VINTAGE BASE BALL RULES

Most games in the ATVBBL use rules from 1860.  Some of the differences between those rules and modern baseball include:

• Underhand pitching.

• If a ball is caught on one bounce, it's an out.

• If a ball is caught off a foul tip, either on the fly or one bounce, it's an out.

• Balls caught on the fly or one bounce by anybody (players from either team, spectators, etc.) are outs.

• If the ball is caught on the fly, you cannot tag up and advance.  If a ball is caught on one bounce, runners may advance at will without tagging up.

• A ball is determined fair or foul based on where it first strikes the ground.  It does not have to pass first or third base to be considered fair.

• Fouls are not strikes.

• No overrunning first base.  If you overrun the base, you can be tagged out.

• No lead-offs or stealing.

• Balls and strikes were not usually called in 1860.  The hurler's job is to pitch balls that the striker can hit.  The defense is supposed to put out the striker, not the hurler.

• The umpire's word is the law!  Only the team captain is permitted to speak to the umpire, who is always addressed as "sir."  Any arguing with the umpire, profane language, or ungentlemanly conduct is punishable by a 25 cent fine.

Detailed Rules

We strive to stick as closely to the 1860 rules as we possibly can.  At times, the playing field or other conditions may force us to bend the rules just a bit.  

The 1860 rules in detail, as established by the National Association of Base-Ball Players on March 14, 1860 are listed below in italics.  Rule interpretations and modifications made by the ATVBBL are in blue bold.

Sec. 1.  The ball must weigh not less than five and three-fourths, nor more than six ounces avoirdupois. It must measure not less than nine and three-fourths, nor more than ten inches in circumference. It must be composed of india-rubber and yarn, and covered with leather, and, in all match games, shall be furnished by the challenging club, and become the property of the winning club, as a trophy of victory.

The ATVBBL uses the 1870's white lemon peel ball as sold by K & P Weaver.  We have found that this is a well-produced ball that holds up well for a number of games.  It has to take quite a pounding over a long time before it falls apart.

Sec. 2.  The bat must be round, and must not exceed two and a half inches in diameter in the thickest part. It must be made of wood, and may be of any length to suit the striker.

Sec. 3.  The bases must be four in number, placed at equal distances from each other, and securely fastened upon the four corners of a square, whose sides are respectively thirty yards. They must be so constructed as to be distinctly seen by the umpire, and must cover a space equal to one square foot of surface. The first, second, and third bases shall be canvas bags, painted white, and filled with sand or sawdust; the home base and pitcher's point to be each marked by a flat circular iron plate, painted or enameled white.

The ATVBBL has set the ideal length between bases at 80 feet.  This may be adjusted depending on which field we are playing on at the time.  Some fields we play on may be little league or softball fields, which are set up for 65-75 foot base paths.  In situations where placing first base 80 feet from home plate would put the base in the outfield, the base paths are shortened.  On the rare occasion where a game is played on an actual professional field (such as Warren Ballpark in Bisbee), the full 90 foot base paths are used.

Since we usually play on city park baseball or softball fields, we do not use a "flat circular iron plate" to mark the pitcher's point and home plate.  We simply use whatever markings already exist on that field.

Sec. 4.  The base from which the ball is struck shall be designated Home Base, and must be directly opposite to the second base, the first base must always be that upon the right-hand, and the third base that upon the left-hand side of the striker, when occupying his position at the Home Base.

Sec. 5.  The pitcher's position shall be designated by a line four yards in length, drawn at right angles to a line from home to the second base, having its center upon that line, at a fixed iron plate, placed at a point fifteen yards distant from home base. The pitcher must deliver the ball as near as possible over the center of the home base and for the striker.

We usually just mark off a distance 45 feet from home plate and have the pitcher deliver the ball from there.  We rarely mark of the distance with a line, and never use a fixed iron plate.

Sec. 6.  The ball must be pitched, not jerked or thrown to the bat; and whenever the pitcher draws back his hand, or moves with the apparent purpose or pretension to deliver the ball, he shall so deliver it, and he must have neither foot in advance of the line at the time of delivering the ball; and if he fails in either of these particulars, then it shall be declared a baulk.

All pitching is underhand.

Sec. 7.  When a baulk is made by the pitcher, every player running the bases is entitled to one base, without being put out.

Sec. 8.  If the ball, from the stroke of the bat, is caught behind the range of home and the first base, or home and the third base, without having touched the ground or first touches the ground behind those bases, it shall be termed foul, and must be so declared by the umpire, unasked. If the ball first touches the ground, or is caught without having touched the ground, either upon, or in front of the range of those bases, it shall be considered fair.

Whether a ball is fair or foul depends on where it first touches the ground.  It does not have to pass first or third base first.  So if it hits fair just inches in front of home plate, then immediately bounces foul, it's a fair ball.  Also, if it hits a player in fair territory, then hits the ground first in foul territory, it is a foul ball, and vice versa.

