The namesake of Al Alford Field, Home of the McKinney Lions, passed away Feb. 3 at the age of 79. The founder of Alford Insurance Agency in McKinney and a veteran of the Korean War, for which he received the Purple Heart, Alford worked as a college baseball umpire for 37 years. His career behind the plate included officiating for the 1974 College World Series, four UIL state baseball tournaments, and the Connie Mack World Series.

“Al was a tremendous friend and supporter of the American Amateur Baseball Congress,” said Richard Neely, President of AABC, on an online registry with Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. “Al has now moved to umpire the “A” team of all teams, and we wish him well. He will be missed, especially our conversations in the shed at the ballpark. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Alford was an active member of the community, serving as a member of city council and on the McKinney Parks and Recreation Board. He also founded the McKinney Mavericks Summer Baseball Organization.

Official Obituary: A.D. "Al" Alford (February 3, 2010)

A.D. "Al" Alford, age 79, of McKinney, Texas, passed away February 3, 2010, in McKinney. Al was born in Pickton, Texas, to George Dowl and Mary Belle (Harrelson) Alford. Al graduated in 1948 from the original Boyd High School in McKinney and later earned an associate degree from Arlington State College. He remained active with The University of Texas Arlington as President of the UTA Alumni Association. Al was the founder and owner of Alford Insurance Agency in McKinney for many years.

Alford was a college baseball umpire for thirty-seven years and was well respected in both high school and collegiate umpire associations across the country. His many achievements included the 1974 College World Series, UIL state baseball tournament for four years, and Connie Mack World Series Baseball in Farmington, New Mexico. Alford officiated at the plate in the longest baseball game in Southwest Conference History - a full twenty innings. He founded the McKinney Mavericks Summer Baseball Organization in 1971 and was instrumental in bringing the Mickey Mantle World Series to McKinney.

Alford was a past member of Collin County and Dallas Baseball Umpire Associations and a member of the ABUA Umpire Hall of Fame. He was a member of First Baptist Church in McKinney where he served for over thirty years as a deacon and greeter. Al was an avid golfer who never had a bad lie along with two verified holes in one. He was presently member of McKinney Parks and Recreation Board and a former McKinney City Councilman. Alford proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War where he received a purple heart.

He is survived by his son, Lance Alford and wife, Debi of McKinney, Texas; daughters, Beth Ann Parson and husband, Thomas of Celina, Texas, Cynthia Helton and husband, Jody of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Amy Herron and husband, David, also of Celina, Texas; grandchildren, Maezi, Carli, and Mitchell Alford, Kristen Coffman and husband, Matt, Alyssa Watson, Colin, Jon, and Julie Helton, and Katie and Matt Herron; great-grandchildren, Abby and Whitney Coffman; brothers, Grady Joe Alford of Wichita, Kansas and Bobby Dwayne Alford of Texas; sister, Peggy Joyce Alford Schuster of Richardson, Texas; and numerous other loving relatives and friends

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley on July 4, 2007.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 6, 2010 at First Baptist Church, 1615 W. Louisiana St., McKinney, Texas, 75071 with Dr. H. Bailey Stone officiating. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Friday evening in the parlor at First Baptist Church in McKinney. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.

To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com.

The most common base award is most likely the two bases awarded to the batter and all runners when a fair batted ball leaves the playing field. Almost everyone refers to this as a “ground rule double.” Those that understand baseball know that it is not a ground rule; it’s in the rules book.

Properly placing the runners is the umpire’s responsibility and each game, usually has at least one base award. There are several types of awards on batted balls and they range from two to four bases. Awards on batted balls are almost always made from the time of the pitch.

Except where noted, the material applies equally to NFHS, NCAA and pro rules.

Ball out of play. The award already mentioned – a fair batted ball that bounces and passes over, through or under a fence or into the stands or other dead ball area or sticks in the fence, is a two-base award from the time of the pitch; it does matter if the ball is in-flight when it passes through or under a fence or sticks in the fence. Other runners advance to the bases they are forced. It does not matter if the ball is inadvertently deflected (NFHS 8-3-3c; NCAA 8-3o1; pro 6.09e-g, 7.05f).

Play 1: B1 hits a line drive to left center. The ball gets caught behind a billboard hung on outfield fence and does not reappear. Before the ball disappeared, B1 was on his way to second. Ruling 1: The ball is dead when it does not reappear "immediately." B1 is awarded two bases from the time of pitch. His position on the bases at the time the ball was declared dead is not a factor.

If a fair ball in-flight is deflected by a fielder and leaves the playing field in flight it is a home run in NFHS and NCAA. Under pro rules fair balls that leave the playing in foul territory or at a point less than 250’ from home plate are only a two base award (NFHS 8-3-3a; NCAA 8-3h; pro 6.09h, 7.05f).

Play 2: F9 gloves B1's batted ball (a) in flight, or (b) on a bounce. His momentum carries him into the fence. When he hits the fence; the ball pops out of his glove and over the fence in fair territory. Ruling 2: In (a), B1 is awarded a home run; in (b) two bases.

