+60 Senior Division Rules

Boston Amateur Baseball League

Rules for the 2025 Season

The 60+ Senior Division plays according to the same rules governing the Colford Division, with the following exceptions:

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]

1. Rule Intent Enforcement

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

2. Run Limit Per Inning

   Baseball Run Scoring Rule Change for 2026

   The group discussed and agreed on a rule clarification regarding run scoring in baseball, specifically that when runners are already on base and additional runs score after the fifth run, the play should continue until all possible runs are scored, even if that results in 6 or 7 runs in an inning. They agreed to amend the rule to state that teams cannot score more than 5 runs per inning through the first 6 innings, unless additional runs follow the fifth run.  er inning

    

   • Teams cannot score more than five runs per inning through the first six innings.

   • This rule is suspended for the playoffs.

    

    

3.  

4. Steal Limit

   Rule Modifications and Exception Clarifications for 2026

   The group discussed rule modifications, focusing on injury/health exceptions and steal limits. They agreed to clarify that injury or health exceptions would be directed to League President Paul Harrington and league advisors, and decided to rephrase the steal rule to specify that runners must stop after a successful steal attempt, rather than being able to continue running even after being thrown out. 

   Each team is allowed only one successful steal per inning or one attempted double steal.

5.  

6. Batted Balls to Outfield Grass

   • All batters, regardless of age, cannot be thrown out at first base on any batted ball that reaches the outfield grass.

7. Outfield Positioning

   • Outfielders must remain on the outfield grass until a pitched ball is put in play.

8. A/B Batting Order Option

   • The A/B option in the batting order is in effect.

9. 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. Dropped Third Strikes

    • All dropped third strikes are an out.

11. Age Eligibility

    • Players must turn 60 by December 31, 2025, to be eligible.

    • Each team may have two underage players who must turn 58 by December 31, 2025, and they are not allowed to pitch.

12. Playoff Eligibility 

• • First Round: All players must of played in 8 of the 16 regular seson games with no injury or health exceptions allowed.
    • Playoff Format:
      • Confirmation of the playoff format, which includes a play-in game for the bottom two teams, followed by single elimination in the semifinals and a best-of-three final series.
      • Championship Game: The winners of the two semifinal matchups play in the 2 out of 3 series to determine the champion.

  • Uniform Appearance Player Eligibility Rule for 2026

    The meeting focused on discussing player eligibility rules, particularly regarding players who show up to games in uniform but do not play.  The group agreed that players who appear in uniform, even if not playing, should receive credit.