Rules

We play most of our matches using the rules of 1861 or 1864 but occasionally we play using the rules of 1865 (as defined in the Beadle’s Dime Base-Ball Player guides). Below are the differences in the rules from the modern game. All apply to 1861 rules except where noted as applying to 1864 or 1865 rules. To summarize, the basic differences between the rules of 1861, 1864, and 1865 and those of the modern game are are:

1861 1864 1865
Strikes are called after a warning to the batter for not swinging at a good pitch (3 strikes = out) Strikes are called after a warning to the batter for not swinging at a good pitch (3 strikes = out) Strikes are called after a warning to the batter for not swinging at a good pitch (3 strikes = out)
Fouls are not strikes Fouls are not strikes Fouls are not strikes
Balls are not called Balls are called after a warning to the pitcher for poor pitches
(3 balls = walk)

All base runners advance on a walk even if there’s an open base.

Balls are called after a warning to the pitcher for poor pitches
(3 balls = walk)

All base runners advance on a walk even if there’s an open base.

Force out play remains in affect regardless of the order that baserunners are put out Force out play is off if a trailing baserunner is put out Force out play is off if a trailing baserunner is put out
First bound outs First bound outs No first bound outs except on foul balls
Baserunner can be put out if they overrun first base Baserunner can be put out if they overrun first base Baserunner can be put out if they overrun first base

Equipment

  • No gloves!
  • No catcher’s mask, chest protector, or shin guards.
  • Ball is 9.5 inches in circumference, 5.5 ounces in weight, and is made from a single piece of leather (a modern baseball is between 5 and 5.25 ounces, 9 to 9.25 inches in circumference and is made from two symmetrical pieces of leather)
  • Bat can be no more than 2.5″ in diameter but there is no restriction on the length or size of the handle (we avoid using modern bats that have a thin handle even though there is no rule against them because they weren’t in use back then)

Field

  • Home base is iron, circular, white, and between 9″ and 13″ in circumference
  • The batters line is a line drawn through the center of the home base, not exceeding in length three feet from either side thereof, and parallel with the line occupied by the pitcher
  • Pitcher’s “mound” is a line 45 feet from home plate, 12 feet wide with an iron plate marking the Pitcher’s Point in the center of that line
  • 1865 – A second line 48 feet from home plate defines the back of the pitcher’s location
  • Bases are canvas squares (we don’t secure our bases, contrary to rules)
  • Foul lines from home to 1st base and home to 3rd base

Pitching

  • Ball is pitched underhand (not jerked or thrown), must be released at the waist or below
  • No foot over the pitcher’s line during the pitch
  • Whenever the pitcher draws back his hand, or moves with the apparent purpose or pretension to deliver the ball, he must deliver it
  • 1864 & 1865 – Both of the pitchers feet must be on the ground at delivery of pitch
  • Violation of any of these rules shall be declared a baulk

Umpiring

  • Umpire’s primary job is calling struck balls foul (no call for fair balls), calling strikes, calling baulks, tracking the score, declaring the winner
  • Umpire warns batter once for not swinging at a good pitch before he starts calling strikes – 3 strikes is an out (foul balls are not strikes)
  • Balls are not called so there are no walks
  • 1864 & 1865 – Umpire warns pitcher once for a bad pitch before he starts calling balls – 3 balls results in a walk
  • The umpire will only make a call on a play if there is a dispute between the players

Batting

  • Choice of innings is determined by the team captains
  • The first batter at the start of an inning is the batter following the last player put out in the previous inning (not the player who follows the last batter from the previous inning)
  • The batter must stand “on” the batters line (the meaning of this rule is not clear as to whether the batter must have one foot on the line or if they can be astride the line with one foot on either side of it – we use the latter interpretation)
  • A ball thrown between batters shoulders and 6″ off the ground and within reach with the bat is considered a good pitch for the batter to swing at
  • A struck ball is fair once it hits the ground or player in fair territory (ball does not need to stay in fair territory past 1st or 3rd base to be fair)
  • If the batter swings and misses for a third strike and the catcher does not catch the ball (either before it touches the ground or on the first bound), the batter must run to first base whether first base is occupied or not, and regardless of the number of outs at the time of the play
  • Bunting is not allowed
  • A full swing attempt to hit the ball into fair territory in a direction towards foul territory (“a fair foul hit”) is allowed
  • There is no “hit by pitch” rule. A batter hit by a ball remains at bat.
  • If a pitched ball, that the batter does not swing at, hits the bat it is a dead ball.
  • No timeouts between pitches.

Fielding

  • Catching the ball on the first bound is an out (this includes foul tips that are caught by the catcher on the first bound and muffed fly catches that are caught on the first bound)
  • 1865 – Fair balls must be caught in the air to make an out – Foul balls caught on the first bound are still an out
  • The fielder must avoid obstructing the baserunner when possible
  • The fielder can not set up in front of the base while taking a throw if it obstructs the baserunner
  • A ball picked up in fair territory by a spectator must be returned to the pitcher before a play can be made on a baserunner (similar to making a play after a foul ball – this rule can come into play on our home field because there is a walking path that crosses through our outfield)
  • The fielder does not need to retain control of the ball after making a tag or a catch (the umpire makes the determination if the tag or catch was made)
  • There is no infield fly rule.

Running the Bases

  • Baserunner who leaves his base on a foul ball can be put out if they don’t get back to the base before the ball but the ball must go to the pitcher first before a play can be made on the baserunner
  • No overrunning first base on a hit or you can be tagged out
  • Baserunner who sees that the ball is going to be caught on the bound does not have to wait before running (i.e. no tagging up required on bound outs)
  • If at the start of an at-bat there is a baserunner on 1st base, or 1st and 2nd base, or 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base, then the force out rule applies (i.e. touching the base that a baserunner must advance to puts them out – no tag of the baserunner is required)
  • Whether or not the force out rule stays in effect a trailing baserunner is put out is not clear in the rules until 1864. We use the interpretation that the force rule is still used in that situation in our 1861 games (ex: if the batter is put out at 1st base the other baserunners can still be put out by touching the base that they are advancing to – no tag of the baserunner is required)
  • 1864 & 1865 – The force out no longer applies if a baserunner behind them is put out before they are (i.e. if the batter is first put out at 1st base the other baserunners must now be tagged to get them out)
  • If a base moves during a play the base remains the safe haven not its original location
  • A baserunner running more than 3 feet out of the line between bases in order to avoid a tag is declared out
  • A baserunner accidentally struck by a batted ball is not out – the umpire will determine if the baserunner intentionally allowed himself to be hit by the ball

Exceptions

  • While the rules of 1861 through 1865 state that no substitutions are allowed except in case of illness or injury, we allow free substitutions
  • Pinch runners are allowed for players unable to run or wishing to avoid running in order to prevent further injury – the first available batter in the batting order who is not on base is usually used as the pinch runner
  • If the two teams agree, additional players beyond the nine playing the field can be included in the batting order
  • If there is no umpire available, the team at bat will provide a player to act as umpire
  • If one team is short-handed and the other has more than 9 players then they can “loan” their extra players to the other team
  • If both teams have only 8 players then the team at bat will provide a catcher for the fielding team – in some cases we will also agree to prohibit base stealing
  • We use a backstop to minimize the number of base balls that end up in the Thames River – this may not have been normal or even allowed
  • If both teams agree before the game starts, a baserunner is limited to a two step lead off the base and must wait for the pitcher to release the ball before attempting to steal a base or advancing on a hit ball
  • We wear black modern rubber cleats with non-black design elements blacked out

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