The Eclipse Base Ball Club of Northville has adopted, and will play
home matches, according The Revised Rules of the Game for
1867, by Henry Chadwick, with the following revisions, additions,
clarifications, and omissions:
Striking
I. The “no stride rule” is NOT in effect.
A striker must remain in the striker’s box when batting, but
may shift and lift his feet.
II. First base may not be overrun unless field conditions are hazardous
and safety of the players is a concern. The
“Captain” of the Eclipse Base Ball Club will be
solely responsible for implementation of the rule.
III. Open lead-offs are allowed.
IV. Stealing bases is allowed. The base runner may break for
the next base only on a muff by the behind (catcher). A
“muff” is defined as the ball contacting the ground
twice after hurled by the hurler (pitcher) before it is returned by the behind to the hurler. If a
player steals and it is determined that the ball was not muffed, he
shall have a free return to the base. The umpire may enforce any abuse
of this rule. Base runners may steal at their risk on an
overthrown “pick off” attempt.
V. Balls struck, that reach the hill and weeds in right field and right
center field will become an automatic ground rule double or single
depending upon which part of the hill is reached by the ball.
Players will be shown the single/double demarcation line prior to the
start of the match. This includes balls that reach the hill on the fly,
or on a bound. If the ball is struck in the area and bounds
out onto the field of play, the ball is considered
“live”. A ball caught on the bound or fly
is an out even if it has or may reach the hill. If the ball reaches
this same area on a throw,the ball is“dead” and
players shall hold or be awarded the closest base.
VI. Cursing, spitting and sliding into a base is
ungentlemanly and such conduct is subject to public reprimand by the
umpire.
Fielding
I. Open fielding. Position players are NOT required to field
their position no more than two paces off of the base they are
stationed at, or to play “straight away” in the
outfield.
II. NO FREE RETURNS on balls struck in foul territory. For a
runner to be called out, the ball must first be touched by the hurler
on the fielding team who may position themselves anywhere on the field.
This shall be a “force” play. The hurler
does NOT have to be within the “pitcher point”.
III. The bound rule shall apply to fair and foul balls. Foul
balls are outs only if caught by a fielder. These rules were adopted
with the following thoughts in mind:
I. To make the game as true to history as we can, while featuring those
rules that are different from modern baseball rules. This is
for the benefit and entertainment of the cranks (fans) who will
appreciate the differences in the game from a previous era.
II. For the safety of all participating, both players and cranks.
|
