CONSTUTION
RULES AND BY-LAWS
And UNIFORM
GROUND RULES
OF THE
April, l994
(supercedes all previous copies)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article II
Membership in the League
Article III
Board of Managers
Article
IV The President/
Article V
Franchises
Article VI
Misc.
RULES AND BY-LAWS
A. Season schedule defined (see also
”T”)
B. Championship procedure, regular season
C. Playoff procedure
D. Starting time and ground rules
E. Player rosters, player releases, playoff
eligibility
F. Protests and appeals (see also Articles III and
V of the Constitution)
G. Forfeitures
I. Condition and playability of fields
J. Official baseballs (see also
”U”)
K. Gate receipts
L. Cases and foul flags,
M. Conduct with umpires and among League members
N. Payment of umpire fees
O. All-Star teams, games and voting
P. Publishing box scores
Q. Makeup games and schedule revision
R.
Designated hitter
S. Ejection of pitcher, exception to rule
T. Games
scheduled outside corporate limits
of
U. Addendum to
“J” (baseballs)
UNIFORM GROUND RULES
A. Uniform ground rules regardless of playing
site
1. Screens and fences
2. Players dugouts
3. Trees
4. Foul balls outside the playing area
5. Spectator Interference
6. Position of foul flags
7. Fair batted balls bouncing into foul
territory
8. Balls thrown into foul territory
9. Vehicles on or around the playing field
10. Fastening of bases
B. Rules for specific playing sites
1-4. North Brandywine 1,
Prices Run
5 Foul flag preference & absence thereof
C. Doubleheaders at Lighted Fields
5/2/91 AGREEMENT
As to relief pitchers, ejection of players or
managers, bumping or offenisive touching of an umpire and protecting umpires
from unruly fans. ADDENDUM 1
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
1. The name of this organization is the Delaware
Semi-Pro Baseball League.
ARTICLE II - League membership
1. Membership in this League shall consist of
the now present herein stated franchises:
a. John H. Hickman, Jr. (Parkway)
b. William D. D’Onofrio (D’Onofrio Insurance)
c. Horace Dyer (Schaefer Brewing)
d. Charles Wallace (
e. John Haley (
2. New franchises may be admitted to the League
by simple majority decision of the Board of Managers. An existing franchise may
be transferred subject to simple majority approval by the Board of
Managers (1992 executive decision ratified by 3/4- vote of Board of Onagers)
ARTICLE in - the Board of Managers
1. The .final governing authority of this League
shall be the Board of Managers.
2. The Board of Managers shall consist of the
franchise holders and each franchise shall have one (1) vote on the Board of
Managers.
3. A franchise holder may designate a voting representative
at any League meeting. Unless stated otherwise by the franchise holder, the
team manager shall be considered the team representative.
4. A quorum at any League meeting shall be a
simple majority of existing franchises. A simple majority vote of this quorum
shall be sufficient to conduct all League business except as otherwise stated
in this Constitution.
5. The Board of Managers, by a three-fourths
(3/4-) majority of the quorum present, may overrule or negate any act or
decision by the President involving the Rules and By-Laws, protests and
appeals, and ground rules.
6. In any dispute between teams involving
protests and appeals, the teams (franchises) directly involved in the dispute
shall be disqualified from voting. However, such a disqualification shall not
preclude the existence of a quorum.
AiCL’IGLE IV - the President
1. The President; shall be the only elected
officer of this League and shall be elected for a Term of one (1) year by the
Board of Managers.
2. The President may be removed from office
during his term by three-fourths majority vo-ce of uhe Board of
3. The President shall have the authority to
interpret, administrate and enforce the Hules and By-Laws herein contained,
including the authority to xnile on all protests and appeals, and to rule on
all contingencies not covered by the By-Laws, subject to the
-provisions of Article in of this Constitution.
4. The President may call meetings of the Board
of Managers at his discretion but must call a meeting of The Board of Managers
when requested to do so by at least two franchises.
Exceptions:
A. on any appeal of the Presidents decision on a.protested
game, the President must call a meeting of the Board of Mangers at the request
of the appealling team.
B. There shall be two Mandatory Meetings of the
board of Mangagers: One Prior to the start of the regular season and the other
prior to the start of the semi-finla play-offs.
5. The President shall preside at any League meeting
and shall have no vote at any meeting. However if the President is also a franchise
holder, he shall retain his vote on the Board of Managers in that capacity.
6. The President shall also serve in the
positions of Treasurer and Statistician. He may delegate authority and
responsibility for each of these positions, subject to the appx’oval of the
Board of Managers.
7. The President shall have the duty and
authority to keep the standings of the Teams, to keep batting and pitching
records and other such records as may be deemed proper under his role as Statistician.
He shall have The authority to settle all
scoring disputes and bo review score books and box scores.
