FARMINGTON AMATEUR BASEBALL CONGRESS

 BY-LAWS  

(REVISED DECEMBER 2009)

 

ARTICLE I – ELIGIBILITY

The player eligibility rules of this association shall be those of the American Amateur Baseball Congress as published in the current year official handbook plus the following local rules. 

 

A.    In order to be eligible to play in the Stan Musial League, a player must be 19 years of age before May 1st of the current calendar year.

 

B.    In order to be eligible to play in the Connie Mack League, a player must be under 19 years of age before May 1st of the current calendar year.  All players under the age of 17 must be a select player and receive board approval.

 

C.    In order to be eligible to play in the Mickey Mantle, a player must be under 17 years of age before May 1st of the current calendar year.  All players under the age of 15 must be a select player and receive board approval.

 

D.    In order to be eligible to play in the Sandy Koufax, a player must be under 15 years of age before May 1st of the current calendar year.  All players under the age of 13 must be a select player and receive board approval.

 

E.     In order to be eligible to play in the Pee Wee Reese League, a player must be 11 years of age before May 1st of the current year and must not be 13 years of age before May 1st of the current year. A 10-year-old player may play Pee Wee Reese if he/she has an older brother or sister in that division and their father, mother or legal guardian manages the team that they play on.   Ten-year-old fifth grade students may play Pee Wee Reese if he/she chooses.

 

F.     In order to be eligible to play in the Willie Mays League, a player must be 9 years of age before May 1st of the current year and must not be 11 years of age before May 1st of the current year. An 8-year-old player may play Willie Mays if he/she has an older brother or sister in that division and their father, mother or legal guardian manages the team that they play on.  Eight-year-old third grade students may play Willie Mays if he/she chooses.

 

G.    In order to be eligible to play in the Roberto Clemente League, a player must be 7 years of age before May 1st of        the current year and must not be 9 years of age before May 1st of the current year. A 6-year-old player may play         Roberto Clemente if he/she has an older brother or sister in that division and their father, mother or legal                    guardian manages the team that they play on.  Six-year-old first grade students may play Roberto Clemente if             he/she chooses.

 

H.    In order to be eligible to play in the Duane Ward League, a player must be 5 years of age before May 1st of the current year and must not be 7 years of age before May 1st of the current year.

 

I.          Have been under contract to his team continuously since not later than June 15th for Duane Ward, Roberto

                      Clemente 7’s and 8’s, Willie Mays 9’s and 10’s, Pee Wee Reese 11’s and 12’s, Sandy Koufax, 13’s and 14’s.                           No later than July 1st for Mickey Mantle 15’s and 16’s, Don Mattingly, Connie Mack and Stan Musial.

 

J.     Have established a temporary or permanent residence within the Recruiting Area of the league no later than               June 15th.

 

K.     Appear in at least one game for his team prior to June 15th.  A player may have this game participation                        requirement extended if he is still competing in a high school sanctioned state championship tournament or is a          college participant in a state, regional, or national tournament.  Players will be required to report and play                  within five days of the conclusion of said tournament.  In no case can the date be extended beyond July 1st.

 

L.   All leagues must require that each of its teams complete an official AABC roster.  On or before July 15th of each         year, each league shall provide to the executive officer of their association a certified AABC roster for each               team in the league which is eligible for tournament competition.

 

 

ARTICLE II – RESIDENCE

Unless otherwise prescribed by AABC or FABC ruling, the following residence eligibility rules shall apply to players:

 

 A.  Reside within the boundaries of Farmington, NM or reside in the Farmington School District.  For these                               leagues except Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, and Connie Mack.  For these leagues refer to recruiting area.

        

 B.  The recruiting area for Connie Mack, Mickey Mantle and Sandy Koufax leagues shall be the boundaries                   of the Greater Four Corners Area Baseball Congress.

