CLASS V. THE GAME.

Rule 37. A Game shall consist of nine innings to each contesting nine, except that

1. If the side first at bat scores less runs in nine innings than the other side has scored in eight innings, the game shall then terminate.
2. If the side last at bat in the ninth innings scores the winning run before the third man is out, the game shall then terminate.
3. If the score be a tie at the end of nine innings to each side, play shall only be continued until the side first at bat shall have scored one or more runs than the other side, in an equal number of innings, or until the other side shall score one more run than the side first at bat.
4. If the Umpire calls "game" on account of darkness or rain at any time after five innings have been completed by both sides, the score shall be that of the last equal innings played, unless the side second at bat shall have scored one or more runs than the side first at bat, in which case the score of the game shall be the total numbers of runs made.

Rule 38. A Drawn Game shall be declared by the Umpire when he terminates a game on account of darkness or rain, after five equal innings have been played, if the score at the time is equal on the last even innings played; but (Exception) if the side that went second to bat is then at the bat, and has scored the same number of runs as the other side, the Umpire shall declare the game drawn, without regard to the score of the last equal innings. The score of every drawn game must be certified to the Secretary, and go upon the record of each player participating therein in the same manner as other championship games.

Rule 39. A Forfeited Game shall be declared by the Umpire in favor of the Club not in fault in the following cases:

1. If the nine of a club fail to appear upon the field, or, being upon the Field, fail to begin the game within five minutes after the Umpire has called "Play" at the hour appointed for the beginning of the game, unless unavoidably prevented.
2. If, after the game has begun, one side refuses or fails to continue playing, unless such game has been suspended or terminated by the Umpire.
3. If, after play has been suspended by the Umpire, one side fails to resume playing within five minutes after the Umpire has called "Play."
4. If, in the opinion of the Umpire, any one of these Rules is willfully violated, except as provided for in Art. IX. Sec. 3. Constitution.

Rule 40. "No Game" shall be declared by the Umpire if he shall terminate play on account of rain or darkness before five innings on each side are completed.

Rule 41. A Substitute shall not be allowed to take the place of any player in a game unless such player be disabled in the game then being played, by reason of illness or injury.

Rule 42 The Choice of First Innings shall be determined by the two Captains.

Rule 43. The Umpire must call "Play" at the hour appointed for beginning a game. The game must begin when the Umpire calls "Play." When he calls "Time" play shall be suspended until he calls "Play" again, and during the interim no player shall be put out, base be run, or run be scored. The Umpire shall suspend play only for an accident to himself or a player, or in case rain falls so heavily that the spectators are compelled by the severity of the storm to seek shelter, in which case he shall note the time of suspension, and should such rain continue to fall thirty minutes thereafter he shall terminate the game. The Umpire shall also declare every "dead ball," "foul hit," "foul strike," and "balk."

Rule 44. The Batsman, on taking his position, must call for a "high ball," a "low ball," or a "high or low ball," and the Umpire shall notify the Pitcher to deliver the ball as required; such call shall not be changed after the first ball delivered. The Umpire shall count and call every "unfair ball" delivered by the Pitcher, and every "dead ball" if also an "unfair ball," as a "ball;" and he shall also count and call every "strike." Neither a "ball" nor a "strike" shall be called or counted until the ball has passed the Home Base.

Rule 45. The Batsman is out

1. If he fails to take his position at the bat in his order of batting, unless the error be discovered and the proper Batsman take his position before a fair hit has been made.
2. If he fails to take his position within one minute after the Umpire has called for the Batsman.
3. If he makes a foul hit and the ball be momentarily held by a fielder before touching the ground, or after touching the ground but once, provided it be not caught in a fielder's hat or cap, or touch some object other than the fielder before touching the ground, or before being caught.
4. If he makes a foul strike.
5. If he plainly attempts to hinder the Catcher from catching the ball, evidently without effort to make a fair hit.

Rule 46. The batsman becomes a Base-Runner

1. When he makes a fair hit.
2. When seven balls have been called by the Umpire.
3. When three strikes have been declared by the Umpire.
4. When a balk has been called by the Umpire.
5. When he is given his base as provided in Sec 8., Rule 48.

Rule 47. The Base-Runner must touch each Base in regular order, Viz. First, Second, Third, and Home Bases, and when obliged to return, must retouch the base or bases in reverse order. He shall only be considered as holding a base after touching it, and shall then be entitled to hold such base until he has legally touched the next base in order, or has been legally forced to vacate it for a succeeding Bass-Runner.

Rule 48. The Base-Runner shall be entitled, without being putout, to take one Base, provided he do so on the run, in the following cases:

1. If, while he was a Batsman, the Umpire called seven balls.
2. If the Umpire awards a succeeding batsman a base on seven balls, and the Base-Runner is thereby forced to vacate the base held by him.
3. If the Umpire calls a Balk.
4. If a ball delivered by the Pitcher pass the catcher and touch any fence or building within ninety feet of the Home Base.
5. If he be prevented from making a base by the obstruction of an adversary.
6. If a fielder stop or catch a batted ball with his hat or any part of his dress.
7. If a batted or thrown ball be stopped by any person not engaged in the game, and, in such case, the ball shall not be considered in play until it is held by the Pitcher standing in his position.
8. If a Batsman be solidly hit by a ball from the Pitcher when he evidently cannot avoid the same, he shall be given his base by the umpire as a penalty.

