Baseball; the Last Great American Pastime by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Baseball; the Last Great American Pastime

Page 345

#24- The Rules of the Game

Now that we have discussed some of the statistics

applicable to baseball and their nuances of imperfection, allow

me to complicate that more than a little with the underlying

rules which affected them. This could be a long subject; but

suffice to say that I’ll do my best to minimize the many

details. The “modern” game of baseball is virtually unanimously

considered to have started in 1901. That is not to say that if

one had a time machine and could view a 1901 game it would look

anything like a 2016 game. It would not. However, the rules by

which the game is played now are substantially those, but not

necessarily identical to, those that came into effect that year.

Many consider them sacred; especially John McGraw.

My intent in mentioning what came before is merely

informational and is as brief as possible. When one sees a pre-

1901 number or record which seems out of line, it is almost

always the result of a rule change put in effect that year or

the result of some other temporarily lived experiment which

would be today considered an abnormality; coupled with its

attendant scorekeeper co-operation, as well as the apparent

current numerological-approach dis-interest in re-stating all

numbers on a common foot ground; possibly the present. For one

example; the average runs per game of 10.47 recorded in 1871 was

the result of the rule which said that the team to win would be

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the first to score twenty-one runs. Judging by the averages

recorded; either all games were shut-outs, or at some point

everyone went home out of boredom. This may well have been when

Americans sought a total break from British cricket. For

another, there was a high batting average year in 1887 in which

walks were counted as hits; sometimes nine balls necessary for

that honor. For perspective on the subject and hopefully some

humor a few of the old rules will follow after a bit of

Twentieth Century modernism.

The Official Baseball Rules have been substantially

consistent since 1901. The most notable exceptions to that took

place during the previously mentioned low hitting 1970’s when

the mound was twice moved back and the strike zone decreased.

Sometime later during the “Steroid Era” it became punishable for

a pitcher to deliberately throw at a hitter. It might surprise

you to know that some of baseball’s greatest pitchers were known

as “beanball artists.” Imagine a Nolan Ryan or Roger Clemens 100

mile per hour fastball coming at your head. You have a fraction

of a second to move or to decide to hang in there to see if it

will break. It will regularly break forearm bones. It might also

surprise you to know that a seasoned pro can tell with about a

90% degree of certainty when the pitch was intentional and when

it was accidental. Fans can make a fairly accurate assessment

based on whether or not a brawl breaks out.

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In 1872 the nine inning format was put in place. No longer

was it necessary to score 21 runs. The following year called

strikes were recognized for the first time; meaning that

previously, if a batter did not swing no strike was possible.

Simultaneously it was decided that a batter was out if a ball,

fair or foul, was caught on the fly or after one bounce. So, if

the batter hit the ball sufficiently high in fair territory, he

could get to first base before it came down. Interspersed with

the aforementioned, starting in 1867, the batter was given the

right to call for a high or low pitch. I take this as a strong

indication that the powers that be always recognized that fans

have a predilection for offense.

What has evolved to be the National League which we still

have today was not formed until 1876. It then proceeded to make

yearly rule changes until 1901. In its defense there were other

leagues and other rules which confused comparisons, even in

their time. In 1880, a batter was out if the catcher caught the

third strike; otherwise the batter got four strikes. Prior to

1883, pitchers were required to throw pitches with their hand

below their hips. Apparently this was an attempt to make it

easier to hit; but it gave rise to the difficult to hit,

“windmill” style now used only in softball, outlawed by

baseball. This was legal until that pivotal year of 1920 when

Ray Chapman was beaned and killed by a “windmill” delivery from

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Carl Mays; though the pros already using that style could

continue to do so. Grandfathering is a respected legal concept.

As a bit of an aside in 1915, Mays played for the Boston Red

Sox. He was instigating a confrontation with Ty Cobb by throwing

at him each time he came to bat. Toward game end after a close

pitch, Cobb threw his bat in Mays' direction, calling him a "no

good son of a bitch." Mays answered saying; "yellow dog." On the

next pitch, Mays hit Cobb on the wrist. The incident cemented

Mays' reputation as a “head hunter.” While this kind of

reputation is conducive to a pitcher’s effectiveness, it did

nothing for Mays’ posterity. In fifteen years Mays compiled

statistics better than some people in the Hall of Fame; 207

wins, 126 losses; and an ERA of 2.92. But he was not invited to

immortality.

In 1884 the rule was changed to allow, though not require,

shoulder-high deliveries from the pitcher; essentially adding

side-arming to their under-handed repertoire. Until 1887,

batters could call for either a high or low pitch, and the

strike zone was either above or below the waist, to be

determined by the batter. In 1885, perhaps mimicking cricket, it

became legal to use a flat bat. That is until 1893, when they

were required to be round. I completely do not understand the

relevance of this rule, and have found nothing the least bit

helpful.

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Starting in 1887, batters could no longer call for a pitch;

and the strike zone was defined as over the plate, from the

batter’s shoulders to the batter’s knees. The pitcher's mound

was ten feet closer to home plate than it is now. Foul balls

were not counted as strikes. Batters were allowed four strikes.

And get this one. The number of balls necessary for a walk,

which at times included foul balls, progressively slid from nine

to the four we came to know in 1889. In that same year, the

number of strikes required to be out declined from 4 to 3.

There is more, but I’ll cut it here. I’m sure you get the

idea. If you got in a time machine, and took your son to an 1888

baseball game; when he asked you what was going on; you’d have

to honestly answer; “I don’t know. Just see if he gets on base.”

In 1910, cork centers were added to balls; throwing a bit

of a shadow on the “dead ball” theory. In 1925, the minimum

distance for a home run was made 250 feet to prevent cheap

homers in anticipation of fan interest. Pitching mounds were

moved back a few times in the anemic hitting late sixties and

seventies. In 1973, the American League adopted the designated

hitter rule, still not utilized by the National League. Inter-

league play began in 1997; and no doubt turned down the fire on

some old rivalries. You notice the gap provided by stability.

It is generally thought that the relatively consistent

nature of baseball's “modern” rules has been a source of the

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sport's appeal. It allows comparisons to be drawn between

players and teams of different eras. No matter how implausible

these comparisons may be in the closest of calls, it provides

baseball fans with an endless supply of debates. These long term

comparisons have much less significance in sports in which the

rules have either been “recently” changed or have been altered

to further enable a marquee name.

The relative constant nature of the rules in the modern era

allows a contemporary fan to somewhat follow an account of a

game played long ago. As a result, baseball has more of a

"history" than any other American sport.