Foul Poles

[Brian McKenna]

Foul poles were utilized at least as far back as 1860, probably in the 1850s. Since there probably was no fence enclosing the diamond, the poles were staked to identify fair and foul balls, just like today.

By 1876, parks were enclosed and the NL was up and running. Were foul poles sticking up over the fence at this time and if they weren't when did it start?

I realize foul poles were up in the 1920s but how about the era from 1876 through the Deadball Era?

[Nashvol]

If a ball hits a 'foul' pole, isn't it fair? Shouldn't we be calling them 'fair' poles?

[Brian McKenna]

rrhersh, TonyK, anyone know about the history of foul poles?

[TonyK]

rrhersh, TonyK, anyone know about the history of foul poles?

No, but let's see if anyone can look it up and tell us about them. Dickson's Dictionary would at least have the first known reference. If you know about parks with them in the 1850's and 1860's then I would be interested in finding this out.

One problem is photos from back then that I have seen rarely include the spot where a foul pole would go.

[Brian McKenna]

If you know about parks with them in the 1850's and 1860's then I would be interested in finding this out.


I'm not with my notes now but I probably got the info from Peter Morris' A Game of Inches.

[rrhersh]

I don't know anything that beyond what Peter Morris might say about foul poles in the early enclosed ballpark era.

That being said, I am willing to speculate. I would be surprised if the practice was abandoned, and taken up again later. Enclosing the park and marking the foul lines are largely unrelated. The foul pole serves as an aid to the umpire. The fence serves as an aid to the ticket-taker. It is hard to see why adding a fence would lead anyone to leave out the foul pole. There is no question but that foul poles were used by 1860 or so.

[kosukefukudomefan]

If a ball hits a 'foul' pole, isn't it fair? Shouldn't we be calling them 'fair' poles?

haha.. very good observation..

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Foul poles were utilized at least as far back as 1860, probably in the 1850s. Since there probably was no fence enclosing the diamond, the poles were staked to identify fair and foul balls, just like today.

By 1876, parks were enclosed and the NL was up and running. Were foul poles sticking up over the fence at this time and if they weren't when did it start?

I realize foul poles were up in the 1920s but how about the era from 1876 through the Deadball Era?

Not sure when the first use of foul "poles" was used. Most parks had a foul "line", a painted line in the early years, usually only as high as the fence or wall. There were not that many home runs and probably were not of the high drive type.

Here is some info on what took place at the Polo Grounds when Babe Ruth came on the scene. Many of his drives were very high a good number over the roof making it difficult with the low painted lines on the fence to determine fair or foul.

Babe Ruth was not only changing the way the game was played he made it necessary to make some changes on the field.