How the MLB rulebook tried to keep baseball quiet and lonely (Patreon)

In the second episode of "Band of Brothers," Don Malarkey meets a German prisoner of war who grew up in Eugene, Oregon, not too far from where Malarkey grew up in Astoria, Oregon. Dumbstruck, he chats up the P.O.W., inciting one of Malarkey's peers to yell his way.

"Stop fraternizing with the enemy."

These guys were half a world away fighting in a pretty big war, and yet they still couldn't get baseball out of their heads! For those of you who aren't history buffs, this unknown member of the 506th Infantry Regiment was clearly referencing MLB rule 4.06, which states that baseball players are not allowed to chat with anyone wearing a different uniform. I'm paraphrasing here, as was the paratrooper, which I assume is why they're called that? I've used up all of my daily Googles (family plan) so will have to save that for another time.

Anyway, why the hell does MLB want to keep baseball players quiet and lonely? How do you even enforce this sort of thing? Is it even legal? Where are my shoes? Who are you? Who am I?

These questions, and more, but not all, will be answered in this Patreon-exclusive episode of Weird Rules!