"FED Legal" Baseballs

[UmpJM]

Thanks to all who chose to respond.

My post here was prompted by a discussion on another thread with a gentleman who was certain that it was grounds for forfeit to not have properly marked balls available.

I had never heard that before and disagreed.

I was curious how it was handled in different parts of the country. Between the two threads, 20 different posters took a position (including me).

4 said you can't play without them. Only one that it was grounds for a forfeit. The other 3 said they'd have/find a way to get marked balls.

Everybody else said "play", with some suggesting "file a report". 2 of the "don't play" umpires are from the LA area, &, I suspect, may belong to the same association. Another from NC & one from MN.

The FED Interpretation I posted above I found in the BRD. The BRD references the NFHS News, 3/99 #20. Apparently, this was in anticipation of the "Mark" requirement entering the rule book in 2000.

Sounds to me like the "official" FED position is, play the game, report it. Makes perfect sense to me.

JM

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

Sounds to me like the "official" FED position is, play the game, report it. Makes perfect sense to me.

JM

FED, at least as represented by Elliot Hopkins, agrees with you. It's too bad some umpires and some assigners actually put a logo above the game. Since relocating to Southern California I'ver run into some real anal types, but I haven't had the experience with an assigner that Larry has had.

[Tim C]

"I believe this all stems from Nike attaining a contract with NFHS to supply baseballs for all (legal) NFHS games."

That statement is probably incorrect.

Oregon plays with the Classic Wilson A1010.

It is stamped with both the OSAA Logo and the NFHS Logo.

Wilson has been strong sponsor of Oregon High School Athletics for many, many years.

[zm1283]

In Missouri, most teams use Diamond baseballs in the spring for FED games.

If I showed up to a game and the home team didn't have FED-stamped baseballs, I would play the game and report it to the assigner and state. I think that is how most others here would handle it as well.

You know it's slow when we're discussing stamps on baseballs.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

Sounds to me like the "official" FED position is, play the game, report it. Makes perfect sense to me.

JM

In Ohio, the state baseball philosophy is: "do what you can to get the game in." Between bad weather, fields that aren't ready, and other factors beyond our control, ignoring the mark on the baseball is something clearly within our power.

Consistent with that principle, we, too, are instructed to play the game and report the infraction. Most umpires I know do at least half of that.

[dash_riprock]

Our contract with the high schools requires line-up cards to be typed. Arguably, a card generated by a computer and a printer is not typed (not that I see many of those anyway). Ergo, under our present contract, there has never been a legally-played game.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Our contract with the high schools requires line-up cards to be typed. Arguably, a card generated by a computer and a printer is not typed (not that I see many of those anyway). Ergo, under our present contract, there has never been a legally-played game.

I would be willing to bet that someone typed the names into the lineup card before printing it.

[justanotherblue]

I believe this all stems from Nike attaining a contract with NFHS to supply baseballs for all (legal) NFHS games. If your that anal, it's simple. Hey coach the baseball's are not official Nike/Fed balls. Do you have a problem playing without them, if the answer is no, then your next statement should be, great, however there will be no protest over the game because of the ball. Why make the job more difficult. The team supplying the baseballs are most likely trying to save a buck, let em, my guess is they meet the same standard without the stamp. Ignore it, play the damn game.

[tjones1]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

I believe this all stems from Nike attaining a contract with NFHS to supply baseballs for all (legal) NFHS games.

Not true in Illinois. The IHSA has a new contract with Baden to use their baseballs in their State Series.

[justanotherblue]

Could just be Nevada then, I was under the impression it was a fed thing, obviously I'm wrong..not the first time, won't be the last.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I've seen Rawlings, Wilson, Diamond, Pro 9 and Champro but not Baden or Nike. Thankfully we don't have to use only one brand. Good grief.