balls—with handles about eight inches long.
The method of play is the same as in Lawn Croquet, except the croquet
is executed by placing the finger instead of the foot on the playing
ball. The rules are the same, except that, _first_, a player driving
his ball off the board terminates his tour of play by that stroke and
the ball must be placed immediately on the starting spot; _second_,
making two or more steps at one stroke does not entitle the player to
the privilege of taking position up to one or more mallet’s length.
The Board Croquet is the most popular for the reason that it does not
injure the furniture in any room, while the Carpet Croquet, although
more like the Lawn game, requires a large room—well cleared—or there
will soon be an action of Croquet _vs._ furniture.
VOCABULARY.
A BOOBY.—A ball that has attempted to run the first bridge and failed.
BRIDGES OR ARCHES.—The iron hoops or bows through which the balls pass.
BRIDGED BALL.—A ball that has run the first bridge.
CONCUSSION.—The displacement of a ball by another driven against it
by roquet, croquet, ricochet, or roquet-croquet, and not hit directly
either by the mallet or by the playing ball.
CROQUET.—(Pronounced Cró-kay.) The title of the game.
THE CROQUET.—Any ball having struck another, is taken up and placed in
contact with the ball it has struck. The player sets his foot upon his
own ball, pressing firmly so as to hold it in place, and with a blow
of his mallet, delivered upon his own ball, drives the other ball in
whatever direction he may desire. (See cut, page 19.)
DEAD BALL.—One that has made the grand round and hit the starting post.
DISTANCED.—A ball is distanced when at the termination of the game it
has not tolled the turning post.
DOWN.—The course from the turning post to the starting post.
A FLINCH.—When in the croquet, the playing ball is driven from under
the foot by the blow of the mallet, it is called a flinch.
FRONT OF A BRIDGE.—The side from which the ball must proceed in
running it, and with the central bridges is not constant, but is
decided in each case by the course of the ball under consideration.
GRAND ROUND.—A ball has made the grand round when it has run all the
bridges and tolled the turning post, and is then a rover.
PLAYING BALL.—The ball struck with the mallet.
POINT.—A player makes a point, by running a bridge or tolling a post,
or by roqueting a ball that he has not previously roqueted during the
tour—since making the step—or in other words, by roqueting a ball
under such circumstances as would entitle him to the privilege of the
croquet.
POSITION.—A ball is in position when it lies in front of its proper
bridge with a possibility of running it by a single blow of the mallet.
PROPER BRIDGE.—A bridge which it is a player’s turn to run next in
order is said to be that player’s bridge or his proper bridge.
PUSH.—A stroke in which the mallet remains in contact with the ball
after the instant of contact.
RICOCHET.—(Rick´-o-shay.)—A ball making Roquet on two or more balls
by the same blow of the mallet.
ROQUET.—(Ro´-kay.) A ball makes Roquet on another ball when proceeding
from a blow of the mallet it comes in contact with it either directly
or by rebounding from a fixed obstacle in the ground or from another
ball.
[Some writers define the Roquet as the contact of the playing ball with
another ball under such circumstances as to constitute a point. This is
merely a matter of choice regarding the facility of defining the other
operations of the game. We consider that our definition renders the
whole matter much the most simple.]
ROQUET-CROQUET.—The same as Croquet, except that the playing ball is
not held under the foot, but both balls are free to move in accordance
with the blow of the mallet.
A ROVER.—A ball that has run all the bridges and has not hit the
starting post.
STARTING POST.—The stake from which the play proceeds. See diagram.
A STEP.—Running a bridge, or tolling the turning post.
STRIKING OUT.—A ball struck against the starting post after having run
all the bridges in their proper order, is struck out, and is out of the
game.
THE TURNING POST.—The post opposite the starting post.
TOLLING THE TURNING POST.—Striking the turning post in its proper
order.
UNDER A BRIDGE.—A ball is under a bridge when if the mallet handle is
placed across the piers of the bridge on each side it will touch the
ball in both positions of the handle.
UP.—The course from the starting post to the turning post.
[Illustration]
Base Ball.
