|
|
 Changing the Rules Chronology of Changes to Major League Baseball Official Rules Table L: Rule Changes 1950-1959 |
| Table L: Rule Changes 1950-1959 | ||
| DATE | RULE CHANGE | Rule |
| 1950 | The pitcher's mound must be fifteen inches above the level of the base lines | 1.07 |
| 1950 | An umpire may no longer levy fines. That job is reserved for the league president. | |
| 1950 | A player must play in at least two-thirds of his team's scheduled games to qualify as the league leader in Batting Average or Slugging Average. | 10.23 |
| 1951 | A pitcher must pitch a total of at least one inning for every scheduled game to qualify as the league leader in the categories of Earned Run Average or Fielding Average. (Before this, he had to pitch at least ten complete games and at least one hundred innings.) | 10.23 |
| 1951 | A player must have at least four hundred at-bats to qualify as the league leader in Batting Average or Slugging Average. However, if there is any player with fewer than the required number of times at bat whose average would be the highest if he were charged with this required at-bat total, then he shall be recognized as the league leader. | 10.23 |
| 1952 | Four umpires to a regular game becomes standard practice | |
| 1954 | A batter is credited with a sacrifice fly and not charged with a time at bat if he hits a fly ball and the runner scores on the catch | 10.09 |
| 1954 | Offensive players are required to "carry all gloves and other equipment off the field . . . while their team is at bat." | 3.14 |
| 1954 | The bat may be made of two or more pieces of wood laminated together. | 1.1 |
| 1955 | The 1951 rule is repealed. A player must have at least four hundred at-bats, period, to qualify as the league leader in Batting Average or Slugging Average. | 10.23 |
| 1955 | When a base is occupied, a pitcher must deliver the pitch within twenty seconds of receiving it from the catcher. If he fails to do so, the umpire may call a ball. | 8.04 |
| 1956 | A base runner who interferes with a batted ball in order to break up a double play is to be declared out, as is the batter. | 7.08H |
| 1958 | A player must have a total of at least 3.1 plate appearances for every scheduled game to qualify as the league leader in Batting Average or Slugging Average. | 10.23 |
| 1959 | Minimum fence distances are established for new ballpark construction. | 1.04 |
2747