6.00 The Batter

6.01 (a) Each player of the offensive team shall bat in the order that his name
appears in his team's batting order.
(b) The first batter in each inning after the first inning shall be the player
whose name follows that of the last player who legally completed his time at
bat in the preceding inning.

6.02 (a) The batter shall take his position in the batter's box promptly when
it is his time at bat.
(b) The batter shall not leave his position in the batter's box after the
pitcher comes to Set Position, or starts his windup.
PENALTY: If the pitcher pitches, the umpire shall call "Ball" or"Strike," as
the case may be. The batter leaves the batter's box at the risk of having a
strike delivered and called, unless he requests the umpire to call "Time." The
batter is not at liberty to step in and out of the batter's box at will. Once a
batter has taken his position in the batter's box, he shall not be permitted to
step out of the batter's box in order to use the resin or the pine tar rag,
unless there is a delay in the game action or, in the judgment of the umpires,
weather conditions warrant an exception. Umpires will not call "Time" at the
request of the batter or any member of his team once the pitcher has started
his windup or has come to a set position even though the batter claims "dust
in his eyes," "steamed glasses," "didn't get the sign" or for anyother cause.
Umpires may grant a hitter's request for "Time" once he is in the batter's box,
but the umpire should eliminate hitters walking out of the batter's box without
reason. If umpires are not lenient, batters will understand that they are in the
batter's box and they must remain there until the ball is pitched. If pitcher
delays once the batter is in his box and the umpire feels that the delay is not
justified he may allow the batter to step out of the box momentarily. If after
the pitcher starts his windup or comes to a "set position" with a runner on, he
does not go through with his pitch because the batter has stepped out of the
box, it shall not be called a balk. Both the pitcher and batter have violated a
rule and the umpire shall call time and both the batter and pitcher start over
from "scratch."
(c) If the batter refuses to take his position in the batter's box during his
time at bat, the umpire shall order the pitcher to pitch, and shall call"Strike"
on each such pitch. The batter may take his proper position after any such
pitch, and the regular ball and strike count shall continue, but if he does not
take his proper position before three strikes are called, he shall be declared
out.

6.03 The batter's legal position shall be with both feet within the batter's box.

APPROVED RULING: The lines defining the box are within the batter's
box.

6.04 A batter has legally completed his time at bat when he is put out or
becomes a runner.

6.05 A batter is out when_
(a) His fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a
fielder;
(b) A third strike is legally caught by the catcher; "Legally caught"
means in the catcher's glove before the ball touches the ground. It is not legal
if the ball lodges in his clothing or paraphernalia; or if it touches the umpire
and is caught by the catcher on the rebound. If a foul tip first strikes the
catcher's glove and then goes on through and is caught by both hands against
his body or protector, before the ball touches the ground, it is a strike, and if
third strike, batter is out. If smothered against his body or protector, it is a
catch provided the ball struck the catcher's glove or hand first.
(c) A third strike is not caught by the catcher when first base is
occupied before two are out;
(d) He bunts foul on third strike;
(e) An Infield Fly is declared;
(f) He attempts to hit a third strike and the ball touches him;
(g) His fair ball touches him before touching a fielder;
(h) After hitting or bunting a fair ball, his bat hits the ball a second time
in fair territory. The ball is dead and no runners may advance. If the batter
runner drops his bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in
the umpire's judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of
the ball, the ball is alive and in play; If a bat breaks and part of it is in fair
territory and is hit by a batted ball or part of it hits a runner or fielder, play
shall continue and no interference called. If batted ball hits part of broken bat
in foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a whole bat is thrown into fair territory and
interferes with a defensive player attempting to make a play, interference
shall be called, whether intentional or not. In cases where the batting helmet
is accidently hit with a batted or thrown ball, the ball remains in play the
same as if it has not hit the helmet. If a batted ball strikes a batting helmet or
any other object foreign to the natural ground while on foul territory, it is a
foul ball and the ball is dead. If, in the umpire's judgment, there is intent on
the part of a baserunner to interfere with a batted or thrown ball by dropping
the helmet or throwing it at the ball, then the runner would be out, the ball
dead and runners would return to last base legally touched.
(i) After hitting or bunting a foul ball, he intentionally deflects the course
of the ball in any manner while running to first base. The ball is dead and no
runners may advance;
(j) After a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged
before he touches first base;
(k) In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base,
while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the
three foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire's
judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base;
except that he may run outside (to the right of) the three foot line or inside
(to the left of) the foul line to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball;
(l) An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first,
first and second, first and third, or first, second and third base occupied
before two are out. The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to
their original base or bases;
APPROVED RULING: In this situation, the batter is not out if the infielder
permits the ball to drop untouched to the ground, except when the Infield Fly
rule applies.
(m)A preceding runner shall, in the umpire's judgment, intentionally
interfere with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a
ball in an attempt to complete any play: The objective of this rule is to
penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike
action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of
crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base.
Obviously this is an umpire's judgment play.
(n) With two out, a runner on third base, and two strikes on the batter,
the runner attempts to steal home base on a legal pitch and the ball touches
the runner in the batter's strike zone. The umpire shall call "Strike Three,"the
batter is out and the run shall not count; before two are out, the umpire shall
call "Strike Three," the ball is dead, and the run counts.

