Best current book to learn the rules

[AaronK]

Hi everyone. Aspiring umpire here looking for the best *current*, up-to-date book to learn the rules of baseball. Does such a book even exist? What do you all recommend? Thanks!

[Richvee]

Are you looking for in depth rules and the like, or are you looking for basic rules of the game for beginners? 

A quick google search will net you many options

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=37ce62a78f8cfe72&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIJ4fDo8od94P2m3lGAKf4EtYRPz0w:1721931135348&q=Baseball+rules+for+beginners&udm=28&fbs=AEQNm0AVbySjNxIXoj6bNaq7uSpw-2eW7KIQ8H4T_tEPJYsPzOi5GKsV0RKGmy84LfyUxrn0TsF-6XAuJl2imjY-p9byfaOEPLV-U7Xflz55m7T9Fh-vPolTp_IXJfsBr4UYxosbS1FvnKMn8EguWeCYLVBXwQ1v60jCGrV1_Rh0LBqPXw72L5RDH2_Tw3VvBQqRzIqu2Xasuy9LyMjUKaptpthLY325Cw&ved=1t:220175&ictx=111&biw=1366&bih=599&dpr=1#ip=1

[Richvee]

or this

https://mktg.mlbstatic.com/mlb/official-information/2024-official-baseball-rules.pdf

[AaronK]

Looking for more in-depth, like a textbook that would be used for a course in umpiring.

[Jimurray]

4 hours ago, AaronK said:

Looking for more in-depth, like a textbook that would be used for a course in umpiring.

Try this app: Baseball Rules in Black and White App

[SeeingEyeDog]

One of the first non-rule book baseball books I ever got when I was a kid was called something like "Baseball Rules Illustrated". It did not cover everything of course but, for a kid who was and still is a visual learner, that book was extremely helpful. It was a large format book with wonderful hand drawn illustrations showing the various aspects of plays and rules. Of course, it would be horribly out of date now with all of the rule changes and modifications over the ensuing years.

I'm sure there are very similar publications still in existence today and many have been listed above. @AaronK, in addition to any books about the rules of baseball, the rule books themselves as well as printed umpire manuals...I would of course encourage you to Google or YouTube search each rule you have a question about. There are lots of good online resources but beware...there are lots of sub-optimal/terrible online resources that do not convey the rules correctly.

Fortunately, this forum (Umpire-Empire) is also here for your use. I'm sure I speak for all of the umpire brothers here when I say...we want to get the call right. So, when you post a rules related question here you will get some of the best, most concise baseball rule citations and interpretations available on the internet today. Make sure when you post a question related to the rules that you tell us the related rule book you want an answer for. As I'm sure you can imagine, different baseball rulebooks will have different rules big and small...

~Dawg 

[johnnyg08]

There was a time 10-ish years ago where there was pretty good access to professional training manuals. 

Right now, that time is gone...but maybe it will cycle back? 

[kylehutson]

Not a book, but if you're a visual learner, Take a look at ump-app.com - very comprehensive and well researched and produced.

[Velho]

This is good and includes history of rules (it is dated so some rules have changed but it's a good foundation). https://www.abebooks.com/9781558212800/Rules-Baseball-Nemec-David-1558212809/plp

 

On 7/25/2024 at 9:30 PM, SeeingEyeDog said:

Baseball Rules Illustrated

One of these?

 https://www.amazon.com/Official-Rules-Baseball-Illustrated/dp/1592288448

https://www.amazon.com/Official-Rules-Baseball-Illustrated/dp/168358323X

[dumbdumb]

On 7/25/2024 at 2:22 PM, Richvee said:

or this

https://mktg.mlbstatic.com/mlb/official-information/2024-official-baseball-rules.pdf

now you know the one below is the one you and bill klem used growing up together

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/knotty-problems-of-baseball/18363567/item/53594691/?mkwid=|dt&pcrid=77447028535962&pkw=&pmt=be&slid=&product=53594691&plc=&pgrid=1239149900235309&ptaid=pla-4581046491396412&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping+-+Low+Vol+Backlist+-+%2450+&utm_term=&utm_content=|dt|pcrid|77447028535962|pkw||pmt|be|product|53594691|slid||pgrid|1239149900235309|ptaid|pla-4581046491396412|&msclkid=7a41a2c0516a1286f16ac473141ab212#idiq=53594691&edition=30415567

[Velho]

5 hours ago, dumbdumb said:

now you know the one below is the one you and bill klem used growing up together

Hey! I have that one on my shelf.

[MT73]

 

[AaronK]

On 10/23/2024 at 9:48 AM, MT73 said:

 

Used copy currently available on Amazon for $150. 😮