Rule 49. The Base-Runner shall not have a substitute run for him, except in case of an accident during the game being played, if the contending club consents thereto.

Rule 50. The Base-Runner is out

1. If having made a fair hit while Batsman, such fair hit ball be momentarily held by a Fielder, before touching the ground or any object other than a Fielder, provided it be not caught in the Fielder's hat or cap.
2. If, when the Umpire has declared three strikes on him while batsman, the third strike ball be momentarily held by a Fielder before touching the ground; provided it be not caught in a Fielder's hat or cap, or touch some object other than a Fielder before being caught.
3. If, after three strikes or a fair hit, he be touched with the ball in the hand of a Fielder before such Base-Runner touches First base.
4. If, after three strikes or a fair hit, the ball be securely held by a Fielder, while touching First Base with any part of his person, before such Base Runner touches First Base.
5. If, after seven balls, or a fair hit, he fails to run to First Base.
6. If, in running to First Base, he runs inside the Foul Line, or more than three feet outside of it, except that he must do so if necessary to avoid a Fielder attempting to field a batted ball, and in such case shall not be declared out.
7. If, in running from First to Second Base, from Second to Third base, or from Third to Home Base, he runs more than three feet from a direct line between such bases to avoid being touched by the ball, in the hands of a Fielder; but in case a fielder be occupying the Base Runner's proper path, attempting to field a batted ball, then the base Runner shall run out of the path and behind said Fielder, and shall not be declared out for doing so.
8. If he fails to avoid a Fielder attempting to field a batted ball, in the manner prescribed in and of this Rule, or if he, in any way, obstructs a Fielder, attempting to field a batted ball.
9. If, at any time while the ball is in play, he be touched by the ball in the hand of a Fielder, unless some part of his person is touching a base he is entitled to occupy, provided the ball be held by the Fielder after touching him; but (exception as to First Base) in running to First Base he may over-run said base without being put out for being off said base, after first touching it, provided he returns at once and retouches the base, after which he may be put out as at any other base. If, in over-running First Base, he also attempts to run to Second Base, or after passing the base he turns to his left from the foul line, he shall forfeit such exemption from being put out.
10. If, when a Fair or Foul Hit ball is legally caught by a Fielder before it touches the ground, such ball is legally held by a Fielder on the base occupied by the Base-Runner when such ball was struck (or the Base-Runner be touched with the ball in the hand of a Fielder), before he retouches said base after such Fair or Foul hit ball was caught; provided, That the Base-Runner shall not be out in such case, if, after the ball was legally caught as above, it be delivered to the bat by the Pitcher either legally or illegally before the Fielder holds it on the said base, or touches the Base-Runner with it.
11. If, when the ball, from a Foul Hit, has struck the ground before being caught, or the Batsman has made a Foul Strike, the Base Runner does not return to his base, and in so returning he must do so on the run, otherwise he forfeits his exemption from being put out.
12. If, when a Batsman becomes a Base-Runner, [except as provided in Rule 48], The First Base, or the First and Second Base, or the First, Second and Third bases be occupied, any Base-Runner so occupying a base shall cease to be entitled to hold it, until the Base-Runner to First Base is put out, and may be put out at the next or by being touched by the ball in the hand of a Fielder in the same manner as in running to First Base, at any time before the Base-Runner running to First base is put out.
13. If a Fair Hit ball strikes him he shall be declared out, and in such case no base shall be run unless forced, and no run be scored.
14. If, when running to a base or forced to return to a base, he fail to touch the intervening base or bases, if any, in the order prescribed in Rule 48; provided, That he shall not be declared out, unless the Captain of the fielding side claim such decision before the ball is delivered to the bat by the pitcher.
15. If, when the Umpire calls "Play" after any suspension of a game, he fails to return to and touch the base he occupied when "Time" was called, before touching the next base.

Rule 51. The Umpire shall declare the Batsman or Base-Runner out, without waiting for an appeal for such decision, in all cases where such player is put out in accordance with these Rules, except as provided in Rule 50, and.

Rule 52. When a Dead Ball is declared by the Umpire no player shall be put out, base be run, or run be scored on such ball, unless such ball be also the seventh Unfair Ball, that entitles the striker to a base, in which case the striker shall take First Base, and any Base-Runner thereby forced to vacate a base, shall take one base without being put out, and if a base thus taken be the Home Base, the run shall be scored.

Rule 53. One Run Shall be Scored every time a Base-runner, after legally having touched the first three bases, shall touch the Home Base before three men are put out. If the third man is forced out or is put out before reaching First Base, a run shall not be scored.

The Rules: 1884 American Association of Base Ball Clubs Continued

The Rules of the Game: A Compilation of the Rules of Baseball 1845–1900