Baseball has a long and evolving history, and some of the early rules of the game seem downright bizarre compared to today’s standards. From underhand pitching to batters calling their own strikes, these are some of the most bizarre and outdated baseball rules.
1. The Batter Could Call the Pitch
In the early days of baseball, batters had the luxury of requesting either a high or low pitch. The pitcher was required to deliver the ball within the requested zone. This rule gave hitters a significant advantage, making it easier to get solid contact. In 1887, the rules was ablished, and the modern strike zone was introduced.
2. One-Bounce Catches Were Outs
In the 1840s and 1850s, fielders could catch a ball on one bounce and still record an out. This rule made fielding much easier and protected players who were still learning the game. However, by 1864, fair batted balls had to be caught in the air to count as outs, while foul balls could still be caught on the bounce until 1883.
3. No Gloves Allowed
Wearing gloves used to be considered a sign of weakness in the early days. Fielders played barehanded, leading to broken fingers, bruises, and plenty of errors. By the 1870s, some players started using thin leather gloves, and by the 1890s, gloves were widely accepted as standard equipment.
4. Foul Balls Weren’t Strikes
Originally, foul balls didn’t count as strikes, meaning batters could foul off pitches indefinitely. The rule was changed in the National League in 1901 and in the American League in 1903, counting foul balls as strikes (except for foul tips and bunts with two strikes).
5. Walks Took Nine Balls
Before the four-ball walk, pitchers had a massive advantage. Early rules required batters to take nine balls before being awarded a walk. This led to long at-bats and pitcher-dominated games. The rule was gradually adjusted from nine balls (1879) to eight (1880), then to six (1884), and finally to the modern four-ball count in 1889.
6. Pitchers Had to Throw Underhand
Pitchers were originally required to throw the ball underhand, much like in fast-pitch softball. Overhand pitching was gradually introduced, with sidearm deliveries becoming legal in the late 1870s and full overhand pitching officially legalized in 1884.
7. Umpires Sat in Chairs
Bettmann/Contributor
Early baseball umpires didn’t stand behind the plate; instead, they sat in chairs along the baseline or behind the pitcher. By the late 1860s, umpires began standing behind home plate, where they could better call balls and strikes.
Note: This image isn’t of an umpire (I couldn’t find a photograph of it) but of Satchel Paige watching a game in 1965.
8. Runners Could Be Put Out by Being Hit with the Ball (Soaking)
In the game’s infancy, fielders could throw the ball at a runner to get them out, similar to how kids play kickball. This practice, called ‘soaking’ or ‘plugging’, was dangerous and often led to injuries. The rule was eliminated in 1845 when the Knickerbocker Rules introduced tagging runners instead.
9. Home Runs Could Be Caught for an Out
In some early ballparks, if a ball bounced off of a fence or tree and was caught before touching the ground, it was still considered an out. While some variations of this rule lingered in certain leagues, it was officially removed by 1884.
10. Ties Were Allowed
Stock Montage/Contributor
Early on, baseball had no provisions for extra innings, meaning games often ended in ties if it got too dark to play. Even today, tied games can still technically occur due to weather or other circumstances, but they are now rare and usually rescheduled.
