Page:Spalding's Baseball Guide (1894).djvu/154

 When a ball is hit so slowly toward a Fielder that he cannot handle it in time to put out the Batsman.

That in all cases where a Base Runner is retired by being hit by a batted ball, the Batsman should be credited with a base hit.

When a batted ball hits the person or clothing of the Umpire, as defined in Rule 39.

In the fourth column shall be placed Sacrifice hits, which shall be credited to the Batsman, who, when no one is out, or when but one man is out, advances a runner a base by a bunt sacrifice hit, which results in putting out the Batsman, or would so result if the ball were handled without error.

FIELDING.

The number of opponents put out by each player shall be set down in the fifth column. Where a batsman is given out by the Umpire for a foul strike, or where the Batsman fails to bat in proper order, the put out shall be scored to the Catcher.

The number of times the player assists shall be set down in the sixth column. An assist should be given to each player who handles the ball in assisting a run out or other play of the kind.

An assist should be given to a player who makes a play in time to put a runner out, even if the player who could complete the play fails, through no fault of the player assisting.

And generally an assist should be given to each player who handles or assists in any manner in handling the ball from the time it leaves the bat until it reaches the player who makes the put out, or in case of a thrown ball, to each player who throws or handles it cleanly, and in such a way that a put out results, or would result if no error were made by the receiver.

ERRORS.

An error shall be given in the seventh column for each misplay which allows the striker or base runner to make one or more bases when perfect play would have insured his being put out, except that "wild pitches," "base on balls," bases on the batsman being struck by a "pitched ball," or in case of illegal pitched balls, balks and passed balls, shall not be included in said column. In scoring errors of batted balls see Section 3 of this Rule.