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What are some traditional unwritten rules of baseball?

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Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, wearing a white uniform and helmet, watches his hit while holding a bat during a game at Dodger Stadium. — Baseball Freddie Freeman, shown here in a 2023 game, was named World Series MVP in 2024 after hitting four home runs and driving in 12 runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In baseball, the unwritten rules—often collectively called "The Code"—are a set of traditions and etiquette that govern player behavior beyond the official rulebook. These customs help foster respect for the game and its participants.1

Batting Etiquette

Respect the pitcher: Batters should avoid "showing up" the pitcher with excessive home-run celebrations, slow base-rounding, or demonstrative gestures.1
Bat handling: Bat flips should be nonconfrontational; tossing a bat toward an opponent or official is considered disrespectful.1
Game flow: Traditionally, batters avoid swinging at a 3–0 pitch or stealing bases late in a blowout game, though this is increasingly debated.1
Professionalism: Batters should not look back at the catcher to steal signs or distract fielders with shouting.1

Pitching and Fielding

Emotional control: Pitchers are expected to maintain composure and not express anger toward teammates following fielding errors.1
Superstition: Players generally avoid mentioning a no-hitter in progress to avoid "jinxing" the pitcher.1
Mound territory: The pitcher's mound is considered the pitcher's private workspace.1
Plunking: Intentionally hitting a batter with a pitch is a controversial practice sometimes used for retaliation, though it must be done safely—never at the head—to avoid ejection.1