Pitch hits home plate why dead?

[Ed Maeder]

In the ASA game 7-5-B states that the ball is dead and runners may not advance. That is the rule and that's what we get paid the big bucks to call.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Assume you are talking slow pitch. My understanding is that in the transition from no stealing, there was too much sentiment against allowing stealing when the ball might take an irregular and uncontrolled bounce, as can often happen off the plate.