Obscure MLB rule(s)

Way2Low

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Rule 3.09
Players in uniform shall not address or mingle with spectators, nor sit in the stands before, during, or after a game. No manager, coach or player shall address any spectator before or during a game. Players of opposing teams shall not fraternize at any time


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BaseballJones

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Rule 3.09


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So they can’t give out autographs before the game? I mean, I was at a Yankee-Sox game at Fenway one time and ARod and Rivera came over to the stands (I was sitting down the 3B line) and chatted with us and gave us autographs.

Obviously one of these rules that nobody enforces. I wonder what the reason was behind the rule?
 

SinkingLowe

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So they can’t give out autographs before the game? I mean, I was at a Yankee-Sox game at Fenway one time and ARod and Rivera came over to the stands (I was sitting down the 3B line) and chatted with us and gave us autographs.

Obviously one of these rules that nobody enforces. I wonder what the reason was behind the rule?
I wonder if it was created on the heels of the 1919 Black Sox scandal as an anti-gambling measure.

After a quick Google search, I found this Rob Neyer article addressing the reasons for the rule: https://www.sbnation.com/2011/5/13/2169858/why-mlb-officially-frowns-upon-fraternizing
 

Humphrey

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I wonder which actual playing rule rises to the level of the NFL's you-can-take-a-free-kick-after-fair-catching-a-punt, which is pretty bizarre.
 

Humphrey

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4th out makes sense. The football rule seems out of left field, a relic from when the game was close to rugby.

For example, bases loaded 2 out base hit. 2 runs score and the runner on first is thrown out at home. But.....the batter misses first base on the way to second. They appeal, he's out. And the two runs don't count because the out at first takes precedence.
 

azsoxpatsfan

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May 23, 2014
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Rule 6.09(h) is pretty weird. Any ball deflected over the wall is a home run. The exception is if the ball is hit shorter than 250 feet in fair territory, and the defense somehow bobbles it all the way out of play. In that case all runners advance two bases
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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I know that this is baseball, but there was an NBA rule that was highlighted in a Suns game in the playoffs last year that I still can't really figure out.

Deandre Ayton scored on an alley-opp on an inbounded ball where he caught the ball directly above the basket. It was not offensive basket interference. Apparently, there is part of the rule that says it's only BI if the ball has a chance to score. I guess the primary utility is tip ins rolling off the cylinder. But in this case since you can't score on an inbounds, you can flush and inbounds in the cylinder. Seems weird.
 

Humphrey

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Aug 3, 2010
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I know that this is baseball, but there was an NBA rule that was highlighted in a Suns game in the playoffs last year that I still can't really figure out.

Deandre Ayton scored on an alley-opp on an inbounded ball where he caught the ball directly above the basket. It was not offensive basket interference. Apparently, there is part of the rule that says it's only BI if the ball has a chance to score. I guess the primary utility is tip ins rolling off the cylinder. But in this case since you can't score on an inbounds, you can flush and inbounds in the cylinder. Seems weird.
The defender can't goaltend for the same reason (unless the offensive player trying to score touched the ball first, I guess). At least, I hope that's the rule.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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The defender can't goaltend for the same reason (unless the offensive player trying to score touched the ball first, I guess). At least, I hope that's the rule.
Quick review I think that’s right. Defender could knock the ball away.
 

Way2Low

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"Under the Uniform Regulations section of the CBA, it says, “No player may have any visible markings or logos tattooed on his body.” It means that players can't get tattoos of corporate logos, presumably for profit."