The evidence shows that 'town ball' was merely another name, a New England name, for rounders and hence new - and American - in name only." - Douglas Wallop in Baseball - An Informal History (1969)

Town Ball is a direct descendant of the British game of rounders. It was played in the United States as far back as the early 1800's and is considered a stepping stone towards modern baseball.

Often referred to as "The Massachusetts Game" it is still played by the Leatherstocking Base Ball Club every Sunday in Cooperstown, New York.

Town Ball

The Rules of the Massachusetts Game

by The Massachusetts Association of Base Ball Players May 13, 1858

1. The Ball must weigh not less than two, nor more than two and three-quarters ounces, avoirdupois. It must measure not less than six and a half, nor more than eight and a half inches in circumference, and must be covered with leather.

2. The Bat must be round, and must not exceed two and a half inches in diameter in the thickest part. It must be made of wood, and may be of any length to suit the Striker.

3. Four Bases or Bounds shall constitute a round; the distance from each base shall be sixty feet.

4. The bases shall be wooden stakes, projecting four feet from the ground.

5. The Striker shall stand inside of a space of four feet in diameter, at equal distance between the first and fourth Bases.

6. The Thrower shall stand thirty-five feet from and on a parallel line with the Striker.

7. The Catcher shall not enter within the space occupied by the Striker, and must remain upon his feet in all cases while catching the Ball.

8. The Ball must be thrown - not pitched or tossed - to the Bat, on the side preferred by the Striker, and within reach of his Bat.

9. The ball must be caught flying in all cases.

10. Players must take their knocks in the order in which they are numbered; and after the first inning is played, the turn will commence with the player succeeding the one who lost on the previous inning.

11. The Ball being struck at three times and missed, and caught each time by a player on the opposite side, the Striker shall be considered out. Or, if the Ball be ticked or knocked, and caught on the opposite side, the Striker shall be considered out. But if the ball is not caught after being struck at three times, it shall be considered a knock, and the Striker obliged to run.

12. Should the Striker stand at the Bat without striking at good balls thrown repeatedly at him, for the apparent purpose of delaying the game, or of giving advantage to players, the referees, after warning him, shall call one strike, and if he persists in such action, two and three strikes; when three strikes are called, he shall be subject to the same rules as if he struck at three fair balls.

13. A player, having possession of the first Base, when the Ball is struck by the succeeding player, must vacate the Base, even at the risk of being put out; and when two players get on one Base, either by accident or otherwise, the player who arrived last is entitled to the Base.

14. If a player, while running the Bases, be hit with the Ball thrown by one of the opposite side, before he has touched the home bound, while off a Base, he shall be considered out.

15. A player, after running the four Bases, on making the home bound, shall be entitled to one tally.

16. In playing all match games, when one is out, the side shall be considered out.

17. In playing all match games, one hundred tallies shall constitute the game, the making of which by either Club, that Club shall be judged the winner.

18. Not less than ten nor more than fourteen players from each Club, shall constitute a match in all games.

19. A person engaged on either side, shall not withdraw during the progress of the match, unless he be disabled, or by the consent of the opposite party.

20. The Referees shall be chosen as follows: One from each Club, who shall agree upon a third made from some Club belonging to this Association, if possible. Their decision shall be final, and binding upon both parties.

21. The Tallymen shall be chosen in the same manner as the Referees.

The Massachusetts Association of Base Ball Players Rules

Fast Facts

Terms used in the rules, with short definitions, include: Striker - a batter, Tally - a run or ace scored after the runner has touched all four stakes and a Thrower - a pitcher.

The text above is word-for-word transcript taken from the exact rules written in 1858, and a slide show with images of the actual pages is here on Baseball Almanac.

Basetenders (infielders) and scouts (outfielders) recorded outs by plugging or soaking runners — a term used to describe hitting the runner (tagging them did not count) with the ball.

Rules for the play of Baseball

circa mid 19th century

These rules are designed to facilitate play of baseball (Townball) as done in the 1850's and 1860's. The basic object and course of play are assumed to be familiar to the reader. These rules in general specify variations from modern practice with the intent of allowing re-creation of the games as played in its formative years. It will be helpful to refer to the vocabulary listing below the rules.

1. The thrower must attempt to throw the ball where the striker wishes it thrown. Upon stepping to home base the striker will indicate with the bat where he wishes the ball thrown to him.

2. The thrower must throw the ball underhanded beginning his throw with his legs crossed, the ball in one hand before him and his other hand behind his back. He may take one step forward while throwing.

3. The umpire will mark a line on the ground 45 feet from home base toward second base, behind which the thrower must remain while throwing the ball to the striker.

4. The thrower must complete a pitch once begun; he may not balk. Should he do so, all runners on bases may advance one base.

5. The striker must keep the bat in contact with his shoulder until the thrower releases the ball.

6. The striker is obligated to hit well-thrown balls. The umpire normally will not call "balls" or "strikes", and no player "walks". The umpire may encourage the striker to attempt to hit well-thrown balls. The umpire may call strikes or even declare a striker dead if the umpire believes the striker is consistently failing to swing at well-thrown balls.

7. A striker who swings and misses at three consecutive pitches is dead. The umpire may penalize a striker for repeatedly and intentionally allowing a well-thrown ball to pass to avoid a strikeout.

8. Foul ticks do not count as strikes. Foul ticks caught in flight or on their first bounce cause the striker to be dead.

9. Batted balls are determined to be fair or foul by the umpire, according to where they first hit the ground. The umpire must declare balls fair or foul at his earliest opportunity in a loud, clear voice.

10. If the last of three balls struck at is missed by the striker and not caught by the behind either flying or on the first bounce, it is a fair ball and the striker must run for first base.

11. Strikers may not bunt.

12. Runners may not slide into bases.

13. Baseman must stand in contact with their bases until the ball is hit by the striker's bat or is caught by the behind.

14. Fielders must stand in the middle of their areas until the ball is hit by the striker's bat or is caught by the behind.

15. Runners may not lead off bases.

17. Strealing bases is prohibited.

18. Fly balls ball in caught in flight or on the first bounce cause the striker to be dead.

19. In force-out situations, runners need not be tagged with the ball. The baseman need only receive the ball with his foot in contact with the base before the arrival of the runner. In other situations , however, runners may be tagged dead.

20. Runners may not go beyond three feet from a straight line between the bases.

21. Players may not intentionally prevent others from catching or fielding balls or reaching bases.

22. All handling of the ball should be done with the bare hands. Gloves may not be worn. If a ball is caught in a hat or with another item of clothing or is received from a spectator, it must be returned to the thrower before being used further in play.

23. The behind may play anywhere on the field.

24. The shortstop may play anywhere on the field.

25. The loss of a ball in play in vegetation, over a fence, onto a building, or because of other obstacles does not retard play. (There are no "ground rules doubles: or similiar restrictions.)

26. The four bases are at the corners of a square 30 yards apart. They must be made in a manner so that they are visible to the umpire.

Vocabulary Players and spectators are encouraged to use the following terms, derived from the early years of baseball:

 
19th Century Term 20th Century Term
 
Aces Runs 
Behind Catcher
Club Nine Team
Cranks Fans
Dead  Out
Dew Drop Slow Pitch
Foul Tick Foul Ball
Hurler Pitcher
Leg it Run to Base
Match  Game
Muff Error
Sriker Batter
Tally Score
Thrower Pitcher
Wide  Ball (poorly thrown pitch)
Hands Players