# Reminisce about defunct sports rules **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 9, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538 "2010-12-09T15:36:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/61 "2010-12-10T22:33:12Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Ooh, but there’s the double-switch too, the very essence of managerial strategy. I could happily watch an NL manager make double switches all fucking day long. They never cease to amaze me with their subtle, nuanced sophistication. I can’t prove it but I’ve heard that the double switch was invented by Whitey Herzog when he got to the Cardinals, after managing the Royals to 3 division titles in the late '70s. In other words, it took a clever American League manager to originate the double switch tactic. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/62 "2010-12-10T22:37:54Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > I can’t prove it but I’ve heard that the double switch was invented by Whitey Herzog when he got to the Cardinals, after managing the Royals to 3 division titles in the late '70s. In other words, it took a clever American League manager to originate the double switch tactic. 😃 Herzog isn’t _that_ old. The first double switch was done by what would become the New York Yankees in 1906. You are right about it starting in the American League though. [http://baseballhistoryblog.com/503/the-first-double-switch/](http://baseballhistoryblog.com/503/the-first-double-switch/) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/63 "2010-12-10T22:46:06Z")
Other than MLB is there any other pro sport where they have 2 sets of rules? (at the major league level) I can’t think of one. Maybe there is in Europe or in the minor leagues. When college BB put in the shot clock and 3 point shot at first it was not done by all conferences. In fact in 1983 the ACC had the shot clock and 3 pointer but the NCAA tourney did not have either rule. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/64 "2010-12-10T23:09:01Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > When it became ten players to a team, two of which are specialists playing only on one side of the ball, my opinion is that the game lost some of its elegance and integrity. > No, I can’t prove that with statistics, but I happen to feel strongly about it. Pitchers even in the NL already are specialists; aside from bunting, nobody really cares if a pitcher can hit-which is to say a pitcher won’t fail to get a job as a starter if he can get guys out yet can’t do anything with the wood in his hand. Artificial selection at work. I say end the pretense that a pitcher’s hitting has any bearing on whether he can play, and let someone else who can hit do that side of things for him. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/65 "2010-12-10T23:17:52Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Watch a CFL game to find out. In the CFL, the goalposts are still on the goal line, though they are held up by a single pylon positioned in the end zone, a bit back of the goal line. It makes for interesting play in the end zone, when pass receivers are trying to keep an eye on the QB, the ball in the air, the man covering them, and the pylon. > > Interestingly, even though field goals would seem to be easier to make, as the distance from which they can be made is farther upfield, TDs are still the preferred method of scoring. Still, if your team is stymied on (say) the 45, you don’t punt; you might as well try it. I just think respotting the ball at the point of the kick is boring-make the receiving team work for their yards, not be given freebies. They would still have an advantage on a missed field goal vs. a punt (coverage team is farther away from the returner, the lower trajectory, slow linemen types trying to track the returner down)-sometimes they might not make it back to the 20, but often enough they’ll peal off a long return. With goalposts narrowed a bit so that %'s are in line with those from 40 years ago, and even field goals from closer than 40 yards wouldn’t be the lead-pipe cinches they are today, giving coaches some tough decisions. Plus it’s cool as hell to kick for 3 points from inside your own 40 yard line. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/66 "2010-12-10T23:19:03Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > Way, way, way back, ice hockey was a seven-man game. There were the goalie, three forwards, and two defencemen as today (although back then the defence were called the “point” and the “cover point”). There was also a [rover](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_(ice_hockey)), who didn’t have a set position, instead skating all over the ice, going where needed. On a much larger ice surface, that would work wonderfully, and probably would be fun as heck to watch (and play). But outdoor rinks aside, no league/owner/school wants to lose revenue from removing several rows of seats. It is my contention that pro hockey at least is in danger of its players outgrowing the size of the rinks-I caught a rerun of a late 70’s game once and the ice looked huge. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/67 "2010-12-11T02:35:15Z")
Back in the old days there were pitchers like Bob lemon and Earl Wilson who could hit well. But I remember hank Aguirre . He had a nice streak of 2 for 75. Bob Buhl went 0 for 70. Ron Herbel had a lifetime .029 batting average. Roger Craig went 4 for 74. Once the joke was Aguirre went 2 for 3. Two hits in 3 years. It was terrible and I don’t miss it. Then of course they take away from the guy who hits in front of them who gets nothing to hit or gets walked. Two dead spots in every order. Then if they get on base, they run badly and plug the leadoff hitter up. It is a ugly part of the game we don’t need. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/68 "2010-12-11T16:36:46Z")
Still, I recall one of Aguirre’s hits. It was in New York and if my memory is correct, it wound up rolling behind the monuments. Still, among Tiger fans, Aguirre’s lack of hitting ability was downright legendary. That’s part of the charm of the game that we sorely lack today. The strategic decisions about whether to let a starter who’s got a good game going bat in the sixth or take him out for a pinch hitter is what I miss about AL baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/69 "2010-12-11T16:56:41Z")
I miss when Olympic wrestling was logical. I don’t care much how many periods there are or how long they are, but the current two out of three mini matches rule is moronic, and so is the forced position change in Greco. A mini match is two minutes, and after one minute they spend thir seconds with each restler in the advantage position… So what’s the point? One minute is hardly enough for anything to happen between two high-level athletes. Just let 'em wrestle. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/70 "2010-12-24T05:44:15Z")
I hate the DH. With that said, does anyone have the statistics? Runs/game AL vs NL? I think I remember reading somewhere that the American League game averages about 1 more run than an NL game on average. Does anyone know that for sure? The reason I dislike the DH is because it does prolong the careers of all hit - no field players. The other is that AL pitchers don’t have to bat, meaning they don’t have to face the consequences of their actions. Pitch high and tight to my team’s best player? You can bet that pitcher is going to eat some dust in the National League. But punks like Clemens can still get away with being a dickhead on the mound, but never having to face the opposing pitcher. I hate that more than anything. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538/71 "2010-12-24T14:18:46Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > With that said, does anyone have the statistics? Runs/game AL vs NL? I think I remember reading somewhere that the American League game averages about 1 more run than an NL game on average. Does anyone know that for sure? Last year, the AL [averaged](http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2010.shtml) 4.45 runs per game. The NL [averaged](http://http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2010.shtml) 4.33 runs per game. Not a huge difference. Personally, I think the DH was a solution to a problem that no longer exists. This isn’t the sixties, when .301 won a batting title, and home run crowns could be won with totals in the low to mid-30s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reminisce-about-defunct-sports-rules/563538.md?page=3)