 

 C.  A player who vacations within the boundaries of Farmington, NM and is living with a relative who resides

       within the boundaries of the Farmington School District, providing that the relative is a bona fide                              resident (rents or owns living quarters) and a mother, father grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or                     a “Court Appointed Legal Guardian,” is eligible but they cannot be considered an option (pre-selected)                    player, they must go into a draft process. This to apply to all leagues except for the Connie Mack, Mickey                Mantle, and Sandy Koufax. Providing also that the relationship, physical address (not P.O. Box                                Numbers), telephone numbers, and the duration of stay is furnished at the time of FABC registrations.                      Any player, who played under the residence rule in 2001, is eligible to continue playing in FABC until they              decide to do otherwise, providing their participation is continuous.  

 

D.  A player who resides in the boundaries of GFABC may participate in FABC, provided there is no                            other AABC program in their age group where they reside and, otherwise meets the requirements, and                        providing the FABC Board of Directors approves his participation in the FABC program.

 

E.  For the Connie Mack, Mickey Mantle, and Sandy Koufax leagues, a player who resides with a relative who is             bona fide permanent resident (rents or owns living quarters) within the boundaries of GFABC, and                 

      provided that the relative is a mother, father, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or a “Court Appointed              Legal Guardian”, is eligible to play as a resident providing that a document containing relationship, physical              address (not PO Box No.), telephone numbers (permanent & vacation), and the duration of stay is furnished at           the time of FABC  registrations.  The document should be signed and dated by all parties (player, parents, &              relative) as to its accuracy and a copy should be kept by any team utilizing this rule.

 

ARTICLE  III – ADMISSIONS

No admission shall be charged for regular season league games.  Donations shall be accepted to help with league expenses.

 

ARTICLE IV – DISCIPLINE

All matters pertaining to discipline shall be handled as prescribed in the official baseball rules.  Furthermore, the FABC Board of Directors may impose more stringent penalties upon managers, coaches, and players depending upon the gravity and magnitude of the undesirable actions.  FABC will impose necessary measures to control undesirable and unnecessary acts of spectators in order to provide a suitable environment in which players may play baseball.

 

A.    A manager, coach, or player may be disciplined in any manner at the discretion of the Board.  

 

B.    The individual(s) involved shall be entitled to a hearing at a special meeting before the Board before a decision regarding discipline may be rendered.

 

C.   Any individual whether he/she is a Coach, Manager, Player, Parent or Game Official involved in any physical altercation on City premises will have a one (1) game suspension for the first offense. Second offense will result in a suspension for the remainder of the season and possible banishment from FABC.

D.   Actions for which discipline may be taken include, but are not limited to, display of                                              temper tantrums, swearing, harassment of a player, umpire or coach, throwing playing                                          equipment, and failure to observe FABC rules and regulations.

 

E.    Players committing theft of FABC property will receive a 2 game suspension for the first offense; the second      offense will result in suspension for the remainder of the season.

 

F.    Regarding all teams with mandatory play rule; any disciplinary action regarding a player must be approved         by the VP of that respective league prior to game time. Any infractions committed during a game may be            disciplined at the discretion of the manager and reported to the division vice-president as soon as possible.          Discipline will be set for the following game.

 

ARTICLE V– PROTESTS

Protests are recognized to be an integral part of the game of baseball where there has been an error in interpreting and applying the rules.  The FABC expects protests procedures to be observed and handled in a gentlemanly manner by manager, coaches, and umpires.

 

A.    An arbitration board of seven (7) members (any three of the seven will constitute a panel) will be appointed by the FABC President to serve for the season.  The panel selected for a protest will have complete and final authority for ruling on the protests.  No manager or coach of the league/division presenting the protest will be eligible to serve on the panel.

 

B.    All protests must be made immediately after the ball becomes “dead” after the umpire’s ruling. The manager must notify the head umpire that he protesting the ruling. The head umpire will then notify the official scorekeeper of the protest. Using the Protest Form, the scorekeeper will make appropriate entries describing the exact game situation which existed just before the play which brought on the protest and the situation as it is just after the play and ruling which brought on the protest. The manager shall in addition, when he wants to carry on his protest, submit it to the League Vice President (or in his absence, to the FABC Executive Vice President) in writing within 24 hours of the termination of the game upon which the protest is based, as shown by the postmark on the envelope in which it is submitted (when tendered in person, the manager shall be given the receipt). A cash fee of $50.00 shall accompany the protest.  The specific baseball rules in question and upon which the protest is based must be cited. No protest on an umpire’s judgment call/ruling will be accepted.

