Expert: Andrew Senger - 2/28/2011

Question
What year did the rule change requiring a pitcher to pitch 4 balls to issue an intentional walk.  Previously, the umpire just awarded the batter first base.

thanks,


Sandy

Answer
Sandy,

According to Jim Evans Annotated Rules, there doesn't appear to ever have been a time that you state in Official Baseball Rules. In fact, he states "The number of balls required for a base on balls has evolved from 9 in 1876 to 4 in 1889 where it remains today."

He also gives a timeline of the number of balls it took to receive a base on balls:
1876 - Batter requests location of pitch; Batter walks on 9 unfair balls
1880 - Batter walks on 8 unfair balls
1881 - Batter walks on 7 unfair balls
1884 - Batter walks on 6 unfair balls
1886 - Batter walks on 5 unfair balls
1887 - The batter no longer is entitled to request location of pitch. The first description of a strike zone is introduced as that area over home base which is not lower than the batsman's knee, nor higher than his shoulder. (see Evolution of the Strike Zone Appendix 9)
1889 - A base on balls is reduced to 4


With that said, high school rules (governed by the National Federation of High Schools, or NFHS) does have a clause for an "intentional walk," where a coach or pitcher can request that a batter be placed on first without any pitches being made.