Rules for Baseball Bases
- Before the first run scores, home plate must be aligned properly.home plate image by kelleyjoy from Fotolia.com
The rules governing the distance, size and construction of bases are integral to the game of baseball. If you've spent any time watching Major League Baseball (MLB), you'll notice that bases are seemingly perfectly spaced, allowing for an out on most every routine ground ball, but a hit on slow rollers or bobbled balls. The league has an extensive set of rules within its first section of regulations governing bases. - Rule 1.05 states that home base must be a "five-sided slab of whitened rubber." The rule lays out the dimensions for home plate as follows: 17-inch square with two corners removed with two 8.5-inch sides and two 12-inch sides that come to a point. This is where home plate gets its house-like shape. Home plate needs to be set in such a way that the pointed nose is in line with the first and third base lines.
- MLB rule 1.06 designates that first, second and third base must be white canvas bags. Dimensions are provided at 15-inch squares with three to five inches of thickness. Bases are to be filled with "soft material."
- The bases are placed on the field 90 feet apart from one another. Both first and third base must be completely within the infield. First and third base are placed so that the outer edge is parallel to the base line and second base is placed in a diamond formation with the front point pointing directly at home plate through the pitcher's mound. Second base is at a distance of 127 feet, 3 3/8 inches from home plate. The base lines from first and third converge in the middle of second base. The base lines and home plate must be level.
- Rule 1.17, which applies to a variety of equipment including bases, stipulates that said equipment cannot contain blatant advertising. Specifically, it states that equipment "...shall not contain any undue commercialization of the product. Designations by the manufacturer on any such equipment must be in good taste as to the size and content of the manufacturer's logo or the brand name of the item."
