The game of town ball, sometimes called townball, is a descendant of rounders, and often thought to be a stepping stone from rounders to modern baseball. It was generally played in North America in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The rules of town ball varied, but generally the field was a square shape, with four bases. Similarly to baseball, the fourth base was known to be called home base, as it was the final goal of a runner. A runner who reached fourth base was said to have achieved a "round" or "tally". However, differently from baseball, the striker would stand between first and fourth base, while the thrower stood in the middle of the field. Also, fielders could hit the runner with the ball, and if he was not on a base he would be called out.
It differed from rounders in that the concept of the "strike" was introduced. In fact, many sets of rules allowed for three strikes, which carried over into baseball. Townball tended toward use of round bats, as well.
The Ball must be thrown - not pitched or tossed - to the Bat, on the side preferred by the Striker, and within reach of his Bat.
The Ball being struck at three times and missed, and caught each time by a player on the opposite side, the Striker shall be considered out.
A player, having possession of the first Base, when the Ball is struck by the succeeding player, must vacate the Base, even at the risk of being put out; and when two players get on one Base, either by accident or otherwise, the player who arrived last is entitled to the Base.
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