The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-03

as to puzzle even those who take the time to acquaint themselves with the latter are numerous. One that cropped up last season and which had even the umpires guessing was in regard to tag ging first base. According 10 the ruies' a man going to first base can oVerrun the latter without danger of being put out while returning, provided he turns to the right after crossing the bag. II he turns to the left he takes his cchance of getting back or going to the next base. In the case In Questlon the runner turned to the right and started to walk, when he saw that tne first baseman had missed the ball. Then he ran for second without touching the bag. There are two decisions on tnls point. In one instance the runner was called out several years ago. while last season 1t was held that the runner did not have to touch the bag again betore starting for second. Umpires m the American Association have insisted that the runner must touch the bag before going to second.
 Another play which caused trouble last season in the minor leagues ana which two years ago caused league umpire to go wrong was in regard to the double play rule. In this instance 1t happened that a man was on nrst base and one on third. The batter hit a fly which loked as If 1t were go ing safe. Instead the fielder caught It In the meantime the runner on nrst had started around the bases, while the one on third hung to the bag, as he had plenty of time to get home If the drive was a safe one. When the catch was made he scored while the runner was caught off first. The run was not allowed by the umpire, on the ground that 1t was scored on double play This ruling was wrong, as the double play was not a forced one. This rule was in several instances misinterpreted in. the minor leagues last season.
 There were two other rules which caused trouble more than once last sea son. One of these was in regard to a runner going out of line to first. The rule provides that the runner IS out IT he runs the last half of the distance to first out of the line. In one instance q haze runner did not run more than a half dozen feet before he turned aside and went to the bench. Instead or tagging the runner or throwing the ball to first the catcher rolled IL out mast the pitcher, while the base runner got up off the bench, went back to the home plate and walked down to hrsI There was a small sized riot, ana tne umpire finally ruled that under the ruIe he was safe, which was correct solution of the problem under strict
 Tn another instance it 50 happened that a base runner got by ys secon6 tSa onSe ims pression that he must return 10 nrst on a foul. As matter or fact ne should have held second, and when ne was between first and second he found himseif being chased down. He finally managed to get back to first. which was unoccupied at the time. The clam was raised that he was out, as he had no right to fifst base after touching sec ond. He was finally called sate' whicn was the correct decision.
 Another play which puzzles even the big league ball players and on which members of some big league teams were willing to bee money on sho wrong side last season. was the slide mast 3he home plate. About half the piayers content that a man who slides past the plate. without touching the hebind inc lines until he is tagged by inc catcher. As a matter of fact, the play is covered by the rule regarding ner is not touched as he slides past the catcher, and he does not, violate the three-foot rule, he can walk 10 the