Batter hit by pitch

[greymule]

I have heard that long ago the batter had that option in MLB. I suspect that today's pitchers would take it as an insult and deliberately hit the guy with the next pitch.

Until around 1950, the home team in MLB had the option to bat first, but I don't know that any ever did.

It does bring up other questions. In the early 1960s, Hector Lopez hit a game-winning ground rule double but ran no farther than first, so he was credited only with a single. What if today a runner between 2B and 3B was awarded home but opted to stop at 3B (let's say, because the next batter was chasing an RBI record)? I suspect the runner would not be allowed that option.

In lower-level girls' rec FP, I often ask hit batters whether they want to stay and bat. They almost always choose to bat.