Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-07

that body, containing a complete set
of the reVisions made in the code.
An entire new section has been add
ed to Rule Sc, which relates to when
base runners are out. 1t is known as
Section II, the former Sections II and
Is in the new rule books will be Sec
tons Is and 10. The new section which
governs the actions of the coacher,
reads as follows:
If O coacher at third base touch
or hold a base runner at third :
base, or a base runner who is
rounding third base for the home
plate, the umpire shall declare
such a runner out.
When is a home run not a home
run? That question in past years has
been the subject OF much comment. In
past years Section 2 of Rule As which
governs balls batted outside the
ground read as follows:
A fair batted ball that goes over
the fence or into the stand shall
entitle the batsman to home run,
unless it should pass out of the
ground or into a stand at a less
distance than 235 feet from the
home base, in which case the bats
man shah be entitled to only two
bases.
There have been several cases where
a batter, after making a home run by
hitting the ball over the fence, has
carelessly neglected to touch a GER
tain base In such a case, If a mem
Der of the team in the field called the
attention of the umpire to the play
it has been customary for the umpire
to put new ball in play, and upon a
visiting player touching the base
missed, to declare out the batter who
hit the ball over the fence. The UNI
pire in such plays has always quoted
Rule IS to substantiate such ruling
That rule relates to the scoring of
runs, and specifically says:
One run shall be scored every
time base runner. after having
legally touched the first three
bases, shall legally touch home
plate before three men are put
out.
At 4 glance It can be seen that these
tive rules conflict. One states that the
batter is entitled to a home run when
he hits a ball over a fence which is
the required distance from the home
plate. Yet the other rule says run
can not be scored unless the runner
touches all the bases. Many managers
have contended that since home run
entitled the batter to score il was i'm
possible TO put him out, regardless of
his failure to touch the bases. The
rules committee by the addition of
one short sentence has made definite
tie duties OF the batter after lie hits
Il ball over the fence. The sentence
which follows the rule quoted above
reads as follows:
In either event the batsrsan
must touch the bases in the regu-
lar order.
Plays in which the batter interferes
at the plate. have long puzzled many
people who profess to know the game
pretty well. Just who should be de-
clared out on such plays has often
created much argument and discus
sion. Reading Rule 81 which follows
would lead one to believe that the
batter was always out. 1t is as fol-
lows;
The batsman is out if he at
tempt to hinder the catcher from
fielding or throwing the ball by
stepping outside the lines of the
batsman's position, or in any way
ohstrueting or interfering with
that player.
A perusal Of the above would make
it seem that on all interference plays
at the plate. the batter was always
out Such however, is not the case.
Farther down in the playing code, to
be exact Section Is of Rule So, we find
another Interpretation. That section
reads as follows:
The base runner is out if, with
one or no one out and a base run
ner on third base, the batsman in
terferes with a play at the plate.
Thus again we have a sharp conflict.
One rule says the batter is always
out when interfering with the catcher,
then an exception appears Briefly,
tho Interpretation of the two rules is
as follows; With runners on any base
other than third, the batsman is al
ways out when interfering with the
catcher; with a runner on third and
one or no one out, the runner is out
if the batsman interfere with play
at the plate: with two out and a run
ner on third: the batsman is out
IL he interfere with a play at
the plate. The rules committee got
away with the conflict this year by
adding the following clause at the
bottom of Section 5 of Rule 81;
Except that the batsman shall
not be out under this section if the
base runner be declared out ac-
cording to Section Is of Rule So.
Several years ago the rules COM
mittee decided that any time a field
er stopped a ball by throwing his
glove or cap at the ball the batter was
entitled to three bases. No action was
taken on a thrown ball. Umpires in
the big leagues in the few instances
that such play has come up, have
always granted the runners two bases,
just as if the ball went into the stand
or players bench, which is the rule
covering that point. This year the
committee has Incorporated a clause
III the code which governs the throw
ing of a cap or glove at a thrown
ball. Section 6 of Rule "a now reads:
If a fielder stop or catch a battcd
ball with his cap, glove or any
part of his uniform, while detached
from it's proper place on his per-
son, the runner or runners shall be
entitled to three bases If a batted
bali, or two bases if thrown ball.
The rule relative to an umpire be- |