6.06 A batter is out for illegal action when_
(a) He hits a ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the
batter's box. If a batter hits a ball fair or foul while out of the batter's box, he
shall be called out. Umpires should pay particular attention to the position of
the batter's feet if he attempts to hit the ball while he is being intentionally
passed. A batter cannot jump or step out of the batter's box and hit the ball.
(b) He steps from one batter's box to the other while the pitcher is in
position ready to pitch;
(c) He interferes with the catcher's fielding or throwing by stepping out
of the batter's box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher's
play at home base. EXCEPTION: Batter is not out if any runner attempting
to advance is put out, or if runner trying to score is called out for batter's
interference. If the batter interferes with the catcher, the plate umpire shall
call "interference." The batter is out and the ball dead. No player may
advance on such interference (offensive interference) and all runners must
return to the last base that was, in the judgment of the umpire, legally
touched at the time of the interference. If, however, the catcher makes a play
and the runner attempting to advance is put out, it is to be assumed there
was no actual interference and that runner is out_not the batter. Any other
runners on the base at the time may advance as the ruling is that there is no
actual interference if a runner is retired. In that case play proceeds just as if
no violation had been called. If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and
swings so hard he carries the bat all the way around and, in the umpire's
judgment, unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of him on the
backswing before the catcher has securely held the ball, it shall be called a
strike only (not interference). The ball will be dead, however, and no runner
shall advance on the play.
(d) He uses or attempts to use a bat that, in the umpire's judgment, has
been altered or tampered with in such a way to improve the distance factor
or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball. This includes, bats that are
filled, flat surfaced, nailed, hollowed, grooved or covered with a substance
such as paraffin, wax, etc. No advancement on the bases will be allowed
and any out or outs made during a play shall stand. In addition to being
called out, the player shall be ejected from the game and may be subject to
additional penalties as determined by his League President.

