Year by year rules
1800s Rules
The 9-inning format for baseball games dates to 1857. Thereafter the rules of baseball continued to constantly change and evolve throughout the 1800s. In efforts to balance pitching, hitting, and the length of games, features such as bases 90 feet apart, calling balls and strikes, the pitching distance, pitching styles, and even the equipment used were added and changed. A summary of the differences from modern rules for the years commonly played by our clubs is provided here with a links to the full sets of rules
1860 Rules and Differences Summary
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1864 Rules and Differences Summary
- Home plate was round
- Pitching was done underhand from 45 feet between two 12 foot lines 3 feet apart.
- Stealing was allowed
- Gloves were not worn
- The umpire stands to the opposite side of the batter
- Wherever the ball first strikes the ground determines whether it is fair or foul
- Foul balls were dead balls and the runner could not advance. The runner could be put out on a force once the pitcher has held the ball
- Catching the ball on a bounce was an out
- Bases are 90 feet apart
- Balls and strikes may be called by the umpire after warning either the pitcher or the hitter, then it is three balls for a walk, three strikes for an out.
Foul balls were not strikes - Batters can not overrun First base or else be put out by a tag
1865 Rules and Differences Summary
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1867 Rules and Differences Summary
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1870 Rules and Differences Summary
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1884 Rules and Differences Summary
- Balls must be caught on a fly for an out.
- Bases were 90 feet
- Home plate was square.
- Stealing was allowed
- The pitcher delivers the ball 50 feet from the plate in a 4 foot by 6 foot box
- Gloves were not generally not worn by fielders
- This was the first year that overhand pitching was allowed.
- A hitter must call his strike zone upon entering the batters box either high strikes or low strikes. High strikes were belt to shoulder height, low strikes were belt to knees.
Foul balls were not strikes - Six balls called by the umpire were a walk and three strikes were an out
- Catcher wore two garden style gloves, one with fingers cut off for throwing, also a chest protector and a mask.
1886 Rules and Differences Summary
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1895 Rules and Differences Summary
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