4.01 Unless the home club shall
have given previous notice that the game has been postponed or will be delayed in
starting, the umpire, or umpires, shall enter the playing field five minutes before
the hour set for the game to begin and proceed directly to home base where they shall
be met by the managers of the opposing teams. In sequence_
(a) First, the home manager shall give his batting
order to the umpire in chief, in duplicate.
(b) Next, the visiting manager shall give his
batting order to the umpire in chief, in duplicate.
(c) The umpire in chief shall make certain that
the original and copies of the respective batting orders are identical, and then
tender a copy of each batting order to the opposing manager. The copy retained by
the umpire shall be the official batting order. The tender of the batting order by
the umpire shall establish the batting orders. Thereafter, no substitutions shall
be made by either manager, except as provided in the rules.
(d) As soon as the home team's batting order
is handed to the umpire in chief the umpires are in charge of the playing field and
from that moment they shall have sole authority to determine when a game shall be
called, suspended or resumed on account of weather or the condition of the playing
field. Obvious errors in the batting order, which are noticed by the umpire in chief
before he calls "Play" for the start of the game, should be called to the
attention of the manager or captain of the team in error, so the correction can be
made before the game starts. For example, if a manager has inadvertently listed only
eight men in the batting order, or has listed two players with the same last name
but without an identifying initial and the errors are noticed by the umpire before
he calls "play," he shall cause such error or errors to be corrected before
he calls "play" to start the game. Teams should not be "trapped"
later by some mistake that obviously was inadvertent and which can be corrected before
the game starts.
4.02 The players of the home team shall take their defensive positions, the first batter of the visiting team shall take his position in the batter's box, the umpire shall call "Play" and the game shall start.
4.03 When the ball is put in play
at the start of, or during a game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be on
fair territory.
(a) The catcher shall station himself directly
back of the plate. He may leave his position at any time to catch a pitch or make
a play except that when the batter is being given an intentional base on balls, the
catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the
ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
PENALTY: Balk.
(b) The pitcher, while in the act of delivering
the ball to the batter, shall take his legal position;
(c) Except the pitcher and the catcher, any
fielder may station himself anywhere in fair territory;
(d) Except the batter, or a runner attempting
to score, no offensive player shall cross the catcher's lines when the ball is in
play.
4.04 The batting order shall be followed throughout the game unless a player is substituted for another. In that case the substitute shall take the place of the replaced player in the batting order.
4.05 (a) The offensive team shall
station two base coaches on the field during its term at bat, one near first base
and one near third base.
(b) Base coaches shall be limited to two in
number and shall (1) be in team uniform, and (2) remain within the coach's box at
all times.
PENALTY: The offending base coach shall be removed from the game, and shall leave
the playing field. It has been common practice for many years for some coaches to
put one foot outside the coach's box or stand astride or otherwise be slightly outside
the coaching box lines. The coach shall not be considered out of the box unless the
opposing manager complains, and then, the umpire shall strictly enforce the rule
and require all coaches (on both teams) to remain in the coach's box at all times.
It is also common practice for a coach who has a play at his base to leave the coach's
box to signal the player to slide, advance or return to a base. This may be allowed
if the coach does not interfere with the play in any manner.
4.06 (a) No manager, player, substitute,
coach, trainer or batboy shall at any time, whether from the bench, the coach's box
or on the playing field, or elsewhere_
(1) Incite,
or try to incite, by word or sign a demonstration by spectators;
(2) Use
language which will in any manner refer to or reflect upon opposing players, an umpire,
or any spectator;
(3) Call
"Time," or employ any other word or phrase or commit any act while the
ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit
a balk.
(4) Make
intentional contact with the umpire in any manner.
(b) No fielder shall take a position in the
batter's line of vision, and with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent, act in a manner
to distract the batter.
PENALTY: The offender shall be removed from the game and shall leave the playing
field, and, if a balk is made, it shall be nullified.
4.07 When a manager, player, coach or trainer is ejected from a game, he shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game. He shall remain in the club house or change to street clothes and either leave the park or take a seat in the grandstand well removed from the vicinity of his team's bench or bullpen. If a manager, coach or player is under suspension he may not be in the dugout or press box during the course of a game.
