d a revision of the rules were effected.

In New England there was the "Massachusetts Association of Baseball
Players," which met at Dedham, Massachusetts, May 13, 1858, when a set of
rules was adopted differing somewhat from those in vogue in the "New York"
game.

The rules required that the ball was not to weigh less than two nor more
than two and three-quarter ounces, nor measure less than six and one-half
nor more than eight and one-half inches in circumference. It was composed
of woolen yarn and strips of rubber wound tightly and covered with buck or
calf skin. The bat was round--not more than two and one-half inches in
diameter--and could be of any length to suit the striker.

There was no diamond marked out. The infield was a square, each side being
sixty feet long. The thrower, as the pitcher was called, stood in the
center of the square, facing the batsman, who stood in a space four feet
in diameter, equidistant from the first to the fourth corners of the
square.

Positions of the Players.

The players on the outside were stationed as follows: One at each base, a
catcher, one or two to assist the latter, and several fielders according
to the number of players, from ten to fourteen, that participated in a
match.

The bases were wooden stakes projecting from the ground four inches. The
batsman was out if the third strike aimed at and missed by him was caught;
or if he ticked the ball and it was caught; if he was caught out on a fly
ball.

As early as this date, the referees or umpires had the power, after
warning a batsman, to call strikes on good balls if he refused to "offer"
at them. If the player, while running between the bases, was hit by a ball
thrown by one of the opposing side, he was out.

In match games, seventy tallies constituted the game and one out disposed
of the side.

There were three referees, one from each club and one from a neutral club.
A peculiar rule was that which compelled the catcher to remain on his feet
in all cases when catching the ball. Another was that when two players
occupied a base, the one was entitled to it who arrived last.

From these rules it can be seen that the game resembled baseball much less
than it did the game of "rounders."

The first code which led to the adoption of the above was framed by the
Olympic Club, of Boston, and these rules were amended at a meeting of the
association held in Boston on April 7, 1860, when the name was changed to
that of