This League was created to provide adult men an alternative to softball and enable them to play the game we all grew up playing. Adult attitudes must always prevail, no matter how competitive any league is. The responsibility that this ethic sustains, will remain as the responsibility of the League Commissioner, League Presidents, and the League Committee and anyone who abuses the League's code can be suspended or expelled from the League.
The rules in the scorebook are for national tournament play only - not DCMSBL/MABL.
The League Commissioner shall have the right and authority to decide, in his absolute discretion, all matters regarding the conduct of League, including, but not limited to, the eligibility of teams and/or players to enter and/or remain in the League, disciplinary matters (including, but not limited to, suspension or forfeiture of the right to participate in the League without return of fees or further recourse), interpretation of these rules and regulations (and amendment of game rules), scheduling and rescheduling of games, and the placement of teams into divisions for competition. Any such decision shall be final and binding.
The acceptance of the application of the participant, or "player," to participate in the League shall be limited to the immediate schedule of games, or "season," being offered by the League. The League presently has two seasons: Summer and Fall. Acceptance of the application of the player shall be in the absolute discretion of the League and may be refused for any reason whatsoever notwithstanding prior participation. The acceptance of the application of the player and/ or team shall not entitle the player and/or team to participate in any subsequent seasons of the League nor in any division of the League for which participation is generally offered. In addition, no group of players, or "team," shall be entitled to participate in a season other than the season which the League immediately approves. By tendering his application to participate in the League, the player agrees to be bound by these rules and regulations and the interpretations thereof by the League Commissioner and other persons authorized by the League to do so.
Each team is an association constituted solely by the players separate and apart from the League and is not an entity of the League. The primary organizer or organizers, or "manager" or "managers," are agents of the players, not the League, and act on behalf of the players, not the League.
In addition to the season offered by the League, the League has an affiliation with the Men's Senior Baseball League, Inc., a separate organization, for the purpose of providing access to national and regional baseball tournaments, information, and goods and services offered by third parties, including the Men's Senior Baseball League, Inc. Participation by players and teams in such tournaments and the provision of such goods and services are not sponsored by, or undertaken by, the League (except as it may otherwise specifically represent from time to time) and shall not be the responsibility of the League.
Any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the participation of the player in the League shall be instituted in the courts of the State of Maryland located in Montgomery County, Maryland; each player waives any objection which he may now or hereafter have to such venue and consents to the jurisdiction of such courts to any such action or proceeding. If the League (or the entity of which it is a part) prevails in any such action or proceeding, it shall be entitled to receive payment of its attorney's fees and other expenses.
The date for submission of the final team roster for each age division will be decided by the League Commissioner before the start of each age division. There will be absolutely no changes permitted afterward without the approval of the League Commissioner. If the teams do not have their final roster completed which including fees, signed waivers, copies of driver licenses, etc., by the given date for each age division, those teams will not be included in the upcoming season league schedule.
All teams must have full baseball uniforms. A full team uniform means:
It is the managers responsibility to see that each player on his roster receives, reads and understands the rules and regulations of the league. When a player intentionally disregards the rules it is the managers responsibility to take immediate action to remedy the situation by removing the player from the game. Where a manager disregards any rules he may be suspended or removed from his position as manager.
It is the winning team manager’s responsibility or someone designated by the manager to enter in the results of the game to the League Website within 48 hours of the conclusion of the game. Failure to do so will result in the game being recorded as a tie.
It is the team's responsibility to remove all trash from their dugout and replace all equipment on the field at the conclusion of their game.
No children are allowed in the dugouts during the game. If a team designates a "batboy for the day", they must wear a double flap helmet at all times and must stay in the dugout until the play has finished and time has been called.
No player may switch teams once the season has started if he has participated in any games.
No player may switch teams without consent of both managers and the League Commissioner. In the case of a player that is not invited back by his manager, he must be given his release. In the event a team disbands during the season or at season's conclusion, all players with three (3) years' seniority in the league will become automatic free agents and will be permitted to play with any desired team.
Players not having three (3) years in the league will be put in the players' draft.
In the event a player wishes to leave his existing team and form a new team, he may do so. No other player can be taken from the existing team without the consent of the existing team's manager. No other players may be taken from any other team without their respective team manager's approval.
In regard to the MABL, players reaching the age of twenty-eight (28) do not automatically have to enter the MSBL Division. When desired, MABL players, unless entering as a full team, when reaching age twenty-eight (28) will enter the MSBL Division draft.