ARTICLE V - Franchises
1. No league franchise shall belong to any
person or persons other than the individual who first brought the franchise
into the league and no sponsor or sponsors or group or faction of persons or
players shall have a voice in league meetings other than through the franchise
holder.
2. A franchise is transferable only by
application of the prospective new franchise holder for membership into the
league.
3. A franchise is automatically revoked if it
does not field a team at the start of a season.
4-. A franchise holder shall have the right to
change the name of his Team at any time.
ARTICLE VI
1. The By-Laws and Rules herein contained and
attached, including any amendments thereto, shall be considered as part of this
Constitution and shall be binding upon all League members and players
2. No amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws
may be made after the beginning of or before the end of a season and Then only
by a Three-fourths vote of the Board of Managers. The only exception to this
rule shall be the amendment of The ground rules herein contained, which may be
done at any time by three-fourths vote of the board of Managers.
3. Roberst Rules of Order shall prevail for all
contingiencies not otherwise provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws.
RULES AND BY-LAWS CF THE
PREFACE
The following Rules and By-Laws are adopted by
ohe League as part of the Constitution and are to be used by the Board of Managers
and ohe President; in their administration of the League,
A. Schedule
The
regular season schedule shall consist of a balanced schedule of not less than
twenty-eight games nor more than thirty-six games starting on a date to be
determined by vote of the Board of Managers, League games will be played Monday
through Friday evenings, with these evenings known hereafter as “weeknights”,
Saturday and Sunday games may be played with the complete approval of the two managers
involved. Games may be played at playing sites other than those listed on the
official league schedule with the mutual agreement of the two teams involved,
providing the President is notified by both managers at least twenty-four hours
before the start of the game. The regular season schedule must be completed by
July 31st or remaining1 ganes will be cancelled unless they have a direct bef
ring on the Play-Off positions, (See
Addendum A-2) Under Section T
B. Champions
The League Champions and Pennant Winners shall
be the team in first place at the end of the regular season, The Play-off
Champion shall be the. winner of the Shaughnessey play-offs involving the first
four teams. Ties in the standings involving the first four positions shall be
resolved by playoffs as follows:
1. Ties between two teams shall be resolved by a
one-game play-off providing it is a tie
for first or fourth place. Ties for second place and ties for third place shall
be resolved by a flip of a coin or a drawing of straws* providing they involve
only two teams.
2. Three-way ties for first place and three-way
ties for fourth place shall be resolved by a single-elimination playoff, with
the teams drawing straws to determine which team draws a bye for the first
game. The team losing the first game automatically becomes the third place team
or the sixth place team, whichever is applicable.
3 Three-way ties for third place shall be
resolved by a single-elimination playoff, with the teams drawing straws to
determine which team draws a bye for the first game and with the winner of the
second game permitted to choose whether he will play the first place team or
the second place team in the semi-final playoffs. The team losing the first
game automatically becomes the fifth place team
4 Three-way ties for second place shall be
resolved by a drawing of straws only, with the team drawing the first short
straw becoming the fourth place team and the two teams remaining drawing straws
to determine which, by the drawing of a sftort straw, becomes the third place
team.
5. Playoffs to determine the settling of ties in
the standings will begin on the weeknight immediately following the close of
the regular season. They will continue on each succeeding weeknight until the
tie is resolved. There will be no exceptions to this rule, by mutual agreement
of the managers or otherwise, unless the regular season should close on a
Friday, in which case the playoff will begin on the following Monday.
C. PLAYOFF PROCEDURE
1. The semi-final playoffs shall be between the
first and fourth place teams, and the second and third place teams, and shall
consist of the best three of five game series. Each semi-final series will be
played concurrently every weeknight (Monday through Friday) until completion of
each respective series, with no alternating of semi-final series with regard to
playing nights. There will be one open date between the start of the
semi-finals and either the League All-Star Game, the end of the regular season, or the end
of tie-resolving playoffs, whichever is
applicable. (Rule amended 5/14/70)
2. The first place team and the second place
team shall be the home teams at the start of each semi-final series, with home
games then being alternated from that point on until the conclusion of the
semi-final series,
3. The first place team shall have its choice of
available playing sites for the first game of its semi-final series, with
playing sites for both series (first vs. fourth and second vs. third) being
alternated from that point on.
4. Game time for semi-final games shall be 6:15
pm with forfeit time at
6:30 p.m. However, games may start any time
between 6:00 and 6:15 pm with the mutual consent of both managers, providing
both umpires are available at such pre-6: 15 p.m, time (Applicable to twilight games only)
5. Final Playoffs shall consist of the best
four-of -seven game series. There will be one open date between the end of the
last-completed semi-final series and the beginning of the final playoffs unless
the last-completed semi-final series ends on a Friday, in which case the finals
will begin on the following Monday. Once started, the Final Playoffs will be
played every weeknight (Monday through
Friday) until their conclusion,
6. The final playoff team finishing highest in
the regular season standings shall be
the home team for the first final playoff game, with home games alternating
from that point on (Exception: see Paragraph 8 below) . Each.home team shall be
free to select the playing site.
