Knickerbocker Rules

Listed below are the rules of the game which were first adopted and developed by Alexander J. Cartwright on September, 23, 1845. They are often referred to as the Knickerbocker Rules because that is the name the team gave themselves on the day that they ratified these rules. There were twenty rules adopted that day and, believe it or not, these are what has evolved into today's current rules.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"Let him hit it, you've got fielders behind you." - Alexander J. Cartwright

The Knickerbocker Rules

by Alexander J. Cartwright

1ST. Members must strictly observe the time agreed upon for exercise, and be punctual in their attendance.

2ND. When assembled for exercise, the President, of in his absence, the Vice-President, shall appoint an Umpire, who shall keep the game in a book provided for that purpose, and note all violations of the By-Laws and Rules during the time of exercise.

3RD. The presiding officer shall designate two members as Captains, who shall retire and make the match to be played, observing at the same time that the player's opposite to each other should be as nearly equal as possible, the choice of sides to be then tossed for, and the first in hand to be decided in like manner.

4TH. The bases shall be from "home" to second base, forty-two paces; from first to third base, forty-two paces, equidistant.

5TH. No stump match shall be played on a regular day of exercise.

6TH. If there should not be a sufficient number of members of the Club present at the time agreed upon to commence exercise, gentlemen not members may be chosen in to make up the match, which shall not be broken up to take in members that may afterwards appear; but in all cases, members shall have the preference, when present, at the making of the match.

7TH. If members appear after the game is commenced, they may be chosen in if mutually agreed upon.

8TH. The game to consist of twenty-one counts, or aces; but at the conclusion an equal number of hands must be played.

9TH. The ball must be pitched, not thrown, for the bat.

10TH. A ball knocked out of the field, or outside the range of the first and third base, is foul.

11TH. Three balls being struck at and missed and the last one caught, is a hand-out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run.

12TH. If a ball be struck, or tipped, and caught, either flying or on the first bound, it is a hand out.

13TH. A player running the bases shall be out, if the ball is in the hands of an adversary on the base, or the runner is touched with it before he makes his base; it being understood, however, that in no instance is a ball to be thrown at him.

14TH. A player running who shall prevent an adversary from catching or getting the ball before making his base, is a hand out.

15TH. Three hands out, all out.

16TH. Players must take their strike in regular turn.

17TH. All disputes and differences relative to the game, to be decided by the Umpire, from which there is no appeal.

18TH. No ace or base can be made on a foul strike.

19TH. A runner cannot be put out in making one base, when a balk is made on the pitcher.

20TH. But one base allowed when a ball bounds out of the field when struck.

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The Knickerbocker Rules and Regulations are one of the most important famous firsts in the history of our national pastime. Share with us any other early rules you might have and we'll reprint them here as well.

Slide Show of The Knickerbocker Rules

Click The Rules Page Above to "See" The Rules in a Slideshow Format

The text above for the Knickerbocker Rules by Alexander Cartwright is a word-for-word transcript of the exact rules written in 1845. The slide show with images of the actual pages from the rules (reprinted by the Farmers Museum, Cooperstown, ca. 1990) has been added for your enjoyment.

Did you know that there is not a privately held copy of the original Knickerbocker Rules by Alexander Cartwright and the only known originals belong to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York?