Evening star., 1915-05-23
BASE BALL ROUNDING
OUT ALONG LIFETIME
This Year MARKS Seventieth Ami
versary Of Adoption of the
First Rules.

NEW YORK. May EFT has been
suggested that September 23 of this
year the base ball owners commence
rate in some way the SEVENTEEN ami
versary of the adoption of the play
ing rules which form the basis of the
present code governing the national
pastme. These rules. adopted by the
knickerbocker Association of this city
in 1s45. are interesting, and to de-
gree humorous. when compared with
the rules governing the contests of
today. Probably the only rule existing
seventy years ago which has not been
amended in some way or totally oblit-
Grated by the more commercial man
ayers of the present time is that re-
lating to the number of outs" re-
quired before a team shall take the
field. The rule then expressly stated
that three hands out, all out" and
to the present day this rule is in vogue.
First Rules of the Game.
The rules compiled in 1845 by the
Knickerbocker Association follow:
The bases shall be from home" to
second base, forty-fve PAGES: from first
to third baye. forty-two PAGES, equi-
distant.
The game to consist of twenty one
counts, or aces (runs); but at the con-
clusion an equal number of hands Gn-
nings for each side) must be played.
The ball must be pitched, not thrown,
for the bat.
A ball knocked out of the field. or
outside the range of first or third base,
is foul.
Three balls being struck at and
missed. and the last one caught, is
hand out: if not caught, 1t is con-
sidered fair and the striker bound to
run.
If ball be struck or tipped, and
caught either flying or on the first
bound. it is hand out.
A player running the bases shall be
out if the ball is in the hands of an ad-
is touched with it before he makes his
base; it being understood, however,
that in no instance is ball to be
thrown at him.
A player running, who shall prevent
an adversary from catching or getting
the ball before making his base. is
hand out.
Three hands out, all out.
Players must take their strikes in
regular turn.
All disputes and differences relative
to the game to be decided by the UNI
pire, from which there is no appeal.
No ace (score) or base can be made
on foul strike.
A runner cannot ne put out In makfng
one base when a balk is made by the
pitcher.
But one base allowed when a ball
bounds out of the field when struck.
Imagine Such Rules Today.
Read the above rules over carefully.
you ardent fans Of today. and picture
in your mind the people of today stand
ing for some of them. For instance,
imagine, il you can. the roar that
would go up If J. Franklin Baker. Ty
Cobb, Nap Lajoie or any of the other
heavy batters in the major leagues,
batted the ball out of the field and some
one or other said something of or per-
tanning to the said hit being a foul
Then. again. draw a mental diagram
of fielder catching a batted grounder
on the first hound and the player who
made the hit being declared out.
And again. picture what would hap
pen if a heavy hitter hit a ball, and
said ball bounded out of the field and
the hatsman was only allowed one
base
Bear in mind the many different and
varied cases which the national COM
mission has TO contend with during
the season. and then exercise your men
tai proclivities to the point of fathom-
ing how in the world the players of
yesterday stood for that clause from
which there - NO appeal"