Roy Hobbs World Series

75s / 80s Rules

75s-80s Rules Addendums

Effective July 2025 

Play in the Forever Young and Antiques divisions of the Roy Hobbs World Series is governed by the Official Rules of Baseball (ORB) & Interpretations and the Roy Hobbs rules amplifications, with the following addendums.

NOTE:  All 75s/80s Rules will be reviewed & discussed with managers prior to the first game; Roy Hobbs reserves the right to make rules adjustments at its discretion.   

Run limits:  Teams limited to 5 runs per inning. Score 5 and change sides.  Teams trailing can score enough to tie.  7^th inning, no limits.  RH will adjust as needed.

Participation:  Same as 70s, including Free Agent stipulation.

Games are 7 innings.

Bunting … only with runners at 1^st and/or 2^nd bases.  No bunting with runner on 3^rd base.

Plays at the plate:  All plays at the plate will be force plays; no tag needed, no blocking plate permitted.

Time Limit:  No new inning starts after 2:30. (Note if pool play game is tied after 7 innings and after 2:30 time, use shootout rules.)

Mercy Rule 15 runs at 5 innings; however, team behind will bat 6 outs, no change to final W-L outcome, but runs count.  This is not optional, except as the game is governed by time limits.

Courtesy runners / shared lineup:  Use shared lineup guidelines throughout all games. NO courtesy runners allowed – Don’t ask!

Stealing:  Runners may only steal third base.  Exception:  Runners may steal second if pitcher uses full windup.

1. Penalty for illegal steal attempt: Ball is dead at time of attempted advance; all runners return to their last legally obtained base.  (Interpretation I:  Runner takes off on the pitch, batter gets base hit:  No pitch, no hit, everyone returns to last legally obtained base.  Interpretation II: Runner takes off on the pitch, batter grounds out:  Out recorded, all runners return to last legally obtained base.)
2. Note I: runners first (R1) and second (R2) … if R2 steals, R1 may not advance unless the defense puts the ball in play.
3. Note II: 3-2 count, 2 outs, all runners in force-situations are live at release of pitch.
4. Note III: Lead-offs & pick-off attempt: Pick-off attempts by pitcher or catcher on Runners leading off at any base are tag plays.  Runner must make an immediate and sustained effort to return to base; if not, umpire will call him out immediately.  No other runners may advance on a pickoff play, except, see Note IV.
5. Note IV: It the ball gets loose (overthrow or where ball gets away from infielder) on any pick-off attempt, the ball is live and baseball rules apply.  Exception:  the runner on whom the pick-off attempt is being made must retouch his last legally obtained base before advancing.

Advance on passed balls/wild pitches:  Base runners will be limited to a one-base advance at their risk on either a wild pitch or passed ball, including if they were stealing on the pitch; however, if the defense makes a play at any base – the ball is live and all baseball rules apply.  Penalty for attempting to take another base:  First team offense, ball is dead, all runners returned to last legally obtained base, warning issued; ONE warning per team, subsequent infractions, runner is also out. (Note: A bluff throw from either the catcher or pitcher is NOT considered initiating play.)  Scoring on passed ball/wild pitch is NOT permitted in 75-80s.

Note: A wild pitch or passed ball will be defined as a ball that gets away from the catcher and exits the dirt circle around the plate.

Interpretation 1:  If a runner attempts an advance when the ball does not leave the dirt circle, runner must return to his last legally occupied base; if catcher makes a play on that runner, it is a TAG PLAY, with same abandonment stipulation.

Halfway home:  The halfway-home-and-runner-is-committed rule does NOT apply to runners who are at third base at the time of the pitch.  It applies to runners at second or first trying to score on a batted ball.  Once halfway home – in umpire judgment – the runner cannot retreat to third base.

1. Outfielders are to be positioned at NORMAL depth at the time of the pitch.

Outfield Rules:

1. Outfielders are to be positioned at NORMAL depth at the time of the pitch. Normal depth is defined as 10-11 paces (defined as a minimum of 30 feet) from the edge of the dirt.  Exception:  Making plays at the plate in late innings of close game.

Enforcement:  Umpire JUDGMENT will determine legal positioning.  Remember, umpires will exercise their judgment based on where the outfielder first touches the baseball.

Penalty:  Umpires will issue a warning on first infraction, and no out may be recorded on the play by the outfielder in violation.  On subsequent infractions ball is dead, no out recorded by the outfielder in violation, and all runners, including batter/runner, advance one base beyond their last legally obtained base.

2. Runners may NOT be thrown out at first base by any defensive player who starts the play with one or both feet in the outfield grass. Outfielders may throw to second, third bases or home plate to record outs on force plays. Exception:  Batted balls muffed by a defensive infielder who has both feet in the dirt at the time the ball is hit and who has a reasonable expectation of making the play (in umpire’s judgment) may be recovered by the same fielder in the grass and he may attempt a play at first base.  Note: Untouched balls between the legs count in this exception.
3. Rules of Baseball: Defensive players may throw behind the runner at first from the outfield. Once a batter-runner reaches first safely, any attempt to advance is at runner’s risk.

Roy Hobbs Baseball reserves the right to adjust those rules to ensure safety and the competitive spirit of the game.  Any adjustments, however, will be done in consultation with the managers & players.

RHBB Note:  These rules are effective July 2025, and supersede any previous version.