4.08 When the occupants of a player's
bench show violent disapproval of an umpire's decision, the umpire shall first give
warning that such disapproval shall cease. If such action continues_
PENALTY: The umpire shall order the offenders from the bench to the club house. If
he is unable to detect the offender, or offenders, he may clear the bench of all
substitute players. The manager of the offending team shall have the privilege of
recalling to the playing field only those players needed for substitution in the
game.
4.09 HOW A TEAM SCORES.
(a) One run shall be scored each time a runner
legally advances to and touches first, second, third and home base before three men
are put out to end the inning. EXCEPTION: A run is not scored if the runner advances
to home base during a play in which the third out is made (1) by the batter runner
before he touches first base; (2) by any runner being forced out; or (3) by a preceding
runner who is declared out because he failed to touch one of the bases.
(b) When the winning run is scored in the last
half inning of a regulation game, or in the last half of an extra inning, as the
result of a base on balls, hit batter or any other play with the bases full which
forces the runner on third to advance, the umpire shall not declare the game ended
until the runner forced to advance from third has touched home base and the batter
runner has touched first base. An exception will be if fans rush onto the field and
physically prevent the runner from touching home plate or the batter from touching
first base. In such cases, the umpires shall award the runner the base because of
the obstruction by the fans.
PENALTY: If the runner on third refuses to advance to and touch home base in a reasonable
time, the umpire shall disallow the run, call out the offending player and order
the game resumed. If, with two out, the batter runner refuses to advance to and touch
first base, the umpire shall disallow the run, call out the offending player, and
order the game resumed. If, before two are out, the batter runner refuses to advance
to and touch first base, the run shall count, but the offending player shall be called
out. Approved Ruling: No run shall score during a play in which the third out is
made by the batter runner before he touches first base. Example: One out, Jones on
second, Smith on first. The batter, Brown, hits safely. Jones scores. Smith is out
on the throw to the plate. Two outs. But Brown missed first base. The ball is thrown
to first, an appeal is made, and Brown is out. Three outs. Since Jones crossed the
plate during a play in which the third out was made by the batter runner before he
touched first base, Jones' run does not count. Approved Ruling: Following runners
are not affected by an act of a preceding runner unless two are out. Example: One
out, Jones on second, Smith on first, and batter, Brown, hits home run inside the
park. Jones fails to touch third on his way to the plate. Smith and Brown score.
The defense holds the ball on third, appeals to umpire, and Jones is out. Smith's
and Brown's runs count. Approved Ruling: Two out, Jones on second, Smith on first
and batter, Brown, hits home run inside the park. All three runs cross the plate.
But Jones missed third base, and on appeal is declared out. Three outs. Smith's and
Brown's runs are voided. No score on the play. Approved Ruling: One out, Jones on
third, Smith on second. Batter Brown flies out to center. Two out. Jones scores after
catch and Smith scores on bad throw to plate. But Jones, on appeal, is adjudged to
have left third before the catch and is out. Three outs. No runs. Approved Ruling:
Two out, bases full, batter hits home run over fence. Batter, on appeal, is declared
out for missing first base. Three outs. No run counts. Here is a general statement
that covers: When a runner misses a base and a fielder holds the ball on a missed
base, or on the base originally occupied by the runner if a fly ball is caught, and
appeals for the umpire's decision, the runner is out when the umpire sustains the
appeal; all runners may score if possible, except that with two out the runner is
out at the moment he misses the bag, if an appeal is sustained as applied to the
following runners. Approved Ruling: One out, Jones on third, Smith on first, and
Brown flies out to right field. Two outs. Jones tags up and scores after the catch.
Smith attempted to return to first but the right fielder's throw beat him to the
base. three outs. But Jones scored before the throw to catch Smith reached first
base, hence Jones' run counts. It was not a force play.
4.10 (a) A regulation game consists
of nine innings, unless extended because of a tie score, or shortened (1) because
the home team needs none of its half of the ninth inning or only a fraction of it,
or (2) because the umpire calls the game. EXCEPTION: National Association leagues
may adopt a rule providing that one or both games of a doubleheader shall be seven
innings in length. In such games, any of these rules applying to the ninth inning
shall apply to the seventh inning.
(b) If the score is tied after nine completed
innings play shall continue until (1) the visiting team has scored more total runs
than the home team at the end of a completed inning, or (2) the home team scores
the winning run in an uncompleted inning.
