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3.00 GAME PRELIMINARIES
3.01
Before the game begins the umpire shall: (a) Require strict observance
of all rules governing implements of play and equipment of players;
(b) Be sure that all playing lines (heavy lines on Diagrams No.
1 and No. 2) are marked with lime, chalk or other white material
easily distinguishable from the ground or grass; (c) Receive from
the home club a supply of regulation baseballs, the number and make
to be certified to the home club by the league president. Each ball
shall be enclosed in a sealed package bearing the signature of the
league president, and the seal shall not be broken until just prior
to game time when the umpire shall open each package to inspect
the ball and remove its gloss. The umpire shall be the sole judge
of the fitness of the balls to be used in the game; (d) Be assured
by the home club that at least one dozen regulation reserve balls
are immediately available for use if required; (e) Have in his possession
at least two alternate balls and shall require replenishment of
such supply of alternate balls as needed throughout the game. Such
alternate balls shall be put in play when_
(1) A ball has been batted out of the playing
field or into the spectator area;
(2) A ball has become discolored or unfit for
further use;
(3) The pitcher requests such alternate ball.
The umpire shall not give an alternate ball to the pitcher until
play has ended and the previously used ball is dead. After a thrown
or batted ball goes out of the playing field, play shall not be
resumed with an alternate ball until the runners have reached the
bases to which they are entitled. After a home run is hit out of
the playing grounds, the umpire shall not deliver a new ball to
the pitcher or the catcher until the batter hitting the home run
has crossed the plate.
3.02
No player shall intentionally discolor or damage the ball by rubbing
it with soil, rosin, paraffin, licorice, sand paper, emery paper
or other foreign substance. PENALTY: The umpire shall demand the
ball and remove the offender from the game. In case the umpire cannot
locate the offender, and if the pitcher delivers such discolored
or damaged ball to the batter, the pitcher shall be removed from
the game at once and shall be suspended automatically for ten days.
3.03
A player, or players, may be substituted during a game at any time
the ball is dead. A substitute player shall bat in the replaced
player's position in the team's batting order. A player once removed
from a game shall not re enter that game. If a substitute enters
the game in place of a player manager, the manager may thereafter
go to the coaching lines at his discretion. When two or more substitute
players of the defensive team enter the game at the same time, the
manager shall, immediately before they take their positions as fielders,
designate to the umpire in chief such players' positions in the
team's batting order and the umpire in chief shall so notify the
official scorer. If this information is not immediately given to
the umpire in chief, he shall have authority to designate the substitutes'
places in the batting order. A pitcher may change to another position
only once during the same inning; e.g. the pitcher will not be allowed
to assume a position other than a pitcher more than once in the
same inning. Any player other than a pitcher substituted for an
injured player shall be allowed five warm up throws. (See Rule 8.03
for pitchers.)
3.04
A player whose name is on his team's batting order may not become
a substitute runner for another member of his team. This rule is
intended to eliminate the practice of using so called courtesy runners.
No player in the game shall be permitted to act as a courtesy runner
for a teammate. No player who has been in the game and has been
taken out for a substitute shall return as a courtesy runner. Any
player not in the lineup, if used as a runner, shall be considered
as a substitute player.
3.05
(a) The pitcher named in the batting order handed the umpire in
chief, as provided in Rules 4.01 (a) and 4.01 (b), shall pitch to
the first batter or any substitute batter until such batter is put
out or reaches first base, unless the pitcher sustains injury or
illness which, in the judgment of the umpire in chief, incapacitates
him from pitching. (b) If the pitcher is replaced, the substitute
pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute
batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until
the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains
injury or illness which, in the umpire in chief's judgment, incapacitates
him for further play as a pitcher. (c) If an improper substitution
is made for the pitcher, the umpire shall direct the proper pitcher
to return to the game until the provisions of this rule are fulfilled.
