OTL The Sport and the Spectacle

OTL The Sport and the Spectacle by Phil Ligon, Ron Pietila and John Raue

The first book about Over-the-line. Published January 1, 1978.

If you haven’t heard of the OTL (Over-the-line) Tournament in San Diego this would be a good start. The Tournament still exists in a more politically correct raunchyness. The book was written in the lawless heyday of the ‘70’s. Check back with us later, we’ll be offering annual OTL Tournament programs—page-after-page of raunchy teams (as well as tame corporate names).

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SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: THEY’VE STEPPED WAY OVER THE LINE

To understand the true spirit of the marvelous California game and summer rite known as Over the Line, one only has to know that The Incredible Spinny Bunch

What is over-the-line? Sports Illustrated summed it up in a feature length center-spread article that said in part: OTL is simply a softball game played on the San Diego beaches by three-person teams that are invariably in some stage of undress and inebriation. The team at bat furnishes its own pitcher, who sits a few feet to the side and tosses the ball to the hitter. The result is sort of a two-person fungo. There is no base running, which is fortunate because there are no bases. The object is to hit the ball on the fly over a line about 20 yards in front of the batter into a court about 22 yards wide that extends indefinitely. The three fielders on the opposing team patrol the court in various defensive formations and attempt to make putouts by catching the ball on the fly. There are two kinds of hits, singles and occasional home runs when the ball goes past the deepest fielder. The only other rules to worry about are three outs to an inning and five innings to a game. Published to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the founding of over-the-line.

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Related Links

– 50 year slideshow about a game called “Over the Line” Originated In South Mission Beach, San Diego, CA. Slideshow dates back to the late 40’s
– San diego’s Annual Over-the-line Tournament
– When People ask, what is OTL, Over The Line? Show them this!