Evening star., 1919-04-26

hit and run sign is flashed The rum
ner on first is or for second AZ the
pitcher starts his wind-npn He is
two-ihirds OF the way down before
the batter connects. it is-a sharp
srounder 10 the shortstop..The short
stop fumb!es the bali. apd5 realizes
there is not much OF chance for q
play a second. When he starts his
throw we viii say the runner from
hrst had just touched second, or was
coming down on his last step. per-
haps six inches from the bag. when
The shortstop. started his peg. In
such plays the umpire il forced 80
draw hairline decisions. If the piAy-
ing code is followed. Every thing de-
pend.> on when the player started The
throw, and where The runner WAS
when he throw WAS made.
Ii the runner. in the opinion of the
umpire. lad touched second before
the throw WAS started. then on the
overthrow that went into the stand.
he would he entitled to score Thus
the runner originally on frs, base
would he permitted 10 advance three
bases on the play--the base lie gain
ed before the throw WAS started and
two bases in addition-because OF the
overthrow. The batsmsn Nas per-
haps within six feet OF i,st when the
shortstop cut loose. On the same
play. the other runuer--the batsman
is allowed only 10 go TO second
base. thus advancing merely two
bases.
In the American league no attention
is paid TO where the runner was when
the throw vas started. The start OF
the play in The A american League is tho
wiud-up of the pitcher. and he is AL
lowed to advance on an overthrow
into the stands two bases from where
he was. when the delivery started.
There is no chance for a dispute as 10
whether the runner had just reached
the base or failed 10 do 80, which is
always sure. TO arise when the play
narrOws itself down to matter OF
inches.
the Polo Grounds Ia New York are
less than ninety feet from the home
plate. A similar condition exists at
the Boston American League park.
When a pitched ball hits such a
stand. the batsrlan is entitled. with
a base. Both leagues agree the run
ner should be entitled TO one base. as
stipulated in the rules. but differ on
the possibility OF further advance
ment.
When pitcher makes wild
pitch. the base runner or runners are
not positive the ball is going to hit
the stand, hence they make an effort
to advance more than one base. n ii
does not. That is proper. However
il National League runner tried to
go from first to third OH wild pitch
and the ball hit the Stand. which IL
less than ninety feet from the plate
and then bounded off, the runner
would be declared out if the catcher
could get him at third. In the AmetI-
ican Lea que the moment the ball hits
the stand. which IL less than ninety
feet from home base. it is regarded
as out of play.
The runner can advance only one
base. If. on such play an American
League runner reached third base or
was thrown out. no attention would
be paid to either happening, the
runner would be merely sent back
TO second. The American League al
lows only one base, while the Nation
al League grants one base, and more
il the runner can make it, :
Both major leagues pay no atren-
tton to any act of the eoache,. at
third. such action is at a time when
there is no chance for play on the
runner The rules say. base runner
~ out II. the coacher touches him at
third or rounding third for tho plate
Literally. il man hits a home-run
oGer the fence aud the 6oacher as he
r'unded third gave him slap or en-
coura cement OH the back he would
nave to be declared out by The un-
pre- On such drive there is no
chance for a play and any. act or
the eoacher at such time is over.
looked
Copyright. 1919, by W G Ey,n.,'