If a fielder intentionally kicks or deflects a batted ball out of play, it’s still a two base award, but the award is from the time the ball was kicked or deflected (NFHS 8.3.3K, NCAA 8-3o5, pro MLBUM 5.8).

Play 3: B1 hits the ball off the wall... 

Following is a 15-question True and False test regarding rules that relate to the runner. I will make 15 statements. If you think the statement is true, circle True. If you think my statement is false, circle False. Good luck!

1. In running the first 45-feet from home to first, the batter-runner is allowed to run only three-feet to either side of the foul line. If the batter-runner should exceed the three-foot limit, he should be called out if he interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base. True or False?

2. In running the last 45-feet from home to first, the batter-runner must run inside the 45-foot long, three-foot wide box. If he doesn’t, the umpire should call him out. True or False?

3. In running the last 45-feet from home to first, the batter-runner should only be called out if he runs outside the box, even with one foot, and he interferes with the fielder taking the throw. True or False?

4. In running the last 45-feet between home and first, the batter-runner must stay in the box even if he is avoiding a tag. True or False?

5. With a runner on third and one out, the batter hits a ground ball to the first baseman. To buy time for the runner advancing from third, the batter-runner runs to first about five-feet inside the foul line in fair territory to obstruct the throwing lane from first base to home and force the first baseman to take a step to improve his throwing angle. This is perfectly legal as long as he does not intentionally interfere with the throw. True or False?                                               

6. For interference to be called on the batter-runner the last 45-feet between home and first base, the throw must hit the batter-runner. True or False?

7. When a runner takes a lead on first base, there is no confined or restricted area unless he is purposely trying to interfere with the fielder. True or False?                              

8. On the 3-6-3 or the 3-3-6 double play, the runner going from first to second must run in a straight line from the point where he takes his lead to the base. True or False? 

9. When a runner attempts to avoid a tag, he is out if he back pedals more than three steps away from the tag. True or False?

10. Playing under NFHS rules, if a runner is obstructed, the ball is always dead and all runners get one base from the last base they legally touched. True or False?  

11. Playing under NFHS rules, when a fielder commits obstruction on a runner, the runner is always awarded at least one base beyond the point of obstruction. True or False?                                                                                     

12. When running from third to home, the runner must remain in foul territory the entire distance until he makes his final approach to the plate.        True or False?

13. With a runner on first, the batter hits a drive to deep right center. The runner on first thinking the ball will be caught, returns to first. However, the ball is not caught and the batter-runner, running with his head down, passes the runner who is returning to first base. The batter-runner should be called out. True or False                                                                              

14. Regarding the previous question, the batter-runner notices the runner who was on first retreating to first base so he physically holds him up or pushes him toward second base. The umpire should call the batter-runner out for physically assisting a teammate. True or False?

15.  A runner is always out when struck by a batted ball. True or False?

Answers...

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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Former major league All-Star Jose Offerman threw a punch at an umpire during an argument in a Dominican winter league game Saturday night, the second time in 2½ years that he’s attacked someone on a baseball field.

Offerman, manager of the Licey Tigers, appeared to hit first base umpire Daniel Rayburn in the face or neck with his fist during a heated discussion in a game against the Cibao Giants. Reyburn fell to the ground.

Offerman was detained by stadium security and taken to a police station to wait until the end of the game to see if Reyburn would press charges.

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FRANKLIN — A former Battle Ground Academy baseball player has 60 days to decide if he will appeal the state's Court of Appeals decision to not hold the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association partly responsible for the injured he suffered during a baseball game.

In 2005, Cason McInturff, a high school junior, was sitting on a bucket with his assistant coach outside the dugout during a game between BGA and host Father Ryan when he was hit in the head by a foul ball. Standing or sitting just outside the dugout during play is a violation of TSSAA rules.

The injury caused "severe internal brain damage that has affected his cognitive skills to the point where everything he does he has to process slowly," according to McInturff's lawyer, Joseph Bednarz Sr.

"That's why we filed the lawsuit, because kids are going to be kids, even though they're 16 or 17. That's the whole idea of the rulebook," Bednarz said. "Safety ought to be first. The rules specifically said they're not supposed to be out there, and it's up to the coaches and the umpires to enforce this rule."

Immediately after the injury, BGA waived McInturff's tuition and fees for his final year of high school, an amount totaling $13,325.90.

McInturff is now a student at Abilene Christian University in Texas.

Bednarz said McInturff has had to cancel his plans of becoming a veterinarian like his father because of the injury. He held the TSSAA partly responsible for the umpires based on his claim that "the umpires were actual agents of the TSSAA or the apparent agents of TSSAA," according to the court file. The court, however, ruled in favor of the TSSAA's argument that it is not to blame after determining that the umpires are independent contractors.

Bednarz said he hopes a trial date with BGA, with which the suit is still pending, will be set soon.

"BGA doesn't feel it bears any responsibility on what happened to Cason," said Ben Rose, one of BGA's lawyers.