Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-31
CHANGES MADE
ARE SWEEPING
BASEBALL RULES ARE MUCH
IMPROVED
MANY OBSOLETE LAWS ARE
MADE MODERN
Batters and Pitchers Most Advana
tageousIy Affected by Revis-
ion of Code for Season
of 1910

The results of the deliberations OF
the members of the joint rules COM
mittee appointed by both big leagues
to revise, amend and repeal the various
rules governing the play of the great
national game that are deemed either
obsolete or inadequate to meet the re-
quirements of modern baseball, have
been given out by the committee in
brief form, so that all those interested
may become acquainted with these
changes and be governed accordingly.
Following Is the brief summary of
changed rules as announced by the
committees
The coacher's box has been limited,
so that the coacher cannot approach
nearer to first base than 10 feet. The
deadline is drawn at an imaginary line
directly through first and second base.
The captain will no longer have to APP
peal to an umpire for small offenses,
such as the discoloring of new balls,
etc. 1t has been placed up to the
Judge of play to watch these things
| himself.
When player is substituted or shift
ed from one position to another the
captain must notify the umpire and
the latter must announce this fact to
the spectators. If either captain or
umpire fails, the fine is So.
The batting order of both teams must
he delivered by the respective cap
tains to the umpire at the home plate
before play begins, and the players
thereon must participate in the game.
Formerly when a player out of po-
sition batted a ball this was called
foul: henceforWard it will be known
as an illegally batted ball.
A batter cannot change position at
the plate if the pitcher is already in
position.
The batter is entitled to a base if a
batted ball hits the umpire on fair
ground.
If a ball passes the catcher or in
fielder and touches the umpire on foul
ground runner is entitled to all he can
get There will no longer be any dead
balls"
Runner is allowed three balls if
player on the defense throws glove
or a mask at a batted ball and sue
ceeds in hitting it or impeding its
progress.
If umpire be hit by fair ball before
ball gets to fielder a man on third
cannot score unless forced.
The umpire judging balls and strikes
is the "chief,'' and he has jurisdiction
over third base when the runner at
tempts to score on fair hit; and also
on all plays on runners between third
and home The chief is also invested
ohNA'NN''
other umpire has jurisdiction over first
and second bases also third base, eX-
cept in cases like those just mentioned
| In case one umpire shall miss play
the other shall rule on it. The chlet
| umpire may assess fines of 50 on the
| following offenses: Player discolorinS
! ball player ordered to bench and re-
fusiLs to obey within one minute; play
er violating coaching rules; player mt
! 81, catcher WIN Dttl,
| whether intentional or not
! Substitute players on the bench can
| NOT veil or coach from their position.
/ Tbev will first be warned by the UNI
| nire and for each following offense a
| fine of $40 will be imposed; and II TINS
| does not stop them, umpire has power
to order all such players to the club
house. and if captain should need any
| of them he shall b4ing them out as
desired.
Umpire must announce batteries, sub
s+itutions. ground rules and also the
| time in which the game is to end when
| tho captains have previously agreed TO
cut the contest short
Umpire can call game on account of
rain when in his own judgment furtner
! nlav is impossible He needn't wait for
| spectators to leave the open stands.
Every player gets an assist VINO as
ssts in pla., even though he Is credit
ed with a putout. Thus a player can
get putout anu assist on the same =, pi%S, ~
Wild Pitches and passed palls VIII NC
| credited as errors.
Games must start 31a hours prior TO
train time if either of playing teams
must leave early for long jurney.
In over-running first base batter may
t,,rn toward second if he make no ell
fort to reach that bag.