Home Run Derby
Official Rules

1.   Setting Up

1.1.      Players

1.1.1. Home Run Derby is a social game. You need at least 2 people to play.

1.1.2. Try to choose players who you get along with and have enough athletic ability to softly throw a plastic ball with some degree of accuracy.  Who cares if they can hit.

1.2.      Batting Order

1.2.1. Batting order should be chosen before play and should remain the same for an entire game day.

1.2.2. If possible, batting order should alternate with every succeeding game day.

1.3.      Playing Field

1.3.1. Foul poles should be approximately 100 feet down the lines.  We have found that hitting from the corner of two side-by-side tennis courts makes* a reasonable playing field.

1.3.2. An outfield fence or wall should run between designated foul poles.  Light poles, lines on the ground, and imaginary lines should be avoided as they tend to result in judgment calls which tend to result in two pissed off people yelling at each other.

1.3.3. Home plate should be placed at the point where the two foul lines intersect.

2.   Rules

2.1.      Pitching

2.1.1. Pitches should be thrown from a position that is comfortable for all hitters.  The recommended distance is 40 feet from home plate.

2.1.2. Any pitch is legal.

2.1.2.1.   Any speed is legal.

2.1.2.2.   Any angle of lob is legal.

2.1.2.3.   Bounced pitches are legal.

2.1.2.4.   Unhittable pitching is legal but may piss off the batter.

2.2.      Hitting

2.2.1. Any pitch may be swung at.

2.2.2. Any hit ball traveling in the air over the fence in fair territory is a Home Run.

2.2.2.1.   Balls may strike interior lights or poles and continue over the fence in fair territory for a Home Run.

2.2.2.2.   Balls striking exterior lights in fair territory are Home Runs.

2.2.2.3.   Any fair/foul dispute may be ruled fair or foul with a majority rule.

2.2.2.4.   If there is no majority rule, a disputed Home Run is replayed in Double Jeopardy.

2.2.2.4.1.      The resulting Home Run or Out on the next pitch counts twice.

2.2.2.4.2.      A caught ball on Double Jeopardy counts as 4 Outs.

2.2.2.4.3.      If there are already 9 Outs in a Round or 1 Out in a Hit-Off, Double Jeopardy may not be chosen, and the pitch must instead be replayed as a Do-Over.

2.2.2.5.   Should a ball split into multiple pieces, a majority of the ball must go over the fence to be ruled a Home Run.

2.2.3. Any swing not a Home Run is an Out.

2.2.3.1.   Swinging from the other side of the plate is considered a swing.

2.2.3.2.   Tapping the ball back to the pitcher to save time is not considered a swing.

2.2.4. A Round is completed when a hitter reaches 10 Outs.

2.2.5. If a Round ends in a tie, a Hit-Off is played.

2.2.5.1.   Batters hit in the same order as the regular round.

2.2.5.2.   A Hit-Off is completed when a hitter reaches 2 Outs.

2.2.5.3.   If possible, a neutral pitcher pitches to all batters.

2.2.5.4.   Hit-Offs are repeated until one player wins the round.

2.3.      Fielding

2.3.1. Balls caught by the pitcher, including those striking interior lights or poles or migrating birds in fair territory, may be caught, unassisted, for 2 Outs.

2.3.2. Balls must be caught with the hands and without assistance from any equipment or clothing.

2.3.3. Batter interference is an automatic 2 Outs and punch in the face.

3.   Equipment

3.1.      Bats

3.1.1. Bats may be of any material but may be no more than 34 inches in length or 2 3/4 inches in diameter.  (Easton makes a really good black plastic bat with fake wood grain.)

3.1.2. Tape may be used to enhance your bat.  There are no requirements for the tape. Experiment!

3.1.2.1.   Tape wrapped round the barrel of the bat makes it harder and heavier. This allows you to hit balls farther.

3.1.2.2.   Tape may be used on the handle of the bat to improve the grip.  Be prepared to replace it when it gets soiled.

3.1.2.3.   Fake "labels" made of tape are retarded but Rob likes to use them so I guess it's OK.

3.2.      Balls

3.2.1. Balls must be ATEC solid hollow practice balls (6-pack part # BB04580, 12-pack part # BB01407), or P&L Sports (Omni Sports Technologies) "smooth polyballs." Try getting them directly from the manufacturer, from Academy Sports & Outdoors, or from fogdog.com.

3.2.1.1.   These are the only plastic balls we have found which won't crack or dent after being hit and won't damage houses and cars.  If you find other balls that work, contact Jeff or Rob so that we may subject them to controlled laboratory experiments.

3.2.1.2.   If you have kleptomaniac neighbors, use identifying markings to distinguish your balls from theirs.

3.3.      Equipment

3.3.1. "ATEC Hitting Streak" or "L & P Sports Mound Monster" pitching machines specially designed for these balls may be used for practice and are available for purchase from the manufacturer.

3.3.2. A home plate is required to define the correct place for the batter to stand.

3.3.3. Uniforms are not required but it is suggested that you wear at least some clothing out of respect to the game.

3.3.4. A box or bag to hold your balls is not required but helpful.

3.3.5. A pen and paper (or laptop if you're a real geek) is required to keep official stats.

4.   Statistics

4.1.      Official Statistics

4.1.1. Only Rounds and Hit-Offs completed by all participating players are official.

4.1.1.1.   Rounds/Hit-Offs interrupted by inclement weather, darkness, or any other fucked up shit shall be resumed by at least 2 of the participating players on the next available play date. Players who are not available or choose not to resume shall have their stats from the interrupted Round removed.

4.1.1.2.   Alternatively, an interrupted round may be completed if Outs are conceded by all remaining players in that Round/Hit-Off.

4.1.2. Official stats are recorded on Jeff's computer and are kept up-to-date on the web site.

4.2.      Formulas

4.2.1. Average (AVG) is calculated as (HR / Swings).

4.2.2. A Win (W) is awarded to the player who completes a Round with more Home Runs than any other player.

4.2.3. Production (PRO) is calculated as (HR * AVG). It is a single number that combines longevity with talent, ranking a player's ability to hit home runs without the inherent biases caused by playing time when ranking by either career Home Runs or AVG.

4.2.4. Hall of Fame (HOF) Points are calculated as (W + HR/10). When a player has attained 100 career HOF Points, he is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

5.   Miscellaneous

5.1.      If unforeseen play situations result in the definition of new rules, stress simplicity. Avoid rules that make the game too complicated or difficult to enjoy.

5.2.      Have fun. If it's not fun, e-mail Rob.