Clipping:Abolishing the force on a dropped third strike

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Date Wednesday, February 9, 1887
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[from a column by Ward defending the new rules] The batter is out in all cases on his fourth strike, whether it be caught or not, if, at the time, the first is occupied and there is thereby a chance for a double play. This rule has been severely criticized, though now it is being better received as it is better understood. It is really nothing new in principle at all, for we have played under it in the League for the past three years at least. It is simply enacting by positive rule, what formerly rested for its authority on instruction to the umpires from the secretary. The batter was out if his third strike was “momentarily held.” But the tricky catcher patted the ball down in front of him and the umpire, being directly behind and unfortunately unable to see through him, could not tell whether or not the ball had been so held. The decisions, resulting sometimes in double and triple plays, caused so much confusion that the umpires, with the approval of the secretary, decided the batter out at once in all such cases. They excepted the case where the ball plainly broke through the catcher’s hands. But sometimes the ball bounded to one side or broke through and did go out of the catcher’s reach, and the double or triple play was made. This identical case made much trouble for an umpire in Boston a couple of years since. To avoid all disputes then, the committee made the rule positive so as to declare the batter out in all such cases. The catcher is by no means relieved of the necessity of catching the ball, for if he doesn’t the runners will take advantage of the passed ball.

Source Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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