BASEBALL RULES
Baseball is played by two teams, each of which has nine players
playing at one time. The object of the game is to score the most
runs. A run is scored when a player is successful in travelling
around the three bases and reaching home plate.
Each game is divided into nine segments called innings. Each
inning is divided into two halves. In the first half, sometimes
called the top of the inning, the visiting team's players play the
offense and bat, while the home team pitches the ball to each
batter and plays the defense.
When a batter fails to make it on base successfully, he is called
"out." When three batters are out, the teams reverse positions and
the home team is at bat in the bottom of the inning.
The following statement of the rules is divided into four sections:
1. Field and Equipment
2. Personnel Involved
3. Rules of Play
4. Definitions
1. FIELD AND EQUIPMENT
*The Playing Field
The playing field is composed of an infield and an outfield. The
infield, often called a diamond, is actually in the shape of a
perfect square. It stands on one of its points, with home plate at
that point and the three bases, called (reading counter-clockwise
around the diamond) are first base, second base and third base, at
the other three points.
The two lines that form the V shape of the bottom half of the
diamond are extended beyond the diamond until they reach the fence
or wall at the perimeter of the field. These are called foul
lines. The outfield is the area beyond the diamond, but between
the foul lines. All of the area between the foul lines, both in
the infield and the outfield, is called fair territory, and the
ball is always in play when within this territory. The area
outside these lines is called foul territory.
The foul lines are white and any ball hit by a batter and landing
on the fly on the line or within the lines beyond the infield (even
if it then goes into foul territory) is in play. Any ball
remaining on or within the lines in the infield is in play.
Only balls hit in the air in foul territory that do not go into the
stands are in play. In new ball parks, the minimum distance down
the left and right field lines is 325 feet and to center field is
400 feet.
*Bases
Home plate, which is at the bottom corner of the diamond, is a five
sided 17 inch wide slab of whitened rubber. The other three bases,
which occupy the other corners of the diamond, are 15 inch square
white canvas bags usually stuffed with sand. The bases and home
plate are 90 feet apart.
*Pitcher's Mound and Rubber
A player on the defensive team, known as the pitcher, pitches the
ball to each batter on the offensive team. He pitches from a mound
18 feet in diameter and elevated ten inches, called the pitcher's
mound, located in the center of the diamond.
A slab of rubber measuring two feet long and six inches wide,
called the pitcher's rubber (or plate), is located at the top of
the mound. The pitcher must throw the ball with his foot on this
rubber, which is 60 feet and six inches from home plate.
*Batter's Box
The batter's box is a rectangle formed by white chalk lines, called
the batter's boxes are on the left and right sides of home plate.
Each is four feet wide by six feet long. A batter must stand
within one of these boxes while batting.
*Uniforms and Equipment
Each player must wear a uniform distinctive to his team, with no
emblem that may be mistaken for a baseball. A player may not wear
any glass or polished metal object. Each batter and base runner
must wear a protective helmet. The catcher wears a face mask, a
chest protector, and knee and shin guards.
Each fielder may use a leather glove. The catcher usually wears a
wider and rounder glove called a catcher's mitt, and the first
baseman usually uses a longer and narrower glove called a first
baseman's glove. The players may wear shoes that have the normal
toe or shoe cleat plate attached to the toe or heal of the shoe.
The bat is a long rounded Ash wood implement with a smooth finish
and must not be more than two and three quarters inches in diameter
at any part, and not more than 42 inches long. It may be treated
at the holding end to improve the grip. The ball weighs between
five and five and one half ounces and is nine inches in
circumference. It has a cork center around which is wound yarn and
two strips of white cowhide stitched together 216 times.
2. PERSONNEL INVOLVED
*Fielding Positions
There are nine fielding positions on a baseball team:
1. Pitcher - throws the ball to the batter and is at the
center of the infield.
2. Catcher - catches the ball immediately behind home plate in
front of the umpire and is usually crouching or kneeling.
3. First baseman - stands near first base.
4. Second baseman - stands near second base, usually to the
right of the base.
5. Third baseman - stands near third base.
6. Short stop - stands near second base, usually to the left
of the base.
7. Left fielder - stands in the left side of the outfield.
8. Center fielder - stands in the center of the outfield.
9. Right fielder - stands in the right side of the outfield.
*The Umpires and Official Scorer
There are normally four individuals on the field, called umpires,
who have the authority to make rulings in the game, including
calling balls and strikes.
One umpire stands behind the catcher wearing protective equipment.
He determines whether pitches are balls or strikes; whether batted
balls hit within the infield are fair or foul; and whether a runner
trying to score is safe or out at home plate.
The other umpires stand near first, second and third bases to judge
whether a runner safely reaches the bag. The first and third base
umpires also call balls fair or fall that reach the outfield.
For each game, an official scorer, usually a newspaper reporter, is
appointed to decide whether certain plays are hits or errors,
whether certain pitches are wild pitches or passed balls, and to
record the statistical details of play.