If the improper pitcher is permitted to pitch, any play that results
is legal. The improper pitcher becomes the proper pitcher as soon
as he makes his first pitch to the batter, or as soon as any runner
is put out. If a manager attempts to remove a pitcher in violation
of Rule 3.05 (c) the umpire shall notify the manager of the offending
club that it cannot be done. If, by chance, the umpire in chief
has, through oversight, announced the incoming improper pitcher,
he should still correct the situation before the improper pitcher
pitches. Once the improper pitcher delivers a pitch he becomes the
proper pitcher.
3.06
The manager shall immediately notify the umpire in chief of any
substitution and shall state to the umpire in chief the substitute's
place in the batting order. Players for whom substitutions have
been made may remain with their team on the bench or may "warm
up" pitchers. If a manager substitutes another player for himself,
he may continue to direct his team from the bench or the coach's
box. Umpires should not permit players for whom substitutes have
been made, and who are permitted to remain on the bench, to address
any remarks to any opposing player or manager, or to the umpires.
3.07
The umpire in chief, after having been notified, shall immediately
announce, or cause to be announced, each substitution.
3.08
(a) If no announcement of a substitution is made, the substitute
shall be considered as having entered the game when_ (1) If a pitcher,
he takes his place on the pitcher's plate; (2) If a batter, he takes
his place in the batter's box;
(3) If a fielder, he reaches the position usually occupied by the
fielder he has replaced, and play commences; (4) If a runner, he
takes the place of the runner he has replaced. (b) Any play made
by, or on, any of the above mentioned unannounced substitutes shall
be legal.
3.09
Players in uniform shall not address or mingle with spectators,
nor sit in the stands before, during, or after a game. No manager,
coach or player shall address any spectator before or during a game.
Players of opposing teams shall not fraternize at any time while
in uniform.
3.10
(a) The manager of the home team shall be the sole judge as to whether
a game shall be started because of unsuitable weather conditions
or the unfit condition of the playing field, except for the second
game of a doubleheader. EXCEPTION: Any league may permanently authorize
its president to suspend the application of this rule as to that
league during the closing weeks of its championship season in order
to assure that the championship is decided each year on its merits.
When the postponement of, and possible failure to play, a game in
the final series of a championship season between any two teams
might affect the final standing of any club in the league, the president,
on appeal from any league club, may assume the authority granted
the home team manager by this rule. (b) The umpire in chief of the
first game shall be the sole judge as to whether the second game
of a doubleheader shall not be started because of unsuitable weather
conditions or the unfit condition of the playing field. (c) The
umpire in chief shall be the sole judge as to whether and when play
shall be suspended during a game because of unsuitable weather conditions
or the unfit condition of the playing field; as to whether and when
the play shall be resumed after such suspension; and as to whether
and when a game shall be terminated after such suspension. He shall
not call the game until at least thirty minutes after he has suspended
play. He may continue the suspension as long as he believes there
is any chance to resume play. The umpire in chief shall at all times
try to complete a game. His authority to resume play following one
or more suspensions of as much as thirty minutes each shall be absolute
and he shall terminate a game only when there appears to be no possibility
of completing it.
3.11
Between games of a doubleheader, or whenever a game is suspended
because of the unfitness of the playing field, the umpire in chief
shall have control of ground keepers and assistants for the purpose
of making the playing field fit for play. PENALTY: For violation,
the umpire in chief may forfeit the game to the visiting team.
3.12
When the umpire suspends play he shall call "Time." At
the umpire's call of "Play," the suspension is lifted
and play resumes. Between the call of "Time" and the call
of "Play" the ball is dead.
3.13
The manager of the home team shall present to the umpire in chief
and the opposing manager any ground rules he thinks necessary covering
the overflow of spectators upon the playing field, batted or thrown
balls into such overflow, or any other contingencies. If these rules
are acceptable to the opposing manager they shall be legal. If these
rules are unacceptable to the opposing manager, the umpire in chief
shall make and enforce any special ground rules he thinks are made
necessary by ground conditions, which shall not conflict with the
official playing rules.
