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This is an excerpt from the JEA.
Historical Notes
The two base award for a thrown ball which goes out of play first appeared in 1910. The rule was revised in 1914 to cover balls which remained in the meshes of the protective screen protecting the spectators. For practical purposes, new wording was added in 1951 which defined the slanted part of the screen above the break. This was the portion of the protective screen which angled off of the perpendicular screen behind home plate and protected spectators from foul balls and also returned foul balls to the playing field. The common point where the two screens met was known as the "break." Thrown balls which strike "above the break" are considered "out of play." In 1931, a distinction was made on balls thrown by infielders and outfielders.
The '31 rule stated: "When the throw is made by an infielder, the umpire in awarding such bases, shall be governed by the position of the runner or runners at the time the ball was pitched; when the throw is made by an outfielder, the award shall be governed by the position of the runner or runners at the time the throw was made. The rule was revised in 1940 and introduced the concept of the first throw by an infielder. Anytime an errant first throw by an infielder went out of play, the two base award was made from the position of the runners at the time of the pitch. The 1950 rules provided an amendment which revised this interpretation when a play intervened. If a play intervened between the infielder's first throw and any subsequent throw, the award would be based on the runner/s position at the time of the throw which went out of play. In 1962, the wording was changed again. This time the rule specified that when the wild throw was the first play by an infielder, the award was based on the position of the runners at the time of the pitch. Consequently, any legitimate effort to retire a runner constituted a play and changed the guideline for awarding bases. In effect, a first throw may not necessarily be the first play. (see Appendix 16 defining Plays) Anytime an errant throw from an outfielder went out of play, the award was always made from the position of the runners at the time of the throw. This interpretation applies today.
The Note/A.R. explaining the impossibility of awarding all runners two bases in certain circumstances appeared in the 1954 rule book. The Approved Ruling which explains the proper award when all runners, including the batter-runner have advanced at least one base was added in 1962. The explanatory notes and play defining when a throw is considered to have been made were added in 1976.
Tim.
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