New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-28
NEW RULES OUT
CHANGES FOR UMPIRE
Hare More authority and
Nezcly Defined Duties.

changes in the code of playing rules tha'
govern baseball was given out yesteroas'
ard the code, amended, gives prolhso
of two things particularly Designer
please followers of the sport III 'iie ~
place such Is the care taken In the eeiin'-
ticn of the umpires that wrong oecisioh'
are less likely to occur, and IN Tue SCI
ond place. the umpires authority Is en-
forced by sterner provisions.
The revision this year has obviously
been undertaken in a spirit or determine
ton to accomplish definite objects, anu
great care has been taken in clearing up
sections in which the language Formerly
,sft any room for doubt. Omissions are
supplied. and questioning of lnterpre'a-
lions should be pretty well eliminated In
the case of those properly familiar with
the code
In cricket an umpire must render no ue-
cision except upon appeal. That is, II
man is clean bowled his stump scattered
far and wide, even, he is not out unless
the bowler or a member of the bowler
side asks the umpire having jurisdiction
"How's that?" This seems a silly ruie
to the average American, but traces or IL
have survived in baseball. These are
wiped out in the new code, the first amend
ment this year being in Rule IA, section
4 of which is amended so as to require an
umpire to notice discOloration of the pan.
Possibly the most important change has
to do with the arbitrary power given 10
the umpire to impose fines. 1t is felt thaI
this power will do much to Danish from
the diamond scenes Of minor rowdylsm,
pickering and at times real disorder This
power is conferred in two new sections
of Rule 67, which follow:
Section q The umpire shall assess a fine
Of S. against each offending PLAYER In TN, one
tionally Giscolor or damage the ball; " II
the player fail to be seated on his behcii
within one minute after ordered to do so by
the umpire; go If the player violate the
coaching rules and refuse to be seated on
his bench. within one. minute after ordereu
to do so by the umpire; tD If the captain
fail to notify him when one player IS SUD-
Stituted for another
Section g. In cases where substitute play
ers show their disapproval of decisions by
yelling from the bench; the umpire shaii
first give warning II the Yelling e9G i
the disturbance is still persisted in he shall
clear the bench of all substitute players;
the captain of the team, however, to nave
the privilege Of sending to the clubhouse
for such substitutes are actually needed
to replace players in the game
Il will be noticed that one OF the things
for which a fine is to be imposed is failure
to tell the umpire that a substitution has
been made Rule 10 is so amended as to
provide more definitely for amour cement
by the umpire of substitutions of players.
Still further to provide for the public and
its information in a manner neglected in
many cities in the past notably here In
New York. is an amendment to Rule SO.
Section l. which now reads: The batting
order of each team must be on the score
card and must be delivered to the
RI Of n ma
who have had, in some cases, TO wait for
newspaper accounts to find out who had
been playing before them. are likely to
welcome these changes in no uncertain
way. By the way, if an umpire fails to
announce substitutions, he must, under
Rule g. as amended, be fined S.
The duties of the two umpires, when two
are assigned to game, are more sharply
defined this year than ever before While
they are, in general, equal in authority,
the one at the home plate, for purposes of
definition. is to he known as the umpire in
chief while his associate is TO be called
the field umpire.
Rule 81 is therefore amended consider
ably but much Of the amendment is con-
cerned with phraseology alone. There is a
good deal of valuable new separation of
the duties of the two officials, however,
and Of definition.
The umpire in chief. in addition to his
prime function of calling balls and strikes,
has sole authority to declare a game for
feited. He must go to third base in case
of n ball being hit fair with a runner on
first base, to render a decision there, if
called upon to do If more than one
base is occupied he is required to decide
whether runner leaves third base before
fly ball Is caught. If d runner is caught
between third base and home the umpire
in chief when more than one base is occu-
pied, must render the decision on the run
ner nearest to the plate.
The field umpire is to render all deci-
sions at first base and second, and has
equal authority with the umpire in chief,
save that he may not declare the forfeit
ure of game. Either umpire may. if there
is an appeal by a captain on question of
interpreta ton OF rules. ask his associate for
information or advice. But no such infor-
nation or advice is to be volunteered.
Certain additions to the sections regarding
ground rules serve principally TO clear up
points of occasional dispute. The new sec
tons of Rule Y covering these points fol-
low:
Sec. 2. In case of spectators overlooking
the playing field. the home captain shall
make special ground rules to cover balls
batted or thrown into the crowd. provided
such rules be acceptable to the captain of
the umpire shall have full authority to
make and enforce such special rules, and
he shall announce the scope of same to
the spectators.
Sec. g. In all cases where there are no
spectators on the playing field. and where
a thrown ball goes into stand for spec
tators. or over through any fence sur
rounding the playing field, or into the play
ers' bench (whether the ball rebounds into
the field or not, the runner or runners
shall be entitled 10 two bases. The umpire
in awarding such bases shall be governed
by the position OF the runner or runners at
the time the throw is made.
Sec. 4. The umpire shall also ascertain
from the home captain whether any other
special ground rules are necessary, and il
there be he shall advise the opposing cap
tain of their scope and see that each is
duly enforced, provided they do not con-
fict with any of these rules and are ac-
ceptable to the captain of the visiting
team
The scoring rules are cleared UP. and wild
pitches and passed balls, even If they result
In the scoring of a run. are not to be con-
sidered as errors, reverting to the rule as it
was before 1909 If double or tri pie steal
is attempted and one runner is pat out, the
other, or others, do not get credit for a
stolen base. Legal definition Of a wild
pitch and passed ball is provided in an
additional section to rule IS, as follows
A Il 81