Year: 1877

In addition to the change alreaoy
noted in the playing rules OF base ball
as adopted by the league of 1877 at the
convention in Cleveland recently, are
the following:


The ball to be played with is the one
known last season as the Mahn dead
ball. 'con tanning one or. solid rubber
The bases with the exception of the
home base have been enlarged from
one foot to fifteen inches square. The
home base is now placed inside the dia-
mond, its outer bases touching the foul
ball lines instead of outside the diamond
as of late. The strikers position is not
enlarged, but it has been removed from
two feet in front to four in the rear OF
the line drawn through the center OF
the home plate, so as to give three feet
on each side of the line.
Another amendment requires line
to be drawn fifteen feet from and paraiiei
to the foul ball lines, asa boundary IN
side of which the captain and his assist
ants are not permitted to encroach
| in running their men around the bases
A line is also to be drawn fifty feet dls.
taut from the foul ball lines, out OF
which the remaining players on the bat
| ting side must remain.


No substitute can take his place on
nine after the second innings has been
piayed. unless, of course, in case OF i'll
ness or injury. In place of five minutes
being the limit for declaring game Oh
in case of rain, the time has been ex-
tended to half al hour.


The rules regarding players being In
terested on bets or pools on games III
which they are engaged have been MADE
more stringent. .r,


An additional section says: Inc
club is entitled to the best service ol
the player, and if any player becomes
Indifferent or careless in his play OF
from any cause becomes unable to rem


der service satisfactory to his club


it may at its option refuse to pay sal


ary for such time, or may cancel the con


tract of such player


1t was also decided that no league clut
should be allowed to enter in CONTRACT
with any player whose servicesany othe
club, in or out of the league, should b'


entitled to by written contract. Neithe


can any player in any outside pro
fessional club be engaged for League
team after the 18th of March, If sait


player is bound to the said club by an!


written or otherwise legal contract.
The rule governing the delivery OF tn
ball by the pitcher is changed by requir
ing the hand holding the ball to pas


below the line of the belt, instead OF tn
, hip. =,
The belt has also been made tn


boundary line in the batting department
instead of the waist. A low ball is on
that passes below the belt and not lowe


than the knee of the batter, and hig
: ball is one that passes above the belt an
not higher than the shoulder.


The umpire is authorized to give
Q striker out if in lis opinion he strike
a at the ball with view of baking tn
d catcher. ..,
!. The rule governing the running oftl
G bases has been changed 70 as TO prevei
u the base runner from running inside ii
d line from home to first base. lfbe rui
It in toward the infeld before touchir
= first he is to be declared cut. There
y also an amendment permitting the ba
/" runner to run behind fielder and
1T the line of the base to avoid interferir
1t with the fielder in the act of fielding Il


ball.


a The rule declaring a base-runner o,


who knocks the ball out of the hand


the fielder while in the act of runnil
n to base has been expunged, and ne
m one inserted, requiring the baseman
m hold the ball or the runner Ii not o,
On Another new rule gives the base rum
W. ont, if. while running from base to ba
be he sbould be struck by batted bs
nj whether he tried 10 avoid il or not.


Registering turnstiles nave 10
ry placed at the entrances TO ciup groun
nd and visiting clubs are to receive hite