Evening journal., 1908-04-10
RULES FIENDS
SHOULD KNOW
They Engender Many Argu-
mentS But Are Here in
SimpIified Form
HOW TO FIND AVERAGES

With the exception of two new rules
enacted by the joint rules committee Of
the National League and the American
League, in February, the baseball code
remains the same as last year. 4 rule that
will prove popular with the spectators is
the one which prohibits pitchers from
soiling the ball before delivering it TO the
latter. This habit on the part of the Pitch
ers resulted in delays, but II the intent OF
the rule is carried out next season all this
wi be eliminated. Pitchers are pro aibited
from rubbing the ball on the ground or
grass. Some managers claim that It will
te dead ,etter." as there is nothing TO
prevent the pitcher from filling his mitt
with dirt and remove tho gloss from the
al by that areihod Whether pitches Will
be permitted TO evade the rule in this way
viii depend Oh the rulings of the umpires.
The other new rule relates to the scor-
ing Of sacrifice hits. The amendment to
this rule reads as follows: "A sacrifice hit
shall be credited to a batsman, when no
one is out, or when but one man is out,
when he hits fly ball that is caught but
results in run being scored" Heretofore
a batter received no credit for scoring
run on fiyout to the outfeld. This viii
naturally have tendency to boost batting
averages all along the line, as it will not
count a time at bat
! Official Ball-The official ball must
weigh not less than hve nor more than
five and one-auarter ounces. and measure
not less than nine nor more than nine and
one-quarter inches in circumference.
The Bat-The bat must be round, not
over two and three-quarter inches in di-
aineter in thickest part, nor more than
forty inches long.
4 Warming Up-Pitchers, at the beginning
Of each inning. are allowed to throw I'VE
balls to catcher or inielder for warming
up practice.
Time Allowed Pltchers-If a pitcher oc-
cupies more than twenty seconds in de-
livering the ball to the batter the umpire
may call ball for each offense Of this
nature.
BlocK Ball-Whenever a person not en-
gagged in the game touches a batted or
thrown hall "block ball'' results. and
runners shall be privileged to advance
around the bases until the BAH is thrown
to the pitcher standing in his position.
Time Allowed Batters-A batter fall
I ing to take his position within one minute
after the umpire summons him will be
called out.
Interference-The batter shall be called
out if he attempts to hinder the catcher
from fielding or throwing the bah.
Fair Hit-A fair hit is a legally batted
ball that settles on fair ground in the
infeld or that bounds from fair ground to
the outfeld inside Of first base or third
base, or that touches the person Of a
player or the umpire on fair ground.
Bunt Hit-A bunt hit is a legally batted
ball, not swung at by the batter
Out on a Bunt-The batter is out on a
bunt that rolls foul IL the attempted bunt
is made on the third strike.
Infieid Fly-A batter is out on a poI
ny to the infeld. with first and second or
first. second and third bases occupied, pro
vided the fly is batted before two men
were out.
Three strikes-The batter is out wher
three strikes are called and first base is
occupied, whether the catcher holds thu
ball or not. except there be two out a
the time.
A Base Hit-A base hit is credited to the
batter when the ball strikes fair ground
outside Of the reach Of the felders; wher
the BAH is partially or wholly stopped By
fielder in motion, but such player cam
not recover himself in time to field the
ball to first before the batter reaches tha
base; a base hit is also credited to tbs
batter when he hits the ball with sue
force that the player cannot handle the
ball in time to put out the batter or force
out base runner In cases of doubt tn,
batter is credited with a hit and the