Balks: illegally deceptive

With runner(s) on base, it is a balk if:

8.05 (i) The pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher's plate or while off the plate, he feints a pitch;

As I suggested earlier, that was inserted in 1897 to prevent the "hidden ball trick." The new rule was also intended to prevent a second deception of the baserunner: fooling him into running, thinking the pitcher had committed to the plate.

Continued...