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Section 5.---Should rain commence to fall during the progress of a match game, the umpire must note the time it began; and, should it continue for five minutes, he shall, at the request of either captain, suspend play. Should the rain continue to fall for thirty minutes after play has been suspended, the game shall terminate.

Section 6.-When the umpire calls "play," the game must at once be proceeded with. Should either party fail to take their appointed positions in the game, or to commence play as requested, the umpire shall, at the expiration of five minutes, declare the game forfeited by the nine that refuses to play. When the umpire calls "time," play shall be suspended until he calls "play" again, and during the interim no player shall be put out, base be run, or run be scored. The umpire shall suspend play only for illness or an accident or injury to himself or a player, or on account of rain or lost ball.

Section 7.-The umpire, in any match game, shall, in case of rain or darkness, determine when play shall be suspended; and, if the game cannot be fairly concluded, it shall be decided by the score of the last even innings played, unless one nine shall have completed their innings, and the other nine shall have equalled or exceeded the score of their opponents in their incompleted innings, in which case the game shall be decided by the total score obtained, which score shall be recorded as the score of the game.

Section 8.-When the side last at the bat in the ninth or any subsequent innings shall score the winning run, the game shall terminate.

[The cases in which Section 7 of the rule applies are as follow:-If the A nine have played their sixth innings-or any other following innings—and have scored one run in their six or more innings' play, and the B nine, in their sixth innings, score a single run before a hand is put out, and the umpire "calls" or ends the game for any legal cause, in such case the game terminates in a drawn match. If, under similar conditions, the nine, in their incompleted sixth innings, score two runs, thereby exceeding their adversary's score, and the game then and there ends by the umpire's decision, the nine having the largest score wins. It is the umpire, and he only, who decides when a game shall end, of course with the exception of the case of full innings being played with one nine having a majority of runs.]

Section 9.-When the umpire calls "Game," it shall end; but when he merely suspends play for any stated period, it may be resumed at the point at which it was suspended, provided such suspension does not extend beyond the day of the match.

[There are no circumstances known to the rules which admit of a contesting nine legally refusing to continue play in a match after having commenced the game. When the umpire has been mutually agreed upon, and the contest proceeded with, it must be played to a close by both parties, under the penalty of forfeiture by the side refusing to play.]

RULE III.-THE PITCHER.

Section 1.-The pitcher's position shall be within a space of ground four feet wide by six feet long, the front, or four feet line, of which shall be distant forty-five feet from the centre of the home base, and the centre of the square shall be equi-distant from the first and the third bases. Each corner of the square shall be marked by a flat iron plate or stone, six inches square, fixed in the ground even with the surface.

Section 2.-The player who delivers the ball to the bat must do so while

wholly within the lines of the pitcher's position. He must remain within them until the ball has left his hand, and he shall not make any motion to deliver the ball to the bat while any part of his person is outside the lines of the pitcher's position. The ball must be delivered to the bat with the arm swinging nearly perpendicular at the side of the body, and the hand in swinging forward must pass below the hip. The pitcher, when taking his position to deliver the ball, must face the batsman, and shall not, while delivering the ball, turn his back to the striker.

Section 3.-Should the pitcher deliver the ball by an overhand throw, a "foul baulk" shall be declared. Any outward swing of the arm, or any other swing save that of the perpendicular movement referred to in Section 2 of this rule, shall be considered an overhand throw.

Section 4-When a "foul baulk" is called, the umpire shall warn the pitcher of the penalty incurred by such unfair delivery; and should such delivery be continued until three foul baulks have been called in one innings, or six in the entire game, the umpire shall declare the game forfeited.

Section 5.-Should the pitcher make any motion to deliver the ball to the bat, and fail so to deliver it-except the ball be accidentally dropped-or should he unnecessarily delay the game by not delivering the ball to the bat, or should he, when in the act of delivering the ball, overstep the bounds of his position, the umpire shall call a “baulk,” and players occupying the bases shall take one base each.

Section 6.-Every ball fairly delivered and sent in to the bat over the home base and at the height called for by the batsman shall be considered a good ball.

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Section 7.--All balls delivered to the bat which are not sent in over the home base and at the height called for by the batsman shall be considered unfair balls, and every ball so delivered must be called. When "eight balls" have been called, the striker shall take first base, and all players who are thereby forced to leave a base shall take one base. Neither a 'ball" nor a "strike" shall be called until the ball has passed the home base. Section 8.- All balls delivered to the bat which shall touch the striker's bat without being struck at, or his (the batsman's) person while standing in his position, or which shall hit the person of the umpire-unless they be passed balls-shall be considered dead balls, and shall be so called by the umpire; and no players shall be put out, base be run, or run be scored on any such ball; but if a dead ball be also an unfair ball, it shall be counted as one of the eight unfair balls which shall entitle the striker to a base.

