Play from long ago.
 

I thought this play was interesting.

On an attempt to check his swing, Elston Howard hits a chop in front of the plate.
http://aycu18.webshots.com/image/244...3942821_rs.jpg

But as he starts to run . . .
http://aycu03.webshots.com/image/226...1063122_rs.jpg

His bat hits the ball again.
http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/231...7497151_rs.jpg

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.

Is this the Cincy series they lost? Or Pittsburgh? Conlon missed it.

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

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

That might well be the answer. That was the rule then, and this ball actually appears to be in front of the plate.

Supposedly, even a batter who was at the front of the box would be out if he hit a ball downward onto his foot if the foot was in the fair part of the box. I think, though, that even then the umps usually ignored the letter of the rule and called that a foul. Howard's play, of course, is different.

Interest to watch Jocko Conlon's mechanics during that series. When viewing pitches, he kept his legs straight and leaned forward with his hands grasped behind him. (I'm going to check this film again to see how that worked with the balloon protector.)