Chadwick's Base-ball Manual for 1871

Chadwick's base ball manual Continued...

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO UMPIRES FOR 1871.

ON CALLING BALLS AND STRIKES.

In calling balls, the umpire is to be guided by the following rules : —

CALLING BALLS.

When the striker takes his stand at the home base, — which he should do with one foot on each side of the line of the base, and not standing nearer to the base than one foot from it, — the umpire should ask the striker whether he wants "a high ball" or "a low ball" pitched to him; and being answered, he should direct the pitcher to deliver the ball accordingly. If the striker calls for a "low ball," then the umpire must consider all balls not pitched over the home base nor between the height of the knee and waist of the striker, as unfair balls. If a high ball be called for, then the umpire must regard all balls not sent in between the height of the waist and shoulder of the striker, and over the home base, as unfair balls. Should the striker not choose to call for either a high or low ball, then the umpire must regard every ball sent in over the home base, and between the height of one foot from the ground and the shoulder of the batsman, as fair balls.

No ball must be called on the first ball sent in to each striker.

CALLING STRIKES.

The umpire, in calling strikes, should be guided by the following rules : —

After the striker has called for the ball he wants, if he fails to strike at the first ball sent in at the height he calls for, —provided it is not the first ball pitched to him, the umpire must call strikes on him. Should he refuse to ask for a ball sent in at any particular height, then the umpire must call strikes on the batsman if the latter fail to strike at the first ball pitched to him between knee-high and shoulder-high, provided the ball is also pitched over the home base. No strike, however, can be called on the batsman for not hitting at any ball which is not pitched over the home base, or not pitched at the height he has called for; neither can a strike be called on the first ball sent in, unless the batsman strike at it.

BALLS TOUCHING THE UMPIRE.

The umpire must regard every ball which is pitched so as to touch his person, as a " dead ball," on which neither a player can be put out or a base runner take a base. But the umpire must avoid standing within the lines leading from the pitcher to the catcher which intersect the outer edges of the home base.

BASES GIVEN ON PASSED BALLS.

In case the fence, located behind the catcher, is less than ninety feet from the home base, the umpire must award to each man running a base one base on every ball passing the catcher which touches the fence, unless the fence mark the boundary of the grounds; the base runner, of course, being privileged to run the risk of' making an additional base to that given him on the passed ball.

OVERRUNNING FIRST BASE.

In case a player running from home base to first base touches the first base before the base player holds the ball on the base, the umpire must decide the base runner entitled to such base, even if the latter overruns the base. In such case, however, the base runner must promptly return to the base after overrunning it, and not attempt to make second base before he first returns and touches the first base, or else he will be liable to be put out. This rule only applies to players running from home to first base.

THE PENALTY FOR BALKING.

When the umpire sees that the pitcher is throwing the ball either in the ordinary way, or by an underhand throw, he must simply call balls on every balked ball delivered; and this he must do until the requisite number of balked balls have been called to give the nine at the bat three first bases, in which case the game becomes forfeited by the nine whose pitcher has thus infringed the rules of the game governing fair pitching.

THE STRIKER'S AND CATCHER'S POSITIONS.

The umpire must see that the striker does not stand nearer to the home base than one foot from either side of it; and also that the catcher does not stand within six feet of the home base when receiving the ball from the pitcher while the batsman is at the home base.

BALLS KNOCKED OUT OF FIELDER'S HANDS.

In case a ball is knocked out of a fielder's hand while the latter is in the act of touching a base runner, the umpire must decide the base runner out, unless it is palpable that the player did not hold the ball; but should there be any doubt of the fact, then the base runner must be decided out.

THE UMPIRE CANNOT BE PAID.

No umpire can legally act in a match game, in which either professional or amateur club nines are contestants, who is in any way pecuniarily compensated for his services.

THE LIABILITY OF SUBSTITUTES.

