Random Most Ridiculous Unwritten Rules Of Baseball (17 items)

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  (#1) Don't Rub The Mark After A Hit By Pitch

  This unwritten rule is all about toughness. Players do not like to let their opponents or the fans know that they are hurt, so they will do anything to avoid rubbing the spot where they got hit.

  Orioles outfielder Adam Jones sums up the unwritten rule like this: "You can't rub it, don't rub it, don't rub it. You are a major leaguer. You can't rub it. Go somewhere where the camera can't see you or else the fans will be all over you."
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  (#2) Everyone Must Be Involved In An On-Field Fight

  Baseball is the only sport where if a fight breaks out everyone must be involved in it. Often you will see the relievers jog in from the bullpen just to stand around and get in on the action.

  Normally, you wouldn't want a 25-on-25 man-fight, but this is baseball and the unwritten rules state that everyone must come onto the field during a brawl.
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  (#3) Don't Step On The Pitcher's Mound

  The great thing about baseball is you can see something or learn something new every time you watch a game. This was the case when A's pitcher Dallas Braden taught many a viewer that it is not okay to step on the pitcher's mound in-between innings.

  He got into a heated exchange with Alex Rodriguez who apparently broke this unwritten rule.
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  (#4) Don't Talk About A No-Hitter In Progress

  Baseball remains by far the most superstitious sport of any of the major sports. If a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter, you will see him in the dugout by himself as no one wants to jinx him. This seems a little ridiculous since sometimes you might want to approach the pitcher about strategy, but this unwritten rule clearly states do not talk to the guy throwing a potential no-hitter.
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  (#5) Don't Bunt to Break Up a No-Hitter

  Apparently bunting is not "earning" your way on base. It is absolutely absurd that a player can not bunt to get on base if the pitcher has a no-hitter. A player should do anything possible to try to help his team win the game, and if that includes laying down a bunt, then so be it.
  
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  (#6) If A Pitcher Hits A Teammate, Hit One Of Theirs

  This unwritten rule just stands by the old saying, "an eye for an eye." If you hit one of ours, then one of yours is going down as well. This is a ridiculous unwritten rule for many reasons. The main one being that you are throwing a baseball 90 MPH at someone and it has the potential to hurt them and possibly ruin their career.
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  (#7) Don't Show Up The Hitter After A Strikeout

  Another unwritten rule all about respect. Baseball involves a game of emotions, but for some reason, over time the baseball purists decided that everyone must harness their emotions to not make anyone feel bad.  
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  (#8) Don't Steal Bases When you Have a Big Lead

  Baseball is a game all about respect. If someone feels like you are not respecting the game, measures will be taken. This unwritten rule revolves around stealing a base at an unnecessary time. Teams don't like you "showing them up" when it's a blowout and they feel that you should just go base to base when you have a big lead.  
  
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  (#9) Never Make the First or Third Out at Third

  This unwritten rule purely revolves around strategy. Second base is considered scoring position so if you are there with nobody out, there is no need to risk going to third when you can still get there with only one out. With two outs at second, you can be driven home by a base hit, so the unwritten rule is why risk taking third in those situations? This is a little ridiculous because there are 25 more ways to score from third base than second base.
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  (#10) Don't Admire A Home Run

  If you hit a home run that is great, just don't stand there and admire your work. Pitchers and the opposing team will not stand for it. Once again, it is all about respect, and if you watch the ball, you are not "respecting the game." Never mind the fact that you just hit a home run and natural emotions call for you to be excited. This unwritten rule forbids players from potentially showing up an opponent.
  
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  (#11) Pitchers Pulled From Game Must Stay In The Dugout

  More specifically, pitchers must stay until the end of the inning in which they got pulled. When a pitcher leaves the game with people on base, that pitcher is still responsible for the players on base, so it would be "disrespectful" to his teammates to leave and hit the showers before watching the end of the inning. 
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  (#12) Don't Show Up Your Fielders

  Another unwritten rule centered around respect. When a fielder makes an error, this unwritten rule prevents the pitcher from throwing his arms in the air or acting frustrated that his teammate behind him couldn't make the play. A fielder doesn't throw his hands up in the air when a pitcher gives up a home run. It is a natural reaction to show emotion on the field, but once again, a player must be careful not to show up anybody when displaying emotion. 
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  (#13) Don't Run Up The Score In A Blowout

  In Little League baseball, they play with a mercy rule not to hurt anyone's feelings. In the Big Leagues, you play the whole game until the final out. Somewhere along the line, it became an unwritten rule to not run up the score on players making millions of dollars. This is ridiculous for many reasons, but mainly because teams come back from big deficits all the time and you don't want to be the team that loses because you were sparing a grown man's feelings.
  
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  (#14) Always Let The Center Fielder Get The Ball

  Unfortunately, some of the most brutal collisions in baseball happen in the outfield. When two outfielders are approaching the unwritten rule is for the center fielder to take control and let the other outfielder get out of his way.

  It's good to have this in place, but in reality the outfielders just need to communicate and whoever has the easier play should call for the ball.
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  (#15) Play For The Win On The Road, A Tie At Home

  This one existed since forever, but why exactly should you follow this unwritten rule? Every situation and every game is different. This should really be based on the match-up and which pitchers you still have available, rather then an unwritten rule that has no stats to back it up.
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  (#16) Don't Steal Bases When Your Team Is Far Behind

  This unwritten rule is all about respecting your own team. When losing by a wide margin, your teammates don't want you to try to improve your own stats by stealing a base.

  It seems ridiculous that you can't make it easier for your team to score in a blowout, but everyone must follow the unwritten rules of the game. 
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  (#17) Don't Throw A Curveball To A Fellow Reliever

  Rarely do relief pitchers get a chance to hit as they are most likely going to be pinch-hit for if their spot in the order comes up. So when they do get that rare chance, it is a pretty special moment for them.

  Relief pitchers have an understanding with each other not too let the other one look too foolish out there, so usually they will throw them only fastballs in order to give them at least a chance to put the ball in play.

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