[Pharmboy]

Has any manager ever called the ump out on this? Did this start 100 years ago or merely 30 years ago? Thanks for your indulgence...

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

When did this start??

When Ty Cobb started sharpening his metal spikes?

[Lancey Howard]

First, in answer to your question, the practice began long, long ago. It’s one of the little things that makes baseball the best team sport ever invented. As long as the play is cleanly executed and not particularly close at 2nd, the runner is out. It has been that way for the 4+ decades I have been watching (and playing, and coaching) baseball.

Part of the reason is for the safety of the players. The runner, if he’s reasonably close to the second baseman or shortstop covering 2nd, is going to slide toward that player like a torpedo with his spikes in the air in an attempt to break up the play... even if he has to go somewhat out of the baseline to do so. Also, the defending player turning the double play needs a clear line for the throw to 1st, so he’s going to skip past the bag as quickly as possible to get that clear line and avoid the take-out slide. If he was forced to deliberately step on 2nd, he might (deliberately or not) throw the ball straight into the face of the oncoming runner. Oops.

The main thing is, everybody understands what’s going on with double plays; the informal “gentleman’s rule” for double plays is the same for everybody, and I have never seen anybody complain. Like I said, it’s one of those neat little eccentricities about baseball.

FRegards, and Go Phillies!
LH

[Political Junkie Too]

You're absolutely right to call this out!

Let's go all the way and remove the bases completely and replace them with "vicinity circles." As long as the runner and fielder are in the "vicinity circle," it will count as if the fielder was on the "base."

Being on "base" can go the way of "dialing" a number on a phone or "taping" a movie.

We still use the words, but we forget why.

-PJ

[TruthWillWin]

And why is a ball that hits the foul line or foul pole a fair ball? (needs to be renamed to the fair line or fair pole)

[nutmeg]

bookmark

[Daffynition]

Why aren’t you here? :)

[GSWarrior]

Thursday, August 2, 1952

[Hot Tabasco]

Has any manager ever called the ump out on this? Did this start 100 years ago or merely 30 years ago?

To answer your questions: No to the first and yes to the second......

[OwenKellogg]

When did this start??

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I remember Dizzy Dean whining about this in the 60s. That was back when they televised ONE game per week.