3. RULES OF PLAY
*Starting Play
The visiting team bats in the first half of each inning. The home
team bats in the last half of an inning. Before players take the
field, the umpire must check that the playing area is correctly
marked and that the players' equipment conforms to the regulations.
The umpire must also receive from the home club a number of new
baseballs for use during the game.
The manager of the home team is the sole judge of whether inclement
weather conditions permit play, but once the game is under way, it
is the umpire who decides whether weather conditions require an
interruption or postponement of the game. When the umpire suspends
play, he calls "time." When he restarts he calls: "Play ball!."
Five minutes before play is due to start, the umpire must receive
each team's batting order in duplicate. He keeps one copy for
himself, and passes the other to the opposing manager. The players
of the home team then take their defensive positions. The first
batter takes up his position in the batter's box and on the call of
"Play ball" the game begins.
The batting team may have two coaches in the boxes located in foul
territory near the first and third bases while their team bats.
*Batting
Each player on the team at bat takes his place in the batter's box
according to the order decided before the game by the team manager.
The batter must stand with his feet within the box either to the
left or right of home plate. His objective is to hit the pitched
ball and run the bases safely, attempting to reach home plate.
There is an imaginary vertical rectangle over home plate called
"the strike zone." It is 17 inches wide, the same as home plate,
and covers the area between the batter's arm pits and knees in his
normal stance. (This rule has often been modified in the major
leagues.)
A strike is called by the umpire when the batter does not swing at
a pitch that is in the strike zone, or when he swings at any pitch
and misses, or hits the ball into foul territory with fewer than
two strikes against him. A ball is called when a pitch misses the
strike zone and the batter does not swing. After four balls, a
batter may walk to first base.
*outs
Each inning, the batting team is permitted three outs.
An out occurs when a member of the defensive team catches a ball
hit in the air before it hits the ground; when a fair ball hits the
ground and is thrown by a fielder to first base and the first
baseman or other defensive player, while holding the ball, touches
first base or the runner before the runner reaches first; or when
a batter strikes out.
A strike out occurs when a batter swings and completely misses the
ball after he has two strikes, or tips the ball while swinging with
two strikes and the catcher catches the ball. A batter also
strikes out when he attempts to bunt the ball with two strikes and
the ball goes foul.
A batter will be called out by the umpire, under the "infield fly
rule," if he hits the ball on the fly in the infield when there are
less than two outs and runners on first and second or on first,
second and third. Also, a batter is called out if he bats out of
turn and the opposing manager points out the violation to the
umpire.
A batter may be called out by the umpire if the umpire has judged
that a spectator has prevented a fielder from catching a fly ball,
if the batter deliberately strikes the ball twice, or if he
interferes with or obstructs a fielder.
A runner is out if the fielder touches him with the ball when he is
not in physical contact with the base; if he runs more than three
feet off a straight line connecting the bases to avoid being
tagged; or if he is hit by a batted ball while not on a base.
*How the Batter Becomes a Runner
The batter becomes a base runner when:
..he has hit the ball into fair territory and it is not caught on
the fly and first base is not touched by a fielder holding the ball
before the runner touches the base;
..he is walked as a result of the pitcher throwing four balls;
..he is hit by a pitch;
..the catcher interferes with his swing by touching the bat;
..the catcher drops a third strike and the batter reaches first
base before he is tagged with the ball by a fielder or before a
fielder holding the ball touches first base before the batter
reaches it. However, with fewer than two outs and first base
occupied, the batter is out whether or not the catcher holds the
third strike.
*Force Outs
A force play may occur when there is a man on first, men on first
and second, or men on first, second and third, and the batter hits
a fair ball, usually in the infield, that is not caught before it
hits the ground. A force out occurs when a fielder, holding the
batted ball, touches a base to which a runner is running in one of
the above situations, before that runner touches the base. Such a
runner is considered "forced" and need not be tagged out, although
he is also out if tagged with the ball while off a base. If two
runners are on one base, one of them is automatically out.
*Double and Triple Plays
A double play occurs when two outs are recorded off of one pitch,
such as a runner from first being forced at second and the batter
being thrown out at first on a ground ball.
A triple play occurs when three outs are recorded off of one pitch,
such as when a fly ball is caught and two runners are caught off
base by throwing the ball to the infielders who tag the bases
before the runners are able to get back to them.
*Duration of Game
A game must last a specific number of innings before being counted.
If the home team is losing, they must finish batting in the fifth
inning to have the game counted. If they are winning, the game
must only last through the top of the fifth. A full game lasts
through the bottom of the ninth inning if the home team is losing
or through the top of the ninth if the home team is winning.
Each side has a turn at bat to complete an inning. A half inning
is completed when three of the batting side are called out. With
a tie score after nine innings, extra innings are played until one
team is ahead at an inning's end.
