The Rules of 1860, as adopted by the National Association
of Base-Ball Players.
SOURCE: Beadle's Dime Base-Ball Player (1860)
Rules and Regulations of the Game of Base Ball,Adopted by
the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASE-BALL PLAYERS Held in New
York, March 14, 1860.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sec. 38.
Every match hereafter made shall be decided by a single
game, unless mutually agreed upon by the contesting clubs.
Interpretation Notes.
* Section 16 is a source of angst for players of the 1860
rules. Henry Chadwick added comments to the rules and
provides other game interpretations in the 1860 Beadles
Dime Base-Ball Player, the first edition of the series.
* From the Ohio Village Muffins and Lady Diamonds website
Places where these are the home rules.
Too many to be listed here... but nearly all Midwest groups
follow the 1860 rules. The most heralded ground is Muffin
Meadow at Ohio Village, Ohio Historical Society, Columbus,
Ohio, the home of the Ohio Village Muffins and Diamonds

