Clipping:Hints to umpires in calling balls
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| Date | Sunday, May 20, 1866 |
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| Text | One of the most difficult of an umpire’s duties is that of calling balls on a pitcher for unfair delivery. Owing to the failure of the Committee on Rules to add a section to the rules last season limiting the discretionary power of the umpire in this respect, it requires considerable experience to be able to judge well in calling balls on a pitcher. The principal question in the matter is, What constitutes an unfairly-delivered ball? And in answer to this query we give below the definitions of such balls as are undoubtedly unfair and illegitimate balls, and such as the umpire would be justified in calling balls whenever delivered: First. A ball which strikes the ground in front of the home-base is certainly not a fair ball, as, for one thing, by striking the ground before reaching the batsman, it becomes a “bowled” ball, not a “pitched” ball; and it is not a fair ball, because it is not “pitched for the striker”, or “over the home-base”, as required by the rules–the words “pitched over the home-base” meaning that the ball must not touch the ground before it passes over the base. Second. A ball which is pitched so as to hit the batsman while he is standing on the line of his position is decidedly not a fair ball, because not “pitched for the striker”. Third. A ball which is pitched on the side opposite to that the batsman is in the habit of striking from is not a fair ball, for the same reason. Fourth. A ball which is pitched beyond the legitimate reach of the batsman–namely, the length of his bat distant from the striker–either in front of him or over his head, is clearly an unfair ball, simply because not pitched “for the striker”. Certainly all of the above balls are clearly unfair balls, and the umpire should not hesitate to call them, after due warning has been given, whenever they are delivered. The sentence “pitched for the striker” is a term rather too indefinite for the wording of a rules, as it may be interpreted either to suit the pitcher of the batsman. As defined by the last Committee on Rules, it refers to the delivery of such balls as are pitched within the legitimate reach of the batsman–and not such balls as the whim or fancy of the batsman calls for–when he is standing on the line of his position, as required by the rules nineteen of the game. When the batsman does not stand with one foot on the line referred to, then the umpire has no right to calls balls on the pitcher, for the striker is not in a position to demand a fair deliver. In calling, balls the umpire must disregard the fact that the unfair delivery was not intentional. The rule expressly says it for “any cause”; consequently, if a pitcher is not bale to pitch accurately enough to send in fair balls, the umpire should promptly inflict the penalty. |
| Source | New York Sunday Mercury |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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