Each year all players on the League's waiting list will be invited to a draft. The annual draft will be conducted in a manner to allow parity in Leagues by having the prior years teams with the lowest finishing records drafting first.
A player must be out of pro ball for three (3) years before becoming eligible to participate in a MSBL/MABL League. Pro ball refers to Major and Minor Leagues. Independent Baseball Leagues will not constitute professional status for MSBL/MABL rules.
Every player/manager must be in good standing (meaning no outstanding fees, suspension or, explusion) with the league in order to play or manage in any of the divisions.
If there is a 15-run discrepancy at the end of five (5) innings in a nine (9) inning game OR the game has gone two (2) hours and fifteen (15) minutes, the game will be ruled final at this point. For a seven (7) inning game, the game must go two (2) hours and have completed five (5) innings.
After two (2) hours and fifty (50) minutes from the start of a nine (9) inning game, the teams may not begin a new inning. If there is a seven (7) inning game being played no new inning will begin after two (2) hours and fifteen (15) minutes from the start of the game. The time begins at the scheduled game start time unless both umpires arrive late at which point the start time is when "play ball" is announced by the plate umpire. This rule does apply to Championship games.
If a game is called due to rain or darkness, the umpires' discretion, the game must have played five (5) innings to be a complete game.
Teams must have eight (8) players for an official game, and may only borrow a player from the opposing team that they are playing at that time with the opposing manager's consent. If the team's ninth player arrives after the start of the game, the borrowed player reverts back to his original team.
Where a team has only eight (8) players, the 9th position in the batting order is NOT an automatic out but is skipped as if the player had to leave early as in rule 5.03.
A game will be declared a forfeit by the umpires if the required number of players (eight (8)) have not arrived within fifteen (15) minutes of the games scheduled starting time or if during the course of the game the team's number of players fall below the required eight (8) (e.g. ejection of a player from the game).
Each manager will have his own prerogative to bat as many players as he so desires in his initial lineup, with a minimum of ten (10). If the manager wants to add players at the bottom of the lineup he may do so at any time. If a player is pinch hit for, he may not reenter the game as a hitter, but may stay in the game defensively. Batters cannot be deleted or skipped over, regardless of their batting position or when they were added during the game.
If a player is forced to leave a game due to injury or commitment, or if a player is ejected from a game, a reserve player, not previously entered into the game as a hitter, must hit in the batter's place. If no reserve is present, that spot is skipped and all batters move up accordingly, with no penalty to the affected team.
All players may be substituted for defensively, at any time, except for pitchers. If a pitcher is removed and plays another position, he may not pitch again in the same game, except in World Series competition. In World Series competition, he may reenter once.
A/B batters. Teams have the option of using an A/B batter from the 10th batter on. The A batter would hit the 1st time through the order and B the 2nd time through, etc.. The election to use the A/B batters must be made when the game starts and can not be changed during the game.
There is no regulation as to how many innings a pitcher may pitch in a game or a week.
No pitcher while pitching may wear white or gray sleeves, nor may a pitcher wear a batting glove, elbow pad and/or elbow wrap or wrist band while pitching.
There will be 1 (one) intentional walk allowed in a game.
If a pitcher hits 3 batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed on the third hit batsman.
Pitchers and Catches shall be allowed a pinch runner when there are two (2) outs in a inning, before the next batter comes up to bat. The pinch runner shall be the player who made the last batted out. If the pitcher or catcher elects, at any time, not to have a pinch runner, then he forfeits the right to have a runner for the rest of the game.
Players that will need courtesy runners due to injury factors only, must have their manager notify the opposing manager before game time. If no so notified, the opposing manager may deny the request during the game. Each team will be allowed the maximum of two (2) courtesy runners per game. The player to make the last batted out must be the courtesy (pinch) runner unless it is in the first inning of the game and no player has made an out, then last player in the lineup, or a player not in the lineup, becomes the courtesy (pinch)runner. In the event a player becomes injured during the game, a manager may add to the number of courtesy runners for each injured player. (As an additional option to this rule pitchers and catchers, if the last batted out, may be skipped as courtesy runners with the previous batted out running.)
Two (2) forfeits by any team could mean immediate expulsion from the League with no money refunded to the team. The League Committee will evaluate circumstances before rendering a decision. A $250.00 fine will be levied against any team that forfeits because the team did not have enough players to start the game when the umpires arrived. The League Committee will evaluate circumstances regarding a team expulsion from the league before rendering a decision.
