Baseball Rules of the Game

Perhaps the most misunderstood rule in baseball is the infield fly rule. Understandably, the rule can be a little confusing since it is ultimately left to the discretion of the umpire as to when it is applied.

Effective as of January 1, 2020, chest protectors used in high school and college baseball must be NOCSAE certified. This rule is not in place for youth players (anyone below high school level), however, knowing this information will allow parents to safely equip their youth player.

When it comes to Little League, it is often questioned what kind of bats you are allowed to use at certain levels. Since 2018, it is required that all divisions of Little League use bats that have a USA 1.15 BPF stamp, and the barrel diameter cannot exceed 2 5/8-inches.

Since the beginning of the sport, runners and catchers colliding at the plate have been a huge part of baseball. Bottom of the 9th, down by one, one out, and a runner on third, everyone knows what is about to happen. Batter pops it up to shallow right field, runner tags and it’s going to be close.

Pine tar is a very tacky, sticky substance that is produced by the high temperature carbonization of pine wood. Before its use in baseball, it was primarily used by mariners as a sealant for their vessels.

USA Baseball, the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States, along with the help of several national baseball organizations, are implementing a new standard for youth baseball bats starting January 1, 2018.