seasons past. however. manufacture
ers have been found ready TO comply with
the request Of certain unprinciIied parties
and nave furnished balls much larger and
heavier than the rules direct, and it is al.
legged by some. who pretend to be thoroughly
posted, that these balls have been used by
heavy batting clubs in their match games
with less practised adversaries for the
purpose Of running up large scores and
making thereby large averages The
implements of baseball are quantity de-
scribed as the requisite furniture Shin
pads are the 1907 addition TO furniture"
All balls delivered by the pitcher strik-
ing the ground in front of the home base.
or pitched over the head OF the batsman,
or pitched to the ideepposite TO that which
the batsmen strikes from" we're unfair
balls" in those days. Later on the rules
were changed until the batter could call
for a high or low ball, but that restriction
on a pitcher long since was done away with:
1t, together with the custom OF the catcher
playing back until two strikes were called,
has passed into the limbo of the obsolete.
If a ball was ierked or thrown by the
pitcher. anything but pitched. it was a
balk. In this year of grace a pitcher can
jerk a ball, throw it, or push it from his hand
IF he cares to-. Side arm and cross fire
and overland throwing were under the ban
in those days. Last year." the 1868 book
tells US, lin addition to having neither foot
in advance of the front line, the pitcher
was obliged to have both feet on the ground
at the time Of delivering the ball. But
this position was undoubtedly injurious"
and the queer requirement was abolished.
The pitcher OF the Oriental club Of Green
point, n. Y, some few seasons since, would
twist not only the ball but his wrist and
arm in a manner most painful TO behold"
Perhaps that is where the simple twist OF
the wrist" originated. The guide says all
these squirmings were unnecessary n
should be avoided"
The striker-nowadays the batter-had
to stand astride of u line drawn through
the centre of the home plate and parallel
with the front line OF the pitchers position.
A third strike was out if caught on the first
bound; also a foul caught on the first
bound.
AS baseball is played nowadays, a game is
over IL in the ninth or any additional inning
the side last at bat makes a run that breaks
a tie. II was not 80 in the old days, judg-
ing from the following rule:
The game shall consist OF nine innings to
each side, when. should the number OF runs be
equal. the play shall be continued until a ma
jority OF runs. upon an equal number Of
innings. shall be declared. which shall con-
clude the game. An innings must be con-
cluded at the time the third hand Is out.
Substitutions OF players were not al
lowed except for sickness or injury after
the third inning OF the game. That would