Clipping:Rules questions about foul balls
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
 |
| Add a Clipping |
| Date | Sunday, August 28, 1859 |
|---|---|
| Text | There are several questions concerning base ball which you will oblige me much by answering: 1st Suppose a foul ball to have been struck, and the striker is not aware of it, and runs to the first base, the ball is thrown to the pitcher and from thence to the striker’s point–before he returns to it–is he put out? 2d Suppose the first and second bases are occupied, have the pitcher and catcher a right to throw the ball from one to the other, until the men on the bases run? 3d Suppose a foul ball is struck, and a man on any of the bases attempts to make a run; the ball is thrown to the pitcher, he throws it to the base the man has run from, before he can return to it. Can he be put out without being touched by the ball? 4th When a fair ball is struck, and caught on the fly, can any man running the bases be put out without the ball passing through the hands of the pitcher? By answering the above in your next, you will oblige. Yours, respectfully, R. D. V. S. We have answered some of these questions before, but we will reply as follows: 1st. The rule is not recognized as applicable to the striker of a foul ball. It might be so construed, perhaps, but it is not so regarded. Besides, a case of the kind presented must be very rare; for it is the duty of the umpire to call foul balls; and the striker, if he is attentive, must be “aware of it.” 2d. The pitcher and catcher generally assume that right, because it is not forbidden in the Rules, but it is a foolish waste of time. The umpire can regulate the evil, if he chooses. It is the pitcher’s duty to “deliver the ball as near as possible over the centre of the home base, and for the striker.” If he does not do so, he can be reprimanded by the umpire. 3d. Most decidedly no. An adversary must be touched with the ball to be put out, except when the striker is running to the first base and when the bases are all occupied, and a fair ball is struck, and not caught. 4th. Certainly. Read Section 16 of the Rules. |
| Source | New York Sunday Mercury |
| Tags | |
| Warning | |
| 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" />