[The ball may be tossed in-as in the case of a square pitch-or it may be sent in by a jerk, or an underhand throw, either method of delivery being legal under this rule, provided the ball, in the forward swing, passes "below the waist." In all cases where the ball is sent in on a line with the waist, the umpire must promptly call "foul baulk."]

RULE IV. THE BATSMAN.

Section 1.--The batsman's or striker's position shall be within a space of ground located on either side of the home base, six feet long by three feet wide, extending three feet in front of, and three feet behind, the line of the home base, and with its nearest line distant one foot from the home base.

Section 2.-The batsmen must take their position in the order in which they are directed by the captain of their club, and after each player has had

one time at the bat, the striking order thus established shall not be changed during the game. After the first innings, the first striker in each innings shall be the batsman whose name follows that of the last man who has completed his turn (time) at the bat in the preceding innings.

Section 3.-Any batsman failing to take his position at the bat in his order of striking unless by reason of illness or injury, or by consent of the captains of the contesting nines-shall be declared out, unless the error be discovered before a fair ball has been struck or the striker been put out.

Section 4.-Any batsman failing to take his position at the bat within one minute after the umpire has called for the striker shall be declared cut.

Section 5.-The batsman on taking his position must call for either a "high ball," a low ball," or a "fair ball," and the umpire shall notify the pitcher to deliver the ball as required; such call shall not be changed after the first ball delivered.

Section 6.-A "high ball" shall be sent in above the belt of the batsman, but not higher than his shoulder. A "low ball" shall be one sent in at the height of the belt, or between that height and the knee, but not higher than his belt. A "fair ball" shall be one between the range of shoulder high and the knee of the striker. All the above must be over the home base, and, when fairly delivered, shall be considered fair balls to the bat.

Section 7.-Should the batsman fail to strike at the ball he calls for, or should he strike at and fail to hit the ball, the umpire shall call "one strike," and "two strikes" should he again fail. When two strikes have been called, should the batsman not strike at the next "good ball," the umpire shall warn him by calling "good ball." But should he strike at and fail to hit the ball, or should he fail to strike at or hit the next good ball, "three strikes" must be called, and the batsman must run towards the first base, as in the case of hitting a fair ball.

[The meaning of the above section is as follows:-Suppose the first ball sent to the bat should be over the home base and at the height called for, and the batsman is not prepared to strike at it, or refuses to do so, it is then the duty of the umpire to call "one strike." If the second ball sent in is similarly fair, and not struck at, “two strikes" must be called, and should the third such ball sent in be struck at and not hit, in such case "three strikes" must be called. Now suppose two fair balls are again sent in, and the batsman strike at them and fail to hit them, one strike" and then "two strikes" must be called as before. But in such case, if the third ball sent in fair be not struck at, then the umpire warns the batsman by exclaiming, "fair ball," and then, if the fourth ball be not struck at, or, if struck at, be not hit, the umpire calls "three strikes; striker out."]

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Section 8.-The batsman, when in the act of striking at the ball musí stand wholly within the lines of his position.

Section 9.-Should the batsman step outside the lines of his position when he strikes at the ball, the umpire shall call "foul strike and out," and base runners shall return to the bases they occupied when the ball was struck at or hit.

Section 10.-The foul lines shall be unlimited in length, and shall run from the right and left hand corners of the home base, through the centre of the first and third bases to the foul posts, which shall be located at the boundary of the field, and within the range of home and first base, and home and third base. Said lines shall be marked, and on the inside, from base to base with chalk, or some other white substance, so as to be plainly seen by the umpire.

Section 11.-If the ball from a fair stroke of the bat first touches the ground, the person of a player, or any other object, either in front of or on the foul ball lines, or the first or third base, it shall be considered fair. If the ball, from a fair stroke of the bat, first touches the ground, the person of a player, or any other object behind the foul ball lines, it shall be declared foul, and the ball so hit shall be called foul by the umpire, even before touching the ground, if it be seen falling foul.

The following are exceptions to the foregoing sections :-All balls batted directly to the ground that bound or roll within the foul lines between home and first, or home and third bases, without first touching the person of a player, shall be considered fair. All balls batted directly to the ground that bound or roll outside the foul lines between home and first, or home and third bases, without first touching the person of a player, shall be considered foul. In either of these cases the first point of contact between the batted ball and the ground shall not be regarded. If a batted ball strikes the batsman while standing in his position, it shall be declared dead, and not in play until settled in the hands of the pitcher, and the batsman shall not be declared out.

