Clipping:Confusion about the effect of a called ball
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| Date | Saturday, September 11, 1869 |
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| Text | [Athletics vs. Haymakers 9/6/1869] Mr Pratt [the umpire] has never read the rules, and is lamentably ignorant of them. We do not impugn his integrity–we never question the integrity of any umpire–we merely say he is ignorant, and his ignorance beat the Haymakers. One instance will suffice. Bearman was on the second base, when McAfee was given his first on three balls, the third ball being a passed one. Before the third ball was called, Bearman started for his third, having safely reached which, McBride demanded that the ball should be put to second, and called judgment on the runner, when the umpire declared him out. This glaring bit of ignorance beat the Haymakers, who behaved like gentlemen under the unjust infliction. Philadelphia City Item September 11, 1869 [Athletics vs. Haymakers 9/6/1869] McAfee...was given his first on called balls. Bearman, at the time the third ball was called, attempted to steal his third, and the ball passing Radcliff, was enabled to do so. The ball was passed to NcMullen, thence to Reach, and the umpire decided Bearman “out,” according to the second setion of Rule 2, which says: “No base runner shall take a base on called balls, unless he is obliged to vacate the base he occupies.” This decision gave rise to a great deal of comment, and at one time threatened to put an end to the contest; but ultimately better counsel prevailed, and the game went on. Philadelphia Sunday Mercury September 12, 1869 It is really surprising how generally ignorant of the Amended Rules of the game the majority of professional players are. There is Tom Pratt, for instance, who is captain oft he Tri-Mountain nine, of Boston, who did not know that the rule, which in 1867 prohibited base running on called balls, had been changed so as to admit of such running, except in cases of a called ball hit. Philadelphia Sunday Mercury September 19, 1869, quoting Chadwick in the New York Sunday Mercury. |
| Source | Philadelphia City Item |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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