PLAYING RULES
- OF -
The Players' National League
of Base Ball Clubs.
ADOPTED Dec. 17, 1889.
The Ball Ground.
RULE 1. The ground must be an enclosed field, sufficient in size to enable each player to play in his position as required by these Rules.
RULE 2. The Infield must be a space of ground thirty yards square.
The Bases.
RULE 3. The bases must be
Sec. 1. Four in number, and designated as First Base, Second Base, Third Base and Home Base.
Sec. 2. The Home Base must be of whitened rubber twelve inches square, so fixed in the ground as to be even with the surface, and so placed in the corner of the infield that two of its sides will form part of the boundaries of said infield.
Sec. 3. The First, Second and Third Bases must be canvas bags, fifteen inches square, painted white, and filled with some soft material, and so placed that the center of the Second Base shall be upon its corner of the infield, and the center of the First and Third Bases shall be on the lines running to and from Second Base, and seven and one-half inches from the foul lines, providing that each base shall be entirely within the foul lines.
Sec. 4. All the bases must be securely fastened in their positions, and so placed as to be distinctly seen by the Umpires.
The Foul Lines.
RULE 4. The Foul Lines must be drawn in straight lines from the outer corner of the Home Base, along the outer edge of the First and Third Bases to the boundaries of the ground.
The Position Lines.
RULE 5. The Pitcher's lines must be straight lines forming the boundaries of a space of ground, in the infield, six feet long by four feet wide, its forward line distant fifty one feet from the center of the Home Base, and so placed that the six feet lines would each be two feet distant from and parallel with a straight line passing through the center of the Home and Second Bases. Each corner of this space must be marked by a wooden peg fixed in the ground even with the surface.
RULE 6. The Captain's or Coacher's Lines on each side of the field must be (1): a line fifteen feet from and parallel with the Foul Line, said line commencing at a point seventy-six feet distant from the center of the Home Plate, and running thence to the limits of the ground. (2) A line beginning at the same point and running at a right angle to (1) to the limit of the ground.
RULE 7. The Batsman's Lines must be straight lines forming the boundaries of a space on the right, and of a similar space on the left of the Home Base, six feet long by four feet wide, extending three feet in front of and three feet behind the center of the Home Base, and with its nearest line distant six inches from the Home Base.
RULE 8. The Three Feet Lines must be drawn as follows: From a point on the Foul Line from Home Base to First Base, and equally distant from such bases, shall be drawn a line on Foul Ground, at a right angle to said Foul Line, and to a point three feet distant from it, thence running parallel with said Foul Line to a point three feet distant from the First Base: thence in a straight line to the Foul Line, and thence upon the Foul Line to point of beginning.
RULE 9. The lines designated in Rules 4,5,6,7 and 8 must be marked with chalk or other suitable material, so as to be distinctly seen by the Umpire. They must all be so marked their entire length, except the Captain's Lines, which must be so marked for a distance of at least thirty feet.
The Ball.
RULE 10. The Ball.
Sec. 1. Must not weigh less than five nor more than five and one0-quargter ounces avoirdupois, and measure not less nine nor more than nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. The Keefe ball must be used in all games played under these rules.
Sec. 2. For each championship game two balls shall be furnished by the home club to the Umpire for use. When the ball in play is batted over the fence or stands, on to foul ground out of sight of the Umpire, the other ball shall be immediately put in to play by the Umpire. As often as one of the two in use shall be lost, a new one must be substituted so that the Umpire may at all times after the game begins, have two for use. The moment the Umpire delivers the alternate ball to the Catcher or Pitcher it comes into play and shall not be exchanged until it, in turn, passes out of sight on to foul ground.
Sec. 3. In all games the ball or balls played with shall be furnished by the home club, and the last ball in play becomes the property of the inning club. Each ball to be used in championship games shall be examined, measured and weighed by the Secretary of the League, inclosed in a paper box and sealed with the seal of the Secretary, which seal shall not be broken except by the Umpire in the presence of the Captains of the two contesting nines after play has been called.
Sec. 4. Should the ball become out of shape, or cut or ripped so as to expose the yarn, or in any way so injured as to be- in the opinion of the Umpire - unfit for fair use, the Umpire, on being appealed to by either Captain, shall at once put the alternate ball into play and call for a new one.
The Bat.
RULE 11. The Bat
Sec. 1. Must be made wholly of wood, except that the handle may be wound with twine or a granulated substance applied, not to exceed eighteen inches from the end.
Sec. 2. It must be round, except that a portion of the surface may be flat on one side, but it must not exceed two and one-half inches in diameter in the thickest part, and must not exceed forty-two inches in length.
The Players and their Positions.
RULE 12. The players on each club in a game shall be nine in number, one of whom shall act as Captain, and in no case shall less than nine men be allowed to play on each side.
RULE 13. The players' positions shall be such as shall be assigned them by their Captain, except that the Pitcher must take his position within the Pitcher's Lines, as defined in RULE 5. When in position on the field, all players will be designated as "Fielders" in these rules.
RULE 14. Players in uniform shall not be permitted to seat themselves among the spectators.
RULE 15. Each player shall be required to present himself upon the field during said game in a neat and cleanly condition, but no player shall attach anything to the sole or heel of his shoes other than the ordinary base ball shoe plate.
The Rules: 1890 Players' National League of Base Ball Clubs Continued 
The Rules of the Game: A Compilation of the Rules of Baseball 1845–1900
