Does MLB (Still) Have a Curfew?

[Jinx]

It doesn’t come up often, but I recall late-night games being stopped short (and continued later, IIRC) due to curfew. Now, was/is this a MLB regulation? Or, perhaps, a local municipality regulation? And, is it still in place today? - Jinx

[Jonathan_Chance]

Yep.

Rule 4.12 outlines the curfew guidelines.

A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for any of the following reasons:
(1) A curfew imposed by law;
(2) A time limit permissible under league rules;
(3) Light failure or malfunction of a mechanical field device under control of the home club. (Mechanical field device shall include automatic tarpaulin or water removal equipment);
(4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on;
(5) Weather, if a regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead; or (6) It is a regulation game that is called with the score tied.
National Association Leagues may also adopt the following rules for suspended games. (If adopted by a National Association League, Rule 4.10(e) would not apply to their games.)
(7) The game has not become a regulation game (41/2 innings with the home team ahead, or 5 innings with the visiting club ahead or tied).
(8) If a game is suspended before it becomes a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game with be limited to seven innings.
(9) If a game is suspended after it is a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game will be a nine inning game.
EXCEPTION: Optional Rules 4.12(a)(7), 4.12(a)(8) and 4.12(a)(9) for National Association Leagues will not apply to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season or league playoffs.
No game called because of a curfew (Rule 4.12(a)(1)), weather (Rule 4.12(a)(5)), a time limit (Rule 4.12(a)(2)) or with a tied score (Rule 4.12(a)(6)) shall be a suspended game unless it has progressed far enough to have been a regulation game pursuant to Rule 4.10(c). A game called pursuant to Rules 4.12(a)(3) or 4.12(a)(4) shall be a suspended game at any time after it starts.
NOTE: Weather and similar conditions—Rules 4.12(a)(1) through 4.12(a)(5)—shall take precedence in determining whether a called game shall be a suspended game. If a game is halted by weather, and subsequent light failure or an intervening curfew or time limit prevents its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game. If a game is halted by light failure, and weather or field conditions prevent its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game. A game can only be considered a suspended game if stopped for any of the six reasons specified in Rule 4.12(a).
(b) A suspended game shall be resumed and completed as follows:
(1) Immediately preceding the next scheduled single game between the two clubs on the same grounds; or
(2) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader between the two clubs on the same grounds, if no single game remains on the schedule; or
(3) If suspended on the last scheduled date between the two clubs in that city, transferred and played on the grounds of the opposing club, if possible; (i) Immediately preceding the next scheduled single game, or
(ii) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader, if no single game remains on the schedule.
(4) Any suspended game not completed prior to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season shall become a called game. If such game becomes a called game and
(i) has progressed far enough to become a regulation game, and one team is ahead, the team that is ahead shall be declared the winner;
(ii) has progressed far enough to become a regulation game, and the score is tied, the game shall be declared a “tie game.” A tie game is to be replayed in its entirety, unless the league president determines that playing the rescheduled game is not necessary to affect the league championship; or (iii)has not progressed far enough to become a regulation game, the game shall be declared “No Game.” In such case, the game is to be replayed in its entirety, unless the league president determines that playing the rescheduled game is not necessary to affect the league championship.
(c) A suspended game shall be resumed at the exact point of suspension of the original game. The completion of a suspended game is a continuation of the original game. The lineup and batting order of both teams shall be exactly the same as the lineup and batting order at the moment of suspension, subject to the rules governing substitution. Any player may be replaced by a player who had not been in the game prior to the suspension. No player removed before the suspension may be returned to the lineup.
A player who was not with the club when the game was suspended may be used as a substitute, even if he has taken the place of a player no longer with the club who would not have been eligible because he had been removed from the lineup before the game was suspended.
Rule 4.12(c) Comment: If immediately prior to the call of a suspended game, a substitute pitcher has been announced but has not retired the side or pitched until the batter becomes a baserunner, such pitcher, when the suspended game is later resumed may, but is not required to start the resumed portion of the game. However, if he does not start he will be considered as having been substituted for and may not be used in that game.
(d) Rain checks will not be honored for any regulation or suspended game that has progressed to or beyond a point of play described in Rule 4.10(c).

[Jinx]

Wow! Thanks, Jonathan! That was an impressive answer! I didn’t know it was so involved. By the way, as en extension to my question, do the minor leagues (i.e. AAA, AA, and A ball clubs) follow the same rule book as the MLB? Are they considered part of the MBL, such as if they are part of a MLB team’s farm system? How does that work?

Hats off to you,

• Jinx

[Jonathan_Chance]

Hey, in my fantasy like I’m a high-OBP moderate slugger just going into Free Agency!

The minor leagues largely follow MLB rule book but there are exceptions for each league as they see hit. Things like double-headers being 2 7-inning games still pop up every now and again.

Also two umpires instead of four. That sort of thing. And I’d feel certain curfews, given the more small town locations of some of the stadiums, have a tighter control (or earlier limits).

[Telemark]

With the 33 inning minor league game that set the record 25 years ago in Pawtucket they went until 4 AM. They couldn’t reach the International league president to get a ruling and there was no curfew rule. When they finally reached him at 4:00 AM he was upset that the umps didn’t suspend the game much earlier. The game was won in the next inning, which was played two months later.

http://www.minorleaguenews.com/mlnkids/articles2003/102903.html

[Freddy_the_Pig]

The most common curfew in major league history was the American League curfew, which kicked in at 1:00 a.m. I believe this curfew is still in effect, but it comes into play far less often than it once did, for a variety of reasons:

1. There has always been an exception if the teams were playing their last series of the season at the home club’s park. With expansion and interleague play, a far larger percentage of series fall under the exception.

2. Night games now start at 7:00 instead of 8:00, and twi-night double-headers are all but unknown.

3. Rain delays are less frequent than they once were, as umpires wait longer before halting play and the field is more quickly restored to playable condition with modern drainage.

In addition to the league curfew, one would occasionally encounter municipal curfews–I believe Baltimore at one time had one at midnight. I’m not aware of any city which has one today; I can’t remember the last time an MLB game was halted by a municipal curfew.