Babe Ruth Local Rules

General Rules: The Babe Ruth rule book is the guideline for rule clarification and their rules are built upon Major League baseball rules. Rule books for the current year will be issued to each team.

Local Rules: The local rules for Babe Ruth in Merrimack are few but are strictly adhered to. Where a local rule conflicts with the Babe Ruth Rule Book the local rule takes precedent.

Game Called due to Darkness. We have one “non-rule” regarding game termination due to light. There is no local rule. The Babe Ruth rule book applies. The games will be played until it is not safe (as determined by the umpire) to continue. The termination of play can occur at any time and is not to be targeted for the end of an inning or end of a half inning.
• The game is played until it is called.
• There is no targeted time to start or not start an inning.

Our local rules have to do with only thee items:
• minimum play;
• an extra hitter; and
• floating substitutes (Floaters) – Added as trial 2010

Minimum Play
Each player is required to have both
• One plate appearance (at bat) and
• Two defensive innings (six outs) on the field.
(Note: While a DH may acquire his required at bats, the player must still get into the field of play for 2 innings to meet the defensive fielding requirement.) It is totally to the descretion of the Manager as to how / when to accomplish the requirement. Games which do not go a complete seven innings but are shortened due to field conditions or mercy rule do not remove the requirement for minimum play.

Extra Hitter
An extra hitter (EH) is allowed at the discretion of the manager for each team. A decision to include an EH or not is made prior to game start.
• If a team begins a game with 10 batting slots it must continue the game with 10.
• A manager may choose to field only 9 and if so must continue the game with 9.

The EH can be considered a 'defensive slot' for planning purposes but does not qualify as defensive innings on the field. The batter designated as the EH can start and bat in any batting slot and is managed as any other player in terms of substitution rules. IE a player returning to the game must bat in the same slot regardless of defensive assignment.

If for some reason a player does not meet the minimum above, that player will start the next game and play the entire game.

Any manager not complying with the minimum play rules will be suspended.

Floaters – New Rule 2010

In order to lower overall rosters from 15/16 to 11/12/13 and yet minimize any forfeit situations a special “Floater” substitution rule is put in place. This rule is being piloted in 2010.

The Floater is substitute from a pool of Floaters who may be called up to temporarily play for another team.

• A Floater is first of all a Member and Player on an existing Babe Ruth Team.
• The Floater is secondarily also a substitute who may be called to play on another team in the League.
• There is a minimum of one Floater designated per (Source) Team. There may be more.
• Each Manager shall be issued an extra jersey which will be used by the Floater
• A Floater may be called up by a Manager if a forfeit situation is pending for than Manager’s team.
• Multiple Floaters may be called upon if necessary but not to exceed three.
• If a Floater is called upon to play he is temporarily a member of the Calling team with all rights and responsibilities as a player, as a team member and as a member of the League
• Floaters who are called upon to Substitute may not Pitch while substituting on another team. They may play any other position.
• All Babe Ruth Rules and Major League rules remain intact and unaltered.