 

C.        When the protest is not upheld, the fee shall be deposited in the FABC bank account. When the protest is upheld, the fees shall be returned to the person who submitted the protest.

 

D.    All protests shall be decided as soon as possible after receipt of the written protest and the $50.00 fee.

 

E.     The protest panel in making its decisions shall use rules and By-Laws of AABC, FABC and Major League Baseball.

 

ARTICLE VI – MANAGERS AND COACHES

The FABC Board of Directors must approve managers and coaches.  Each manager and each coach will be required to:

 

A.        Observe and enforce all league rules and regulations.

 

B.        Promote goodwill and sportsmanship among and between players, umpires, coaches and fans.

 

C.        Handle all confrontations in a civil manner.

 

D.    All managers must submit a letter to FABC requesting to manage a team by mail to P.O. Box 1121, Farmington, NM 87499.  Background checks will be administered prior to FABC approval.

 

E.        Returning coaches from the previous year will have first choice for next year if: (1) Letter of intent is received.  (2) The team is a returning team from the previous year.  (3) The team coached last year is moving up.  (4) The league that they want to coach in is in need of coaches.

 

F.    Any approved coach who has never coaches a team in FABC must attend a mandatory coach’s clinic to be provided by FABC.

 

G.    All coaches shall be volunteers, and will receive no compensation of any form for their participation in FABC.  Violators of this rule will be barred from any future participation within FABC, and their team will be subject to forfeiture of all games played.

 

H.    The manager is responsible for presenting the FABC, prior to the start of the season:

          1.  An approved and signed roster for his/her team.

          2.  All sponsor fees applicable.

Failure to provide these items prior to the deadline set by the FABC will result in no uniforms given to the team and any games scheduled will be forfeited until these items are presented.

 

ARTICLE VII – UMPIRES

Umpires are necessary to the playing of the game of baseball.  They are expected to umpire the game in conformance with the official rules of baseball and the rules of AABC and FABC, recognizing that the League Vice President is responsible for play in the division.

 

A.    In accordance with section 4.00 of the official baseball rules, umpires shall enter the playing field five minutes before the scheduled game time and take charge of the playing field, and from that moment they shall have designated authority.

 

B.        Prior to five minutes before game time, the division Vice President has authority and will be responsible for league activities.

 

C.        Umpires shall see that their names are recorded on the scores sheets of each game.

 

D.    The umpire of an immediate relative, who plays in an FABC League, will be allowed to umpire in the same league, but will not be able to umpire a game the immediate relative is playing in. 

 

E.     The son/daughter umpire will not be allowed to umpire a game coached by his father/mother.

 

F.       Umpires will wear the appropriate uniform and conduct themselves in a professional manner.

 

ARTICLE VIII– SCOREKEEPER

The FABC expects the scorekeeper to diligently perform their duties which shall included keeping score, maintaining pitching records, recording names of umpires on each score sheet, keeping unauthorized persons out of and off the press box and dugouts, call for the return of foul balls and announce other items such as; sponsors of each team, line up, at bat, on deck, and such as league officials may properly request. They are to cooperate with the League Vice President who is responsible for the division program. At times, the Vice President may provide assistance. 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX– CONTRACTS AND REGISTRATION

A.        Every player and their parent/legal guardian and the registration fee paid PRIOR to that player participating in any league game must sign a properly executed contract prescribed by the AABC.  At the time of registration, a player must furnish, a certified birth certificate, as registered by the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the county (or its equivalent), state, and country in which he/she was born, a parent permission form, and home runners application, and all fees paid at time of registration.

 

B.   No player shall be allowed to play in a game until, registrations forms and registration payments are complete            and in possession of FABC.  In the event a player participates in a game without completing these requirements,        his team will forfeit the game.

 

ARTICLE X– RELEASES

A.        Temporary Releases - Managers who agree to permit a player on his team to play on another team in an organized league and/or an organized tournament game will sign a temporary release form, which will specify the team and dates for which the release will be valid.  Such released player must also provide the temporary manager with a signed statement from the player’s parent of guardian granting permission for him to play for the temporary manager. The temporary manager is to insure that he has the required documents.   If the terms of an agreement for a release can’t be reached, the league vice-president will act as a mediator.

