What is the logic or reasoning behind this rule??
2007-10-20 12:22:04 · 6 answers · asked by Wego The Dog 5 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I'd always wondered why and your question made me look into it. An article available in .pdf format from the NYTimes website shows that the rule was changed in 1894, though no reason is given. So I searched for bunt and the year 1894 and came up with the name of Willie Keeler (played 1892-1910).
Although not officially recognized, it is believed Keeler was the reason for the rule change. The man was apparently the most skilled hitter of his times, though almost exclusively a singles hitter. He held the record for longest hitting streak of 45 games in 1896-1897 until Joe DiMaggio in 1941 broke it. He also held the record for longest single season hitting streak at 44 (in 1897), a record he shares with only Pete Rose. According to his obituary, he had 199 singles that year. He hit better than .300 16 times in his 19 year career. His was the man who originated the saying, "him em where they ain't".
In relation to the question, he was renowned for bat control, chopping the ball in the dirt to send the ball high in the air and using the bunt. Though the rule change obviously didn't seem to hurt his numbers, it seems likely that many of those 199 singles were from the bunt and the rules were changed to slow down its use and effectiveness.
Also, and this pure speculation on my part, it could be that since the sacrifice bunt was used to move a runner up and not an attempt to reach base, a limit was placed on the number of attempts one could make. In that situation, the batter is giving himself up to move the runner, and therefore should not be given unlimited attempts. As opposed to swinging fouls where the batter is trying to get on base.
2007-10-20 14:10:35 · answer #1 · answered by Jay 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A good hitter could keep bunting pitches foul. This would increase the pitch count, and if the pitch was a ball the batter would let it go, and eventually get a walk.
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2007-10-20 12:28:24 · answer #2 · answered by Gatsby216 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because you could just keep bunting endlessly and tire out the pitcher's arm, creating an unfair situation... well eventually you might miss the ball, but its pretty easy to bunt... thats probably why that rule exists
2007-10-20 12:26:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you could bunt a pitcher up to 100 pitches in the first inning.
2007-10-20 12:24:50 · answer #4 · answered by michaelyodepi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thats The Way It Be's
2007-10-20 13:08:15 · answer #5 · answered by SWAT 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2007-10-20 12:24:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