BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC.

Babe Ruth Re-Entry Rule

Official Baseball Rule 3.05

This is actually a very simple rule, as long as you do not try to read between the lines and interpret what you think it is instead of what it is.

Each of the nine starting players may be withdrawn from the game and re-entered once. The rule says each of the nine starting players. This is any and all starters, including the pitcher. So, a starting pitcher may indeed leave the game on the first trip in an inning, or between innings and later return to the game as a pitcher.

If a substitute pitcher was one of the original starters, he also may go to the bench and later return as a pitcher.

The only time either of the above could not occur is if the pitcher was visited twice in the same inning, or if he did not have any innings of eligibility left.

EXAMPLE:

Starting Pitcher A

First Baseman B

Short Stop C

Left Fielder D

First Inning A pitches

Second Inning B pitches, and A plays First Base

Third Inning C pitches, A plays Short Stop, and B goes back to First Base

Fourth Inning A goes back to the mound, and C returns to Short Stop

Fifth Inning D pitches, a substitute goes to Left Field, and A goes out of the

game

Sixths Inning D gets into trouble, and B goes back to the mound with D going to

First Base

Seventh Inning A goes back to the mound, (okay re-entering as a starter) B goes out

of the game. A gets in trouble and B returns to the game to pitch

(okay re-entering as one of the original starters)