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The Houston Babies
Sponsored by the
Larry Dierker Chapter of the Society for American
Baseball Research, the Houston Babies vintage
baseball team seeks to maintain the game's historic
roots, sans million-dollar contracts, performance
enhancing drugs, dry-fit apparel technology
and even baseball gloves. The Babies' roster
is loosely filled with SABR and non-SABR enthusiasts
and cranks of the 19th-century version of the
game. The team is named in appreciative honor
of the first professional base ball club in
our geographic area, the 1888 Houston Babies.
1860 Baseball Rules
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A gentleman’s
game. No swearing, scratching, chewing,
or spitting. |
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Players do not
wear gloves. |
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No sliding, leading
off bases, or stealing bases. |
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The “striker
(batter)” may not run over first base. |
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A batted ball
is determined fair or foul by where it hits
the ground. |
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A striker is
out when a batted ball is caught on one
bound off the ground, fair or foul or on
the fly. |
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Foul tips are
not strikes. |
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A runner may
not advance if a striker’s ball is
caught on the fly. He will be instructed
to his base and may not be put out. A runner
may advance at his own risk if the striker’s
ball is caught on one bound, fair or foul. |
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Players crossing
home plate must then proceed to the tallykeeper’s
table, place one hand on the table, raise
the other hand and ask the tallykeeper to
please tally his “ace (score or run)”
for the team. He is then instructed to strike
the tally bell and only then does the ace
count. |
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In “hurling
(pitching),” the ball must be hurled
underhanded. |
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The umpire does
not call balls but may call strikes if deemed
necessary. |
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The umpire can
levy fines on the spot for ungentlemanly
conduct. |
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The Umpires may ask players
and cranks for assistance in making calls.
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Keep up to date with the Babies on Bill McCurdy's
blog with this link: Houston
Babies at the Pecan Park Eagle |
