[A player failing to touch his base must be declared out—after an appeal—unless he can return to the base before he is touched.]
Sec. 22. Any player, who shall intentionally prevent an adversary from catching or fielding the ball, shall be declared out.
Sec. 23. If the player is prevented from making a base, by the intentional obstruction of an adversary, he shall be entitled to that base, and not be put out.
[These two latter sections are, of course, intended solely for any willful or unnecessary obstruction. It is impossible that a player, while in the act of fielding a swiftly sent ball, can always be on the lookout as to where his adversary is running, or that a player running the bases can always be equally careful in regard to his preventing an adversary from getting to his base. Some base players have a habit of pushing players off their bases while in the act of receiving the ball. Such unfair play should be punished by promptly inflicting the above penalty.]
Sec. 24. If an adversary stops the ball with his hat or cap, or if a ball be stopped by any person not engaged in the game, or if it be taken from the hands of any one not engaged in the game, no player can be put out unless the ball shall first have been settled in the hands of the pitcher.
Sec. 25. If a ball, from the stroke of a bat, is held under any other circumstances than as enumerated in Section 22, and without having touched the ground more than once, the striker is out.
Sec. 26. If two hands are already out, no player running home at the time the ball is struck, can make a run to count in the score of the game if the striker is put out.
Sec. 27. An innings must be concluded at the time the third hand is put out.
Sec. 28. The game should consist of nine innings to each side, when, should the number of runs be equal, the play shall be continued until a majority of runs, upon an equal number of innings, shall be declared, which shall conclude the game.