Staff Pick: The Baseball Codes

The Baseball Codes: beanballs, sign stealing, and bench-clearing brawls: the unwritten rules of America's pastime
By: Jason Turbow with Michael Duca

Baseball's official rules can confuse. What about the unwritten codes of play? They're a harsher set of principles, lacking the charm or eccentric appeal of the official ones. We know some of these, e.g., never rub the spot where you've been hit by a pitch. Turbow and Duca explain the evolution of these codes, with violations often unforgotten and unforgiven by the opposing team. Remember when Rickey Henderson stole second late in a game when his team was ahead 12-5, and he wasn't being held to the bag? A cheap steal for his stats. Code violation.
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