Fair and foul Balls 

There is a lot of confusion in the mind of the average baseball fan regarding the fair or foul ball situations.

DEFINITION:           

A fair ball is a batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of an umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passed out of the playing field in flight.

NOTE:            A fair fly shall be adjudged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time such fielder touches the ball.

HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL POINTS TO REMEMBER:

A.        A ball is in fair territory if any part of it is on or over any part of the foul line.

B.         A ball which stops rolling before it reaches first or third base is judged where it lies when it stops.

C.         A ball which is touched before it reaches the base is judged in regard to its position when touched.

D.        A ball which bounds into the outfield past first or third is judged relative to the base when it passes the base. If it goes over the base it is fair. If it is in foul territory as it passes the base, it is foul.

E.         A ball which is batted over the fence is judged according to its position with the foul line when it leaves the field.

RULING EXAMPLES:

1.         A batted ball bounces up to hit the batter or his bat after he swings at it.

Ruling:            This is a foul ball unless he was obviously out of the batter's box when the contact occurred.

2.         The third baseman is careful to keep his feet in fair territory he fields a ball in front of the base.

Ruling:            Judge the ball by its position not based on the position of the fielder's feet.

3.         A line drive strikes the umpire who is straddling the foul line behind the first baseman.

Ruling:            Judge the ball according to its position with the foul line when it touches the umpire. If fair, the ball is in play. The umpire must make sure he is entirely in foul territory so that any line drive striking him will be foul. He was out of position on this play.

4.         A batted ball rolls down the first baseline. It stops with part of he ball on the foul line and most of it over foul territory.

Ruling:            This is a fair ball. When it stops before reaching the base, it is fair if any part of the ball is touching the foul line.

5.         A fly ball hits the foul pole.

Ruling:            Fair ball. The foul pole is fair territory. If the pole            is behind the fence, it is a home run. If inside the fence, it is a fair ball in play. If the ball hits the foul pole         which is inside the fence and is deflected over the fence            in foul territory, it is a two base hit.

6.         A batted ball is rolling down the first baseline in foul territory.  While it is rolling the umpire calls it "foul". The ball hits a dirt clod and rolls into fair territory where it stops.

Ruling:            The umpire has committed the unpardonable sin of calling a foul ball too soon. The ruling must stand as all play stops on the call.

7.         The batter hits the ball. It then strikes the plate and bounces into fair territory where it is fielded.

Ruling:            Fair ball. The plate is entirely in fair territory.

8.         The batter hits the ball. It then strikes the plate and bounces into foul territory where it is fielded before it reaches first base.

Ruling:            Foul ball.

9.                   A line drive hits the pitching rubber and goes untouched into the dugout.

Ruling:            This is a foul ball. A batted ball which touches first, second, or third base becomes a fair ball. The pitchers plate is considered the sameas the ground around it. The location of the ball after deflecting from the plate would determine whether it is fair or foul.

10. A batted ball that comes to rest on home plate.

Ruling:            The ball is fair and in play.

THE INFIELD FLY

The infield fly rule is one of the most confusing rules in the minds of the typical player and fan.

DEFINITION:           

An infield fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder stationed in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.

When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare "infield fly" for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baseline, the umpire shall declare "infield fly, if fair". The ball is live and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.

SEVERAL POINTS MUST BE KEPT IN

WHEN MIND INVOLVED WITH THIS RULE

A.     First and second base must be occupied. Whether or not third base is occupied has no effect on the rule. There must be no outs or one out. The rule was created for the protection of the runners, not the fielder.

B.         A bunt may not be ruled an infield fly. By the nature of the play a penalty would be imposed on the offense rather than the defense.

C.         A line drive may not be ruled an infield fly, as the calling of an out            in this situation would not protect the runners.

D.        The umpire must judge that the ball could have been caught with ordinary effort.

Exactly what is ordinary effort? That Little League shortstop and major league shortstops play under the same infield fly rule, but there's a universe of difference between their ordinary efforts. This is only one of the many situations that you as the umpire must use your judgment in determining what is ordinary effort for the player.

E.         The umpires must be alert for the possibility of an infield fly.  They should have a signal between each other to make sure each one is aware of the situation. Normally, the infield fly is called by the umpire nearest the ball followed by all other umpires. This should be done in a loud tone with arm signals so that everyone involved in the play, as well as the spectators, know of the ruling.

RULING EXAMPLES:

1.         A runner standing on second base or any base is struck by a fly which has been declared an infield fly.

Ruling:            The batter is out, the runner is not. Should the runner have been off the base when struck, both he and the batter would have been declared out.

2.         The bases are loaded with no outs. The infielders are playing in for          a force play at the plate. A fly ball is hit which could have been easily caught if the infielder had been at normal depth. Because he is playing in, the infielder attempts to catch the ball while running with his back to the plate.

Ruling:            This is not an infield fly. The position of the fielder, not the ball, is the detemining factor in this case.

3.         An infield fly is declared by the umpire. The shortstop catches the ball and throws it to second base before the runner who had left the base can return.

Ruling:            A double play results. When an infield fly is declared the batter is out. The runners are not forced to run. The ball remains alive and in play in all other respects.

4.         The infield fly situation is in effect. A fly ball is batted within the           infield. No declaration is made by the umpire. All runners run.  After the play is over, one of the umpires announces that he has applied the infield fly rule and the batter is out.

Ruling:            This is a very serious mistake on the part of the umpire. An infield fly must be declared by the umpire as soon as he determines that the ball can be caught by the in­fielder with ordinary effort not after the play is over.

5.         On a fly ball near the foul line in front of third base, the umpire calls "infield fly". The infielder lets the ball fall, it rolls into foul territory.

Ruling:            Foul ball. The umpire should call "infield fly, if fair" on any doubtful fly ball. The omission does not change the fact that this is a foul ball.

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Last Modified: May 06, 2007