The moment a substitute takes his stand by the side of the batsman, he becomes a player on the batting side; and the moment a fair ball has been struck by the batsman, that moment the substitute becomes liable to be put out, either by being touched before reaching the first base, or in any other way as provided for putting batsmen out who strike a fair ball. In the case of three strikes being called, and the ball be not caught on the third strike, the batsman cannot be put out unless lie runs to first base. In this instance, the substitute alone can be put out between home and first base. The batsman, however, can be put out on foul balls caught, or on three strikes, provided the ball be caught on the third strike called. When the batsman is out the substitute is also out and vice versa.

THE PLAYING RULES OF
BASE BALL, FOR 1871,

As reported by the Committee of Rules of the National Association at the Convention of Nov. 30, 1870; and as readopted by the. National Association of Amateur Players, March 16, 1871, and by the Professional Convention of March 17, 1871. Revised by the late Chairman of the Committee of Rules of 1870.

RULE FIRST.

THE BALL, BAT, AND BASES.

Section 1. The ball must weigh not less than five nor more than five and one-quarter ounces avoirdupois. It must measure nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. It must be composed of India-rubber and yarn, and covered with leather; the quantity of rubber used in the ball shall be
one ounce.

[The change in this section lessens the circumference of the ball by a quarter of an inch, no margin for variation in size being allowed; and the amount of rubber must be neither more nor less than one ounce.]

Sect. 2. In the first and third games of a series the ball shall be furnished by the challenging club, and in the second game by the challenged club. But when single games are played only, the ball shall be furnished by the challenging club. In all cases the ball shall become the property of the winning club as a trophy of victory.

Sect. 3. The bat must be round, and must not exceed two and a half inches in diameter in the thickest part. It must be made of wood, and shall not exceed forty-two inches in length.

Sect. 4. The bases must be four in number, placed at equal distances from each other, and securely fastened upon each corner of a square whose sides are respectively thirty yards. The bases must be so constructed and placed as to be distinctly seen by the umpire, and must cover a space equal to one square foot of surface. The first, second, and third bases shall be canvas bags, painted white, and filled with some soft material; the home base and pitcher's points to be each marked by a flat plate, painted white.

Sect. 5. The base from which the ball is struck shall be designated the home base, and must be directly opposite to the second base; the first base must always be that upon the right-hand, and the third base that upon the left-hand side of the striker, when occupying his position at the home base. And in all match games a line connecting the home and first base and the home and third base, as also the lines of the striker's and pitcher's position, shall be marked by the use of chalk, or other suitable material, so as to be distinctly seen by the umpire. The base bag shall be considered the base, and not the post to which it is, or should be, fastened.

Sect. 6. The line of the home base shall extend three feet on each side of the base, and it shall be drawn parallel to a line extending from first to third base.

RULE SECOND.

THE PITCHING DEPARTMENT.

Section 1. The pitcher's position shall be designated by two lines, two yards in length, drawn at right angles to the line from the home to the second base, having their centers upon that line at two fixed iron plates, placed at points fifteen and seventeen yards distant from the home base. The pitcher, when commencing to deliver the ball to the bat, must stand within these lines, and he must remain within them until the ball has left his hand.

[The change in this section is simply in altering the wording by transferring a portion of it to another section.]

Sect. 2. Should the pitcher repeatedly fail to deliver to the striker fair balls, for any cause, the umpire must call one ball; and if the pitcher persists in such action, two and three balls. When three balls shall have been called, the striker shall take the first base without being put out; but no base runner shall take a base on third-called balls unless he is obliged to vacate the base he occupied. No ball shall be called on the first ball pitched, and not until the ball has passed the home base. With this exception, all unfair balls must be called in the order of their delivery.

[The only change in this section is in adding the words "in the order of their delivery," which empowers the umpire to call all unfair balls in succession, if they are so delivered. For instance, the first ball cannot be called, and is not counted, and, as the rule says, "should the pitcher repeatedly fail," it follows that no ball can be called until he has pitched the second ball unfairly.]

Sect. 3. All balls pitched over the home base, and not lower than the knee of the striker, nor higher than his shoulder, shall be considered as fair balls.

[This is a new section expressly defining fair balls.]

Sect. 4. All halls pitched over the striker's head, or on the ground in front of the home base, or pitched to the side opposite to that the batsman strikes from, or which hit the striker while he is standing in his proper position, shall he considered unfair balls, and must be called in the order of their delivery.

