7 Weird Rules that the Pirates Have to Follow

3) Here, in this photo from 1935, is Al Todd, the pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1936 to 1938. The biggest danger for catchers is getting hit by the ball. But there is also a rule that if the ball gets stuck in the catcher’s mask, or in any part of his uniform, then every player on a base can advance one base.

4) They are not allowed to throw their glove at the ball or catch the ball in their hat. This is because the player cannot use their uniform to manipulate the ball. If they do this and the ball comes in contact with their hat or glove, then every player can advance by three bases.

5) Nothing at all can be wiped on the ball. This rule came into effect in 1920 after Carl Mays pitched a ball to Ray Chapman that struck him in the head and killed him 12 hours later. The ball he threw that day was a spitball. After that, spitballs were banned from the game. In fact, the pitcher cannot even sweat from his face and then touch the ball. In this photo, is Burleigh Grimes, who pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1916-1917, 1928-1929, and in 1934. He was the last professional baseball pitcher officially permitted to throw a spitball, up until 1929. The reason is that he was grandfathered in and did not have to follow the “no spitball” rule.

6) Before the pitcher throws the ball, he has to bring the ball to his glove and stay perfectly still before he throws the pitch. If he flinches or drops the ball, it is called out as a “balk” by the umpire and all players on base can advance a base.

7) If the pitcher throws a ball and the catcher loses hold of it, this is called a Wild Pitch and the batter can run to first base. However, if there is no one on base when this happens, then he is instead called out. 

*Here is a bonus one for you. This is more of an unwritten rule. If a player is hit by a ball, then he cannot rub the spot that the ball struck. This is the player's way of showing the batter that he did not defeat him.

Here are 7 more odd rules that you will never believe were true.

1.    Until 1930, if the batter hit a ball and it bounced over the wall, it was still considered a homerun.

2.    When baseball began, there were not “9 innings” to a game. Two teams played until one of them scored 21 points, which were called “aces,” not runs. The concept of 9 innings started in 1857. The terms “runs” and “innings” were copied from Cricket rules.

3.    There was another rule about bounced balls that stated if the batter hit the ball and the player caught it after it bounced, then the batter was out! That rule was not changed until 1890.

4.    Another rule from baseball’s infancy was that before making a call, the umpire was allowed to get opinions from the crowd because they may have seen something that he missed.

5.    It wasn’t until 1886 that strikes were added to the game and at that time, the first strike was issued as a warning to the pitcher, after that the count to three started.

6.    From 1867-1887, the batter was allowed to tell the pitcher what type of pitch to throw. There was the high strike zone (area from the shoulders to the waist) or the low strike zone (area from the waist to one foot from the ground). And the pitcher had to oblige.



7.    Until 1884, pitches were thrown underhand. And there was no rule about the distance the pitcher had to stand when throwing the ball. Tommy Bond, a pitcher for the Boston Braves in 1883, was the first player to throw the ball overhand.