There have been many attempts to find the most suitable way for the blind to play baseball, but none has achieved the success of "BEEP BASEBALL". In the United States this sport has taken off to such an extent that a NATIONAL BEEP BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (NBBA) has been formed, which organises an annual league championship with the participation of fifteen teams. In August 1996 - practically coinciding with the preparation for the Atlanta '96 Paralympic Games - a team from the United States travelled to Puerto Rico for a friendly against a team from the PUERTO RICAN BLIND ATHLETES ASSOCIATION (PRIBSA). This match was particularly significant as it marks the beginning of the development of this sport in Puerto Rico. Moreover, as a result of this match, this Caribbean island now has a League, which aims to promote Beep Baseball amongst the blind athletes as yet another sporting alternative.

HISTORY

In 1964, the engineer Charley Fairbank was working for the "Mountain Bell" telephone company and, one day, he introduced an electronic device inside a baseball. This device emitted an intermittent beeping sound which enabled the players to locate the position of the ball. The sport soon took off in the schools for blind children. The first Beep Baseball competition was held in 1976 in the small town of SAN PAUL, MINNESOTA, and approximately 1,500 spectators attended, the event thus proving a resounding success. So, from its beginnings as a recreational project, this sport has gone on to reach competition levels. Each team prepares itself physically and mentally to give their very best performance. However, none of this would be possible were it not for the assistance of professional baseball players who have provided - in a purely voluntary and selfless manner - their expertise and knowledge of this spectacular sport.

BASIC RULES

Before we go any further in this column, we should explain and outline the basic elements of this game.

In the first place, the pitcher and the catcher of each team are sighted players. These pitch at, and catch from, their own team, the opposite of what happens in ordinary baseball, where these players pitch and catch against the opposing team. All the players, except those just mentioned, wear blindfolds. Why? To avoid those with residual vision having an advantage over the totally blind players.

When a player takes his place to bat, the pitcher and catcher of his team also come on. The pitcher will be at a distance of twenty feet (6 metres) from the home plate and will do all he can to ensure the batter hits the ball. For a shot to be considered good, it must pass a line situated forty feet (12 metres) from the home plate. If it does not pass this line, it will be considered void. Neither the pitcher nor the catcher may touch the ball once it has been batted. Should this occur, the batter will be declared out. The batter will strike out after four strikes and not three as is the case in ordinary baseball. The pitcher will use two signals, warnings or commands to help the batter to hit the ball: first, he will shout "ready", which means that both himself and the batter are ready to play and, second, "ball", at which the batter will attempt to hit the approaching ball. Should the batter hit the ball the required distance, he then runs towards the base activated for him by the umpire - first or third. The base emits a continuous beeping sound to distinguish it from the ball and thus avoid confusion for the players between one and the other. The base is made of a soft material (foam), covered with plastic and is three feet (approx. 1 metre) high. There are only two bases on the pitch, compared with the three in ordinary baseball. They are situated at a distance of 90 feet (27 metres) from the batting area, one along the right-hand line and one on the left, similar to the first and third bases in ordinary baseball. They will be placed ten feet (3 metres) outside the foul line. The base is reached whenever the player touches it with any part of his body before the defender gains possession of the ball. So, if the batter hits the ball towards the first base, the umpire will activate the base corresponding to the third base area and the batter will run towards this base, and vice versa. This method is adopted in order to avoid accidents. If the runner reaches the base before the defending player gets the ball, a run will be awarded. If, on the contrary, the defending player regains possession of the ball before the runner reaches the base, the latter will be declared out. If any defending player catches a ball in the air, the innings will be declared over. That is, that play may be considered as one, two or three "outs", depending on the number remaining to finish the innings.

In these pages, in order to complement the explanations, we have included a diagram to give everyone an idea of the form of a Beep Baseball pitch. There is a line marking a distance of 180 feet (54 metres) from the home plate. If a batter hits a ball and it goes beyond this line, he will be awarded two runs.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

The match will last for six innings, each consisting of two halves with three "outs" per team. The visiting team will bat first. The local team will not bat in the sixth innings if it is already winning when the visiting team finishes its batting turn in this innings.

There is a special ruling known as the "twelve-run rule" which states that, if, at the end of a complete innings, either team is leading by twelve runs or more, the opposing team will continue batting after its three "outs" are completed. Every three "outs" will count as an innings and the next one will then commence, and so on until they catch up with the winning team's score. Should this not occur until the sixth innings is finished, the game will be declared over. If, on the contrary, they draw level or surpass the winning team's score, the game will continue as normal. Nevertheless, the team that previously had a twelve-run lead, will not lose those turns which it did not take previously so as to permit the losing team to bat. If the umpire observes that play endangers some players at a given moment, he may stop the match. Said play will be declared void and the game will resume as if it had not taken place.

We are well aware that it is difficult to explain and understand all the ins and outs of this innovative game. I therefore provide our address, so that anyone interested may acquire further details or make enquiries.

GERMÁN PÉREZ RODRÍGUEZ

Director of Communications IBSA America

Calle 29 AD 19 Urb. Interamericana

Trujillo Alto, P.R. 00976

Tel.Fax (787) 748-7561