At the league meeting, Ban Johnson is reelected American League president and given a raise to $10,000. Also, the AL votes to allow coaches at third base and first base at all times: till now, only one coach was permitted except if there were two or more baserunners. The AL also institutes the “foul strike” rule, used by the National League since 1901: a foul will be counted as a strike unless there are already two strikes.
1903 – At the league meeting, Ban Johnson is reelected American League president and given a raise to $10,000. Also, the AL votes to allow coaches at third base and first base at all times: till now, only one coach was permitted except if there were two or more baserunners. The AL also institutes the “foul strike” rule, used by the National League since 1901: a foul will be counted as a strike unless there are already two strikes.