7. Game time for final playoff games shall be
6:00 pm with aforfiet time of 6:15 pm (Applicable to twilight games only)
8. In the event of ties or incomplete games, the
game next following shall be considered to be a replay of the tie or incomplete
game with the same home team applying. In the event of two or more successive
ties or incomplete games, or any
combination of both, the same home team shall apply with the exception
that balls shall be divided equally. In
the semi-final playoff s, ties shall not effect the switching of game sites on
alternating nights and both semi-final games on a given night muct be
incomplete, or rained out, or postponed because of wet grounds before the
normal switching of game sites may be effected.
9, In -the event; of a protest of a playoff
game, the continuity of the playoffs must not be affected and the two teams
must continue to play games as scheduled. However, once a point is reached whereby the
disposition of the protest can affect the final outcome of the series, no game
can be played until the protest mechanism has run its course. (5/83)
10. Agreemenits to play under a suspended game
rule may be made at any point in a given playoff series.
There will be no suspended game rule allowed in
one semi-final playoffs unless with uhe unanimous consent of the four teams
involved and no suspended game rule will be allowed in the final playoffs
unless with the mutual consent of the two teams involved.
Agreements to play suspended games must; be in
writing and will be for the duration of a given series.
Any suspended game agreement adopted, as per
above will mandate a complecion of seven (7) innings regardless of the score at
the point of suspension and a continuation to a decision of any game tied after
seven innings, regardless of the number of innings or playing nights required.
With the completion of a suspended game on a given
night, and providing that not more than four (4) full innings have been played
that night in completing the suspended game, the next scheduled game will begin
in fifteen (15) minutes. If more than four full innings have been played on a
given night in completing a suspended game, the next scheduled game may begin
on that same night with one mutual consent of the two ueams as presented to the
umpires.
Rain or other weather conditions will nor
preclude the suspended game rule in effect.
11. Agreements to postpone semi-final playoff
games a scheduled under these rules may not be made unless with uhe unanimous
consent- of the four teams involved.
12. ALL playoff games, semi-final and
final, shall be played at a lighted field, or fields, if such fields are
available (Passed 7-0, 4/18/96).
This subsection takes precedence over any
contrary language in C(1), C(3) and C(6) of this Section.
Given the availability of a single lighted field
on a date on which both semi-final series are to be played, a four-team
”doubleheader” shall be played at that lighted field.
With the first such ”doubleheader11
involving semi-final series, the game involving the pennant-winner shall
be the first game of the “doubleheader.” With the second such “doubleheader”,
the game involving the second place team shall be the first game, thence
alternating on following “doubleheader” nights. This alternation shall apply
whether or not the “doubleheaders” are played on successive or consecutive
nights.
For time limits on the first game and
starting time for the second game see “Doubleheaders at lighted fields”, page
GR-4.
13. No team shall have to play, without its
consent, outside the boundries of
D. STARTING TIME AMD GROUND RULES
1. All twilight games during the regular season
will start promptly at 6:15 p.m. Starting times for games played at night on
lighted fields shall be determined by the President at the time of the scheduling
of such game or games. As concerns lighted fields, this rule shall also apply to playoff games.
a. A fifteen minute grace period will be allowed
if a team does not have nine eligible men (including the team manager)
available at the scheduled starting time. No manager may agree, in any regular
season or semi-final playoff game, to extend the other team’s grace period. It
shall be the duty of the umpire-in-chief to call a forfeit immediately at the
expiration of the fifteen minute grace period. The umpire’s watch shall be used
to determine both starting and forfeit time stipulated by these rules,
2. Umpires must clear the field three minutes
before the start of a game,
3. Ground Rules for most diamonds on which
League games are played are herein contained and are part and parcel of these
Rules and By-Laws. These Ground Rules are designed to eliminate the discussion
of ground rules, whenever practicable, before the game. Ground Rules, unlike
the Constitution and By-Laws, may be amended at any time during the season by a
three-fourths vote of the Board of Managers,
4. The home team shall occupy the third base
dugout and the visiting team shall occupy the first base dugout. In the event
that both teams have loudspeaking systems available, the home team shall have the right to have
its loudspeaking system used exclusively. Violation of either of these rules
shall be penalized by a fine of Ten Dollars ($ 10.00) payable before ths offending team’s next game,
5. Four and one-half innings shall constitute a
full game if the home team is winning and five full innings shall constitute a
full game if the home team is losing. A tie game must be played at least five
full innings,
6. If there are no umpires available at
the start of a game, each manager may, with the mutual consent of both
managers, pick one lay umpire from the fans present. As soon as one of the
regular umpires appears at the game, both lay umpires must be removed at that
point. There can be no protest of any decision made by lay umpires in any
portion of a game in which lay umpires have participated.
