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1.00 OBJECTIVES OF THE GAME
1.01
Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each, under
direction of a manager, played on an enclosed field in accordance
with these rules, under jurisdiction of one or more umpires.
1.02
The objective of each team is to win by scoring more runs than the
opponent.
1.03
The winner of the game shall be that team which shall have scored,
in accordance with these rules, the greater number of runs at the
conclusion of a regulation game.
1.04
THE PLAYING FIELD. The field shall be laid out according to the
instructions below, supplemented by Diagrams No. 1, No. 2 and No.
3. The infield shall be a 90 foot square. The outfield shall be
the area between two foul lines formed by extending two sides of
the square, as in Diagram 1. The distance from home base to the
nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on fair territory shall
be 250 feet or more. A distance of 320 feet or more along the foul
lines, and 400 feet or more to center field is preferable. The infield
shall be graded so that the base lines and home plate are level.
The pitcher's plate shall be 10 inches above the level of home plate.
The degree of slope from a point 6 inches in front of the pitcher's
plate to a point 6 feet toward home plate shall be 1 inch to 1 foot,
and such degree of slope shall be uniform. The infield and outfield,
including the boundary lines, are fair territory and all other area
is foul territory. It is desirable that the line from home base
through the pitchers plate to second base shall run East Northeast.
It is recommended that the distance from home base to the backstop,
and from the base lines to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction
on foul territory shall be 60 feet or more. See Diagram 1. When
location of home base is determined, with a steel tape measure 127
feet, 3 3/8 inches in desired direction to establish second base.
From home base, measure 90 feet toward first base; from second base,
measure 90 feet toward first base; the intersection of these lines
establishes first base. From home base, measure 90 feet toward third
base; from second base, measure 90 feet toward third base; the intersection
of these lines establishes third base. The distance between first
base and third base is 127 feet, 3 3/8 inches. All measurements
from home base shall be taken from the point where the first and
third base lines intersect. The catcher's box, the batters' boxes,
the coaches' boxes, the three foot first base lines and the next
batter's boxes shall be laid out as shown in Diagrams 1 and 2. The
foul lines and all other playing lines indicated in the diagrams
by solid black lines shall be marked with wet, unslaked lime, chalk
or other white material. The grass lines and dimensions shown on
the diagrams are those used in many fields, but they are not mandatory
and each club shall determine the size and shape of the grassed
and bare areas of its playing field. NOTE (a) Any Playing Field
constructed by a professional club after June 1, 1958, shall provide
a minimum distance of 325 feet from home base to the nearest fence,
stand or other obstruction on the right and left field foul lines,
and a minimum distance of 400 feet to the center field fence. (b)
No existing playing field shall be remodeled after June 1, 1958,
in such manner as to reduce the distance from home base to the foul
poles and to the center field fence below the minimum specified
in paragraph (a) above.
1.05
Home base shall be marked by a five sided slab of whitened rubber.
It shall be a 17 inch square with two of the corners removed so
that one edge is 17 inches long, two adjacent sides are 8 1/2 inches
and the remaining two sides are 12 inches and set at an angle to
make a point. It shall be set in the ground with the point at the
intersection of the lines extending from home base to first base
and to third base; with the 17 inch edge facing the pitcher's plate,
and the two 12 inch edges coinciding with the first and third base
lines. The top edges of home base shall be beveled and the base
shall be fixed in the ground level with the ground surface.
1.06
First, second and third bases shall be marked by white canvas bags,
securely attached to the ground as indicated in Diagram 2. The first
and third base bags shall be entirely within the infield. The second
base bag shall be centered on second base. The bags shall be 15
inches square, not less than three nor more than five inches thick,
and filled with soft material.
1.07
The pitcher's plate shall be a rectangular slab of whitened rubber,
24 inches by 6 inches. It shall be set in the ground as shown in
Diagrams 1 and 2, so that the distance between the pitcher's plate
and home base (the rear point of home plate) shall be 60 feet, 6
inches.
