Quote:
Originally Posted by tballump
Rumor has it that in the old days, a pitcher was given the ball before batter/runner crossed home plate, the pitcher got PO'd (maybe runner said something) and drilled the runner as he was headed home (or maybe another base). So, PBUC and MBLUM wait.
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That is not a rumor, that is the exact reason why the pitcher was not allowed to have a ball until the BR crossed the plate! The rule was penned into the book in the late 1880's because the players were getting rowdy and the fans were leaving the games.
Remember, in the late 1800's, it was not
proper to have public altercations in mixed company (ladies & gentlemen). the ladies left the game pretty much and that is when the "on field fighting" started. For the most part, ladies of any respect, would not attend a baseball game from about 1893 on into the 20th Century. Women that did "hang around" or attend games in that era were not "Ladies".