Clipping:Grossly unfair play of the batter allowing a ball to hit him

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Date Sunday, May 31, 1874
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[Athletic vs. Mutual 5/24/1874] [McGeary on first base] Anson now came to the bat, and as a storm began to threaten about this time, and the wind to blow across the pitching, Mathews failed to deliver with his accustomed accuracy, and one ball he sent in Anson allowed to glance off his legs, hoping thereby to allow McGeary a chance tor un down from first, which he did. Mr. Powers [umpire] very properly ordered him aback, and thereupon Hicks and Dick [the captains] held a consultation. Some words of protest were uttered, but the umpire acted under his power of “sole judge of fair and unfair play;” and if it be anything but grossly unfair play for a striker to allow a ball to hit him, and glance from his person out of the reach of the catcher in order to allow a base-runner to make a base, then nothing is unfair. The rules expressly make a ball dead when it glances from the striker’s bat or the umpire’s person, and the same application is fair in regard to the batsman’s person. It is the imperative duty, however, of the umpire in all cases where the striker allows the ball to glance from his person when a partner is running the bases, to decide the striker out, as it is fair to infer that it is done designedly. All obstruction is willful, in the meaning of the rules, which the player could readily have avoided, and umpires should especially consider it so in such cases as that of Anson.

Source New York Clipper
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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