[This section has also been amended so as to empower the umpire to call every ball, referred to in the section, every time such ball is delivered. The amendment leaves the umpire no alternative but to call every unfair ball delivered, as he should do in all cases. By this amended rule, the only warning given is that the umpire gives when he informs the pitcher where the striker wants a ball, "high" or "low." The first ball pitched to each striker cannot be called, and no ball can be called until it has passed the home base.]

Sect. 5. All balls thrown or jerked to the bat, or which are not delivered with a straight arm swinging perpendicularly to the side of the pitcher's body, shall be regarded as " foully delivered " balls, and all such balls shall be called and bases shall be taken on them, as in the case of unfair balls, and in the order of their delivery. If the pitcher persists in delivering such balls, the umpire, after warning him of the penalty, shall declare the game forfeited by a score of 9 to 0. No such forfeit, however, shall be declared unless three men shall have been given their first base on one inning on such called balls.

[This is the most important amendment made to the rules this year. By this law the umpire is now empowered to stop a pitcher from throwing the ball to the bat; and also to prevent him from making unnecessary delays in the game by continually balking. Last season all a player in the pitcher's position had to do to delay a game was to deliberately throw the ball to the bat, there being no penalty for throwing except that of calling a balk, and as soon as the bases had been cleared by balks nothing more could be done. Now, however, an effectual remedy is provided.]

Sect. 6. Whenever the pitcher makes any motion to deliver the ball to the bat, he shall so deliver it, and he must not have either foot outside the lines of his position, either when commencing to deliver the ball or at the time of its delivery, and if he fail in any of these particulars, then it shall be declared a balk.

[According to this section the pitcher must stand still when about to throw to a base, for if he makes any motion to deliver the ball, or any movement of the series he uses in pitching, and then does not deliver the ball, he makes a balk. No umpire can readily make a mistake under this rule.]

Sect. 7. No player shall be put out on any hit ball on which a balk or a ball has been called; and neither shall a strike or a foul ball be called, or a base run on such a hit ball. But bases can be run on called balls not hit, and players can be put out on called balls thrown to bases.

[This rule does not prevent bases being "run" on called balls; but only prohibits their being "taken" by right, unless the base runner is obliged to vacate his base on a third-called ball.]

RULE THIRD.

THE BATTING DEPARTMENT.

Section 1. The striker, when in the act of striking at the ball, must stand astride of the line of the home base, and distant not less than one foot from the home base; and when striking at the ball he may take a forward step, provided such step does not take both his feet forward of the line of the home base. The penalty for an infringement of this rule shall be the calling of " foul strike," and when three such strikes have been called, the striker shall be declared out. If a ball on which such a strike is called be hit and caught, either fair or foul, the striker shall be declared out. No base shall be run on any such called strike. But any player running the bases shall be allowed to return to the base he has left, without being put out. As soon as the striker has struck a fair ball, he shall be considered "a player running the bases."

[The change in this section simply makes plain, by express wording, what the rule permitted before.]

Sect. 2. The striker shall be privileged to call for either a high or low ball, in which case the pitcher must deliver the ball to the bat as required. The ball shall be considered a high ball if pitched between the height of the waist and. the shoulder of the striker; and it shall be considered a low ball if pitched between the height of the knee and the waist.

[This is a new section, and it expressly limits the striker to the choice of a low or high ball. He cannot call for any other ball except as described in this section, and if he fall to call for either a high or low ball, then in such ease every ball must be considered fair for his bat which is pitched between the height of the batsman's knee and shoulder, and over the home base.]

Sect. 3. Players must strike in regular rotation, and,-after the first innings is played, the turn commences with the player who stands on the list next to the one who was the third player out. Any player failing to take his turn at the bat after the umpire has called for the striker, unless by reason of illness, or injury, or by consent of the captains of the contesting nines, shall be declared out.