E.
PLAYING ROSTERS, PLAYER RELEASES, AND PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY
1. Pre-June 15th Roster.
There shall be an Open Roster prior to June
15th. No written roster of any kind need be submitted to the League before June
15th.
A player becomes the property of a team as soon
as he appears in a game for that team. However, all players who are in uniform
and on a given team’s bench at the start of the first game of the season
involving that team, and who do not get into the game, also become the property
of that given team, providing their names are adequately listed and said list
is signed by the opposing manager . This rule, as it applies to players who
have not appeared in a game, shall apply only with regard to a team’s first
game of the season and shall apply whether or not the game was completed.
No team may use a player belonging to a
currently-franchised team of the previous
season unless the player obtains a written release from his team of the
previous season. A player belongs to
this team of the previous season if he has met all of the following
requirements:
a. He must have been on the final roster of his
team of the previous season.
b. He must have been eligible for the playoffs
with his team of the previous season, whether or not his team of the previous
season was eligible for the playoffs notwithstanding. See E(4) below0
c. His team of the previous season a bona-fide
franchise at the start of the current season. (Note: this is understood to a transferred
franchise)(1992 Executive Decision)
2. June 15th or Final Roster.
The Final Roster must be cut to twenty-five
players by midnight of June
15th and must be submitted in writing, signed by
the team manager, at •that time.
If a player has not appeared in a current season
game prior to June 15th, and does not belong to a team under the previous
season rules, and his name appears on the current season final roster of more
than one team, he belongs to the first team for which he plays.
Final June 15th Rosters are frozen as of that
date and no further players may be added or replaced.
Team managers need not be counted as a player on a team’s final roster.
However, the manager name must appear on said final roster, with the
annotation, Manager, or Mgr., after his name. Managers so listed may appear in
any regular season or playoff game for his team.
3. Player Releases.
a. If a player belongs to a team of the previous
season, and, prior to June 15th, has not yet played in a current season game
for that team, he may become a free agent, eligible to play for any other team
without waiting period, by written release signed by the current manager of his
team of the previous season,,
b. If, prior to June 15th, a player has appeared
in a game for a given team, he may become a free agent by written release
signed by the manager of that team. However, in this case, he must wait seven
(7) days from the date of release before playing for another team. Releases in
this case may be dated as of the date of the last game in which the player
appeared for the releasing team.
c. If a player has appeared in a game for a team
prior to June 15, and does not appear on the Final Roster (June 15th) of that
team, he is considered a free agent, and may start playing immediately after
June 15th for any other team on whose
Final Roster he appears. If a player so released appears on the Final Roster of
more than one team, he belongs to the first team for whiqh he plays after June
15th.
D. If a player frozen to the roster of his team
of the previous season has not appeared in a game for that team through June
12of the current season he shall, by his personal request to the President
following games of June 12 and prior to games of June 15, be declared a Free
Agent, providing he has not appeared in a game for that team in the interim.
The President shall notify the previous team of
the declared Free agent. That Tearn sha11 have 72 hours following the point of
such notification, even if it has had to submit its June 15 Final Roster in the
interim, to replace such player. Approved 4/19/95
4. Playoff Eligibility and End-of -Season Frozen
Rosters
A player must play (including as an announced
opening lineup player or as an announced substitute - providing in both
instances that he is actually present)
in eight (8) regular season games for a given team to be eligible for
the playoffs and/or be frozen to ttiat team’s roster for the following
season, subject to the following exceptions:
a. Forfeited game. All players on the final
roster of the non-offending team shall receive
credit for a game played.
b. End-of -season cancellations. All players on
the final rosters of teams involved with such cancellations shall be credited
with a game played for each such cancellation.
c. A •pitcher is eligible for the
playoffs and is frozen to the roster for the following season if he actually
pitches in five (5) games for a given team during the regular season. However,
he may only pitch (or bat as a pitcher)
during the playoffs and may not play any other position, or pinch hit or
pinch run, or be a designated hitter. This rule does not apply if the player/pitcher
has appeared in eight (8) games for a given team during the regular season.
F. PROTESTS
AND AND APPEALS
All protests must, be in wriuing and delivered to the President or
his designate by 6:00 p.m. of the day
following the date of the game being protested.
The written protest must be signed by the
manager of the protesting team, must include
the date of the game being protested and describe the precise game
situation at the time of protest.
The written protest must state the number and pertinent
text of the rule on which ohe protest is based and the reason for the protest
based on the rule.
G. FORFEITS
The team forfeiting a game will pay both umpire
fees for that game.
Three forfeitures during the regular season will
result in a loss of franchise unless The Board of Managers finds there were extenuating
circumstances.
H. (stricken)
I. INCLEMENT WEATHER
1. It shall be the strict policy of this league,
and all of its members, to make every effort, up to the last possible minute,
in the case of occasional or internittent rain or showers, in the face of
possible wet grounds, or in the face of
threatening or inclement weather, to play the game, inconvenience to teams,
individuals, and umpires notwithstanding.