(c) If a game is called, it is a regulation
game:
(1) If five
innings have been completed;
(2) If the
home team has scored more runs in four or four and a fraction half innings than the
visiting team has scored in five completed half innings;
(3) If the
home team scores one or more runs in its half of the fifth inning to tie the score.
(d) If each team has the same number of runs
when the game ends, the umpire shall declare it a "Tie Game."
(e) If a game is called before it has become
a regulation game, the umpire shall declare it "No Game."
(f) Rain checks will not be honored for any
regulation or suspended game which has progressed to or beyond a point of play described
in 4.10(c)
4.11 The score of a regulation
game is the total number of runs scored by each team at the moment the game ends.
(a) The game ends when the visiting team completes
its half of the ninth inning if the home team is ahead.
(b) The game ends when the ninth inning is completed,
if the visiting team is ahead.
(c) If the home team scores the winning run
in its half of the ninth inning (or its half of an extra inning after a tie), the
game ends immediately when the winning run is scored. EXCEPTION: If the last batter
in a game hits a home run out of the playing field, the batter runner and all runners
on base are permitted to score, in accordance with the base running rules, and the
game ends when the batter runner touches home plate. APPROVED RULING: The batter
hits a home run out of the playing field to win the game in the last half of the
ninth or an extra inning, but is called out for passing a preceding runner. The game
ends immediately when the winning run is scored.
(d) A called game ends at the moment the umpire
terminates play. EXCEPTION: If the game is called while an inning is in progress
and before it is completed, the game becomes a SUSPENDED game in each of the following
situations:
(1) The
visiting team has scored one or more runs to tie the score and the home team has
not scored;
(2) The
visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead and the home team has
not tied the score or retaken the lead. National Association Leagues may also adopt
the following rules for suspended games in addition to 4.11 (d) (1) & (2) above.
(If adopted by a National Association League, Rule 4.10 (c) (d) & (e) would not
apply to their games.):
(3) The
game has not become a regulation game (4 1/2 innings with the home team ahead, or
5 innings with the visiting club ahead or tied).
(4) Any
regulation game tied at the point play is stopped because of weather, curfew or other
reason.
(5) If a
game is suspended before it becomes a regulation game, and is continued prior to
another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game will be limited to
seven innings.
(6) If a
game is suspended after it is a regulation game, and is continued prior to another
regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game will be a nine inning game.
EXCEPTION: The above sections (3), (4), (5) & (6) will not apply to the last
scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season, or League Playoffs.
Any suspended game not completed prior to the last scheduled game between the two
teams during the championship season, will become a called game.
4.12 SUSPENDED GAMES.
(a) A league shall adopt the following rules
providing for completion at a future date of games terminated for any of the following
reasons:
(1) A curfew
imposed by law;
(2) A time
limit permissible under league rules;
(3) Light
failure or malfunction of a mechanical field device under control of the home club.
(Mechanical field device shall include automatic tarpaulin or water removal equipment).
(4) Darkness,
when a law prevents the lights from being turned on.
(5) Weather,
if the game is called while an inning is in progress and before it is completed,
and one of the following situations prevails:
(i) The visiting team has scored one or more runs to tie the score, and the home
team has not scored.
(ii) The visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home
team has not tied the score or retaken the lead.
(b) Such games shall be known as suspended games.
No game called because of a curfew, weather, or a time limit shall be a suspended
game unless it has progressed far enough to have been a regulation game under the
provisions of Rule 4.10. A game called under the provisions of 4.12(a), (3) or (4)
shall be a suspended game at any time after it starts. NOTE: Weather and similar
conditions_4.12 (a) (1 through 5)_shall take precedence in determining whether a
called game shall be a suspended game. A game can only be considered a suspended
game if stopped for any of the five (5) reasons specified in Section (a). Any regulation
game called due to weather with the score tied (unless situation outlined in 4.12
(a) (5) (i) prevails) is a tie game and must be replayed in its entirety.
(c) A suspended game shall be resumed and completed
as follows:
(1) Immediately
preceding the next scheduled single game between the two clubs on the same grounds;
or
(2) Immediately
preceding the next scheduled doubleheader between the two clubs on the same grounds,
if no single game remains on the schedule; or
(3) If suspended
on the last scheduled date between the two clubs in that city, transferred and played
on the grounds of the opposing club, if possible;
(i) Immediately preceding the next scheduled single game, or
(ii) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader, if no single game remains
on the schedule.