1.08
The home club shall furnish players' benches, one each for the home
and visiting teams. Such benches shall not be less than twenty five
feet from the base lines. They shall be roofed and shall be enclosed
at the back and ends.
1.09
The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core
of cork, rubber or similar material, covered with two stripes of
white horsehide or cowhide, tightly stitched together. It shall
weigh not less than five nor more than 5 1/4 ounces avoirdupois
and measure not less than nine nor more than 9 1/4 inches in circumference.
1.10
(a) The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2 3/4 inches
in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in
length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood. NOTE: No laminated
or experimental bats shall be used in a professional game (either
championship season or exhibition games) until the manufacturer
has secured approval from the Rules Committee of his design and
methods of manufacture. (b) Cupped Bats. An indentation in the end
of the bat up to one inch in depth is permitted and may be no wider
than two inches and no less than one inch in diameter. The indentation
must be curved with no foreign substance added. (c) The bat handle,
for not more than 18 inches from its end, may be covered or treated
with any material or substance to improve the grip. Any such material
or substance, which extends past the 18 inch limitation, shall cause
the bat to be removed from the game. NOTE: If the umpire discovers
that the bat does not conform to (c) above until a time during or
after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds
for declaring the batter out, or ejected from the game. (d) No colored
bat may be used in a professional game unless approved by the Rules
Committee.
1.11
(a) (1) All players on a team shall wear uniforms identical in color,
trim and style, and all players uniforms shall include minimal six
inch numbers on their backs. (2) Any part of an undershirt exposed
to view shall be of a uniform solid color for all players on a team.
Any player other than the pitcher may have numbers, letters, insignia
attached to the sleeve of the undershirt. (3) No player whose uniform
does not conform to that of his teammates shall be permitted to
participate in a game. (b) A league may provide that (1) each team
shall wear a distinctive uniform at all times, or (2) that each
team shall have two sets of uniforms, white for home games and a
different color for road games. (c) (1) Sleeve lengths may vary
for individual players, but the sleeves of each individual player
shall be approximately the same length. (2) No player shall wear
ragged, frayed or slit sleeves. (d) No player shall attach to his
uniform tape or other material of a different color from his uniform.
(e) No part of the uniform shall include a pattern that imitates
or suggests the shape of a baseball. (f) Glass buttons and polished
metal shall not be used on a uniform. (g) No player shall attach
anything to the heel or toe of his shoe other than the ordinary
shoe plate or toe plate. Shoes with pointed spikes similar to golf
or track shoes shall not be worn. (h) No part of the uniform shall
include patches or designs relating to commercial advertisements.
(i) A league may provide that the uniforms of its member teams include
the names of its players on their backs. Any name other than the
last name of the player must be approved by the League President.
If adopted, all uniforms for a team must have the names of its players.
1.12
The catcher may wear a leather mitt not more than thirty eight inches
in circumference, nor more than fifteen and one half inches from
top to bottom. Such limits shall include all lacing and any leather
band or facing attached to the outer edge of the mitt. The space
between the thumb section and the finger section of the mitt shall
not exceed six inches at the top of the mitt and four inches at
the base of the thumb crotch. The web shall measure not more than
seven inches across the top or more than six inches from its top
to the base of the thumb crotch. The web may be either a lacing
or lacing through leather tunnels, or a center piece of leather
which may be an extension of the palm, connected to the mitt with
lacing and constructed so that it will not exceed any of the above
mentioned measurements.
