The San Francisco call., 1910-02-28

lhe 9olnt committee on rules. which met
In Pittsburg on January -. This COM
mittee, composed of President T. J.
Lynch of the National league, Clarke
Griffith, John A Heydler. C II. sum
mers, Charles A. Comiskey and B. r.
Shibe. ordered the changes made for
the best interests of baseball. and it is
believed that the present code of rules
viii amply cover every possible point of
the game
There were so many wrangles and so
much trouble over rules and decisions
of umpires in the big leagues during
the last two years that the committee
felt that the rules must be amended
before serious damage was done to the
sport. not only in the Ma ationaI and
American leagues, but in every other
league throughout the United States
and Canada These rules viii, Of course,
be rigidly enforced, just as they have
been in the past. and the umpires viii
be given more authority than ever.
The president of every league in the
country. together with all the managers
OF the various teams, have been mailed
copies Of the revised rules. with in
srructions 10 see that they lived UP to
TO the letter. 1t is the opinion of the
big powers of baseball that all rowdy-
ism and kicking" on the diamond must
come 10 an end at once, and the new
rules should do a whole lot toward
bringing about the desired result
Among the more important changes
ordered by the committee are the fol-
lowing:
Rule 2S-SubStitutes-Sec. I. When
ever one player is substituted for an
other. whether as batsman, base runner
or fielder. the captain Of the side max
ing The change must Immediately no
Jify the umpire. who IN turn must an
uounce the same TO the spectators.
fine of s. shall be assessed by the UNI
pire gainsf the captain for each viola
tiOn Of this rule, and the president Of
the league shall impose similar fine
q inst the umpire who, after having
been notified Of n change, fails to make
proper announcements Play shall be
suspended while announcement is being
made. md the player substituted shall
become actively engaged in the game
Immediately upon his captains notice
eof the cha nge TO the umpire
Rule 32-An Unfairly Delivered Ball.
An unfairly delivered ball is a ball de-
liNered TO the bat by the pitcher while
standing in his position and facing the
hatsman that does not pass over any
portion of the home base between the
batsman's shoulder and knees, or that
touches the ground before passing
home base, unless struck at by the
batsmsn, or, with the bases unoccupied.
any ball delivered by the pitcher while
either foot is not in contact with the
pitchers plate For every unfairly de-
Iivered Dali the umpire shall call one
RuIe ss-BaII Not in Play. In case
II an illegally batted ball. d balk, foul
hit bah not legally caught dead ball,
interference with the fielder or bats
man. or q fair hit ball striking base
runner or umpire before touehing
fielder. the ball shall not be consid-
cred in play until il be held by the
pitcher standing in his. position and the
umpire shall have called play.
RuIe 39-The order of Batting. Sec
tion !. The batting order of each team
must be on the score card and must be
delivered before the game by its cap
tain to the umpire al the home plate.
Rule 5O-An Illegally Batted Ball. An
:. illegally batted bail is ball batted
hV the batsmau when either or botD
of his feet are upon the ground out
side the lines Of the batsmans position.
Rule 55-ReturninG to Bases. Sec
tion s. If the umpire be struck by
fair hit ball before touching a fielder:
in which case no base shall be run un-
less necessitated by the batsman be-
coming = base runner. and no run shall
be scored unless all the bases are occu-
pied.
batsmsn or another base runner out for
Rule 5s-The Scoring of Runs. A
force out can be made only when a
base runner legally loses the right to
the base he occupies by reason of the
batsman becoming base runner, and
he is thereby obliged to advance
Rule 60-UmpireS and Their Duties
Power TO Enforce Decisions. The UNI
pires are the representatives of the
league and as such are authorized and
required to enforce each section of this
code. They shall have the power TO
order 2 player. captain or manager TO
do or omit TO do any act which in their
Judgment is necessary to give force and
effect 10 one or all Of these rules. and
10 iufict penalties for violations Of the
rules as hereinafter prescribed. In or
der TO define their respective duties. the
umpire Judging balls and strikes shall
be designa ted as the umpire in CHER;
the umpire judging base decisions as
the field umpire.
Rule 6I-The Umpire in Chief. Sec
ton l. The umpire in chief shall take
position back of the catcher; he shall
have fun charge Of and be responsible
for the proper conduct of the game
With exception of the base decisions
10 be made by the field umpire. the
umpire in chief shall render all the
decfsions that ordinarily would de-
volve upon a single umpire, and which
are prescribed for the umpire in these
playing rules.
2 ball" any unfair ball delivered by
the pitcher TO the batsman- He shall
also call and count as strike any
fairly delivered ball which passes over
anv portion Of the home base and with
IN the batsrnan's legal range Is defined
in Rule 81. whether struck at or not
By the batsman; or foul tip which is
caught by the catcher standing within
the lines of his position, within 10 feet
Of the home base. or which. after being
struck al and not hit. strikes the per-
son OF the batsman; or when the ball
be hunted foul by the batsman: or any
foul lift ball not caught on the fly un
less the batsman has two strikes. pro-
vfded. however. that pitched bail shall
not be called or counted ball or
strike" by the umpire until it has
rassed the home plate.
section g. He shall render base de-
cisions in the following instances: %
If the bali is hit fair, with a runner
on first, he must go to third base TO
~ Ike a possible decision; 90 with more
than one base occupied he shall decide
whether or not runner on third leaves
that hase before fly ball is caught;
C2o in case Of a runner being caught
between third and home. when more
fhan one base is occupied, he shall
make the decision Oh the runner near
est the home plate.
section 4. The umpire in chief alone
shall have authority 20 declare game
forfeited
Rule 62-The Field Umpire Section
j. The field umpire shall take such
positions on the playing field rs IN his
Judgment are best suited for the rem
dering OF base decisions. He shall
render all decisions at first base and
second base and all decisions at third
L. H.. h. rIt.,