Sect. 4. Should the striker refuse to strike at balls pitched over the home base and within the specified reach of the bat, the umpire shall call "one strike;" and if the striker persists in such action, two and three strikes. When three strikes are called, and the ball be caught, either before touching the ground or upon the first bound, the striker shall be declared out, provided the balls struck at are not those on which balls or balks have been called. If three balls are struck at and missed, and the last one is not caught, either flying or upon the first bound, the striker (or the player running for him) must attempt to make his run, and in such case he can be put out on the bases in the same manner as if he had struck a fair ball. No strike shall be called upon the first ball delivered, except the ball be struck at; and neither shall any strike be called when the ball is struck at for the purpose of willfully striking out.

[The wording of this section has been slightly changed, with a view of making it more definite.]

Sect. 5. The striker is out if a foul ball be caught, either before touching the ground or upon the first bound; or if a fair ball is struck, and the ball be held before touching the ground; or if a fair ball is struck, and the ball be held by an adversary on the first base, before the striker touches that base; or if a fair ball be caught from the hands or person of a player before the ball has touched the ground; or if a foul ball be similarly caught after touching the ground but once. No fair or foul ball, if caught from any other object than the person of a player, even before touching the ground, shall put a player out.

[It should be remembered that unless the ball is clearly held at first base before the striker reaches it, he is not out. If the ball is held at the same time the base runner touches it, the runner is not out.]

RULE FOURTH.

RUNNING THE BASES.

Section 1. Players must take their bases in the order of striking; and when a fair ball is struck, and not caught flying, the first base must be vacated, as also the second and third bases, if they are occupied at the same time. Players may he put out on any base, under these circumstances, in the same manner as when running to the first base; but the moment the ball is caught, or the player running to first base is put out, other players running bases shall cease to be forced to vacate their bases, and may return to them. No base runner shall be forced to vacate a base unless as provided in this section.

Sect. 2. No player shall he allowed a substitute in running the bases, except for illness or injury, unless by special consent of the captain of the opposing nine.

[This section is a new one, containing a portion of the first section of last year's rule. Last season this clause of the rule was ignored to a considerable extent, substitutes being allowed to run for players who were only lazy or fatigued:]

Sect. 3. Any player running the bases is out, if at any time he is touched by the ball, while in play, in the hands of an adversary, without some part of his person being on the base (except as provided in Section 10 of Rule Fourth). And .should a fielder, while in the act of touching a base runner while off a base, have the ball knocked out of his hand by the base runner, the latter shall be declared out.

[This is a newly-worded section, the amendment consisting of the additional lines empowering the umpire to decide a base runner out even if the ball be dropped after the fielder has touched the runner with it.]

Sect. 4. No run or base can be made upon a foul ball. Such a ball shall be considered dead, and not in play, until it shall first have been settled in the hands of the pitcher. In such cases players running bases shall return to them, and may be put out in so returning, in the same manner as when running to first base. Neither can a run or base be made when a fair ball has been caught without having touched the ground; but such a ball shall be considered alive and in play. In such cases, also, players .running bases shall return to them, and may be put out in so returning, in the same manner as when running to first base; but players, when balls are so caught, may run their bases immediately after the ball has been settled momentarily in the hands of the player catching it.

[It is requisite that two hands be already out when a player attempts to run home, in order to prevent his run from counting, in case the striker should be put out. If the second hand be put out while he is in the act of running home, and he gets home before the third hand is put out, his run counts.]

Sect. 5. A player running the bases shall, after touching the home base, be entitled to score one run; but if a fair ball shall be struck when two hands are already out, no player. running home at the time the ball is struck can make a run to count in the score of the game if the striker, or player running the bases, is put out before touching the first base.

Sect. 6. Players running bases must touch them, and, so far as possible, keep upon the direct line between them, and must touch them in the following order, —first, second, third, and home; and, if returning, must reverse this order; and should any player run three feet out of this line, for the purpose of avoiding the ball in the hands of an adversary, he shall he declared out; or if lie fail to touch each base he runs or returns to, lie shall be declared out, unless he return to such base before the ball be held on it.

Sect. 7. In the case of a fair fly-ball .being hit, the player running the bases shall not be entitled to any base touched after the ball has been hit, and prior to the catch being made.

[This is a new section, and it simply prevents a player, running on a fly ball, from taking any undue advantage.]

