Imagine playing until 21 “aces” — Baseball Commemorative Half Dollar Coin

Today, the Baseball Commemorative Half Dollar Coin remembers when the first convention committee changed the game rules from needing 21 runs to having nine innings 160 years ago.

First, from The Book of American Pastimes by Charles A. Peverelly, published in 1866, is a description of the results of that committee:

=====

A special meeting was held at Smith’s, 402 Broome street, on March 7, 1857, for the purpose of adopting the new rules.

Dr. Adams reported from the Base Ball Convention Committee, presenting the rules and regulations adopted by that body.

Mr. Davis moved, “that we accept the report of the committee, and that we also accept the rules of the game as adopted by that body, only so far as to govern this club in playing matches with other clubs,” which was carried.

=====

But, what were those early rules?

From the Book of Baseball, The National Game from the Earliest Days to the Present Season compiled by William Patten and J. Walker McSpadden, published in 1911:

=====

The First Baseball Playing Rules

It will surprise as well as interest all lovers of the game to know how very closely the modern game of baseball compares with the original game as adopted and played by the original Knickerbocker Club in 1845.

Practically no change has been made in the basic principles. The dimensions of the field remain the same. Rules 1, 2, and 3 of the early code have been retained.

The distances of bases, in Rule 4, remain nearly the same, but the distance to the pitcher’s box was increased in 1881 to 50 feet, and in 1894 to 60.5 feet. Rule 8 was changed in 1857 from 21 counts to nine innings.

Other important changes are in Rules 9 and 12. Later rules have also been considerably extended.

The code established by the Knickerbocker Club, September 23, 1845, was as follows:

Rule 1. Members must strictly observe the time agreed upon for the commencement of the game, and be punctual in their attendance.

Rule 2. Before the commencement of the game the President shall appoint an umpire, who shall keep the game in a book provided for that purpose, and note all violations of the rules during the game.

Rule 3. The two Captains shall toss for innings; the winner having the choice of sending his team first to the bat or to the field.

Rule 4. The bases shall be from “home” to second base, 42 paces; from first to third base, 42 paces equidistant. (In 1854 the following was added—“and from Home to Pitcher not less than 15 paces.”)

Rule 5. No stump (or scrub) game shall be played on a regular day of a match game.

Rule 6. If a sufficient number of members should not be present at the hour named for commencing the game, their places may be filled by gentlemen not regular members of the Club.

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

Rule 8. The game to consist of 21 counts, or aces, but at the conclusion an equal number of hands may be played.

Rule 9. The ball must be pitched and not thrown for the bat.

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

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

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

Rule 13. 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.

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

Rule 15. Three handouts, all out.

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

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

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

Rule 19. A runner cannot be put out in making one base, when a balk is made by the Pitcher.

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

(In 1848 the following Rule was added:)

Rule 21. The player running to first base was out, if the ball was held by an adversary on that base before the runner reached it, but this applies to first base only.

(In 1854 the following Rules were added:)

Rule 22. Players must make the bases in order of striking, and when a fair ball is struck and the striker not put out, the first base must be vacated as well as the next base or bases if similarly occupied; players must be put out, under these circumstances, in the same manner as when running to first base.

Rule 23. A player shall be out, if at any time when off a base he shall be touched by the ball in the hands of an adversary.

Rule 24. If two hands are already out, a player running home at the time a ball is struck cannot make an ace if the striker is caught out or put out at first base.

Rule 25. Players must take their strike in regular rotation; and after the first inning is played the turn commences at the player who stands on the list next to the one who lost the third hand.

Rule 26. The ball shall weigh from five and a half to six ounces, and measure from two and three-quarters to three and one-half inches in diameter.

(In 1857 the following Rule was added:)

Rule 27. A game shall consist of nine innings, and at least five innings must be played to constitute a game.

=====

The Baseball Commemorative Half Dollar Coin shows with an artist’s image of an early game.

The image description stated:

Baseball As It Was—The second championship game between the Atlantics of Brooklyn and the Athletics of Philadelphia, 1866. Score 33 to 33–game called on account of darkness at the end of the seventh inning. Notice the underhand pitcher, the gloveless catcher keeping a respectful distance behind the bat, the wide swing of the batsman, the basemen playing frozen to their bags. The gentleman sitting with his feet on a box on the first base-line is the umpire. The men at the table are scorers. The gamblers waving bills, the pickpocket caught in the act, the drunkards, in the foreground, illustrate the tendencies which were creeping into the game. From an old print in the possession of T. H. Murname.

Baseball Commemorative Half Dollar Coin