THE game of Base Ball is fast becoming with Americans what Cricket
has already become with the English, a national game. The sport is
both graceful and invigorating, and requires when properly played the
possession both of muscularity of body and strength of nerve. The
exercise attendant on this game develops all the physical powers and
calls into action every muscle and sinew in the human frame. There are
few sights more exhilarating and captivating than a well contested
match game between evenly matched clubs. Such a spectacle rarely fails
to draw admiring throngs, and to be considered a first class player
is a distinction of which any American youth may feel proud. As our
readers will find this subject fully treated in professional works, we
do not propose to enter into any lengthy description of the origin or
progress of the game of Base Ball. We shall therefore simply state that
this game was derived from the old English game of Rounders, reduced
to a system, and governed by rules and regulations adopted by “The
National Association of Base Ball Players,” held in New York, December
13, 1865. These regulations for the convenience of our readers we here
insert.
[Illustration]
RULES OF THE GAME.
SECTION 1. The ball must weigh not less than five and one-half, nor
more than five and three-fourths ounces avoirdupois. It must measure
not less than nine and one-half, nor more than nine and three-fourths
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.
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 each corner 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 some soft material; the
home base and pitcher’s point to be each marked by a flat circular iron
plate, painted or enameled white.
SEC. 4. The base from which the ball is struck shall be designated the
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. And in all match games, a line connecting the home and
first base and the home and third base, shall be marked by the use of
chalk, or other suitable material, so as to be distinctly seen by the
umpire.
Many of our clubs have an iron quoit for the home base, that is in
direct violation of the rule which states that the home base must be
marked by “a _flat_ circular iron plate.” Those we allude to rise in
the center, and the consequence is, when a ball touches the base, it
flies off at a tangent, instead of rebounding as if it had touched the
ground, as it would do were it flat, as the rule prescribes.
SEC. 5. The pitcher’s position shall be designated by two lines, four
yards in length, drawn at right angles to a line from home to second
base, having their centers upon that line at two fixed iron plates,
placed at points 15 and 16 1-3 yards distant from the home base. The
pitcher must stand within the lines, and must deliver the ball as near
as possible over the center of the home base, and for the striker.
[It will be seen that the rule requires the ball to be pitched as near
as possible over the home base, _and for the striker_; the pitcher,
therefore, has no right to pitch the ball to the catcher especially, as
is often done when a player is on the first base, and umpires should
see that the rule is enforced.
This important change was made by the Convention of 1863. The object
being to do away with the unfair style of pitching that was in vogue
during 1861, ’62, and ’63, during which period those pitchers who
failed in achieving the success attained by the lamented Creighton,
offset their want of skill by trying to intimidate the batsmen by
pitching the ball _at_ them instead of _for_ them as the rules
require.]
SEC. 6. Should the pitcher repeatedly fail to deliver to the striker
fair balls for the apparent purpose of delaying the game, or for any
cause, the umpire, after warning him, shall call one ball, and if the
pitcher persists in such action, two and three balls; when three balls
shall have been called, the striker shall take the first base; and
should any base be occupied at that time, each player occupying it or
them shall take one base without being put out.
[In warning the pitcher before calling balls on him, all that is
necessary is to call “ball to the bat;” and if two balls are pitched
unfairly after such warning, “one ball” should be called, and if one
unfair ball be delivered after that call, then “two” and “three” balls
should be promptly called. A pitcher “repeatedly” fails if he fails
twice in succession; and he “persists” in his unfair delivery if he
pitch one ball after the first penalty has been imposed. In the first
innings of a game, a little more latitude is allowable, but afterwards
the rule should be strictly enforced to the very letter of the law.]
SEC. 7. The ball must be pitched, not jerked or thrown to the bat; and
whenever the pitcher moves with the apparent purpose or pretension to
deliver the ball, he shall so deliver it, and must have neither foot in
advance of the front line or off the ground at the time of delivering
the ball; and if he fails in either of these particulars, then it shall
be declared a baulk.