1.13
The first baseman may wear a leather glove or mitt not more than
twelve inches long from top to bottom and not more than eight inches
wide across the palm, measured from the base of the thumb crotch
to the outer edge of the mitt. The space between the thumb section
and the finger section of the mitt shall not exceed four inches
at the top of the mitt and three and one half inches at the base
of the thumb crotch. The mitt shall be constructed so that this
space is permanently fixed and cannot be enlarged, extended, widened,
or deepened by the use of any materials or process whatever. The
web of the mitt shall measure not more than five inches from its
top to the base of the thumb crotch. The web may be either a lacing,
lacing through leather tunnels, or a center piece of leather which
may be an extension of the palm connected to the mitt with lacing
and constructed so that it will not exceed the above mentioned measurements.
The webbing shall not be constructed of wound or wrapped lacing
or deepened to make a net type of trap. The glove may be of any
weight.
1.14
Each fielder, other than the first baseman or catcher, may use or
wear a leather glove. The measurements covering size of glove shall
be made by measuring front side or ball receiving side of glove.
The tool or measuring tape shall be placed to contact the surface
or feature of item being measured and follow all contours in the
process. The glove shall not measure more than 12'' from the tip
of any one of the 4 fingers, through the ball pocket to the bottom
edge or heel of glove. The glove shall not measure more than 7 3/4''
wide, measured from the inside seam at base of first finger, along
base of other fingers, to the outside edge of little finger edge
of glove. The space or area between the thumb and first finger,
called crotch, may be filled with leather webbing or back stop.
The webbing may be constructed of two plies of standard leather
to close the crotch area entirely, or it may be constructed of a
series of tunnels made of leather, or a series of panels of leather,
or of lacing leather thongs. The webbing may not be constructed
of wound or wrapped lacing to make a net type of trap. When webbing
is made to cover entire crotch area, the webbing can be constructed
so as to be flexible. When constructed of a series of sections,
they must be joined together. These sections may not be so constructed
to allow depression to be developed by curvatures in the section
sides. The webbing shall be made to control the size of the crotch
opening. The crotch opening shall measure not more than 4 1/2''
at the top, not more than 5 3/4'' deep, and shall be 3 1/2'' wide
at its bottom. The opening of crotch shall not be more than 4 1/2''
at any point below its top. The webbing shall be secured at each
side, and at top and bottom of crotch. The attachment to be made
with leather lacing, these connections to be secured. If they stretch
or become loose, they shall be adjusted to their proper condition.
The glove can be of any weight.
1.15
(a) The pitcher's glove shall be uniform in color, including all
stitching, lacing and webbing. The pitcher's glove may not be white
or gray.
(b) No pitcher shall attach to his glove any foreign material of
a color different from the glove.
1.16
A Professional League shall adopt the following rule pertaining
to the use of helmets:
(a) All players shall use some type of protective helmet while at
bat. (b) All players in National Association Leagues shall wear
a double ear flap helmet while at bat. (c) All players entering
the Major Leagues commencing with the 1983 championship season and
every succeeding season thereafter must wear a single ear flap helmet
(or at the player's option, a double ear flap helmet), except those
players who were in the Major League during the 1982 season, and
who, as recorded in that season, objected to wearing a single ear
flap helmet. (d) All catchers shall wear a catcher's protective
helmet, while fielding their position. (e) All bat/ball boys or
girls shall wear a protective helmet while performing their duties.
If the umpire observes any violation of these rules, he shall direct
the violation to be corrected. If the violation is not corrected
within a reasonable time, in the umpire's judgment, the umpire shall
eject the offender from the game, and disciplinary action, as appropriate,
will be recommended.
1.17
Playing equipment including but not limited to the bases, pitcher's
plate, baseball, bats, uniforms, catcher's mitts, first baseman's
gloves, infielders and outfielders gloves and protective helmets,
as detailed in the provisions of this rule, shall not contain any
undue commercialization of the product. Designations by the manufacturer
on any such equipment must be in good taste as to the size and content
of the manufacturer's logo or the brand name of the item. The provisions
of this Section 1.17 shall apply to professional leagues only. NOTE:
Manufacturers who plan innovative changes in baseball equipment
for professional baseball leagues should submit same to the Official
Playing Rules Committee prior to production.
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