2. Generally, games may not be postponed without
permission from the President.
Both managers must contact the President to
verify the postponing of a game.
J. BASEBALLS
The official baseball of the league shall be the
Huber #1 , The Wilson Adoption league No. A1010, Rawlings Major LeagueBall,
Diamond Professional D-1 (5-12-86)
The home team shall furnish at least 3 new ball
to the Home Plate Umpire at the start of the game. The only exception to this
rule will be as otherwise noted. The umpires shall be the sole judge of whether
or not a ball is in palyable condition.
(See Advisory, Section U)
K. GATE RECEIPTS
All Gate Receipts or collections shall be
devided equally between the two team in regular season or play-off games.
In the event that any regular seaon or play-off
game is played on a special or fenced in field whereby admission is charged, or
on any lighted field, the league shall reserve the right to tax the gate
reciepts from such a game in an amount or percntage to be determined by the
Board of Managers.
Gate Receipts from any League All-Star Game or
Games Shall be retained by the League.
L. BASE AN FOUL LINE FLAGS
The home team must see that the bases, with two spikes each if possible, are
placed in their proper location before each game. Violation shall result in a
fine of $10, payable before the teams next game.
The Home team shall also see that the foul line
flags are placed in their proper location before each game (See Uniform Ground
Rules, Section A-6). If the home Team has no Foul Flags available, the visiting
team may elect to have its own foul flags used in the game. The home team must
place th eflags in the locations and return them to the visiting manager at the
end of the game. If the home team has only one foul flag available, the
visiting team may elect to have one of its flags palced and used under the same
conditions as outlined above.
M. CONDUCT WITH UMPIRES AND AMONG LEAGUE MEMBERS
Cursing or Physical contact with or against the
umpires shall be dealt with severely by the board of Managers. Any physical
contact with the umpires by managers, coaches, or players shall result in a minimun suspension of 3
games. The offended umpire must file a written report of said offense with the
President.
Physical contact among league members may be
dealt with severely by the Board of Managers.
N. PAYMENT OF UMPIRE FEES
The ideal situation is for each team to prepay
their umpire fees for the entire season. If this is not possible, then the team
must always be in advance in the payment for the Umpires. No Team will be
allowed to play a game for which the have not paid their umpire fees. Violation
will result in forfeiting the game.
O. ALL-STAR GAMES AND TEAMS
1. The President shall call a league meeting on
or before July 28th of each season, in which each franchise-holder,
or person appointed by the franchise-holder, shall turn in his teams All-Star
ballot to the Executive Secretary.
For the official All-Star team., voying will be
done on a basis of 3 points for a first choice vote at each position, including
2 pitchers, and on point for a second choice vote at each position, including 2
pitchers.
Voting for Most Valuable Player and Rookie of
the Year will be done on a -3-1 point basis.
2. The annual League All-Star game shall be
between the pennant-winner and a team composed of players from the rest of the
league, played after the close of the regular season and before the start of
the semi-final play-offs.
a. The manager of the second place team shall
manage the all star squad.
b. the starting line up, exclusive of pitchers,
for the all-star squad , shall be comprised of players who finished highest in
the voting at each position, unless such players are either members of the
pennant winning team or are unable to play in the game, in which case such
players wil be replaced by the player that finished next highest in voting.
c. The balance of the squad , including
pitchers, will be selected by the squad manager. No team in the league may hav
emore than six players on the squad, unless more than that number have been
voted into the starting lineup. Each team in the league must have at least one
player on the squad. It is recommended that the squad manager follow the line
of voting as much as possible in making these selections and that he select at
least 6 infielders, 5 outfielders, 2 catchers, and five pitchers.
d. Each starting player on the all star squad
must play at least 3 full innings, exclusive of the starting pitcher. No
pitcher may be used for more than 3 innings, unless the game goes into extra
innings.
e. Each manager is responsible for the
appearance or elected or selected players from its team at th eAll-Star Game.
Each Manager must notify the executive Secretary within 24 hours of the start
of the game if one of his players cannot appear and the manager shall be
subject to a fine of $10 for failure to comply with this rule.
f. No team may vote for its own players as a
first choice on All-Star , Most Valuable Player, and Rookie of the Year
balloting, but may vote for its own players as a second choice, third Choice,
if applicable. (Amended 5/14/70).
P. PUBLISHING BOX SCORES
The winning team, or the home team in the event
of a tie, shall be responsible for reporting the box score to the local papers
and to comply with the deadlines and procedures for such reporting set by the
papers.
All teams are expected to monitor the box scores
as printed and to promptly report to the president all errors therein.
If a boxscore is not printed for some reason,
the responsible team shall immediately supply the full box score to the
President’s office.