Sec. 9.  A player making the home base, shall be entitled to score one run.

Sec. 10.  If three balls are struck at, and missed, and the last one is not caught, either flying or upon the first bound, it shall be considered fair, and the striker must attempt to make his run.

The striker may only run to first if it is not already occupied by a runner. 

Sec. 11.  The striker is out if a foul ball is caught, either before touching the ground, or upon the first bound;

Sec. 12.  Or, if three balls are struck at and missed, and the last is caught, either before touching the ground or upon the first bound,

Sec. 13.  Or, if a fair ball is struck, and the ball is caught either without having touched the ground, or upon the first bound;

Note how it does not say the ball must be caught by an opposing player!

The "first bound" is the first time the ball touches the ground.  So if the ball deflects off another object (fence, wall, tree, etc.), or a player, it can still be caught on the fly for an out.  If it touches the ground after hitting an object or a player, it can still be caught off the first bound for an out.

Sec. 14.  Or, if a fair ball is struck, and the ball held by an adversary on the first base, before the striker touches that base.

Sec. 15.  Any player running the bases is out, if at any time he is touched by the ball while in play in the hands of an adversary, without some part of his person being on a base.

Sec. 16.  No ace nor base can be made upon a foul ball, nor when a fair ball has been caught without having touched the ground, and the ball shall, in the former instance, be considered dead, and not in play until it shall first have been settled in the hands of the pitcher; in either case the players running the bases shall return to them, and may be put out in so returning in the same manner as the striker when running to the first base.

On a caught fly ball, runners may not tag up and advance.

On a bound out, runners are free to advance at will.  They do not need to tag up.

After a foul tic, once the pitcher is in possession of the ball, play is live again.  Runners who are slow getting back to their bases may be picked off.

Sec. 17.  The striker must stand on a line drawn through the center of the home base, not exceeding in length three feet either side thereof, and parallel to the line occupied by the pitcher. He shall be considered the striker until he has made the first base. Players must strike in regular rotation, and, after the first innings is played, the turn commences with the player who stands on the list next to the one who lost the third hand.

We rarely have a striker's line.  Any position within the modern batter's box is okay.

Sec. 18.  Players must make their bases in the order of striking; and when a fair ball is struck, and not caught flying (or on the first bound), the first base must be vacated, as also the second and third bases, if they are occupied at the same time. Players may be put out on any base, under these circumstances, in the same manner as the striker when running to the first base.

If a runner behind a force play is put out, the force is not removed from the runner in front of him.  For example, if there's a man on first, and a ground ball hit back to the pitcher, who then throws to first to put the batter out, there is still a force play at second.  The runner can be put out if the ball is thrown to the second baseman and he just tags the base.

Sec. 19.  Players running the bases must, so far as possible, keep upon a direct line between the bases; and, should any player run three feet out of this line, for the purpose of avoiding the ball in the hands of an adversary, he shall be declared out.

The rules say nothing about leading off or stealing, and rules regarding this vary from club to club across the country.  The ATVBBL has decided not to allow lead-offs or stealing.

Sec. 20.  Any player, who shall intentionally prevent an adversary from catching or fielding the ball, shall be declared out.

Sec. 21.  If the player is prevented from making a base, by the intentional obstruction of an adversary, he shall be entitled to that base, and not put out.

Sec. 22.  If an adversary stops a ball with his hat or cap, or takes it from the hands of a party not engaged in the game, no player can be put out unless the ball shall first have settled in the hands of the pitcher.

Sec. 23.  If a ball, from the stroke of a bat, is held under any other circumstances than as enumerated in Section 22, and without having touched the ground more than once, the striker is out.

Sec. 24.  If two hands are already out, no player running home at the time a ball is struck, can make an ace if the striker is put out.

Sec. 25.  An innings must be concluded at the time the third hand is put out.

The batter leading off the next inning is the batter after the player who made the third out, not necessarily the next in batting order.  For example, if there's a man on first with two outs, and a ground ball is hit to short, who tosses it to the second baseman for the final out, then the player in the batting order who is immediately after the runner who was put out at second leads off the following inning.

Sec. 26.  The game shall consist of nine innings to each side, when, should the number of runs be equal, the play, shall be continued until a majority of runs, upon an equal number of innings, shall be declared, which shall conclude the game.

On days where a team plays multiple games, games will be seven innings long.

Sec. 27.  In playing all matches, nine players from each club shall constitute a full field, and they must have been regular members of the club they represent, and of no other club, for thirty days prior to the match. No change or substitution shall be made after the game has been commenced, unless for reason of illness or injury. Position of players and choice of innings shall be determined by captains previously appointed for that purpose by the respective clubs.

The ATVBBL allows up to a maximum of three substitutes per team.  Substitutes must be in good standing with the league, in that they must have a signed waiver on file and be current on league dues.  Players who arrive late because of unforeseen circumstances will be allowed to replace a substitute.

