Clipping:Calling balls and strikes; high and low

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19C Clippings
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Date Thursday, April 30, 1868
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Now neither strikes or balls can be fairly called until two balls have been delivered, and certainly not until the required warning is given. In reference to calling strikes the intention of the batsman must be taken into consideration. There must be some object on his part to delay the game or to gain some point before strikes can be called. If a player is on a base or there is an advantage to be derived from delay, then the umpire can impute intention where it may not be plainly apparent, but otherwise he should be more lenient on judging of strikes than in calling balls. A “fair ball” is one within the legitimate reach of the bat; a ball delivered “fairly for the striker” is one within reasonable distance of the point indicated by the batsman. Of course if the batsman asks for a ball knee high and over the base, balls are not to be called if the ball should happen to be within five or six inches of the point indicated. A foot or more out of the way, however, should lead to balls being called, and in the case of strikes, if the ball is within five or six inches, or even more, of the point indicated, and players are on the base, then strikes should be called. All balls out of the legitimate reach of the bat should be called, especially after the first ball called.

Source American Chronicle of Sports and Pastimes
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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