(4) If a
suspended game has not been resumed and completed on the last date scheduled for
the two clubs, it shall be a called game.
(d) A suspended game shall be resumed at the
exact point of suspension of the original game. The completion of a suspended game
is a continuation of the original game. The lineup and batting order of both teams
shall be exactly the same as the lineup and batting order at the moment of suspension,
subject to the rules governing substitution. Any player may be replaced by a player
who had not been in the game prior to the suspension. No player removed before the
suspension may be returned to the lineup. A player who was not with the club when
the game was suspended may be used as a substitute, even if he has taken the place
of a player no longer with the club who would not have been eligible because he had
been removed from the lineup before the game was suspended. If immediately prior
to the call of a suspended game, a substitute pitcher has been announced but has
not retired the side or pitched until the batter becomes a baserunner, such pitcher,
when the suspended game is later resumed may, but is not required to start the resumed
portion of the game. However, if he does not start he will be considered as having
been substituted for and may not be used in that game.
(e) Rain checks will not be honored for any
regulation or suspended game which has progressed to or beyond a point of play described
in 4.10 (c).
4.13 RULES GOVERNING DOUBLEHEADERS.
(a) (1) Only two championship games shall be
played on one date. Completion of a suspended game shall not violate this rule. (2)
If two games are scheduled to be played for one admission on one date, the first
game shall be the regularly scheduled game for that date.
(b) After the start of the first game of a doubleheader,
that game shall be completed before the second game of the doubleheader shall begin.
(c) The second game of a doubleheader shall
start twenty minutes after the first game is completed, unless a longer interval
(not to exceed thirty minutes) is declared by the umpire in chief and announced to
the opposing managers at the end of the first game. EXCEPTION: If the league president
has approved a request of the home club for a longer interval between games for some
special event, the umpire in chief shall declare such longer interval and announce
it to the opposing managers. The umpire in chief of the first game shall be the timekeeper
controlling the interval between games.
(d) The umpire shall start the second game of
a doubleheader, if at all possible, and play shall continue as long as ground conditions,
local time restrictions, or weather permit.
(e) When a regularly scheduled doubleheader
is delayed in starting for any cause, any game that is started is the first game
of the doubleheader.
(f) When a rescheduled game is part of a doubleheader
the rescheduled game shall be the second game, and the first game shall be the regularly
scheduled game for that date.
4.14 The umpire in chief shall order the playing field lights turned on whenever in his opinion darkness makes further play in daylight hazardous.
4.15 A game may be forfeited to
the opposing team when a team_
(a) Fails to appear upon the field, or being
upon the field, refuses to start play within five minutes after the umpire has called
"Play" at the appointed hour for beginning the game, unless such delayed
appearance is, in the umpire's judgment, unavoidable;
(b) Employs tactics palpably designed to delay
or shorten the game;
(c) Refuses to continue play during a game unless
the game has been suspended or terminated by the umpire;
(d) Fails to resume play, after a suspension,
within one minute after the umpire has called "Play;"
(e) After warning by the umpire, willfully and
persistently violates any rules of the game;
(f) Fails to obey within a reasonable time the
umpire's order for removal of a player from the game;
(g) Fails to appear for the second game of a
doubleheader within twenty minutes after the close of the first game unless the umpire
in chief of the first game shall have extended the time of the intermission.
4.16 A game shall be forfeited to the visiting team if, after it has been suspended, the order of the umpire to groundskeepers respecting preparation of the field for resumption of play are not complied with.
4.17 A game shall be forfeited to the opposing team when a team is unable or refuses to place nine players on the field.
4.18 If the umpire declares a game forfeited he shall transmit a written report to the league president within twenty four hours thereafter, but failure of such transmittal shall not effect the forfeiture.
4.19 PROTESTING GAMES. Each league shall adopt rules governing procedure for protesting a game, when a manager claims that an umpire's decision is in violation of these rules. No protest shall ever be permitted on judgment decisions by the umpire. In all protested games, the decision of the League President shall be final. Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the game will be ordered unless in the opinion of the League President the violation adversely affected the protesting team's chances of winning the game. Whenever a manager protests a game because of alleged misapplication of the rules the protest will not be recognized unless the umpires are notified at the time the play under protest occurs and before the next pitch is made or a runner is retired. A protest arising on a game ending play may be filed until 12 noon the following day with the League Office.