Sec. 28.  The umpire shall take care that the regulations respecting balls, bats, bases, and the pitcher's and striker's positions, are strictly observed. He shall keep record of the game, in a book prepared for the purpose; he shall be the judge of fair and unfair play, and shall determine all disputes and differences which may occur during the game; he shall take especial care to declare all foul balls and baulks, immediately upon their occurrence, unasked, and in a distinct and audible manner.

Sec. 29.  In all matches the umpire shall be selected by the captains of the respective sides, and shall perform all the duties enumerated in Section 28, except recording the game, which shall be done by two scorers, one of whom shall be appointed by each of the contending clubs.

Sec. 30.  No person engaged in a match, either as umpire, scorer, or player, shall be, either directly or indirectly, interested in any bet upon the game. Neither umpire, scorer, nor player shall be changed during a match, unless with the consent of both parties (except for a violation of this law), except as provided in Section 27, and then the umpire may dismiss any transgressor.

Sec. 31.  The umpire of any match shall determine when play shall be suspended; and if the game can not be concluded, it shall be determined by the last even innings, provided five innings have been played, and the party having the greatest number of runs shall be declared the winner.

Sec. 32.  Clubs may adopt such rules respecting balls knocked beyond or outside of bounds of the field, as the circumstances of the ground may demand; and these rules shall govern all matches played upon the ground, provided that they are distinctly made known to every player and umpire, previous to the commencement of the game.

Sec. 33.  No person shall be permitted to approach or to speak with the umpire, scorers, or players, or in any manner to interrupt or interfere during the progress of the game, unless by special request of the umpire.

Sec. 34.  No person shall be permitted to act as umpire or scorer in any match, unless he shall be a member of a Base-Ball Club governed by these rules.

Sec. 35.  Whenever a match shall have been determined upon two clubs, play shall be called at the exact hour appointed; and should either party fail to produce their players within fifteen minutes thereafter, the party so failing shall admit a defeat.

Sec. 36.  No person who shall be in arrears to any other club, or who shall at any time receive compensation for his services as player, shall be competent to play in any match.

Sec. 37.  Should a striker stand at the bat without striking at good balls repeatedly pitched to him, for the apparent purpose of delaying the game, or of giving advantage to a player, the umpire, after warning him, shall call one strike, and if he persists in such action, two and three strikes. When three strikes are called, he shall be subject to the same rules as he had struck at three fair balls.

Umpires will usually start calling balls and strikes after the 4th pitch, however, it's a rare thing when an at bat in an ATVBBL game even gets to the 4th pitch.  The striker will be awarded first base after the fourth called ball.

Sec. 38.  Every match hereafter made shall be decided by a single game, unless mutually agreed upon by the contesting clubs.

Players Positions

The First and Third maintainers must be within two strides of their sack in Fair Territory and may position themselves to the front, side or rear of their sacks. The Second maintainer must be within two strides of their sack and may be to the front, rear or sides of their sack. The Gardener's must be positioned in the middle of the sacks with the center Gardner in line with second sack, this is their neutral positions. The Gardener's may adjust forward or backwards depending on the ability of the striker but cannot be passed the maintainers, when adjusting for a striker and they must remain in their neutral positions. Once they have adjusted for the striker they can not move until the striker hits the ball. The Rover can position themselves anywhere in the field of play, either in front of the maintainers, the hurler, either side of the infield, or in the outfield and this is the only player that may move while the hurler delivers the ball and does not have to wait for the ball to be struck. The rover however cannot position themselves in foul territory before the striker hits the ball.
 

Equipment

In general, we try to stick as closely as possible to the equipment used in the 1860's, however, there are some exceptions to this.

Players in 1860 did not use gloves.  They fielded bare-handed.  In the ATVBBL, gloves are optional.  You may play bare-handed, but if you'd like to wear a glove, you may wear a vintage-style glove.  Any 19th Century vintage-style glove is permitted.  We have found that the vintage-style gloves are popular with the spectators, and are an interesting aspect of the vintage game.

Uniforms in the early days were made of wool.  Anyone who's spent any length of time in Arizona knows that wool uniforms would just be too hot to wear.  Our uniforms are made from polyester.  They're designed to look like the real thing, but they're much cooler to wear.

Bats in 1860 were big, heavy, and had thick handles.  There's a number of vintage bat manufacturers around the country, and we use those bats when we can.  Some players have purchased wood bats from sporting goods stores that meet vintage specifications.  All ATVBBL bats must be wood, must have no corporate logos or modern designs on them, and must meet the specifications outlined in the rules listed above.

In general, if any piece of equipment gives a player an extra advantage, it is unwelcome in an ATVBBL game, even though it may conform to the rules as laid out in 1860.

Vintage Base Ball Terms