Travesty to the game

[celebur]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I think I've read that this ruling (if not the reason) is correct in (some levels of) softball. Many of the "rules myths" have a basis in similar games.

No, in softball, the B/R would be out because s/he is not allowed to retreat to home plate to avoid or delay a tag. This has nothing to do with making a travesty of the game.

[btdt]

Softball automatic out
Baseball legal

[greymule]

Remember when Jimmy Piersall ran the bases backward after hitting a home run? Not 3B to 2B to 1B to home, but backward as in his body was turned around, so he backed his way around the bases.

MLB was not happy with the stunt and fined him.

I met Jimmy Piersall once long ago.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by greymule

Remember when Jimmy Piersall ran the bases backward after hitting a home run? Not 3B to 2B to 1B to home, but backward as in his body was turned around, so he backed his way around the bases.

MLB was not happy with the stunt and fined him.

I met Jimmy Piersall once long ago.

Wow, you're old.

[celebur]

Originally Posted by btdt

Softball automatic out

Yes, but it has nothing to do about making a travesty of the game.

Originally Posted by btdt

Baseball legal

And also smart baserunning if the defense falls for it. Nowhere near being a travesty of the game either.

[bisonpitcher]

The "Travesty" wording was adopted in 1920 by MLB. This was inserted as a response to Germany Schaefer, a second baseman with the Tigers and Senators, among others, who would "steal" first from second on a pitch with a runner on third, to draw a throw and attempt to double steal home from third. He did this at least once prior to 1909 and again in 1911. Why MLB took so long to insert the rule is unknown.

[bisonpitcher]

True enough, you are correct. Old Germany was dead long before then, he died a couple of years after he retired. Although he did play into his early 40's, I believe.