Sect. 8. When a balk is made by the pitcher, every player running the bases must take one base without being put out.

Sect. 9. If a player is prevented from making a base by the intentional obstruction of an adversary, he shall be entitled to that base, and shall not be put out. Any obstruction that could readily have been avoided shall be considered as intentional.

Sect. 10. Should a player running the bases touch and overrun his first base he shall be privileged to return at once to the base, without being put out, provided he dons not attempt to make his second base.

[This last section is a new one, and umpires should post themselves on it, for it is an important change. Hitherto most of the injuries from running bases have been sustained from efforts to check one's speed suddenly when running to first base. By this new rule, a player running to first base — where most injuries are sustained— is allowed to overrun the base; but he must promptly return and touch it, or if he attempts to run to second base he renders himself amenable to the rule as before.]

RULE FIFTH.

THE GAME.

Section 1. The game shall consist of nine innings to each side, when, should the number of runs be equal, the play shall be continued until a majority of runs, upon an equal number of innings, shall be declared, which shall conclude the game; unless in such case it be mutually agreed upon by the captains of the two nines to consider the game as drawn. But in case of no such agreement, the parties refusing to play, no matter from what cause, shall forfeit the ball, and the game thus forfeited shall be recorded as a won game by a score of nine runs to none. All innings must be concluded at the time the third hand is put out.

Sect. 2. In playing all matches, nine players from each club shall constitute a full field; and they shall he members of the club which they represent. They also must not have been members of any other club, in or out of the National Association of Amateur Players, —college club nines composed of actual students excepted, — for sixty days immediately prior to the match. Positions of players and choice of innings shall be determined by captains previously appointed for that purpose by the respective clubs. Every player taking part in a regular match game, no matter what number of innings are played, shall be, in the meaning of this section of the rules, considered a member of the club he plays with.

[This is the rule adopted by the National Association of Amateur Base Ball Players. College clubs cannot, by this rule, play any men in their nines in match game, who are not actual students of the college the club is attached to. This portion of the rule too, was adopted at. the November Convention. The Amateur Association considers no clubs as " Association Clubs," which are not enrolled as members of the Amateur Association; and the Professional Association regards no club of their class as an Association club unless unrolled in their association.]

Sect. 3. The nine fielders shall be privileged to take any positions in the field their captain may choose to assign them.

[This is a new section, which simply sanctions by worded rule what has hitherto been a regular custom.]

Sect. 4. No ball shall be claimed or delivered, except as otherwise provided in these rules, unless it be won in a regular match game. Arid no game shall be considered as regular, if any of the rules of the game be violated by either of the contesting clubs, whether by mutual consent or otherwise.

Sect. 5. No person who shall be in arrears to any other club than the one he plays with, or who shall at any time during the year the match is played in have been constitutionally expelled from another club for dishonorable conduct, shall be competent to take part in any match game; and no player, not in the pine taking their positions on the field in the third innings of a game, shall be substituted for a player in the nine, except for reason of illness or injury.

[This section was amended by adding the clause excluding expelled players from taking part in match games. This section was adopted by the Professional Association. But the Amateur Association added another section commencing similarly, but containing clauses depriving professional players and excluding the same from taking part in games played by Amateur club nines.]

Sect, 6. No match game shall be commenced when rain is falling; and neither shall play in any such game be continued after rain has fallen for five minutes.

Sect. 7. Whenever a match shall have been determined upon between two clubs, play shall be called at the exact hour appointed; and should either party fail to produce their players within thirty minutes thereafter, the party so failing shall admit a defeat, and shall forfeit the ball to the club having their nine players on the ground ready to play; and the game so forfeited shall be considered as won, and so counted in the list of matches played; and the winning club shall be entitled to a score of nine runs to none for any game so forfeited. Should the delinquent side fail to play on account of the recent death of one of its members, no such forfeit shall be declared.

Sect. 8. Every match made shall be decided by the winning of two games out of three, unless a single game shall be mutually agreed upon by the contesting clubs, in which case the ball shall be furnished by the challenging club. All matches shall terminate before the close of the season; and no agreements between clubs shall be considered binding unless made in writing.