 

B.    Permanent Releases – In the event a player wants to be released from his/her league team or if a manager wants to release a player, a written letter will be given to the league vice-president by the respective parties.  If the league vice-president can not reach a compromise, then the Executive Board will decide to release the player or not.  A released player will automatically be placed on the next eligible team following the draft order.  Player releases must be granted prior to the first league game.

 

ARTICLE XI– PLAYER SELECTION

A.    A player must register before the beginning of the player draft to be drafted on a team.  Late registrations will be put on a waiting list on a first-come, first-serve basis; the division draft order will be followed to activate players from the division waiting list.

 

B.    All players, regardless of age, in the Duane Ward league will be assigned to teams according to the school         they attend if possible. 

 

C.       All second year returning players will remain on the roster of their first year team. The son/daughter, stepson/stepdaughter, or foster son/daughter of a team manager may be placed on the same team as the older brother/sister unless otherwise specifically requested by the parents. Incoming brothers/sisters of the same age will be placed on the same team unless otherwise specifically requested by the parents. A signed player contract must be submitted to the division vice-president within 14 days of the first scheduled division game.  Failure to provide a signed contract will result in forfeiture of all games played up to that time.

1.                    Any 2nd year team that loses an optioned player, (one of the original 4) due to moving, doesn’t sign up to play, etc., may replace those players from the draft, prior to the start of the draft.  This does not include an optioned player who requests off the team.

2.                    Second year teams who did not start with four options in their first season, may not fill their open option slots with new option players in the second season.

3.                    For option or draft purposes: twins, brothers, sisters, half-brother/sisters, step-brother/sisters will count as TWO draft choices consecutively. Managers/coaches will use their children as select players and not be allowed to draft them later.

4.                    A player, who is granted a release, is not eligible to become an optioned player for any other team. The player must be placed in the draft for the remainder of his/her first year or for the start of his/her second year. (Drafted leagues only).

5.                    All select/returning players must be submitted to the league VP one week prior to draft day.

 

D.    The Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Pee Wee Reese, will have four (4) option players and draft the remainder of their roster.

 

1.        The Vice President of each league will determine team roster quotas prior to beginning the drafting procedures. These quotas will be set to permit each registrant to be selected or placed on a team. Each team manager shall draft the number of players necessary to bring his team roster up to the determined quota, or until all the registrants have been placed on a team. “Passes” will not be permitted. When a team’s quota has been filled, that team manager will not draft again.

2.        The draft rounds will be conducted in and “Up and Back” fashion (i.e. 1,2,3,4¼18, 19, 20 then 20, 19, 18¼4, 3, 2, 1). The drafting procedure will continue until all eligible/approved registrants have been selected or placed on a team.

 

E.   The Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, and Connie Mack leagues shall have an open draft.

 

1.        For the Connie Mack league only, all teams may sign up to two (2) import players in addition to the open draft.

 

ARTICLE XII – GAME PROCEDURES

A.        Teams must be at the ball field, ready to take infield practice, at least fifteen minutes prior to game time. The home team has infield until 15 minutes before game, visiting team takes the next ten minutes, and the umpire is allowed the final five minutes.

 

B.    A manager must field a team of at least eight players within ten (10) minutes after scheduled game or forfeit the game.

 

C.        When additional players arrive late, they may be put in the game as substitutes, provided their names have been submitted on the official lineup sheet and the reason given for their absence.

 

D.    If any of the eight players who start a game become sick or injured so they cannot play, the game may continue with fewer players. The “at bat” of such player will become an automatic out.

 

E.      All teams in Pee Wee Reese, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, and Duane Ward must wear the cap and uniform provided by the FABC in all FABC games. The penalty for not obeying this rule may be the forfeit of the game. Teams in the upper leagues of Sandy Koufax and Mickey Mantle will be provided a maximum stipend to purchase uniforms of their choice from the FABC approved Vendor. 