Q. Make Up Games
The president shall enforce the following rules
with regard to makeup games:
a. After June 15, and before the next to the
last week of the regularly scheduled season (End of the regular season tenatively
july 31), teams may be required to play makeup games on the first available
open date between the two teams; providing that such scheduling will not require
any team to play more than 4 games per week. During this period, teams shall
not be required to play on Saturday’s or Sunday’s.
b. As of the next to the last week of the
regular season, teams may be required to play 5 games in a given week, Monday through
Friday.
c. As of July 23, any two teams having 3 or more
games left with each other, makeup or otherwise, may be required to play on
Saturdays or Sundays.
d. As o fthe beginning of the last week oif the
regular season, the President may revamp the previously assigned schedule for
that week so as to permit the maximum number of games to be played by the
league.
e. Teams shall be entitled to 36 hours notice
for any assignment of make-up games. This rule is waived during the last week
of the regular season as concerns games scheduled during that week and which
then must be made up. During this period, teams shall be prepared to play on
any open night, Monday through Friday.
R. Designated hitter for the pitcher (adopted
5/11/87)
1. The designated hitter for the pitcher is
permissible at all times in this league (adopted 4/24/91).
2. 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,
Pinch Hitters for a Designated Hitter may be
used, including a Pinch Hitter for a Designated Hitter before he actually bats
or completes his first at-bat. Any substitute hitter for a Designated Hitter
himself becomes a Designated Hitter. Any 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 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.
Once a Designated Hitter assumed a defensive
position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder
of the game.
S. Ejection of pitcher - exception to
Baseball Rule
Following a “second visit to the mound” as
defined in Baseball Rules and implemented by umpire’s judgement, the pitcher is
ejected as a pitcher but not as a player at any •their position
for the balance of the game, Such ejeceted pitcher may not subsequently returm
as a pitcher during the game.
T. (Addendum A-2) The league may schedule
regular season games outside of the corporate limits of the City of Wilmington but
not outside of the boundries of New Castle County, (passed 4/23/92) (see also
Play-offs, Sec. C-12)
U. To: All league teams 7/6/89
Re: Playing Rule J, Baseballs (
The rule states that “The home team shall
furnish at least three new balls to the home plate umpire at the start
of the game and a sufficient number of new or playable balls to complete
the game... The umpires shall be the sole Judge of whether or not a ball is in
playable condition.”
Taken literally, the rule is clear. However,
over the years, it has been a common practice to begin Games with balls
that are playable but not necessarily new, with the unrires being the
Judge of what balls are playable (though not neccesarily new) to start the
game (as well as during the course of the game) .
This will advise that I wil1 enforce the rule on
the “common practice” stated aabove and not on a strict interpretation of the
Rule’s “Three new ball Requirement”.
Under this more laxed interpretation, the
umpires shall be the Judge of whether used balls furnished at the
start of a game, in lieu of new balls, are playable, as well as the
playability of replacement balls during the game.
UNIFORM GROUND RULES The
These Ground Rules are divided into two
sections, Uniform Ground Rules regardless of playing sites and uniform ground
rules for Specific Sites.
No two teams may agree to change or amend any of
the ground rules herein stated.
In any
situation not covered in these rules, the Official Baseball Rules Shall Apply.
Uniform Ground Rules Regardless of Playing Sites
1. Screens and Fences
a. Any pitched ball going
through, Lodging, or stuck in or beneathany screen or fence surrounding the
playing area shall be unplayable by any fielder, with all runners allowed to
advance one base without peril, including from third base to home.
b. Any gate or passage way
in any screen, fence, or dugout surrounding the playing area shall, for th
epurposes of these rules, be considered closed at all times, with an imaginary
line drawn across such open gate or passageway.
2. Fielding of Foul Balls
a. See Rules For Specific Playing Sites
b.
Fielders are permitted to reach outside the playig area. Or inside the defined
dugout area, to catch a foul ball, provided one foot remains on the ground or
providing his momentum has carried him beyond the playing area after making the
catch.
c. However, any ball legally caught by a fielder
who subsequently enters a defined out of play area shall result in a dead ball,
with no runners advancing.
3. Trees within The Defined Playing Area
Any fair
or foul butted ball landing in any tree within the defined playing area shall
be considered “in play” with a catch
being allowed as long as the ball is not impeded in its natural trajectory by branch, leaf, or tree
trunk.
4.
Spectator Interference (revised
5/9/89)
a. Spectators standing or sitting outside
the foul lines as extended beyond
existing backstop, dugout and fence extensions along such foul lines shall be treated as “authorised” persons as
per Baseball Rule 3.15 and thus subject
to “unintentional” and “intentional” treatment as defined in that rule.
b. Spectators entering fair territory or
entering the foul areas as contained by backstop, dugout or fence extensions
shall be treated as “going on to the playing field” as per the definition of
Interference (d) in Baseball Rule 2.00 and thus treated as intentional
interfereace as per Baseball Rule 3.16. have been made, with no runners
advancing.
