The Reliable Book of Outdoor Games: Containing Official Rules for Playing Base Ball, Foot Ball, Cricket, Lacrosse, Tennis, Croquet, Etc (Classic Reprint)

Should the batsman hit the ball so that it strikes the ground in front of or on the foul lines, it is a fair hit ball, and he immediately becomes a base runner, as in the case of the calling of balls; but, in such case, he can be put out either by a catch of the hit ball before it touches the ground, viz., on the fly or by his failing to touch first base before the ball is held by the fielder at first base. In case, however, the batsman hits the ball so that it goes to foul ground, while he is also liable to be put out on the fly catch of such ball he cannot offset the foul hit by the advantage of trying to earn a base on such hit, as he can on a fair hit ball, as no bases can be run or runs scored on a hit foul ball. When the base runner has secured his right to hold first base, either by a base hit or an error on the part of a fielder, his next effort is to secure the other three bases and thereby score a run. This he does either by being forwarded by the good hitting of those who follow him at the bat; by stealing bases viz., running to the next base before he can be thrown out there or by a series of one or more costly errors by the fielders. It will be seen, therefore, that the bataman can be put out by a fair catch of the ball he hits ;or by a catch of a foul ball, or by striking out. In addition, too, he can.be put out simply by stepping outside of the boundary lines of his position while in the act of striking at a pitched ball, or by batting at a wild pitched ball or any ball, in fact, in such a way as intentionally to prevent the catcher from catching or fielding the ball; tho former out being termed afoul strike, and the latter an out from inteiferingioiih the catcher. Thru, too,tho batsman can be decided out ifhe takes I um position at the bat out of the regular batting, provided ho hits a fair ball before the error is discovered.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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