6.07 BATTING OUT OF TURN.
(a) A batter shall be called out, on appeal, when he fails to bat in his
proper turn, and another batter completes a time at bat in his place. (1) The
proper batter may take his place in the batter's box at any time before the
improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and any balls and strikes
shall be counted in the proper batter's time at bat.
(b) When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and the
defensive team appeals to the umpire before the first pitch to the next batter
of either team, or before any play or attempted play, the umpire shall (1)
declare the proper batter out; and (2) nullify any advance or score made
because of a ball batted by the improper batter or because of the improper
batter's advance to first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter
or otherwise. NOTE: If a runner advances, while the improper batter is at
bat, on a stolen base, balk, wild pitch or passed ball, such advance is legal.
(c) When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and a
pitch is made to the next batter of either team before an appeal is made, the
improper batter thereby becomes the proper batter, and the results of his
time at bat become legal.
(d) (1) When the proper batter is called out because he has failed to bat
in turn, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of the
proper batter thus called out; (2) When an improper batter becomes a
proper batter because no appeal is made before the next pitch, the next
batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of such legalized improper
batter. The instant an improper batter's actions are legalized, the batting
order picks up with the name following that of the legalized improper batter.
The umpire shall not direct the attention of any person to the presence in the
batter's box of an improper batter. This rule is designed to require constant
vigilance by the players and managers of both teams. There are two
fundamentals to keep in mind: When a player bats out of turn, the proper
batter is the player called out. If an improper batter bats and reaches base or
is out and no appeal is made before a pitch to the next batter, or before any
play or attempted play, that improper batter is considered to have batted in
proper turn and establishes the order that is to follow.
APPROVED RULING
To illustrate various situations arising from batting out of turn, assume a
first inning batting order as follows: Abel Baker Charles Daniel Edward
Frank George Hooker Irwin.
PLAY (1). Baker bats. With the count 2 balls and 1 strike, (a) the
offensive team discovers the error or (b) the defensive team appeals.
RULING: In either case, Abel replaces Baker, with the count on him 2 balls
and 1 strike.
PLAY (2). Baker bats and doubles. The defensive team appeals (a)
immediately or (b) after a pitch to Charles. RULING: (a) Abel is called out
and Baker is the proper batter; (b) Baker stays on second and Charles is the
proper batter.
PLAY (3). Abel walks. Baker walks. Charles forces Baker. Edward
bats in Daniel's turn. While Edward is at bat, Abel scores and Charles goes
to second on a wild pitch. Edward grounds out, sending Charles to third.
The defensive team appeals (a) immediately or (b) after a pitch to Daniel.
RULING: (a) Abel's run counts and Charles is entitled to second base since
these advances were not made because of the improper batter batting a ball
or advancing to first base. Charles must return to second base because his
advance to third resulted from the improper batter batting a ball. Daniel is
called out, and Edward is the proper batter; (b) Abel's run counts and
Charles stays on third. The proper batter is Frank.
PLAY (4). With the bases full and two out. Hooker bats in Frank's
turn, and triples, scoring three runs. The defensive team appeals (a)
immediately, or (b) after a pitch to George. RULING: (a) Frank is called out
and no runs score. George is the proper batter to lead off the second inning;
(b) Hooker stays on third and three runs score. Irwin is the proper batter.
PLAY (5). After Play (4) (b) above, George continues at bat. (a)
Hooker is picked off third base for the third out, or (b) George flies out, and
no appeal is made. Who is the proper leadoff batter in the second inning?
RULING: (a) Irwin. He became the proper batter as soon as the first pitch
to George legalized Hooker's triple; (b) Hooker. When no appeal was
made, the first pitch to the leadoff batter of the opposing team legalized
George's time at bat.
PLAY (6). Daniel walks and Abel comes to bat. Daniel was an
improper batter, and if an appeal is made before the first pitch to Abel, Abel
is out, Daniel is removed from base, and Baker is the proper batter. There is
no appeal, and a pitch is made to Abel. Daniel's walk is now legalized, and
Edward thereby becomes the proper batter. Edward can replace Abel at
any time before Abel is put out or becomes a runner. He does not do so.
Abel flies out, and Baker comes to bat. Abel was an improper batter, and if
an appeal is made before the first pitch to Baker, Edward is out, and the
proper batter is Frank. There is no appeal, and a pitch is made to Baker.
Abel's out is now legalized, and the proper batter is Baker. Baker walks.
Charles is the proper batter. Charles flies out. Now Daniel is the proper
batter, but he is on second base. Who is the proper batter? RULING: The
proper batter is Edward. When the proper batter is on base, he is passed
over, and the following batter becomes the proper batter.

6.08 The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability
to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when_
(a) Four "balls" have been called by the umpire; A batter who is entitled
to first base because of a base on balls must go to first base and touch the
base before other base runners are forced to advance. This applies when
bases are full and applies when a substitute runner is put into the game. If, in
advancing, the base runner thinks there is a play and he slides past the base
before or after touching it he may be put out by the fielder tagging him. If he
fails to touch the base to which he is entitled and attempts to advance
beyond that base he may be put out by tagging him or the base he missed.
(b) He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit
unless (1) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (2) The
batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball; If the ball is in
the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether
or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone
when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if he makes no attempt to
avoid being touched.
APPROVED RULING: When the batter is touched by a pitched ball which
does not entitle him to first base, the ball is dead and no runner may
advance.
(c) The catcher or any fielder interferes with him. If a play follows the
interference, the manager of the offense may advise the plate umpire that he
elects to decline the interference penalty and accept the play. Such election
shall be made immediately at the end of the play. However, if the batter
reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batsman, or
otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, the play
proceeds without reference to the interference. If catcher's interference is
called with a play in progress the umpire will allow the play to continue
because the manager may elect to take the play. If the batter runner missed
first base, or a runner misses his next base, he shall be considered as having
reached the base, as stated in Note of Rule 7.04 (d). Examples of plays the
manager might elect to take:
1. Runner on third, one out, batter hits fly ball to the outfield on
which the runner scores but catcher's interference was called. The offensive
manager may elect to take the run and have batter called out or have runner
remain at third and batter awarded first base.
2. Runner on second base. Catcher interferes with batter as he
bunts ball fairly sending runner to third base. The manager may rather have
runner on third base with an out on the play than have runners on second
and first. In situations where the manager wants the "interference" penalty to
apply, the following interpretation shall be made of 6.08 (c): If the catcher
(or any fielder) interferes with the batter, the batter is awarded first base. If,
on such interference a runner is trying to score by a steal or squeeze from
third base, the ball is dead and the runner on third scores and batter is
awarded first base. If the catcher interferes with the batter with no runners
trying to score from third on a squeeze or steal, then the ball is dead, batter
is awarded first base and runners who are forced to advance, do advance.
Runners not attempting to steal or not forced to advance remain on the base
they occupied at the time of the interference. If the catcher interferes with the
batter before the pitcher delivers the ball, it shall not be considered
interference on the batter under Rule 6.08 (c). In such cases, the umpire
shall call "Time" and the pitcher and batter start over from"scratch."
(d) A fair ball touches an umpire or a runner on fair territory before
touching a fielder. If a fair ball touches an umpire after having passed a
fielder other than the pitcher, or having touched a fielder, including the
pitcher, the ball is in play.

