Clipping:Pitching rules amended

From Protoball
Jump to navigation Jump to search
19C Clippings
Scroll.png


Add a Clipping
Date Sunday, December 13, 1863
Text

[reporting on the NABBP convention] The very evident satisfaction with which the amendments in reference to the rules regulating the delivery in pitching were received, afforded ample proof of the need of such reformatory measures. All present were convinced of the absolute necessity of putting a stop to the swift and wild pitching in vogue, and substituting in its place a delivery in which, imparting a bias or twist on the ball, and giving more scope to the judgement of the pitcher, are made the prominent objects in view, rather than the speed of the ball, and the unfair method of trying to intimidate the batsman by pitching the ball at him rather than for him. The experience of the next season will test the soundness of the new rules, and if they should fall short in preventing the evil they were designed to obviate, depend upon it the next Convention will institute some new rule whereby the beauties of the game will be more fully developed than they hitherto have been. At any rate, sufficient has been done to intimate to ball-players generally that is the earnest desire of the National Association that wild and swift pitching should be repudiated; and that style of delivery adopted which will most develop the abilities of the majority of the fielders, and make the duties of the pitcher and catcher less arduous than they have been for the past two or three years.

...

Section 5 of the rules was altered so as to read as follows. The pitcher’s position shall be designated by two lines, four yards in length, drawn at right angles to a line from home to second base, having their centres upon that line at two fixed iron plates, at points respectively fifteen and sixteen yards from the home base.

The pitcher must deliver the ball as near as possible over the centre of the home base, and for the striker. Should a pitcher repeatedly fail to deliver fair balls to the striker, for the apparent purpose of delaying the game, or for any cause, the umpire, after warning him, shall call one ball, and if the pitcher persists in such action, two and three balls; and when three balls have been called, the striker shall be entitled to his first base, and should any base be occupied at that time, each player occupying them shall be entitled to one base.

Section 6 was amended so as to insert the words, “nor off the ground”, immediately preceding the words “at the time of delivering the ball”.

Section 16 was amended by so wording the rule as to allow a player the privilege of trying to make his base after returning to the base he left, in cases of a fly catch.

Section 19 was changed by substituting the word “touch” for “make”, thus requiring players to touch every base; and if he fails to do so, he must be declared out by the umpire.

Source New York Sunday Mercury
Comment Edit with form to add a comment
Query Edit with form to add a query
Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

Comments

<comments voting="Plus" />