A Brief History of the STRIKE ZONE

by Phil Gawthrop in September 2001

from UMPIRES by John C. Skipper, Appendix B: Chronology of Major League Umpiring.

_ From 1887 until 1949, the STRIKE ZONE encompassed the entire area between the knees and shoulders.

_ In 1893, in an effort to lighten the pitcher’s burden, the rules makers allowed the pitcher’s plate to be implanted in an elevated area (called the mound) if teams so chose. The mound became a standard elevation of 15 inches in the early part of the 20th Century.

_ In 1949, the STRIKE ZONE was shortened to between the batter’s armpits and the top of his knees.

_ In 1963, the STRIKE ZONE was changed back again to the entire area between the knees and shoulders.

_ In 1969, after Bob Gibson finished with a 1.12 ERA, Dennis McLain won 31 Games, Don Drysdale pitched 58 consecutive scoreless innings, Jim “Catfish” Hunter threw a perfect game, and Ray Washburn of St. Louis and Gaylord Perry of the San Francisco threw no-hitters on consecutive days when their teams were playing each other, the rules makers shortened the STRIKE ZONE (to between the batter’s armpits and the top of his knees) and lowered the mound specifications to 10 inches, so umpires had to adjust once again.

_ From 1969 to 1986, the STRIKE ZONE evolved (or got smaller) because, in my opinion, more umpires were going to the INSIDE PROTECTOR and were able to get closer to the catcher.

_ In 1986, when both leagues adopted the INSIDE PROTECTOR, the STRIKE ZONE evolved or became somewhat shorter and wider (again, I think it was because umpires could see the outside corner much better and therefore started calling the upper strike zone about A BALL ABOVE THE BELT and the wider strike zone ABOUT 2½ to 3 BALLS OUTSIDE THE PLATE.)

_ In 2001, the rulesmakers have dictated , the STRIKE ZONE shall be called AS WRITTEN IN THE RULE BOOK; and I’ll quote the rule book:

“The STRIKE ZONE is that area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap. The Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter’s stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.”