6.09 The batter becomes a runner when_
(a) He hits a fair ball;
(b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first
base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out; When a batter
becomes a base runner on a third strike not caught by the catcher and starts
for the dugout, or his position, and then realizes his situation and attempts
then to reach first base, he is not out unless he or first base is tagged before
he reaches first base. If, however, he actually reaches the dugout or dugout
steps, he may not then attempt to go to first base and shall be out.
(c) A fair ball, after having passed a fielder other than the pitcher, or
after having been touched by a fielder, including the pitcher, shall touch an
umpire or runner on fair territory;
(d) A fair ball passes over a fence or into the stands at a distance from
home base of 250 feet or more. Such hit entitles the batter to a home run
when he shall have touched all bases legally. A fair fly ball that passes out of
the playing field at a point less than 250 feet from home base shall entitle the
batter to advance to second base only;
(e) A fair ball, after touching the ground, bounds into the stands, or
passes through, over or under a fence, or through or under a scoreboard, or
through or under shrubbery, or vines on the fence, in which case the batter
and the runners shall be entitled to advance two bases;
(f) Any fair ball which, either before or after touching the ground, passes
through or under a fence, or through or under a scoreboard, or through any
opening in the fence or scoreboard, or through or under shrubbery, or vines
on the fence, or which sticks in a fence or scoreboard, in which case the
batter and the runners shall be entitled to two bases;
(g) Any bounding fair ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or
over or under a fence on fair or foul territory, in which case the batter and all
runners shall be entitled to advance two bases;
(h) Any fair fly ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over the
fence into foul territory, in which case the batter shall be entitled to advance
to second base; but if deflected into the stands or over the fence in fair
territory, the batter shall be entitled to a home run. However, should such a
fair fly be deflected at a point less than 250 feet from home plate, the batter
shall be entitled to two bases only.

6.10 Any League may elect to use the Designated Hitter Rule.
(a) In the event of inter league competition between clubs of Leagues
using the Designated Hitter Rule and clubs of Leagues not using the
Designated Hitter Rule, the rule will be used as follows:
1. In World Series or exhibition games, the rule will be used or not
used as is the practice of the home team.
2. In All Star games, the rule will only be used if both teams and
both Leagues so agree.
(b) The Rule provides as follows: A hitter may be designated to bat for
the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise
affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the
pitcher must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup
cards presented to the Umpire in Chief. The designated hitter named in the
starting lineup must come to bat at least one time, unless the opposing club
changes pitchers. It is not mandatory that a club designate a hitter for the
pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a
Designated Hitter for that game. Pinch hitters for a Designated Hitter may be
used. Any substitute hitter for a Designated Hitter becomes the Designated
Hitter. A replaced Designated Hitter shall not re enter the game in any
capacity. The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat
in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the
place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is
made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order.
A runner may be substituted for the Designated Hitter and the runner
assumes the role of Designated Hitter. A Designated Hitter may not pinch
run. A Designated Hitter is "locked" into the batting order. No multiple
substitutions may be made that will alter the batting rotation of the
Designated Hitter. Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a
defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the
remainder of the game. Once a pinch hitter bats for any player in the batting
order and then enters the game to pitch, this move shall terminate the
Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. Once the game pitcher
bats for the Designated Hitter this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter
role for the remainder of the game. (The game pitcher may only pinch hit for
the Designated Hitter). Once a Designated Hitter assumes a defensive
position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the
remainder of the game. A substitute for the Designated Hitter need not be
announced until it is the Designated Hitter's turn to bat.