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Baseball

Ohiogal

(34,481 posts) Fri May 1, 2020, 09:32 AM May 2020

Odd, but not out: Baseball's most bizarre rule

I found this interesting - how the rule came about that allows a batter who swings and misses for Strike Three to take first base if the catcher drops the ball.

(And, another piece of trivia: Justin Verlander became the only pitcher to ever join the 3000 Strikeout Club on a wild pitch that allowed the batter to go to first base)

https://www.mlb.com/news/dropped-third-strike-strangest-baseball-rule?partnerId=zh-20200501-156906-47943&query_id=1026&bt_ee=XAkrsYzcrIXj96sRyZS4d2qtu4b19RmsUvCZsmeeb0yCC1vNWNqJRAuFP7302a9l&bt_ts=1588332932051

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3 replies

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Odd, but not out: Baseball's most bizarre rule (Original Post) Ohiogal May 2020 OP

That's very interesting. Thanks for posting Walleye May 2020 #1

Two rules that didn't last as long from the 1800s are CaptYossarian May 2020 #2

He has to throw him out at first. The batter is not just given first base. demosincebirth May 2020 #3

Walleye

(35,090 posts)

1. That's very interesting. Thanks for posting

Reply to Ohiogal (Original post)

Fri May 1, 2020, 09:54 AM

May 2020

CaptYossarian

(6,448 posts)

2. Two rules that didn't last as long from the 1800s are

Reply to Ohiogal (Original post)

Fri May 1, 2020, 11:06 AM

May 2020

the 8-ball walk and the "stolen base" rule.

The 8-ball walk was dropped to only 4 balls, obviously. But the stolen base rule once had taking an extra base count as a steal. To clarify, if a runner went from first to third on a single, his going beyond second safely was credited as a stolen base.

This is why when Lou Brock broke Ty Cobb's stolen base record of 892, Cobb was the official record holder instead of Billy Hamilton (1800s base thief), who had 912--but included taking those extra bases.

demosincebirth

(12,740 posts)

3. He has to throw him out at first. The batter is not just given first base.

Reply to Ohiogal (Original post)

Fri May 1, 2020, 11:27 AM

May 2020

Last edited Fri May 1, 2020, 05:41 PM - Edit history (1)

That’s why I love baseball. Why certain rules?

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