 

F.     All teams in Sandy Koufax League, Pee Wee Reese League, Willie Mays League, Roberto Clemente League and Duane Ward League, will have the following mandatory slide rule:

 

        A legal slide can be either foot first or head first.  If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground.  If a runner slides, he must slide within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot.  A slide is illegal if:

 

        a. The runner uses a rolling, cross body or pop-up slides into the fielder, or

        b. The runners raised leg is higher than the fielders knee when the fielder is in a standing position, or

        c. The runner goes beyond the base and then makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder, or

        d. The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg, or

       e. The runner tried to injure the fielder, or

        f. The runner, on a force play, does not slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases. 

Exception:  A runner may slide or run in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the

Play of the fielder.

 

        Any runner is out when he:  does not legally slide and causes illegal contact and/or illegally alters the actions of a fielder in the immediate act of making a play, or on a force play, does not slide in a direct line between the bases.

 

G.  Mickey Mantle and Connie Mack will follow the slide rule under the Official Baseball Rules.

      

ARTICLE XIII – POST SEASON PLAY

A.      Post Season Play – All post season tournaments in Roberto Clemente though Connie Mack Leagues will involve all teams that wish to participate. Theses tournaments will be double elimination until a winner is determined. City tournament teams will be seeded according to division standings.  The city tournament must be completed at least one week prior to the state tournament.  The winner of the city tournament will represent FABC in the state and regional tournaments.  Additional teams from each division may also attend the state and regional tournaments according to the amount of teams per division.  One team for each four division teams may represent FABC in these tournaments. A maximum of four total teams per division will be allowed to go to the state tournament.  Pickup players may be added to the rosters; however, the winner of the city tournament shall have first priority on pickup players followed by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams, respectively.  Any player refusing to become a pickup player loses the right to become a pickup player.  Pickup players will be decided upon within 48 hours of the city tournament.  A player may not receive a release from a tournament qualifying team to participate on another team qualifying for the same tournament.

 

B.       All managers must declare in writing one week prior to the bracketing of the city tournament their intention for post season play.  If a manager chooses to opt out of post-season play, the games played by his/her team will not be counted in the league standings for tournament seeding.  If a manager states that his/her team will participate in post season play and fails to do so, that manager may receive a one year suspension from managing or coaching any team in FABC for his/her next season.

 

C.   Sandy Koufax will be seeded according to standing.  An FABC city tournament may be a blind draw if proposed        by the division VP and approved by a majority of participating managers in Sandy Koufax.

 

D.   Funds- A review of the available funds for team travel for post season will be done prior to the issuance of any funds, by a committee of no few than three executive board members.  The recommendations for disbursements will be made based on the  funds availability, the league age, and the distance of travel required, etc.  FABC will agree to help the team that plays in the Connie Mack World Series with assistance in scheduling extra tournament games and travel expenses, to those tournaments, prior to the World Series, with an executive board decision.

 

ARTICLE XIV – RULES & REGULATIONS

Each division shall draft and submit to FABC for approval, any necessary additional rules and regulations not in conflict with the FABC Constitution, By-Laws, or AABC rules.  These will be known as “Game Rules”.

 

 

A.    All divisional Game Rules must be presented to the FABC Board of Directors for its consideration before March 15th of the year in which those Game Rules apply. If no Game Rules are submitted to the Executive Board by March 15th the Executive Board will make such Game Rules for that division, as it deems appropriate.

 

B.   Fund raisers must be approved by the FABC Board of Directors. 

 

C.   Pitching- If a team or player from another team plays in a tournament and the player pitches these players are             still subject to the same pitch count requirements.

D.   All players in Pee Wee Reese, Willie Mays, & Roberto Clemente leagues on the team roster will bat in the order       of the official lineup turned into the scorekeeper (Noting absences and disciplinary) before the game begins               (League Games only).  A player who becomes sick or injured during a game and can return later will not                    be considered an out when it is his or her turn at bat.  Any players listed on the lineup sheet as sick or under               disciplinary reasons will not be considered an out.  While school is in session, each player in attendance- must           play at least (1) inning defensively. Beginning on the day school is dismissed for the summer vacation, each               player in attendance must play at least two (2) innings defensively in each game of (4) innings or more, and at            least one (1) inning defensively in games of three and one half  (3 ½) or less.  This does not apply for post-                season play or tournament.

