Knickerbocker Rules
The first published rules of baseball were written in 1845 for a Manhattan base ball club called the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York. On October 6, 1845, the Knickerbockers play the first recorded game under the rules.
The author of the rules, Alexander Cartwright, is commonly known as "the father of baseball".
Modern baseball rules have evolved from the Knickerbocker Rules. The rules are most likely not an invention of Cartwright, but rather a compilation of the common-law-type of rules developed over as many as fifty years. This is evidenced by the nuances discussed by the twenty rules -- and by the omissions of rules whose inclusion should be obvious; e.g. the number of players on each team and the existence/location of a pitcher's mound.
Of interesting significance is rule #13, which specifically states that a defender may not throw the ball at the runner to cause an out. Some suspect that this rule was included in order to reconcile differences between two factions of baseball players -- one who allowed for "pegging" and one who did not.
[edit] The Rules
- To see an image of a 1860 printing of the rules, click here.
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1ST. Members must strictly observe the time agreed upon for exercise, and be punctual in their attendance. 2ND. When assembled for exercise, the President, of in his absence, the Vice-President, shall appoint an Umpire, who shall keep the game in a book provided for that purpose, and note all violations of the By-Laws and Rules during the time of exercise. 3RD. The presiding officer shall designate two members as Captains, who shall retire and make the match to be played, observing at the same time that the player's opposite to each other should be as nearly equal as possible, the choice of sides to be then tossed for, and the first in hand to be decided in like manner. 4TH. The bases shall be from "home" to second base, forty-two paces; from first to third base, forty-two paces, equidistant. 5TH. No stump match shall be played on a regular day of exercise. 6TH. If there should not be a sufficient number of members of the Club present at the time agreed upon to commence exercise, gentlemen not members may be chosen in to make up the match, which shall not be broken up to take in members that may afterwards appear; but in all cases, members shall have the preference, when present, at the making of the match. 7TH. If members appear after the game is commenced, they may be chosen in if mutually agreed upon. 8TH. The game to consist of twenty-one counts, or aces; but at the conclusion an equal number of hands must be played. 9TH. The ball must be pitched, not thrown, for the bat. 10TH. A ball knocked out of the field, or outside the range of the first and third base, is foul. 11TH. Three balls being struck at and missed and the last one caught, is a hand-out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run. 12TH. If a ball be struck, or tipped, and caught, either flying or on the first bound, it is a hand out. 13TH. A player running the bases shall be out, if the ball is in the hands of an adversary on the base, or the runner is touched with it before he makes his base; it being understood, however, that in no instance is a ball to be thrown at him. 14TH. A player running who shall prevent an adversary from catching or getting the ball before making his base, is a hand out. 15TH. Three hands out, all out. 16TH. Players must take their strike in regular turn. 17TH. All disputes and differences relative to the game, to be decided by the Umpire, from which there is no appeal. 18TH. No ace or base can be made on a foul strike. 19TH. A runner cannot be put out in making one base, when a balk is made on the pitcher. 20TH. But one base allowed when a ball bounds out of the field when struck. |
[edit] Deviations from the Modern Game
The Knickerbocker Rules, while a framework for the current game, deviate from the game today in many ways:
- Per rule 8, games were played until one team scored 21 runs, with the other team receiving "last licks". The nine-inning game was first introduced in 1857.
- Per rule 9, overhand pitching was not allowed.
- There is no mention of a strike zone -- or even walks at all. Both were later introduced.
- Probably because of a lack of baseball gloves and catching gear, catching a ball on the first bounce constituted an out -- see rule 12.
- Rule 20 introduces the "Ground rule double" -- but as a single instead.