*Stealing Bases
While the ball is in play, a runner may
attempt to steal the next base without the batter having batted the
ball or getting a walk. The runner is out if he is tagged with the
ball by a fielder before he reaches the base. Occasionally, a
runner is not credited with what appears to be a stolen base if the
other team makes no effort to stop him from stealing.
*Sacrifice Fly
A runner may move to the next base when a ball hit in the air,
called a fly ball, is caught before it hits the ground, but he may
leave the base only after the ball is caught. If he has left the
base early, he must return and touch it, known as tagging up,
before he may advance. If a fielder tags him with the ball before
he reaches the next base, or before he returns to the original
base, he is out. If he leaves the base before the ball is caught,
he is also out if a fielder touches the base before he returns to
it.
*Scoring
The team that scores the most runs is the winner. A run is scored
when a player completes a circuit of the four bases, including home
plate, touching each in sequence.
If the batter hits the ball over the outfield fence or wall on the
fly, he is considered to have hit a "home run" and he is entitled
to circle the bases and score a run without being tagged. If a
fair ball bounces over the outfield fence or wall, or is touched by
a spectator, the batter is awarded second base and each runner may
move up two bases.
*Substitutes
Substitutes may be introduced at any time when the ball is not in
play. A substitute takes the replaced player's position in the
batting order. Once substituted for, that player may not return to
the game. A substitute may take the place of any player on the
field (fielder, runner or batter) providing the umpire is informed.
No player whose name is in the batting order may become a
substitute nor can any player who was once in the game go back in
as a substitute. The use of substitutes is at the manager's
discretion as are all decisions on the strategy of the game.
*Fielder's Misconduct
If a fielder stops a batted ball by throwing his glove or cap at
it, the runner is awarded three bases. If runners are obstructed
by a fielder, they are allowed to reach at least one base beyond
the last base legally touched before the obstruction occurred.
*Pitching
The pitcher is allowed up to eight practice pitches before he
starts play or takes over for another pitcher. He may deliver the
ball from either the set position or the wind up position. At any
time before he pitches, he may throw the ball to a base in an
attempt to catch a runner off base providing he steps in that
direction. He may only rub the ball between his hands. Any
attempt to shine it on his uniform, apply saliva or any foreign
substance to it, or rub it on the ground is an offense which may
lead to disqualification.
The pitcher must not attempt to hit a batter with the pitched ball.
He must not delay the game and he must pitch the ball within 20
seconds after receiving it.
A balk occurs when the pitcher throws an illegal pitch, when his
foot is not in contact with the pitcher's plate, or if he pretends
to pitch and does not do so, or if he fails to step directly toward
the base when he is throwing to that base. A balk also occurs if
the pitcher pitches when not facing the batter or if he delays the
play or makes any sort of feinting movement, or if he drops the
ball while in the pitching motion or if he pitches when the catcher
is not in position. A balk allows any runners to advance one base.
*Designated Hitter
The designated hitter or DH has been used in the American League
since 1975. A player who does not take the field bats instead of
the pitcher. He can bat anywhere in the batting order. If the DH
is removed from the game, the pitcher must bat in his place.
*Errors
A fielder is charged with an error when he fails to catch a ball
hit or thrown to him, or he inaccurately throws a ball to another
fielder, allowing a runner to reach safely or to advance a base or
allowing a batter to prolong his time at bat, if the official
scorer concludes that the fielder should have successfully made the
play.
*Earned Runs
The pitcher is charged with an earned run if he was primarily
responsible for the run being scored. If an error or passed ball
made the run possible, it is not earned. The pitcher is
responsible for all men who reach base as the result of hits, walks
or being hit by a pitch. If such men score as the result of an
error, or after there would have been three outs had not an error
been made, the run is not earned.
*At Bats
A batter is charged with an at bat when he makes an out or a hit,
or when he reaches base on an error. He is not charged with an at
bat when he walks, is hit by a pitch, or sacrifices. A sacrifice
is a bunt or fly ball that moves a runner ahead a base.
4. DEFINITIONS
* Batting Average
A player's batting average is calculated to the third decimal place
by dividing the number of hits the player has by the number of his
at bats.
*Slugging Average
A player's slugging average is calculated by dividing his total
bases by his at bats. His total bases are calculated by adding the
number of singles he has plus two times the number of doubles he
has plus three times the number of triples he has plus four times
the number of home runs he has.
*Earned Run Average
A pitcher's earned run average is calculated by determining how
many earned runs he has given up every nine innings. This is
calculated by dividing his earned runs by the number of innings he
has pitched (to get earned runs per inning) and multiplying this
figure by 9.
*Saves
A relief pitcher earns a save when:
(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team; and
(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and
(3) He qualified under one of the following conditions:
(a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three
runs and pitches at least one inning.
(b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the
potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on
deck; or
(c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings.
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