If an infielder decoys a throw, all runners will be entitled to advance one (1) base. If the same fielder decoys twice in a game, he will be expelled from the game. (The decoying referred to is where a player on base slides unnecessarily due to a decoy throw, except in a steal or overthrow situation.)
If a pitcher hits three (3) batters in any one game, the pitcher must be removed on the third hit batsman.
All players must avoid an intentional collision with a fielder. In this case the runner will be automatically out and if ruled deliberate, by the umpire, may result in player's expulsion. Players must slide at all bases or give themselves up.
Any player or team's coaching staff ejected by the umpire from a game shall be suspended until the Infractions Committee (which is comprised of the League Commissioner and League Presidents) has completed their findings. A decision will be made before the suspended player/coach team's next official game. Any player or team's coaching staff ejected from the first game of a doubleheader must sit out the 2nd game of the doubleheader. Any player or team's coaching staff ejected a second time during the season will appear before the League's League Committee before the player's/coach's next official game and a decision will be determined at that time. The suspended player will not be eligible to play during the appeal process.
Fighting will not be tolerated and players who participate in such will be subject to permanent suspension from the league.
Any games rained out will be rescheduled by the League based upon field availability, but may be made up at any time not conflicting with previously scheduled games. Tie games will be played to completion at a later date if they have an impact on the final standings prior to the playoffs.
Final League standings will be determined by total points. Two (2) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie and zero (0) point for a loss. All teams in the Washington, DC Metro League that are eligible for the playoffs must have played at least ninety (90) percent of their regularly scheduled games in order to be considered in the final league standings.
Failure to abide by minimum age regulations - This is the rule that must be abided above all others. The managers must all recognize their responsibility to the League and the perpetuity of it as to not cross the line where winning is more important than playing. An opposing manager may at anytime have the right to question a player's age and get their name. If a manager wants to lodge a protest, proof of age and residence must be mailed to the League Commissioner and manager who lodged his protest by Friday of the following week. If an under age player is detected, penalties whether to the individual or team will be decided by the League Committee. A player will become eligible to play on the day he reaches the minimum age.
All protests should be lodged with the League Commissioner within twenty-four (24) hours. All protests shall be decided by the League Commissioner. All protest decisions made by the League Commissioner can be appealed to the League Committee within twenty-four (24) hours of the protest decision by the League Commissioner. Any decision by the League Committee will be the final decision and not subject to appeal. Any Committee member whose team is involved in a protest will have no vote in the decision. In case of a deadlock, the League Commissioner's vote will be the deciding vote. Any protest submitted must include a $50.00 non-refundable fee.
In order for a team and/or player to qualify and play in the League playoffs, tournaments and postseason events, the 1) player must play in at least fifty (50%) percent of his team's regular season games, 2) your team has not forfeited more than two (2) games in the regular season due to not having enough players after the 15 minute grace period from the start of the game, 3) paid in full all the player fees and 4) the team must have paid the full season registration fee or any other assessments (fines, etc.) levied by the League, and 5) if pitchers have not pitched in 50% of their team's games, they must have at least batted or played a defensive position in at least 50% of their team's games or a 50% participation in their team's games by the combination of pitching/fielding/batting. If such a team/player fails to meet the requirements due to an injury and/or special circumstances, the team/player must get approval from the League Commissioner.
Managers and players shall conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. No manager or player shall commit the following:
The League Committee may, by vote of the majority of the committee, suspend any player or manager for such a period and upon such terms as it may propose, for the conduct which in its opinion is prejudicial to the welfare, interest, reputation, or charter of the league.
Except as otherwise provided, the League Commissioner shall determine the appropriate action required for violations of the codes of conduct, and shall report his decision to the player, manager and the League Committee.
Any player found in violation of any provision delineated in the codes of conduct, after being placed on probation for the remainder of the season shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.
Any player found in violation of any provisions delineated in the codes of conduct, after being suspended from further participation in a game shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.
Grievances may be filed by an individual player or by the manager of a team provided that a grievance is formally submitted to the League Commissioner or League Committee. The League Commissioner shall adjudicate all such grievances and shall report any action taken to the League Committee.
An appeal of any action or ruling by the League Commissioner may be filed with the League Committee by an individual player or by the manager of a team provided that the appeal is formally submitted within the twenty-four (24) hours. However, all decisions of the League Committee are final and not subject to appeal.
Last Updated:
Saturday, January 1, 2005 10:34 PM