Charging the mound
Encyclopedia
In baseball
, charging the mound is when a batter assaults the pitcher
, usually the result of being hit by a pitch
or nearly being hit by a pitch. The first incidence of a professional charging of the mound has not been identified but the practice certainly dates back to the game's early days. Charging the mound is the most common precipitating event of a bench-clearing brawl
.
In baseball, the pitcher occupies the most commanding position on the diamond, since it is he who initiates every play. One of the key ways he controls the game is by intimidating the batter at the plate
. Typically before charging, bat
and helmet
are thrown aside so that batter may face pitcher unarmed. Though serious injuries have occurred from charging, usually fights are either broken up or joined by all other players so the conflict turns into at best harmless posturing and name-calling.
Charging the mound is usually more about responding to an indignity than actually an attempt by the batter to injure the pitcher. There is long-standing etiquette in baseball regarding what is an acceptable offense to warrant a beaning
, and there are similar rules for charging in response to being hit. While these unwritten rules have become somewhat more vague, the response of Major League Baseball
to the incidents has become far more strict. Whereas suspensions in the past were rare and usually short, Commissioner
Fay Vincent
and his successor Bud Selig
have reacted harshly to both instances of beaning and charging. Recently, most incidents which have caused the benches to clear have been met with large fines and lengthy suspensions.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, charging the mound is when a batter assaults the pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, usually the result of being hit by a pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
or nearly being hit by a pitch. The first incidence of a professional charging of the mound has not been identified but the practice certainly dates back to the game's early days. Charging the mound is the most common precipitating event of a bench-clearing brawl
Bench-clearing brawl
A bench-clearing brawl, sometimes known as a basebrawl or a rhubarb, is a form of ritualistic fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, in which every player on both teams leave their dugouts, bullpens, or benches and charge the playing area in order to fight one...
.
In baseball, the pitcher occupies the most commanding position on the diamond, since it is he who initiates every play. One of the key ways he controls the game is by intimidating the batter at the plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
. Typically before charging, bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
and helmet
Batting helmet
A batting helmet is the protective headgear worn by batters in the game of baseball or softball. It is meant to protect the batter's head from errant pitches thrown by the pitcher...
are thrown aside so that batter may face pitcher unarmed. Though serious injuries have occurred from charging, usually fights are either broken up or joined by all other players so the conflict turns into at best harmless posturing and name-calling.
Charging the mound is usually more about responding to an indignity than actually an attempt by the batter to injure the pitcher. There is long-standing etiquette in baseball regarding what is an acceptable offense to warrant a beaning
Beanball
"Beanball" is a colloquialism used in baseball, for a ball thrown at an opposing player with the intention of striking him such as to cause harm, often connoting a throw at the player's head...
, and there are similar rules for charging in response to being hit. While these unwritten rules have become somewhat more vague, the response of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
to the incidents has become far more strict. Whereas suspensions in the past were rare and usually short, Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
Fay Vincent
Fay Vincent
Francis Thomas "Fay" Vincent, Jr. is a former entertainment lawyer and sports executive who served as the eighth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from September 13, 1989 to September 7, 1992.-Early life and career:...
and his successor Bud Selig
Bud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Selig is the ninth and current Commissioner of Major League Baseball, having served in that capacity since 1992 as the acting commissioner, and as the official commissioner since 1998...
have reacted harshly to both instances of beaning and charging. Recently, most incidents which have caused the benches to clear have been met with large fines and lengthy suspensions.