Abridged Rules for 1861 Base Ball· The pitcher delivered the ball underhand from 45 feet away, as opposed to the 60 feet 6 inches that pitchers today throw from.
- There were no called strikes so the batter was allowed to take as many pitches as he saw fit, but if the umpire felt the batter was taking too many good pitches the umpire could call a striker warning the proceed to call strikes if the batter continued to take good pitches.
- Stealing is allowed.
- There is only one Umpire. His decision is final and there is no arguing a call. The Umpire was also known to ask the “cranks” (spectators) their opinion before making a call.
- Fielders did not wear gloves and an out could be recorded if the ball was caught on the first bound or on the fly either in fair or foul territory. Back then it was considered more “manly” for a player to catch it on the fly.
- A ball was determined to be fair or foul depending on where it first struck the ground. A “fair / foul” hit was a very effective way of hitting. This was executed by the batter who swung down on the ball causing the ball to hit in fair ground and then spin into foul ground.
Base Ball in 1860 was a sport of gentlemen and ladies, both Players and Cranks were and are expected to act in that way. Anyone who did not exhibit this behavior was and will be fined.
