Some Rule
Differences
Between
Little League
Rules and Major League Baseball Rules
Rule 1.04 -
The Playing Field
Distance
Between Bases
* Little League -
60 feet
* Major League -
90 feet
Distance
from Front of Pitcher's Rubber to Tip of Home Plate
* Little
League - 46 feet
* Major League -
60 feet, 6 inches
Distance
from Front of Pitcher's Rubber to Outfield Grass
* Little
League - 50 feet (recommended)
* Major League -
95 feet
Size
of Pitcher's Rubber
* Little
League - 18 x 4 inches
* Major League -
24 x 6 inches
Size
of Bases
* Little
League - 14 x 14 inches
* Major League -
15 x 15 inches
Rule 1.08 -
Benches
On-Deck
Area
* Little
League - Not permitted
* Major League -
Usually located just outside dugout
Rule 1.10 - The
Bat
Maximum
Length
* Little
League - 33 inches
* Major League -
42 inches
Maximum
Barrel Width
* Little
League - 2 1/4 inches
* Major League - 2
5/8 inches
Metal
Alloy Bats
* Little
League - Permitted
* Major League -
Not Permitted
Rule 1.11 - The
Uniform
Jewelry
or Other Metallic Items
* Little League -
Prohibited.
* Major League -
Prohibited for pitcher only.
Rule 2.00 -
Definitions
Strike
Zone: Top of Zone
* Little League -
Armpits (the BATTERS armpits,
not yours, Ump!)
* Major League -
Halfway between shoulder and belt
Rule 3.03 -
Substitutions
Re-entry
Rule
* Little
League - A starter may reenter, at any point in the batting
order, provided the reentrant's substitute has played six
consecutive outs and batted at least once.
* Major League -
No re-entries permitted. A player removed from the lineup
may not reenter.
Rule 3.17 - Bench
Personnel
Bench
Restrictions
* Little League -
Only manager, 2 coaches, and uniformed players are permitted
on bench. Bat boys, etc., are not allowed.
* Major League -
Trainers, bat boys, and any listed coaches are permitted in
dugout.
Rule 4.05 - Base
Coaches
Who
May Be a Base Coach
* Little
League - Uniformed players; one adult base coach is
permitted.
* Major League -
Non-roster players permitted, but must be in uniform.
Rule 4.10 - Ending a
Game
4.10
(a) - Duration of Game
*
Little League - 6 innings.
* Major League - 9
innings.
Note: All
references to the 9th inning in the Baseball are changed to
the 6th inning in Little League.
4.10
(c) - Regulation Game
* Little
League - 4 innings (3 1/2 if home team leads).
* Major League - 5
innings (4 1/2 if home team leads).
4.10
(d) - Tie Games after regulation minimum played.
* Little
League - suspended games (but see Rule 4.12).
* Major League -
written up as a tie, played off at later date.
4.10
(e) - Games Called Prior to Regulation
* Little
League - suspended game if at least 1 inning completed,
otherwise "no game."
* Major League -
"no game."
Rule 4.11 (d) and 4.12 -
Regulation Game
Called
If score is tied at
end of inning, visitors score, home team does not retie,
then ...
* Little League -
Suspended game.
* Major League -
Tie game, must be replayed in its entirety.
If
home team leads at end of inning, visitors tie or take lead,
home team does not reverse ...
* Little League -
Game over, score reverts to end of previous inning, home
team wins.
* Major League -
Suspended game.
Rule 4.13 -
Doubleheaders
Two
Games Involving Same Teams on One Day
*
Little League - Not permitted, unless first game is
completion of previously suspended game.
* Major League -
Permitted; second game begins 20 minutes after first game
ends.
Rules 4.15 - 4.18
- Forfeits
Administering
a Forfeit
* Little
League - Board of Directors must rule on validity of any
forfeit
* Major League -
No rule
Rule 6.05 - Batter Is
Out
Dropped
Third
Strike
*
Little League - Batter is out on third strike, whether
caught by catcher or not
* Major League -
Batter not out on third strike dropped by catcher unless
first base is occupied with fewer than two out
Rule 6.10 - Designated
Hitter
Additional
Player in Lineup, Batting for Pitcher
* Little League - Not
permitted
* Major League -
May be adopted by a league (currently used in AL, not in NL)
Rule 7.03 - Home Run
Minimum
Distance for Home Run Over Fence
* Little League -
165 feet
* Major League -
250 feet
Rule 7.08 - Runner Is
Out
7.08
(a) (3) - Slide or Avoid
* Little League -
Runner is out if no attempt made to slide or get around
fielder with ball waiting to make tag
* Major League -
No rule
7.08
(a) (4) - Head First Slide
* Little
League - Runner is out on headfirst slide except when
returning to a base or in rundown play
* Major League -
No rule
Rule 7.13 - Leaving Base
Too Soon
Position
of Runners at Time of Pitch
* Little League -
Runner may not lead before pitch reaches home plate. If
violation, no runner may advance farther than forced by
batter's action.
* Major League -
No rule
Rule 8.01 - Legal
Pitching Delivery
Pitching
from "the Stretch"
* Little
League - Complete stop not required
* Major League -
Must come to "complete and discernible stop"; penalty, balk
(rule 8.05 (m))
Rule 8.06 - Visits
to Pitcher
Position
of Manager
* Little League -
Must not cross foul line when visiting pitcher
* Major League -
No rule
Number
of Visits Allowed
* Little
League - Must change pitcher on third visit of inning (or
fourth of game, in tournament rules)
* Major League -
Must change pitcher on second visit of inning
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