+38 Montgomery Division Rules

Boston Amateur Baseball League

Rules for the 2025 Season

We play by Official Baseball League rules, with the following exceptions:

1. Rule Intent Enforcement

   • When written rules conflict with their intent, the intent will be enforced.

2. Official League Baseballs

   • Home team provides the first six balls.

   • Additional balls shared equally by both teams.

3. Team Uniforms

   • All teams must wear reasonable uniforms with unique numbers.

   • Uniforms must meet Official Baseball Rules standards.

   • Team names must be approved by the league and not duplicated within the same division.

4. Mandatory Helmets

   • All batters, on-deck batters, base runners, and base coaches must wear helmets.

5. Cleats

   • Metal cleats are permitted.

6. Bats

   • Only wood bats, including composites, are allowed (no metal bats).  See below for more info if needed. 

   • NOTE: BABL Wood bat league rule [Wood or Wood Composite Bats only are alowed]
      
         *Allowed wood bat types: Only wooden bats are permitted in BABL games.
             1. Maple
             2. Ash
             3. Birch
             4. Bamboo
             5. Hickory 

         * NOT allowed bat types:

     1. Metal Bats  

     2. Laminated or Experimental Bats:

     3. Bats made from laminated wood or experimental designs are prohibited unless they have received approval from the BABL Advisors

     4. Bats with Excessive Pine Tar: [ Pine tar can only be applied up to 18 inches from the bottom of the handle. If it extends beyond this limit, the bat is not allowed in the game]

     5. Bats Exceeding Size Limits: [Bats must be no more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length]

7. Game Player Requirements

   • Teams need a minimum of eight players to start a game.

   • A 15-minute grace period is allowed if a team has fewer than eight players.

   • If the eighth player does not arrive in 15 minutes, the game is a forfeit.

8. Batting Order Flexibility

   • Managers can bat as many players as they want, with a minimum of nine.

   • Batters can be added at any time but cannot be skipped or removed from the lineup.

9. A/B Alternating Line-up Option

   • Managers may use an alternating A/B lineup.

   • Players 70+ cannot be thrown out at first on a batted ball reaching the outfield grass.

9A. A/B Runners Rules - Runners can steal, advance on passed balls/wild pitches, and play like any other base occupant.

9B. Courtesy Runners - Teams are allowed two courtesy runners identified before the game. - Courtesy runners must be the last batted out and cannot steal or advance on passed balls/wild pitches.

10. Player Substitution for Injury/Commitment

    • Reserve players not previously hitting must substitute injured or committed players.

    • If no reserve is available, the vacated spot is skipped without penalty.

    • If a player is ejected, and no eligible replacement is available, an out is recorded each time their spot is up in the batting order.

11. Pitcher Re-entry Rules

    • A pitcher who changes defensive positions can pitch again but not in the same inning.

12. Collision Avoidance

    • Base runners must avoid collisions with fielders.

    • Umpires can rule runners out and may eject players for deliberate collisions.

13. Fake Bunting

    • No fake bunting allowed. Batters must either bunt or take the pitch.

14. Decoy Throws/Catches

    • Decoying throws/catches is prohibited.

    • Runners advance one base for each decoy. Repeat offenders will be ejected.

15. Pitcher Hit-By-Pitch Limit

    • Pitchers must be removed after hitting four batters in a game.

16. No Hidden Ball Trick

    • Hidden ball trick is not allowed.

17. Game Duration

    • Games are 7 innings with a three-hour limit.

    • An official game is called after 4 innings (or 3 1/2 if the home team is leading).

18. Game Rescheduling

    • Games can only be rescheduled with league president’s permission.

    • Managers must notify the league 72 hours before if rescheduling is needed.

19. Forfeit Rules

    • Three forfeits can lead to expulsion from the league.

    • Forfeiting teams must pay umpires before their next game.

20. League Standings

    • Determined by a point system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss.

21. Roster Deadlines

    • Preliminary rosters due at the April manager's meeting.

    • Final rosters due by July 15, 2025.

22. Post-Season Eligibility

    • Players must be registered by August 1, 2025, and have played in 8 games.

23. Age Eligibility

    • Players must be 38 or older by December 31, 2025.

    • Two underage players (37+) allowed per team, but they cannot pitch.

24. Post-Game Lineup Posting

    • Managers must post lineups immediately after games to the website.

    • Roster updates must happen within a week of the final game result.

25. Designated Hitter (DH) Rules

    • One DH allowed, used only for a pitcher.

    • Pitchers do not have to bat regardless of when they enter the game.

26. Alcohol Prohibition

    • No beer or alcoholic beverages allowed at the field.

27. Player Transfers

    • Players cannot switch teams without consent from both managers and league approval.

28. Previous Year’s Debts

    • Players must pay previous year's debts before joining a new team.

29. Dugout and Field Upkeep

    • Home team chooses dugout. Visiting team starts infield practice 35 minutes before game time.

    • Teams are responsible for field upkeep and must leave the field cleaner than they found it.

30. Fighting

    • Fighting before, during, or after a game results in a six-game suspension.

31. Umpire Striking

    • Striking an umpire results in a one-year suspension or expulsion from the league.

32. League Officers

    • Officers responsible for protests, rules interpretations, or grievances are Greg Davis, Paul Harrington, Moe Gomez.

NOTE: COVID season: Additional Rules for 2021 Season

33. Waiver Requirement

    • All players, managers, coaches, and umpires must sign a waiver.

34. Face Masks

    • Face masks must be worn by all players, managers, coaches, and umpires before, during, and after the game.

35. Social Distancing

    • All participants must practice social distancing to the best of their ability.

36. Mound Meetings

    • Meetings at the pitcher's mound limited to manager, pitcher, and catcher, maintaining safe distance.

37. No Spitting

    • No spitting on the field or on the ball.

38. No Post-Game Handshakes

    • No handshakes after the game.