5. Foul Flags
a. As concerns batted tolls, the left field foul
flags at
b. At Canby Park and
c. The right field foul flags at Canby Park and
Rockford Park, and the left field foul flag at 18th and Van Buren, all to be
used as foul line guides only, shall be ideally placed at the end of the
lime-marked or usage-worn foul lines.
d. Using (b) and (c) above as general
rules, the umpires shall govern the
placing and location of all foul flags.
6. Fair Batted Balls Bouncing Into
a. With respect to the left field foul flags at
b Any fair batted ball bouncing into foul
territory beyond the left field foul flags at Canby Park and Rockford
Park, and the right field foul flag at 18th and Van Buren, or any fair batted
ball bouncing into foul territory in right field at Canby Park and Rockford
Park and in left field at 18th and Van Buren, shall not limit the runners and
the runners may advance any number of bases at their own peril,
7. Balls thrown into foul territory,
a. For the purposes of this rule, a catcher, or
a pitcher who has stepped off of the pitching rubber, shall be considered to be
an infielder,
b. Any thrown ball going into foul
territory, beyond the end of existing
fences runring parallel to the foul lines, but not going outside the in-play
foul area as described in the rules for Specific Playing Sites, shall limit the
runners to two bases, with the runrers advancing said two bases at their own
peril. Play is dead as concerns each runner once he reaches the second advanced
base. This rule shall apply to the in-play foul area alongside either foul
line, beginning at a point where
existing fences running parallel to the foul lines end, and shall not be determined or effected by posted
foul flags,
c. Any thrown ball going outside the described
in-play foul area, including any thrown ball going into the described players
dugouts, shall come under the Official Baseball Rule of “one from the rubber,
two from. the field”. The ball becoming dead once it enters such an area.
d. For the purposes of this rule, any screen in back
of and within the limits of the dugout area shall be considered to be a part of
the dugout.
8. Vehicles on or around the playing field,
a, Any fair batted ball, or thrown ball, going under or in any velhicle on or near the
playing field, shall still be in play, subject only to the special rules in
these ground rules covering batted balls or thrown balls.
9. Fastening of bases
a. If all three bases are secured with two or more
pegs, the runners are required to “stay
–with the base”, However, if the base
breaks loose on the play, initial contact shall apply.
b. If one or more bases are secured with one peg
only, or no pegs, “initial contact” shall apply at the base, or bases, with
only one peg or no pegs, If only one, or two, “two-peg” bases are available,
preference for placing of “two-peg” bases at the start of a game shall be a
second base, third base, and first base, in that order.
B. RULES FOR SPECIFIC PLAYING SITES.
1.
a. The playing field within ths foul lines extends
to infinity.
b. The in-play foul area not otherwise subject to
existing fences shall, on the left field line,
extend 90 decrees fron the and of the fence along the left field foul
line to the sidewalk on 18th St., thence
running eastward along the inner edge of the sidewalk or the macadan, whichever
is closest to the foul line, thence east-ward along the back of the old stands
running parallel to the foul line, thence eastward to infinity.
c. The in-play foul area not otherwise subject to
existing fences shall, on the right field foul line, extends 90 degrees from the end of the fence
along the right field foul line to infinity.
d. Both dugouts shall be the area behind the short
fences in front of the players benches, with imaginary lines extended to
include open entrances in front of and on either side of each dugout.
e. Fair batted balls hit into the old stands in left
field, whether on the fly or not, shall
be in play.
2.
a. The playing field within the foul lines extends
to infinity.
b. The in-play foul area not otherwise subject to
existing fences shall, on the left field foul line, extend northward along the
screen behind home plate to the end of said screen, thence westward to
infinity.
c. The in-play foul area not otherwise subject to existing
fences shall, on the right field foul line, extend 90 degrees fron the end of
the fence along the right field foul line to infinity.
3.
a. The playing field contained within the foul lines
extends to infinity
b. The in-play foul area not otherwise subject to
existing fences shall, along both foul lines, extend 90 degrees outward to infinity
from the end of existing fences.
c. Both dugouts shall be defined as in 1 (d) above (
4. Preference in the event that only one foul flag
If only one foul flag is available, it shall be placed
in the following locations:
a) North Brandywine - on the right field foul line.
b)
c) Rockford Park-on the left field foul line,
5. Absence
of foul flags.
a. 18th
& Van Buren. The permanent pole at
the end of the right field foul line shall be the “foul flag” for the purposes
of this rule.(pole is no longer there)
b.
G. DOUBLEHEADERS AT LIGHTED FIELDS
The schedule lists the starting time of the
second game at banning Park as “8: 45 p.m.” This is a nominal Time only. Second
game teams should be at the field, ready to play at 8:30 p.m. subject to
the following
Situation #1 Under league policy, “no innning of
the first game shall be after 8:40 PM”. If under this rule, the first game is
still in progress at 8:40 PM, the second game shall begin 5 minutes after the end of the first game. Forfeit time shall be twenty (20) minutes
after the end of the first game.
