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As we all know, many rec leagues ignorantly write into their rules a stipulation that a runner "must slide" on a "close play," whatever that is exactly. I think it is from this, as well as from some erroneous calls by overzealous umpires, that coaches and fans get the idea that any runner who collides with a fielder must be guilty of something.
As I remember, ASA inserted the crash rule in 1981 (or thereabouts). It was written specifically to prevent the play in which the throw beat the runner coming home, the catcher had the ball, and the runner felt obliged, from his baseball training, to try to dislodge the ball.
But the rule was certainly not written to prevent all collisions between runners and fielders.
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greymule
More whiskey—and fresh horses for my men!
Roll Tide!
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