Section 12.-When the batsman has fairly struck a ball he shall vacate his position, and he shall then be considered a base-runner until he is put out or scores his run.

Section 13.-The batsman shall be declared out by the umpire as follows:If a fair or foul ball be caught before touching the ground, or any object other than the player, provided it be not caught in the player's hat or cap. If a foul ball be similarly held, before touching the ground.

If a fair ball be securely held by a fielder while touching the first base with any part of his person before base-runner touches said base.

If, after three strikes have been called, he fails to touch first base before the ball is legally held there.

If, after three strikes have been called, the ball be caught before touching the ground.

If he plainly attempts to hinder the catcher from catching the ball, evidently without effort to make a fair strike, or makes a foul strike."

[In reference to putting out base-runners from home base at first base, the umpire must bear in mind the fact that the rule, by letter as well as spirit, requires that the ball be held by the base-player before the base-runner reaches the base, in order to put him out. If it be held simultaneously with his touching the base, then the runner is not out.]

RULE V. THE BASES.

Section 1.-Players running bases must touch each base in regular order, viz., first, second, third, and home bases; and when obliged to return to bases they have occupied, they must retouch them in reverse order, both when running on fair and foul balls. In the latter case the base-runner must return to the base where he belongs, on the run and not at a walk No base shall be considered as having been occupied or held until it has been touched. Section 2.-No player running the bases shall be forced to vacate the base he occupies, unless the batsman becomes a base-runner. Should the first base be occupied by a base-runner when a fair ball is struck, the base-runner shall cease to be entitled to hold said base until the player running to first base shall be put out. The same rule shall apply in the case of the

occupancy of the other bases under similar circumstances. No base-runner shall be forced to vacate the base he occupies if the base runner succeeding him is not thus obliged to vacate his base.

[The rule limits a base-runner's being forced off to the act of the batsman in running to first base. For instance, if all three of the bases be occupied when the batsman makes a fair hit, then the moment such hit is made all three of the base-runners cease to be entitled to hold the bases they then occupy, inasmuch as the base-runner from home to first base forces the runner on first to vacate, he on the first forces the runner on second, and he on the second forces the runner on the third. But if there are runners on first and third bases only, and the runner on first is forced to vacate that base by the batsman, the runner on third is not thereby forced to vacate that base by the runner forced to leave first. If a base runner on third base leaves his base to run home, and in the interim a runner on second occupies third base -if the former, finding he cannot reach home safely, runs back to third, the occupant of third from second base must return to second, he having no right to hold third base until the regular occupant of that base, who preceded him, touches the next base.]

Section 3-Players forced to vacate their bases may be put out by any fielders in the same manner as when running to first base.

Section 4.--The player running to the first base shall be at liberty to overrun said base without his being put out for being off the base, after first touching it, provided that in so overrunning the base he make no attempt to run to second base. In such case he must return at once and retouch first base, and after retouching said base he can be put out as at any other base. If, in so overrunning first base, he also attempts to run to second base, he shall forfeit such exemption from being put out.

Section 5.--Any player running a base who shall run beyond three feet from the line from base to base, in order to avoid being touched by the ball in the hands of a fielder, shall be declared out by the umpire, with or without appeal; but in case a fielder be occupying the runner's proper path, attempting to field a batted ball, then the runner shall run out of the path and behind said fielder, and shall not be declared out for so doing.

Section 6.-One run shall be scored every time a base-runner, after having regularly touched the first three bases, shall touch the home base before three hands are out, and players shall score in the order of going to the bat, unless previously put out. If the third hand is forced out, or is put out before reaching first base, a run shall not be scored.

Section 7.-When a "baulk" is called by the umpire, every player running the bases shall take one base without being put out, and shall do so on the

run.

[There is quite a difference between taking bases on "baulks" and taking them on "called balls." In taking bases on balls, only those occupying bases who are forced off by the giving of the base on called balls can take bases; but in the case of baulks every occupant of a base, whether forced off or not, takes a base. Thus, if the first and third bases be occupied when the striker is given his base on balls, only the runner on first base can take a base; but in the case of a baulk, then both the occupants of the bases take a base. Of course the batsman does not take a base on a baulk.]

Section 8.-When "eight balls" have been called by the umpire the batsman shall take one base, provided he do so on the run, without being put out,

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