HOBO  101

WELCOME

Welcome to the Hamilton Oldtimers’ Baseball Organization, affectionately known as HOBO.  The league was established in 1987.

Hobo was founded by people who believe that baseball should be fun. You're encouraged to go out and have fun with players ranging in age from 35 to their late 70's! Everyone was a rookie in HOBO at one time. Be patient.  Soon you should find your comfort level playing the game and interacting with all the players, not just your teammates. Have fun.

Get involved in the game by taking your turn at umpiring the bases (see “Base Umpiring Tips” on our website). Get involved coaching at first or third.  Get involved by taking a turn helping with the team’s equipment bag, and bases when needed.

HOBO is operated by some of your fellow players.  If you would like help out in any way, speak to your team rep or someone from the executive about learning what goes on behind-the-scenes.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask a teammate.  If they don't know, ask your team rep.

Basic Rules - Rules are reviewed and refined each year, the information below is a quick  & general reference for those looking to learn about the league.

• Wood Bats ONLY - no exceptions
• Metal cleats may ONLY be worn on the pitching mound, though rubber is encouraged and recommended
• Players supply their own equipment - Helmets must have at least 1 ear flap. Teams are supplied with 1 set of catcher's gear

The following rules are intended to support a competitive balance and fair playing time

• Pitchers are limited to a specific number of innings (Typically 3) - in cases of low attendance and/or injury, exceptions can be made between team reps
• Stealing bases is permitted, though there are limits for when a team steal based on run-differential
• There is a maximum # of runs per inning

Rainout notices will appear by 7:40 a.m. for Sunday games. Those without computer access, please advise your team rep who will contact you by telephone.

SMOKING AND DRINKING

The City of Hamilton enforces its bylaw to ban smoking in all public spaces, including baseball diamonds.  Enforcement may be by plain clothes personnel.

Our diamond permit forbids the use of alcohol on park property, which includes the parking lots. Your co-operation in these matters will allow us to continue to use these diamonds in the future.

UMPIRES

Umpires from the Hamilton Baseball Umpires Association will be calling the balls and strikes from behind the plate. The team up to bat will supply a HOBO player who will assist the plate umpire by making the appropriate safe and out calls on ALL THREE BASES (unless otherwise instructed by the plate umpire). This can be any player from your team, it does not have to be the last out. If you are uncomfortable umpiring the bases, that's okay, please let your team rep know. 

At the league’s request, the plate umpire is asked to EJECT ANY PLAYER who throws any piece of equipment in a violent or angry manner.

Bad calls and bad at bats will happen, but as grown men, if you behave badly, your actions reflect badly not only on you, but on our league.  Remember wives, children and other spectators are watching our games.

BASEBALL COURTESY

Did you ever notice baseball opponents talking to each other on the field during the game?  Sometimes this is not a good idea, if you get distracted and picked off.  However there are unwritten rules of courtesy which we try to promote in HOBO.

When the “base umpire” (one of us) misses seeing the play, we all want the right call to be  made.  Politely telling a fellow player (when he is umpiring the bases), that a tag was made (“He got me”), or missed (“I missed him”), or a ball was dropped (“I dropped the ball”), or a foot was off the base (“I didn’t touch the base”) helps us to get the call right. This should not be done by a player who is complaining about a missed call.

Doing the same for our paid umpires might not be a good idea.  That is your call.

OTHER  TOPICS  

The following important topics are special to HOBO.  Check them out on our website and learn more about being a knowledgeable part of HOBO:

- Speeding up the Game (SUG)