Stanky Rules

jtur88 · 08-21-2007, 06:35 PM

I believe Eddie Stanky was personally responsible for at least three changes in the rule books.

In 1951, Stanky invented the 'flying start'. He was the runner on third, when a sac-fly was hit to the outfield. Stanky went several steps down the foul line, and timed his start so he was crossing third at full speed when the ball was caught. The rules committee met in emergehcy session and added the rule immediately to outlaw the flying start.

In 1953, managing the Cardinals, he intentionally batted Bilko for Jablonski, out of turn, so Bilko would get an extra chance. After Bilko grounded out, Stanky informed the ump. had the slumping Jablonski called out, and Bilko, with a fresh count, homered. The rule was changed to require the defense to appeal in order to have the batting-out-of-turn rule imposed.

In 1954, Stanky's Cardinals were losing 8-1 in the second game of a rain delayed doubleheader on a Sunday, which could not last past 7 oclock in Pennsylvania. In order to impose the curfew before the end of the 5th, he started making trips to the mound. The umpires forfeited the game to the Phillies, but without being able to cite any particular rule violation except unreasonable delays of the game. This led to the rule limiting the manager to one trip to the mound per pitcher per inning.

LongtimeBravesFan · 08-21-2007, 10:48 PM

You forgot about how he used to jump up and down and wave his arms to distract the batter before that was banned.

Nocahoma · 08-22-2007, 10:22 AM

I thought that the one-visit rule was imposed in the 1990's. Was the Manager limit in place since 1954, and the 90's rule added to include any Coach (1 mound visit in total)?

jtur88 · 08-23-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocahoma

I thought that the one-visit rule was imposed in the 1990's. Was the Manager limit in place since 1954, and the 90's rule added to include any Coach (1 mound visit in total)?

I'm not sure exactly when that rule was put in place, but I'm very sure that the one-visit rule in some form was imposed long before the 90's.

Yes, I remember Stanky jumping and down, too, but I was not aware that any rule had ever been made against it. That would be a gray area. To make a rule that would prohibit a fielder from any action intended to distract the offense would also apply to any fielder faking a runner, which happens often.

I've been corrected by Pankin at retrosheet on the rule change regarding the batting out of turn. It seems that the rule was always as it is now, but the umpire erred in the Stanky game by allowing the offensive team (no pun intended) to appeal the out-of-turn bat. It is genuinely amazing to me how many players and even some managers and occasionally an umpire do not know the rules.

LongtimeBravesFan · 08-24-2007, 01:20 AM

i have a book called "You be the Umpire" which says in a 1950 game against the Braves, Stanky did his arm waving thing but would stop just as the pitch was delivered. A batter got on base and punched the third baseman and later threw the bat at Stanky. another fielder got cold cocked and a rule was passed that bans a fielder doing anything to distract the batter.

jtur88 · 08-24-2007, 01:55 PM

Here's the rule:

4.06(b) No fielder shall take a position in the batter's line of vision, and with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent, act in a manner to distract the batter.

PENALTY: The offender shall be removed from the game and shall leave the playing field, and, if a balk is made, it shall be nullified.

--------
Lacking, of course, are definitions of "line of vision" and "unsportsmanlike". Not to mention the redundancy of "deliberate. . . intent".

Someone please help me understand why a penalty imposed against the defense (balk) would be nullified, but not a penalty against the offense (caught stealing).

Who writes these rules?

LouGehrig · 09-11-2007, 01:48 PM

At least they still allow a runner to try to knock the ball out of the fielder's glove on an attempted tag.

jtur88 · 09-11-2007, 05:16 PM

A lot of rule changes are, in my opinion, just plain silly. Like when they changed the catchers box from the wide triangle to the small box, which they don't enforce anyway. Why did the rules committee decide that something was unfair or unmsportsmanlike or it made a travestry of the game or whatever, if the catcher could wait wide for the IBB putch? How was baseball made into a better game by changing the catcher's box?

greg.simonster · 11-02-2007, 10:16 AM

nice post.
Interesting stuff about Stanky.

08-21-2007, 06:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 7,844	Stanky Rules I believe Eddie Stanky was personally responsible for at least three changes in the rule books. In 1951, Stanky invented the 'flying start'. He was the runner on third, when a sac-fly was hit to the outfield. Stanky went several steps down the foul line, and timed his start so he was crossing third at full speed when the ball was caught. The rules committee met in emergehcy session and added the rule immediately to outlaw the flying start. In 1953, managing the Cardinals, he intentionally batted Bilko for Jablonski, out of turn, so Bilko would get an extra chance. After Bilko grounded out, Stanky informed the ump. had the slumping Jablonski called out, and Bilko, with a fresh count, homered. The rule was changed to require the defense to appeal in order to have the batting-out-of-turn rule imposed. In 1954, Stanky's Cardinals were losing 8-1 in the second game of a rain delayed doubleheader on a Sunday, which could not last past 7 oclock in Pennsylvania. In order to impose the curfew before the end of the 5th, he started making trips to the mound. The umpires forfeited the game to the Phillies, but without being able to cite any particular rule violation except unreasonable delays of the game. This led to the rule limiting the manager to one trip to the mound per pitcher per inning. Last edited by jtur88; 08-21-2007 at 06:37 PM.

09-11-2007, 05:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 7,844	A lot of rule changes are, in my opinion, just plain silly. Like when they changed the catchers box from the wide triangle to the small box, which they don't enforce anyway. Why did the rules committee decide that something was unfair or unmsportsmanlike or it made a travestry of the game or whatever, if the catcher could wait wide for the IBB putch? How was baseball made into a better game by changing the catcher's box? __________________ ------------------ When people ask what I hope to see before I die, I answer that I've already seen too much.

08-21-2007, 10:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,362	You forgot about how he used to jump up and down and wave his arms to distract the batter before that was banned.

08-22-2007, 10:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nocahoma Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,238	I thought that the one-visit rule was imposed in the 1990's. Was the Manager limit in place since 1954, and the 90's rule added to include any Coach (1 mound visit in total)?

08-24-2007, 01:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,362	i have a book called "You be the Umpire" which says in a 1950 game against the Braves, Stanky did his arm waving thing but would stop just as the pitch was delivered. A batter got on base and punched the third baseman and later threw the bat at Stanky. another fielder got cold cocked and a rule was passed that bans a fielder doing anything to distract the batter.

08-24-2007, 01:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 7,844	Here's the rule: 4.06(b) No fielder shall take a position in the batter's line of vision, and with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent, act in a manner to distract the batter. PENALTY: The offender shall be removed from the game and shall leave the playing field, and, if a balk is made, it shall be nullified. -------- Lacking, of course, are definitions of "line of vision" and "unsportsmanlike". Not to mention the redundancy of "deliberate. . . intent". Someone please help me understand why a penalty imposed against the defense (balk) would be nullified, but not a penalty against the offense (caught stealing). Who writes these rules?

09-11-2007, 01:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
LouGehrig Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 225	At least they still allow a runner to try to knock the ball out of the fielder's glove on an attempted tag.

11-02-2007, 10:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
greg.simonster Rookie Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	nice post. Interesting stuff about Stanky.