[There is an exception to this rule in the Professional Association, as it conflicts with their championship rules.]

Sect. 9. Under no circumstances shall a game be considered as played, or a base be claimed or delivered as the trophy of victory, unless five innings on each side shall have been played to a close. And should darkness or. rain intervene before the third hand is put out in the closing part of the fifth innings of a game, the umpire shall declare "no game" concluded.

[This is a newly-worded rule making clear what was previously a subject of doubt.]

Sect. 10. No person who shall be in arrears to any other club than the one lie plays with, or shall at any time receive compensation for his services as a player, shall be competent to play in any match. All players who play base ball for place, emolument, or money, shall be regarded as professional players; and no professional player shall take part in any match game; and any club giving any compensation to a player, or having to their knowledge a player in their nine playing in a match for compensation, shall be debarred from membership in this Association.

[This rule is the one added by the National Association of Amateur players. No rule was reported to the November Convention bearing upon the distinction of classes, nor was any such rule adopted at that convention, though the secretary at that convention has inserted such a section in his copy of the rules. Of course this rule only governs clubs belonging to the Amateur Association.]

RULE SIXTH.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Section 1. If an adversary stops the ball with his hat or cap, or if a ball be stopped in any way by any person or persons not engaged in the game, no player can be put out unless the ball shall first have been settled in the hands of the pitcher while he stands within the line of his position.

Sect. 2. Any player who shall intentionally prevent an adversary from catching or fielding the hall, shall be declared out; or if any player be prevented from making a base, by the intentional obstruction of an adversary, he shall be entitled to that base, and shall not be declared out, even if touched with the ball.

Sect. 3. If the ball, from the stroke of a bat, first touches the ground, the person of a player, or any other object, behind the line or range of home and the first base, or home and the third base, it Shall be termed foul, and must be so declared by the umpire, 'masked. If the ball first touches the ground, the person of a player or any other object, either upon or in front of the line or range of those bases, it shall be considered fair. If the ball be dropped from the hands of a player, it shall be considered a muffed ball.

Sect. 4. Clubs may adopt such rules respecting balls knocked beyond or outside of the bounds of the field as the circumstances of the ground may demand; and these rules shall govern all matches played upon the ground, provided that they are distinctly made known to the umpire previous to the commencement of the game, but not otherwise.

Sect. 5. No fence shall be erected within ninety feet back of the home base of a ball field, except such fence marks the boundary line of the grounds on which the field is laid. And in case such fence should be located within ninety feet of the home base, then each ball passing the catcher and touching the fence shall give the base runner one base.

[This is a new section, and it is one which requires attention. If a fence is placed on the boundary line of the grounds on which the ball field is laid out, in such case the rule does not apply. But if it be located nearer than ninety feet to home base, there being room on the ground to place it further back, then every passed ball touching such fence gives every player running the bases, one base which he can take leisurely without being put out, and he can run others, but only at his own risk.]

Sect. 6. After the first or second game or regular series between two clubs shall have been played either of the contesting clubs shall be privileged to claim a forfeited ball from the club failing to play the return or third game, after being duly challenged, before the expiration of sixty days from the date of the previous match.

[This is also a new section, and the rule makes it imperative on clubs. to complete a series of games, the first of which has been played.]

RULE SEVENTH.

DUTIES OF THE UMPIRE.

Section 1. The umpire shall take care that the regulations respecting the balls, bats, bases, and the pitcher's and striker's positions are strictly observed, and he shall require the challenging club to furnish a ball on which the size, weight, and the name of the manufacturer shall be stamped. He shall be the sole judge of fair and unfair play, and shall determine all disputes and differences which may occur during the game, and there shall be no appeal from his decision, except through the Judiciary Committee of the National Association of Amateur Base-Ball Players, or that of the Professional Association, according as the clubs may belong to one or the other. He shall take special care to declare all foul balls and balks immediately upon their occurrence, in a distinct and audible manner. He shall in every instance, before leaving the ground, declare the winning club, and shall record his decision in the books of the scorers. The Umpire shall also require that the game be recorded by a scorer for each of the contesting clubs. In all matches, the umpire shall be selected by the captains of the respective sides, and shall perform all the duties above enumerated. No game, however, shall be forfeited from the failure of the Umpire to record his decision or properly discharge his duties.