3.14
Members of the offensive team shall carry all gloves and other equipment
off the field and to the dugout while their team is at bat. No equipment
shall be left lying on the field, either in fair or foul territory.
3.15
No person shall be allowed on the playing field during a game except
players and coaches in uniform, managers, news photographers authorized
by the home team, umpires, officers of the law in uniform and watchmen
or other employees of the home club. In case of unintentional interference
with play by any person herein authorized to be on the playing field
(except members of the offensive team participating in the game,
or a coach in the coach's box, or an umpire) the ball is alive and
in play. If the interference is intentional, the ball shall be dead
at the moment of the interference and the umpire shall impose such
penalties as in his opinion will nullify the act of interference.
NOTE: See Rule 7.11 for individuals excepted above, also see Rule
7.08 (b). The question of intentional or unintentional interference
shall be decided on the basis of the person's action. For example:
a bat boy, ball attendant, policeman, etc., who tries to avoid being
touched by a thrown or batted ball but still is touched by the ball
would be involved in unintentional interference. If, however, he
kicks the ball or picks it up or pushes it, that is considered intentional
interference, regardless of what his thought may have been. PLAY:
Batter hits ball to shortstop, who fields ball but throws wild past
first baseman. The offensive coach at first base, to avoid being
hit by the ball, falls to the ground and the first baseman on his
way to retrieve the wild thrown ball, runs into the coach; the batter
runner finally ends up on third base. The question is asked whether
the umpire should call interference on the part of the coach. This
would be up to the judgment of the umpire and if the umpire felt
that the coach did all he could to avoid interfering with the play,
no interference need be called. If it appeared to the umpire that
the coach was obviously just making it appear he was trying not
to interfere, the umpire should rule interference.
3.16
When there is spectator interference with any thrown or batted ball,
the ball shall be dead at the moment of interference and the umpire
shall impose such penalties as in his opinion will nullify the act
of interference. APPROVED RULING: If spectator interference clearly
prevents a fielder from catching a fly ball, the umpire shall declare
the batter out. There is a difference between a ball which has been
thrown or batted into the stands, touching a spectator thereby being
out of play even though it rebounds onto the field and a spectator
going onto the field or reaching over, under or through a barrier
and touching a ball in play or touching or otherwise interfering
with a player. In the latter case it is clearly intentional and
shall be dealt with as intentional interference as in Rule 3.15.
Batter and runners shall be placed where in the umpire's judgment
they would have been had the interference not occurred. No interference
shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope
or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However,
should a spectator reach out on the playing field side of such fence,
railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the
ball, then the batsman should be called out for the spectator's
interference. Example: Runner on third base, one out and a batter
hits a fly ball deep to the outfield (fair or foul). Spectator clearly
interferes with the outfielder attempting to catch the fly ball.
Umpire calls the batter out for spectator interference. Ball is
dead at the time of the call. Umpire decides that because of the
distance the ball was hit, the runner on third base would have scored
after the catch if the fielder had caught the ball which was interfered
with, therefore, the runner is permitted to score. This might not
be the case if such fly ball was interfered with a short distance
from home plate.
3.17
Players and substitutes of both teams shall confine themselves to
their team's benches unless actually participating in the play or
preparing to enter the game, or coaching at first or third base.
No one except players, substitutes, managers, coaches, trainers
and bat boys shall occupy a bench during a game. PENALTY: For violation
the umpire may, after warning, remove the offender from the field.
Players on the disabled list are permitted to participate in pre
game activity and sit on the bench during a game but may not take
part in any activity during the game such as warming up a pitcher,
bench jockeying, etc. Disabled players are not allowed to enter
the playing surface at any time or for any purpose during the game.
3.18
The home team shall provide police protection sufficient to preserve
order. If a person, or persons, enter the playing field during a
game and interfere in any way with the play, the visiting team may
refuse to play until the field is cleared. PENALTY: If the field
is not cleared in a reasonable length of time, which shall in no
case be less than fifteen minutes after the visiting team's refusal
to play, the umpire may forfeit the game to the visiting team.
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