Little League rule-head first slide

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Yikes!

I've been working at my local LL park for the last 17 years. Some rules are dopey, but most are based around an average kid playing the game.

The trouble is, of course, no parent thinks they have an average kid. Thus, the stupid rules about wearing helmets, throat protectors, no big barrel bats or metal cleats, no bowling over the catcher, etc.

I remember Mickey Mantle's roommate on the Yankees telling me how stupid it was that players slid in fingers first to a base, as he crushed many a digit playing second. But what did he know?

I know, it's not real baseball. But real baseball is played with wooded bats, 90 foot basepaths, with metal cleats, and full contact at the plate. Everything else is played with age, size and skill level taken into consideration.

Very well put.


Rita

[kylejt]

Thanks, Rita.

BTW, the roommate of Mickey's I was referring to is Jerry Coleman. He's still a radio announcer for the Padres, and still an opponent of the head first slide. His biggest complaint is that you can't get up quickly, and get to the next base when you're flat on your stomach. That, and he got to squash a lot of fingers playing F4 in the Bronx. To him, the risk was not worth the benefit, if there were any to begin with. And that's always been debatable.

[johnnyg08]

I liked to slide head first because I would get raspberries on my a$$ so instead I took my scabs to my arms...I hardly never had an opportunity to advance after a head first slide, so me to not slide head first because I might not be able to get up and advance was not something I considered because the chances were very, very slim of a ball going through far enough in the first place. YMMV. I realize that this is a LL thread so it's more of a safety rule for the kids which is something I support.