                    Any team that violates this rule will forfeit that game.

 

                E.    Pitching- FOR ALL LEAGUES EXCEPT CONNIE MACK

 

The official scorekeeper shall be responsible for tracking each of the team’s pitching counts.  Either through the use of the scorebook or the pitching count chart.  Each pitcher’s pitch count is computed by adding the number of balls and strikes, the number of foul balls hit with two strikes, and the number of fair batted balls.

 

Coaches may also keep track of pitch counts but at no time shall supersede the official scorekeepers count.

 

1.        No player shall exceed more than the allowance for his/her league (see below) in one game.

Note: An exception to this rule is if a pitcher reaches the limit allowed while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until that batter reaches base or is put out.

 

2.        If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no calendar day of rest is required before pitching again.

 

Note: A calendar day is one full day as it is seen on a calendar. A calendar day   begins at midnight and ends at midnight the following evening.  Example: If a pitcher throws 70 pitches in a game on Saturday morning, that pitcher cannot pitch again until Wednesday, when he/she has had three calendar days of rest (Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday).

 

3.        All pitch count rules shall apply regardless of game outcome via rain delay to a new day or suspended games.  Calendar days of rest shall apply accordingly via rule #2.

 

4.        A game will be an automatic forfeit if the coach intentionally violates the pitch count policy after being notified one time by either the official scorekeeper or umpire in charge.

 

5.        The official scorekeeper will advise both coaches when pitch count reaches 10 below limit.

 

                Regular Season

 

1.                     Mickey Mantle        105 pitches per day

2.                     Sandy Koufax          95 pitches per day

3.                     Pee Wee Reese          85 pitches per day

4.                     Willie Mays           75 pitches per day

5.                     Roberto Clemente          75 pitches per day        

 

 

F.   Pitching- If a team or player from another team plays in a tournament and the player pitches these players are still subject to the same pitch count requirements.

 

               

                 

 

ARTICLE XV – DISPUTES

Any question or dispute concerning these FABC By-Laws will be settled by a compliance committee, made up of the league VP, an Advisory Board Member, and a representative from either the City, Umpire in Chief, or Home Runners Club.  The ruling or recommendations will then be presented to the Executive Board and the final decision made by the FABC President who is responsible for interpretation of these rules and the operation of the FABC Program.

 

ARTICLE XVI – INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS,

OFFICERS AND OTHERS

 

A.  Indemnification for Actions, Et Cetera, Other than By or In The Right Of The FABC.  The FABC shall indemnify any persons who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative and whether formal or informal (other than an action by or in the right of the association) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the association, or is or was serving at the request of the association as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, whether for profit or not for profit against expenses (including attorney fees), judgments, penalties, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if the person had no reasonable cause to believe that conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contend ere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the association or its members, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful.

 

B.  Indemnification For Actions, Et Cetera, By Or In The Right Of FABC.  The FABC shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the association to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the association, or is or was serving at the request of the association as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise whether for profit or not against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to, the best interests of the association or its members, and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the association unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought has determined upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.

 

C.  Determination of Right To Indemnification.  Unless the person to be indemnified has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein (in which event he shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, as a matter of right), or unless ordered by a court, any indemnification under Sections 1 or 2 of this Article shall be made by the FABC only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he had met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this section.  Such determination shall be made: (i) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit, or proceeding, or (ii) if such quorum is not obtainable, or even if obtainable, if a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the members.

 

D.  Prepayment of Expenses.  Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding as authorized in the manner provided in Section 3 of this Article upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee, or agent to repay the expenses if it is ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by the FABC.  The undertaking shall be by unlimited general obligation of the person on whose behalf advances are made but need not be secured.

 

E.  Other Rights and Remedies.  The indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any other bylaw, agreement, vote of members or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

F.  Insurance.  Upon resolution passed by the Board of Directors, the FABC may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the association, or is or was serving at the request of the association as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the association would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article.  Additionally, the league shall have on file a current insurance policy for participants of the league to include players, umpires, managers, and coaches.