How Have Baseball Rules Changed Over Time?

The rules of Major League Baseball have evolved continually from the inception of the National League in 1876 and the American in 1903. Modern fans would barely recognize the game in its original form, as rule changes have shaped it over the years.

  1. History

    • At one time, a batted ball caught on one bounce was an out and hitters could request the ball at a desired height while batting. By 1900, the game had morphed into a close facsimile to its present version through rule changes.

    Effects

    • In 1921, Major League Baseball ruled that throwing a spitball, where a pitcher deliberately puts a foreign substance on the ball, would no longer be legal. This was in direct correlation to the death of Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman, struck and killed by a pitch thrown by spitball pitcher Carl Mays in August of 1920.

    Removing Gloves

    • Prior to 1954, many fielders left their gloves on the field while batting, putting them back on when they returned to their positions. In 1954, a new rule prevented this from occurring anymore.

    Designated Hitter

    • The designated hitter, adopted by the American League for the 1973 season, was a rule designed to bring more offense to the sport. The pitcher no longer batted, with a much better hitter having a spot in the lineup instead--a scenario the National League refused to accept.

    Replay

    • The use of television replay to review if batted balls were home runs or fair or foul balls became a rule in 2008.