[The Umpire, it should be remembered, is the sole judge of fair and unfair play, and the new rule governing his duties plainly states that there shall be no appeal from his decisions except through the medium of the appropriate Judiciary Committee. If an umpire is found to err in misinterpreting the rules - not when he simply commits an error of judgment - the captain of a nine can call his attention to the fact. But if the umpire persists in his error, there is no power of redress for either nines, except by an appeal.]

Sect. 2. The Umpire in any match shall determine when play shall be suspended; and, if the game can not be fairly concluded, it shall be decided by the last equal innings played; unless one nine shall have completed their innings, and the other nine shall have exceeded the score of their opponents in their uncompleted inning, in which case the nine having the highest score shall be declared the winners. Also in all games terminating similarly, the total score obtained shall be recorded as the score of the game.

[This section is the same as before. It prevents games being willfully played into the dark. This rule allows the club credit of scoring all the runs they need in an incompleted inning of a game as the total score, provided the other side have played their part of the innings.]

Sect 3. When the Umpire calls "play," the game must at once be proceeded with; and the party failing to take their appointed position in the game within five minutes thereafter shall forfeit the game. All such forfeited games shall be recorded as won by a score of nine runs to none, and the game so won shall be placed to the credit of the nine ready to continue the game. When the umpire calls "time," play shall be suspended until he calls "play" again, and during the interim no player shall be put out, or base run, or ball called.

[This rule simply applies a score of 9 to 0 to all games forfeited as described in the rule. Until the Umpire calls "play," the ball is dead and no player can be put out or base run.]

Sect. 4. When the Umpire "calls" a game, it shall end; but when he merely suspends play for any stated period, it may be resumed at the point at which it was suspended, provided such suspension does not extend beyond the day of the match.

[No game commenced on any specified day, can be resumed on any other day. If the play be interrupted, it must be resumed- if resumed at all-the day the interruption occurred.]

Sect. 5. No decision given by the Umpire shall be reversed, except for a palpable error in interpreting the rules, nor shall any decision be reversed upon the testimony of any player; and neither shall the Umpire be guided in his decision by any such testimony. The captains of each nine shall alone be allowed to appeal for a reversal of the decision of the Umpire.

[This prevents the reversal of decisions except for palpable errors in interpreting the rules.]

Sect. 6. No person engaged in a match, either as umpire, scorer, or player, shall be either directly or indirectly interested in any bet upon the game. Nor shall any person be permitted to act as umpire or scorer in any match, unless he shall be a member of a club belonging to one or other of the two existing National Associations, nor if he receive compensation in money for his services as umpire. Neither shall the umpire or scorer be changed during a match, unless with the consent of both parties, except for reason of illness or injury, or for a violation of the above rules.

[The amendment to the rule is that of prohibiting the umpire from receiving compensation for services.]

Sect. 7. Whenever a pitched ball touches the Umpire, or is accidentally stopped by him, it shall be considered dead and not in play until again settled in the hands of the pitcher while an his position, and no such dead ball shall put a player out, nor shall any base be run, or run scored on such a ball.

[This is a new section, and it simply makes a ball dead which touches the Umpire when pitched to the batsman.]

Sect. 8. No person shall be permitted to approach or to speak with the Umpire, or in any manner to interrupt or interfere during the progress of the game, unless by special request of the Umpire; any club willfully infringing any rule of the game, shall, after trial by the competent Judiciary Committee, be liable, for the first offence, to the penalty of suspension from membership of the National Association, of which the club is a member, for any period the said Committee may direct, not exceeding one year; and expulsion from such membership for the second offence. All games in which any of the rules of the Association are infringed, shall also be considered forfeited games, and shall be recorded as games won by a score of nine runs to none, and against the club infringing the rules.

[[BaseballChronology note: This is the end of Henry Chadwick's Base Ball Manual for 1871. We hope you enjoyed this month's bonus book!]]