1. Vintage baseball uses the OFFICIAL RULES OF BASEBALL as its base, with the following adaptations:

 

2. Games will be seven innings in length. Pool games may end in a tie. No new inning can start after 2 hours and 15 minutes.

 

3. A mercy rule is in effect: ten (10) or more runs after the fifth inning (4 ½ if the home team is ahead).

 

4. A six run limit is set for each of the first 5 innings whereas subsequent innings are unlimited, however the 2 hour and 15 minute time limit will still be in effect. Play is dead once the sixth run scores. Any pitcher, starting and finishing such an inning, will be considered to have pitched three outs or

one inning. Any relief pitcher will be credited with any outs he registers.

 

5. Pitchers may pitch two consecutive innings or six consecutive outs. However, one and only one pitcher may pitch three consecutive

innings or consecutive nine outs (All age brackets). A pitcher that throws at least 1 pitch beyond pitching two consecutive innings or six

consecutive outs will be declared the 3-inning pitcher. A pitcher cannot re-enter the game as a pitcher once he has been removed.

 

6. A limit of five warm-up pitches is allowed per pitcher per inning at the umpire's discretion.

 

7. Plastic or rubber spikes are encouraged.

 

8. The batting line-up will consist of a minimum of 9 batters to a maximum of all members of the declared roster.

Any player, not present for his plate appearance, will be declared out.

A substitution to the batting order may be made. However, once a player is removed from the batting order, he

may not be reinstated into the batting order! He may still be able to play defensively. All possible participants for a game should be

listed as extras on the line-up card.

 

DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION:

 

- There will be free and unlimited defensive substitutions.

 

- Defensive players are not required to play offense. / Offensive players are not required to play defense!

 

- PITCHERS DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN THE BATTING ORDER IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO BE!

In the event of an injury or illness which causes a player to leave the game, and no substitute is available, the

umpire is to be notified and the player's position in the batting order shall be voided with no out charged provided

that at least nine batters are still in the line-up.

 

9. Nine defensive players are to be on the field at one time. 

 

10. The batter and baserunners must wear protective headgear. Helmets with DOUBLE ear flaps (preferred), or

single ear flap facing the pitcher while batting MUST be worn. Catchers must wear appropriate head protection.

Refusal to wear appropriate head protection may result in ejection of the player ignoring the rule.

 

11. A courtesy runner may be used. Batters requiring a courtesy runner must be designated prior to the game. The

last out is to be the courtesy runner, unless he is also so designated, or is the catcher; go to the previous out. A

limited number of designated batters (3) will be permitted.

 

12. The catcher may be replaced with a courtesy runner as soon as he reaches base, BUT must be replaced as

soon as there are two (2) out. The courtesy runner is to be the last out.

 

13. Breaking ties in the standings after the round robin:

a) Points

b) Runs against divided by the number of innings played in a defensive posture

c) Runs scored (to a maximum of ten per game) against common opponents

 

14. Age restrictions:

a) Veterans Division: Players must be 33 years of age during the tournament year.

b) Vintage Division: Players must be 43 years of age during the tournament year.

c) Masters Division: Players must be 50 years of age during the tournament year.

 

15. All teams, players and coaches, must be in full and identical uniforms.

 

16. Teams must be ready to play 15 minutes before the scheduled game time.

 

17. Body contact is strongly discouraged. DELIBERATELY running a catcher or defensive player at a base, will result in

the runner being called out, ejection from the game, and disqualification from the tournament. No other runners

may advance as a result of the interference.

 

18. All umpires officiating in the tournament must be qualified or carded to Senior League equivalent (e.g.

Baseball Ontario Level 3), and be properly attired.

 

19. No aluminum bats will be used. All teams are to use wood bats.