Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-08-08
UNUSUAL SITUATION
HAS WHOLE NATIONAL
LEAGUE IN WORRY
Batting-Out-Order Play in Re-
cent Game Now Center of
Discussion
NO PRECEDENT is FOUND
Three Solutions Already Offered
With Umpires Still Arguing
the Question

PITTSBURG, Aug. 8.-Baseban
abounds in unusual situations and
often the majors produce freak
plays that it would seem could net
possibly occur among the amateurs.
VINO should be called out?
That's mystery that still envnl-
opes a batting out-of-order plav
that came up in a recent game in
which Pittsburg was the offending
side.
The Pirates batting order called
for Rawlings to be the first man
up in certain ming. Grimm fol-
lowed him in the batting order and
then came Gooch.
Instead of Rawlings going TO
bat first, Grimm stepped to the
plate and singled Grimm, of
course, had batted out of order.
but at the time no attention was
paid to the fact. Then Rawlings,
who should have batted first, steo-
ned to the plate and singled, send
ing Grimm to second.
In other words, Grimm and Raw
lings simnly reversed their nosi-
tions in the batting order. Then
Gooch stepped to the plate Had a
hall ben pitched to Gooh all would
have been WELL but before any
pitch was made to Gooch the team
in the field realizing mistake had
been made in the batting order ap-
pealed to the umpire for a ruling.
Who should be called ont?
The umpire in charge was called
npon to render a ruling on a plav
that has never before come up in
the major leagues. There was no
precedent for him to follow.
The rule says that if PLAYER bat
ont of order the mistake must be
discovered before a hall has been
pitched to a succeeding hatsman
and an appeal is made to the UNI
pirp for a ruling.
Grimm batted out Of order. but
no anpeal was made, and the pitch
err threw TO Rawlings. who also
singled. Then decision was re-
quested.
The umnire, trifle confused bo-
cause Of the strangeness Of the
happening. decided to call RAWLINGS
ont. permit Grimm TO remain on
first and allow Gooch TO bat.
On thinkino it over that even
ing it was said he decided that he
had been in error, that the proper
thing to have done was to simply
disregard Rawlings, and when he
hit safety after Grimm had singled,
that it would have been correct to
have called out Gooch, who was
the player who should have fol-
lowed Grimm.
Such a ruling would have elm
mated Rawlings entirely, sent
Grimm back to first and retired
Gooch.
Since then another angle has
been raised.
Some major league umpires con-
tend that the succeeding batsman
can only be the player called for in
the lineup as given to the umpire.
Other umpires contend that any
batter who steps into the box aft
er another batter becomes the sue
ceeding batsman.
The new angle to the play is that
it would have been proper to have
simply called Rawlings out and
made Grimm bat over.
1t seems that who should be call
ed out depends entirely on who is
regarded as the succeeding bits
man.
Three solutions have already
been offered and major league UNI
pires are still arguing the point
without being able to agree.
A decision from President Hey
dler on the point would be inter
esting, since it would establish a
precedent.
Who is the succeeding batsman
is the big issue.
Who should be called out is even
more important.