1.00 — OBJECTIVES OF THE GAME

2.00 — THE PLAYING FIELD

2.01    Layout of the Field

2.02    Home Base

2.03    The Bases

2.04    The Pitcher's Plate

2.05    Benches

3.00 — EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS

3.01    The Ball

3.02    The Bat

3.03    Player Uniforms

3.04    Catcher's Mitt

3.05    First Baseman's Glove

3.06    Fielding Gloves

3.07    Pitcher's Glove

3.08    Helmets

3.09    Undue Commercialization

3.10    Taking Equipment From the Field

4.00 — GAME PRELIMINARIES

4.01    Umpire Duties

4.02    Field Manager

4.03    Exchange of Lineup Cards

4.04    Weather and Field Conditions

4.05    Special Ground Rules

4.06    No Fraternization

4.07    Security

4.08    Doubleheaders

5.00 — PLAYING THE GAME

5.01    Starting the Game ("Play Ball!")

5.02    Fielding Positions

5.03    Base Coaches

5.04    Batting

(a)    Batting Order

(b)    The Batter's Box

(c)    Completing Time at Bat

5.05    When the Batter Becomes a Runner

5.06    Running the Bases

(a)    Occupying the Base

(b)    Advancing Bases

(c)    Dead Balls

5.07    Pitching

(a)    Legal Pitching Delivery

(1)    The Windup Position

(2)    The Set Position

(b)    Warm-Up Pitches

(c)    Pitcher Delays

(d)    Throwing to the Bases

(e)    Effect of Removing Pivot Foot from Plate

(f)    Ambidextrous Pitchers

5.08    How a Team Scores

5.09    Making an Out

(a)    Retiring the Batter

(b)    Retiring a Runner

(c)    Appeal Plays

(d)    Effect of Preceding Runner's Failure to Touch a Base

(e)    Retiring the Side

5.10    Substitutions and Pitching Changes (Visits to the Mound)

5.11    Designated Hitter Rule

5.12    Calling "Time" and Dead Balls

6.00 — IMPROPER PLAY, ILLEGAL ACTION, AND MISCONDUCT

6.01    Interference, Obstruction, and Catcher Collisions

(a)    Batter or Runner Interference

(b)    Fielder Right of Way

(c)    Catcher Interference

(d)    Unintentional Interference

(e)    Spectator Interference

(f)    Coach and Umpire Interference

(g)    Interference With Squeeze Play or Steal of Home

(h)    Obstruction

(i)    Collisions at Home Plate

(j)    Sliding to Bases on Double Play Attempts

6.02    Pitcher Illegal Action

(a)    Balks

(b)    Illegal Pitches With Bases Unoccupied

(c)    Pitching Prohibitions

6.03    Batter Illegal Action

(a)    Batter Out for Illegal Action

(b)    Batting Out of Turn

6.04    Unsportsmanlike Conduct

7.00 — ENDING THE GAME

7.01    Regulation Games

7.02    Suspended, Postponed, and Tie Games

7.03    Forfeited Games

7.04    Protesting Games

8.00 — THE UMPIRE

8.01    Umpire Qualifications and Authority

8.02    Appeal of Umpire Decisions

8.03    Umpire Position

8.04    Reporting

General Instructions to Umpires

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

APPENDICES

1    Diagram of the Playing Field

2    Layout at Home Plate, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bases

3    Layout of Pitching Mound

4    Dimensions of Fielder's Glove

5    The Strike Zone

INDEX — OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES