[Tim C]

Pete:

Avery interesting question since it has been bantered about on boards like this for the last four years.

I worked a summer tournament where the right field line passed first base, when it touched the outfield grass it turned on a 45* angle towards CF, after about 40’ it angled back to the foul pole down the line . . . the reason, there was a light fixture hanging from a pole that was threatening to fall. The tourney organizer had teams from 4 states and in the height of the season couldn’t find another facility.

So we played ANYTHING hit on the fly into the “black hole” was FOUL. It a ball was hit into the area it was a “Ground Rule Single” – other than that it was considered DBT.

When I posted this originally a few called me a “liar” and that no one would play a game like that. Others posted that they would NEVER have umpired under those conditions since it had made a “Travesty of the Game” . . . a few more experienced umpires said, “Cool!”

When we work summer ball our conversation at the dish in pre-game goes something like this:

Coach: “Yeah, we’re playing the Big Book today!”

Tee: “Would that be American or National League Rules?”

Coach: “Errr, what’s the difference” (since the merger of umpires I have lost all but the following).

Tee: “DH?”

Coach: “Oh yeah, and we play speed-up, must slide and FED rules for re-entry!”

Tee: “OKAY, what part of the ‘Big Book” do you use?”

Coach: “Errr, I really don’t know.”

In Portland we rarely even are told what basic rules are being played before we get to a site. I really wouldn’t work much if I worried too greatly on local changes.

Our leagues include, but are not limited to:

Official Babe Ruth
Oregon Junior State
Junior Babe Ruth
Senior Babe Ruth
Class A American Legion
Class AAA American Legion
MABL U18
MABL 30 UP
MABL 40 UP
MABL 50 UP
MSBL Open
MSBL 30 UP
MSBL 40 UP

All these leagues play different rules. AND THAT DOES NOT COUNT “LOCAL” RULES FOR INDIVIDUAL FIELDS.

Individual Rules include:

Any ball hit that hits the overhead screen is dead (and it usually comes straight down on the PU’s head).

All balls that pass first base and enter DBT (which is so close they do not allow a first base coach) are 1 base awards.

Any ball hit into the swings in centerfield is a LIVE BALL unless one of the mothers picks it up and won’t give it back.

Any ball that hits the “trim” of the dugout is live, however if it hits the face (about a ¼” revel) of the dugout it is dead. The two inside posts (in front of the dugout) are dead BUT the outside poles are live (unless the ball hits the revel). If the ball hits the concrete lip it is live but if it hit the step guard (an area) about 2” higher than the lip . . . the ball is dead.

This is just ONE FIELD dugout rules.

OK, to answer your question:

Like HHH, I believe in trying to satisfy the customer - - I worked games that I didn’t have any idea what the rules were – but we endured.