Clipping:The umpire's discretionary powers in calling balls and strikes; high and low
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| Date | Thursday, December 24, 1868 |
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| Text | An important amendment to the rules governing the pitcher’s movements is that obliging the Umpire to call all unfair balls after due warning has been given the pitcher. Last season the Umpire had far too much discretionary power in this respect. Now he is bound to call all balls not within the legitimate reach of the bat. ... In calling balls however, the Umpire has still the discretionary power to judge all balls not expressly considered unfair balls, such as balls sent within the legitimate reach of the bat, but not as high or low as the batsman desires, or, sufficiently near the home base as to be pitched “fairly for the striker.” In calling these balls, however, he should see that the striker hits at balls called for; if the batsman calls for a knee-high ball and then hits at a higher ball, the Umpire should not call balls on the pitcher except when obliged to do so in the case of unfair balls out of reach. The habit batsmen have of calling for balls lower than they are in the habit of striking at is an unfair one, and should not be allowed by the Umpire. The query to the striker should be, “where do you generally strike at a ball?” and not “where do you want a ball.” The new rule governing these points will have a tendency to put a stop to games made long by wild pitching. |
| Source | New England Base Ballist |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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