Play from long ago.

[bluezebra]

Originally Posted by greymule

I thought this play was interesting.

On an attempt to check his swing, Elston Howard hits a chop in front of the plate.


But as he starts to run . . .


His bat hits the ball again.


Howard has both feet in the box, but Jocko Conlon called him out. I am wondering whether this was because the ball didn't simply bounce back up and hit the bat, but that the bat was out away from his body, and Howard actually actively contacted the ball. I'm wondering whether this was the correct call by rule, or whether in 1961 the umps sometimes just called what they thought seemed right on a particular play.

If I recall correctly, if the PU judged the contact was in the fair portion of the batter's box, it was an out.

Bob