Hands a part of the bat - history?

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by voiceoflg

Since I have been given some great history lessons here, I thought I'd ask a question that has been slightly bugging me for years. I know the hands are not an extension of the bat, though I have heard that growing up and recently, sadly, by fellow broadcasters. How did that idea get started? Were the hands ever an extension of the bat in the ancient rulebooks?

Nope.

It might have started because, under certain situations, the proper call can be intepreted as that by fans, parents, network broadcasters and other morons.

Example: Batter is hit on the hands as he is swinging. The ball goes into foul territory.

In reality, the umpire calls time, deadball strike.

In appearance to the above mentioned individuals, foul ball.