Norwich bulletin., 1910-03-12
BASEBALL RULE CHANGES.
Powers of Umpires Defined-Changes
in Scoring Rules.

Many amendments and additions
were made to the playing rules for
by the joint rules committee of the
American and National leagues at the
meeting at Pittsburg last month.
These have just made public in de-
tail.
Umpire in Chief.
1t was settled that the umpires are
representatives of the league, and as
such shall have the power to order
player, captain or manager, to do or
omit to do any act which in their
judgment. is necessary to put in force
and effect one or all of these. rules,
and to inflict penalties for violations
prescribed. In order to define their
respective duties the umpire judging
balls and strikes shall be designated
as the umpire in chief. the umpire
judging the base decisions as the field
umpire. The umpire in chief shall
take his position back of the catcher
responsible for the proper conduct of
the game. With the exceptions of the
base decisions to be made by the field
umpire, the umpire in chief shall rem
der decisions that ordinarily would
devolve upon a single umpire, and
which are prescribed in the new rules.
Decision by Field Umpire.
No new clauses were inserted in the
rules for the umpire in chief, but
the field umpire shall render base de-
a ball is hit fair, with the runner on
first, he must go to third base to take
a possible decision; with more than
one base occupied, he shall decide
whether or not runner on third
leaves the base before the fly ball is
caught; in case of the runner being
caught between third and home, when
more than one base is occupied, he
shall make the decision on the runner
nearest to the home plate.
AJhaH DI,Dar n
The umpire in chief shall have the
authority to declare d game forfeited.
The field umpire shall aid the umpire
in chief in every manner of enforc-
ing the rules of the game, and, with
the exception of declaring a forfeiture.
shall have equal authority with tbs
umpire in chief in filming or removing
from the game players who violate
these rules. Undsr no circum stances
shall either umpire criticise or inter-
fere with a decision unless asked by
his associate. The captain shall alone
have the right to protest against a
decision and seek its reversal on a
claim that it is in conflict with a Sec
ton of the rules.
The umpire shall assess a fine of
s. against each offending player in the
following cases: Ii the player inten-
tionally discolor or damage a ball; if
a player fails to be seated on his
bench within one minute after ordered
to do so by the umpire; if the player
violates the coaching rule and refuses
to be seated ON his bench within one
minute after ordered to do so by the
umpire; if the captain fails to notify
him when one player is substituted for
another. In such cases where substi-
tute players show their disapproval by
yelling from the bench the umpire
shall first give them warning. If they
continue to yell the umpire shall fine
each offender SO and if the disturb
ance is still persisted in he shall clear
the bench of all substitute players;
the captain of the team. however to
have the privilege of sending to the
clubhouse for some substitutes as are
actually needed to replace players in
the game.
Substituting Players.
Whenever one player is substituted
for another whether as batsn1an, base
runner or fielder, the captain of the
side making the change must imme-