Situation #2 The first game ends after 8:
30 p.m. but; before. 8:45 p.m. The second game shall begin five (5)
minutes after the end of the first game. Forfeit time shall be twenty (20)
minutes after the end of the first game.
Sitation #3 The first game ends prior to 8:30
p.m. The second game shall begin five (5) minutes after the end of the first game
or at 8:30 p.m., whichever comes later. Forfeit time shall be twenty
(20) minutes after the end of the first game or at 8:45 p,m., whichever comes
later.
In this situation (Situation #3) “the second
game teams, providing the first game has ended, may, by mutual consent of both managers and availability of
umpires, begin the second game at any time prior to 8:30 p.m.
FRAWLEY STADIUM
The first game of a doubleheader shall begin
promptly at 6:00 p.m.
In the event that only a single game is scheduled,
starting time shall be the usual 6:15 p.m. unless there is mutual agreement to
the contrary between the two teams involved with the single game.
No inning of the first game of a doubleheader shall
begin after 8:30 p.m.
The nominal starting time of the second game of a
doubleheader shall be 8:45 p.m.
In the event that the final allowable inning of the
first game of a doubleheader is still in progress at 8:4-5 p.m., the second
game shall begin five (5) minutes after the end of the first game.
If the first game of a doubleheader ends “early” and
given the mutual agreement of both second game managers and the availability of
umpires, the second game may begin at any time prior to 8:45 p.m.
No inning of any single game or no inning of any
second game of a doubleheader shall begin after 11:00 p.m.
Forfeit times shall be 6:30 p.m. for the first game of a
doubleheader and 9;00 p.m. for the second game. Forfeit time for any single
game scheduled to start, by prior mutual agreement of the two teams involved,
at any tine other than 6:15 p.m. shall be fifteen (15) minutes after such
agreed starting time.
5/2/91 AGREEMENT V/1TH INTERSTATE UMPIRES
ASSOCIATION
1. Relief Pitchers -The second relief
pitcher in an inning is limited to one minute and/or five warmup
pitches. In otherwords, he has one minute to enter the game, prepare for same,
and throw a maximium of five warmup pitches. This, as you might surmise, is an
anti-stalling device.
2. With the ejection of a player or manager by
the umpire, the condition of “out of sight, out of sound” may be imposed at
the, discretion of the umpire. This condition may be interpreted literally.
3. Bumping or offensively touching an umpire
will, Upon filing of a written report from the umpires to this office and
upon subsequent investigation by this office, will result in a. minimum automatic
suspension of one (1) game.
NOTE: If, in the view of the President, the end
of the regular season or the end of a semi-final playoff. series or the end of
the final playoff series is impending at the time of any such infraction, the
President, upon a prompt investigation to his satisfaction of the facts and
circumstances, may waive the requirement of a written report from the umpires.
4. Protecting umpires from unruly fans.
Upon request by the game umpires, either team, upon such request, will send
someone to call and obtain police protection immediately, This request •was a condition
precedent of the umpires agreeing to continue to umpire in our league.
ADDENDUM 1
At the League meeting og 4/19/95 ’the following
rule change was proposed.
Six teams were present,
The rule change received five votes, with one
abstention, and thus fell one short of the requisite 3/4 (six teams out of eight)
majority.
It was agreed that if one of the two absent
teams indicated that it would vote for the rule change a special meeting would
be held to reconsider the motion prior to nhe start of the season.
Section B (page BL-1) of the Rules and By-Laws is
amended as follows:
B. League
Championship .
The League Champion shall be the winner of the
final playoff series.
The first place team during the regular season
(”the pennant winner”) shall draw a bye into the Final Playoffs;,
The second, third and fourth place teams shall
play a double elimination, round-robin Semi-Final Playoff Series as
follows!
The Second Place Team draws a bye
Game #1. Fourth Place Team vs. Third Place Team (Third
Place Team is home) t
Game #2 Winner Game #1 vs. Second Place
Team (Second Place Team is home).
Game #3 Loser Game # 1 vs. Loser Game #2 (Loser
Game #2 is home). Loser Game #3 is eliminated!
Game #4a Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #2 (Winner Game
#2 is home). If a team absorbs a second loss in this game the ,Semi-Final
Series is over and the Winner of this game advances to the Final Playoffs.
Game #5 (if necessary). Loser Game #4 vs. Winner
Game #4 (Winner
Game #4 is home). Loser is eliminated and Winner
advances to Final Playoffs.
Final Playoff Series. Winner Semi-Final
Playoffs vs. Pennant Winner, best four-of-seven games. Pennant winner home team
first game, then alternating. Winner of Series is the League Champion