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When I played American Legion and college baseball in the 1960s, there was no crash rule, no FPSR, no nothing. Runners were expected to break up a double play. Runners coming home tried to dislodge the ball by crashing into the catcher, and the catchers were prepared for it. Know something? Nobody got hurt.
I remember, as a pitcher, covering home on a pitch that got away with a runner on 3B. The catcher retrieved the ball fast enough to throw it to me three steps ahead of the runner. I expected to get hit; the runner did not slow down but went straight into me standing up. I moved a little to the side and tagged him with the ball in the glove and the bare hand squeezing the glove. Crash. Spun around. Out. I didn't get hurt, because I knew what the runner was going to do.
No fight. Nobody yelling about the runner has to slide. The runner went to the dugout and I went back to the mound.
I liked it better in the old days.
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greymule
More whiskey—and fresh horses for my men!
Roll Tide!
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