[The pitcher makes a baulk when he either jerks a ball to the bat,
has either foot in advance of the line of his position, or off the
ground at the time of delivering the ball, or moves with the apparent
purpose of pitching, without delivering the ball. The sentence “time
of delivering the ball” has been interpreted by the Committee on
Rules and Regulations of the National Association to mean, the period
when the last movement of the arm is made in delivering the ball; and
consequently if either foot of the pitcher be off the ground when this
movement is made—it being nearly simultaneous with the ball’s leaving
the hand of the pitcher—umpires must declare a baulk without being
appealed to.]
SEC. 8. When a baulk is made by the pitcher, every player running the
bases is entitled to one base, without being put out.
[The striker cannot take a base, on a baulk, as he is not considered a
“player running the bases” until he has made the first base and ceased
to be a striker.]
SEC. 9. If a ball, from a stroke of the bat, _first touches the
ground_, _the person of a player_, _or any other object_, behind the
range of home and the first base, or home and the third base, it shall
be termed foul, and must be so declared by the umpire, unasked. If the
ball first touches the ground, either upon, or in front of the range of
those bases, it shall be considered fair.
[Nothing is mentioned in Section 9 in reference to any ball that is
caught, either on the fly or first bound, after touching the side of a
building, a fence, or a tree. In such cases a special rule is requisite
before beginning a match.]
SEC. 10. A player making the home base, shall be entitled to score one
run.
SEC. 11. 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.
SEC. 12. The striker is out if a foul ball is caught, either before
touching the ground, or upon the first bound.
SEC. 13. Or, if three balls are struck at and missed, and the last is
caught, either before touching the ground, or upon the first bound.
[The bound-catch, in this instance—the ball striking the ground back
of the home base—is considered in the light of a foul ball, as far as
the fly-game is concerned, and consequently when the ball is caught on
the bound, on the third strike, the player must be given out, the same
as he was last year under the bound rule.]
SEC. 14. Or, if a fair ball is struck, and the ball is caught without
having touched the ground.
SEC. 15. Or, if a fair ball is struck, and the ball is held by an
adversary on first base, before the striker touches that base.
SEC. 16. 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 the base.
[All that is requisite for a player to “hold his base,” according to
the meaning of the rule, is, for him to touch the base bag, no matter
whether the bag is in its position or not.]
SEC. 17. No ace or base can be made upon a foul ball; such a ball shall
be considered dead, and not in play until it shall first have been
settled in the hands of the pitcher. In such cases players running
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.
SEC. 18. No ace nor base can be made when a fair ball has been caught
without having touched the ground; such a ball shall be considered
alive and in play. In such case players running bases shall return to
them, and may be put out in so returning, in the same manner as the
striker when running to first base; but players, when balls are so
caught, may run their bases immediately after the ball has been settled
in the hands of the player catching it.
[It will be seen by the above two Sections that a player running a base
on a foul ball must return to the base he has left _and remain on it_
until the ball has been fairly settled in the hands of the pitcher. But
in case of fly-catches, a player running a base is only required to
return and touch the base, after which he can leave it at once and try
and make the next base. He must, however, touch the base _after_ the
ball has been caught.]
SEC. 19. The striker must stand on a line drawn through the center of
the home base, not exceeding in length three feet from either side
thereof, and parallel with 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.
[This rule should be strictly enforced by the umpire.] A striker has
no right to avail himself of the advantage derived from standing back
of the line of his position, thereby increasing the distance between
himself and the pitcher, and obtaining a better opportunity of judging
the ball. Besides which, a poorly hit ball which would strike the
ground in front of the home base—if the batsman stood on the line of
his base—and lead to his being put out, is changed to a foul ball by
his standing back of his base, and he thereby escapes the penalty of
his poor batting.
SEC. 20. Players must make their bases in the order of striking; and
when a fair ball is struck, and not caught flying, 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.
SEC. 21. Players running bases must touch them; and, so far as
possible, keep upon the direct line between them; and must touch
them in the following order: first, second, third, and home; and if
returning must reverse this order; 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.
[A player failing to touch his base must be declared out—after an
appeal—unless he can return to the base before he is touched.]
SEC. 22. Any player, who shall intentionally prevent an adversary from
catching or fielding the ball, shall be declared out.
