Clipping:Eliminating the foul bound out

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Date Saturday, December 14, 1878
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[reporting on the NL meeting of 12/4/1878] Mr. Spalding offered an amendment to the third clause of Sec. 12, Rule 6, by inserting the word “before” in the place of “after,” and taking out the final words of the clause “but once,” making the game a fly game throughout. This, which is about the only radical change made in the rules, was urged by Harry Wright of the Bostons and George Wright of the Providences. Considerable discussion ensued, but it was finally carried by a vote of 4 to 3. New York Clipper December 14, 1878

We now come to the amendment throwing out the bound-catch of foul balls and of bound catches from “three strikes.” This is the only radical change in the rules which the League convention adopted. In the estimate of the merits of base-ball made by unprejudiced cricketers, the putting-out of the batsman on foul balls has always been regarded as an objection, on the ground that by such play he was subject to a penalty without any opportunity being afforded him for an offsetting play at the bat. If he hits a fair fly-ball, while he runs the risk of being put out by the fly-catch, he also has the chance of making a base on a missed catch. Not so, however, in the case of the foul ball, for then he can neither make a base himself nor give his partner on the bases a chance to make one. In reducing the number of outs on foul balls, therefore, by prohibiting bound catches of such balls, a nearer approach to excellence in the game is made in a cricketer's point of view. Whether it will add to the record of base-hits and runs, by the reduced chance for outs, remains to be seen by the experience of actual play. There is one thing about this amendment, however, worthy of note, and that is that it introduces the rule of the fly-game in reality for the first time in the history of base-ball. Now no player can be put out on any caught ball that is not caught on the fly. New York Clipper December 28, 1878

Source New York Clipper
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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