Clipping:Obstruction: who has the right of way on the base path?
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
 |
| Add a Clipping |
| Date | Saturday, June 3, 1871 |
|---|---|
| Text | [Boston vs. Olympic of Washington at Union Grounds Brooklyn 5/27/1871] Leonard opened play at the bat in this innings by popping up a high foul ball, which Spaulding ran in to take on the fly as the ball was falling near the line of the base. Seeing this Leonard–who could just as readily have run on either one side or other of Spaulding, without at all losing ground in his effort to reach first base–ran deliberately up against Spaulding, and thereby he plainly prevented him from making his catch, as also McVey from taking the ball on the bound. Leonard’s action was not only a piece of unfair play unworthy of an honorable ball player, but a plain violation of the rules which prohibit any base runner from obstructing a fielder when trying to catch a ball, for which he should have promptly been decided out by the Umpire. The rule governing the play is as follows: Fule 6, Soc 2 reads:–“Any play who shall intentionally prevent an adversary from catching or fielding the ball, shall be declared out.” This Leonard did without question. And as regard the intention, sec. 0 of Rue 4 th reads:–“Any obstruction that could readily have been avoided, shall be considered intentional.” That Leonard could readily have avoided a collision with Spaulding none will gainsay who saw the play. In the brief discussion which ensued in regard to the occurrence, it was claimed that Leonard had a right to run on the line of his base, and that no fielder had a prior right to field a ball on the line, or to cause the base runner to run off the line. This is not so, and no such law has ever been observed. In equity as well as by rule the player running to catch the ball has the right of way. In regard to the rule referring to running out of the line of the base, that is only in force when the ball is in the hands of a fielder, not otherwise. Leonard’s action was inexcusable and illegal, and the decision rendered was a misinterpretation of the rules. |
| Source | New York Clipper |
| Tags | |
| Warning | |
| Comment | Edit with form to add a comment |
| Query | Edit with form to add a query |
| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
Comments
<comments voting="Plus" />