SEC. 23. 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 be put out.
[These two latter sections are, of course, intended solely for any
willful or unnecessary obstruction. It is impossible that a player,
while in the act of fielding a swiftly sent ball, can always be on the
lookout as to where his adversary is running, or that a player running
the bases can always be equally careful in regard to his preventing an
adversary from getting to his base. Some base players have a habit of
pushing players off their bases while in the act of receiving the ball.
Such unfair play should be punished by promptly inflicting the above
penalty.]
SEC. 24. If an adversary stops the ball with his hat or cap, or if a
ball be stopped by any person not engaged in the game, or _if it be
taken from the hands of any one not engaged in the game_, no player can
be put out unless the ball shall first have been settled in the hands
of the pitcher.
SEC. 25. 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. 26. If two hands are already out, no player running home at the
time the ball is struck, can make a _run to count in the score of the
game_ if the striker is put out.
SEC. 27. An innings must be concluded at the time the third hand is put
out.
SEC. 28. The game should 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.
SEC. 29. In playing all matches, nine players from each club shall
constitute a full field, and they must have been regular members of
the club which they represent, and of no other club, _either in or out
of the National Association_, 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.
[This rule of course excludes players belonging to Junior clubs from
taking part in Senior club matches, and likewise excludes players
belonging to any base ball club, but not cricket clubs, as cricket is a
distinct game of ball.]
SEC. 30. The umpire shall take care that the regulations respecting
the ball, bats, bases, and the pitcher’s and striker’s position, are
strictly observed. 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 special care to declare all foul balls and baulks
immediately upon their occurrence, unasked, in a distinct and audible
manner. He shall, in every instance, before leaving the ground, declare
the winning club, and shall record his decision in the books of the
scorers.
SEC. 31. In all matches the umpire shall be selected by the captains
of the respective sides, and shall perform all the duties enumerated
in Section 30, except recording the game, which shall be done by two
scorers, one of whom shall be appointed by each of the contending clubs.
SEC. 32. 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 29, and then the
umpire may dismiss any transgressors.
[This rule was almost entirely ignored last season; for there was
scarcely a game played in which some one or other of the parties
abovenamed did not bet on the result. This year more care will be
taken to observe the rule; for those who bet large sums on the
leading contests of the season, intend to dispute the loss of their
bets in all cases wherein this rule is not observed; and they will
have the right—according to the best sporting authority—to hold
the stake-holder responsible in every instance in which he pays over
the stakes to the winner when this rule has been broken; for under
such circumstances the wager is not fairly won, unless those who bet
mutually agree beforehand to allow of such infringement of the rules of
the game.]
SEC. 33. The umpire in any match shall determine when play shall be
suspended; and if the game cannot be concluded, it shall be decided 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. 34. Clubs may adopt such rules respecting balls knocked beyond or
outside of the 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. 35. 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. 36. 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.
This rule has never been properly observed. Every club should appoint
a regular scorer for the season, and he should be competent to record
the fielding as well as batting score of the game. Until this is done a
full analysis of the season’s play of a club can not be obtained.
SEC. 37. Whenever a match shall have been determined upon between 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.
[This rule has always been a dead letter. When clubs appoint a time for
calling the game, it should be promptly proceeded with after the time
allowed by the rule has expired.]
SEC. 38. Any match game played by any club in contravention of the
rules adopted by this Association, shall be considered null and void,
and shall not be counted in the list of match games won or lost, except
a game be delayed by rain beyond the time appointed to commence the
same. Any match game can be put off by mutual consent of the parties
about engaging in the game. No match game shall be commenced in the
rain.
[This is a new rule and was designed to obviate the difficulty
attending upon the repudiation of any rule of the game any two clubs
may mutually agree to ignore. Thus, for instance, any two clubs
agreeing to allow a member of either club to play in a match who has
not been a member for thirty days previous to a match, by this rule
cannot claim the ball won, or count the match played as a regular game.
The exception made in case of rain refers to that rule which requires a
game to be commenced within fifteen minutes of the time appointed.]
SEC. 39. 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. 40. 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 if he had struck at three fair balls.