Is it illegal to intentionally juggle the ball? For example; bottom of the ninth, tie game, runner on third, one out. A fly is hit to the warning track. Could the OF bounce it off the back of his glove as he walked toward the infield, so when he finally caught it the runner couldn’t tag up nad score?
It’s not illegal. But I can’t imagine it’d stop the runner on third from scoring unless the oufielder was a professional juggler.
Runners can tag as soon as the ball hits the fielder, regardless of whether he subsequently juggles it or not.
Correct me if I’ wrong but as soon as the ball touches something (not when it is caught) the runner can tag up.
This is the relevant part of the MLB rules
Officially it sounds like the ball has to be caught or hit the ground before a runner can tag.
Oh yeah, and that’s from Section 10.09 in case anyone awas curious.
It seems to me that caught means caught. But I don’t know(which is why I asked the question. 
)
Ah, but you have to read the fine print in the definition of a “catch” in Rule 2.00:
And the rule works both ways. Rule 7.10
A flying start? You mean like if they’re high?
No. Cheating happens all the time in baseball. Havn’t you ever seen the infamous hidden ball trick?
But the hidden ball trick isn’t cheating, because it’s not against the rules.
A spitball is cheating. A corked bat is cheating.
So the answer to the OP is “yes,” it’s legal to juggle to ball, but it does you absolutely no good anyway.
And in the 19th century, skilled fielders would indeed juggle fly balls hit to the outfield to prevent runners from tagging up. Hence the rule was changed.
the rule is (and I don’t have the time to look it up, any help?) when the ball touches ANYTHING within the field of play, it is a live ball, unless it is cought fairly, IN THE JUDGE’S OPINION. This is why a ball bouncing off an outfielder’s head into the bleachers is a ground rule double.
If the ball hits the back of a fielder’s glove instead of in it, it is a live ball and the OF better be faster on the throw than the runner on 3rd.
Are you sure this isn’t a home run, just as if it hits a player’s glove and goes over the wall? Or did you mean bleachers that are in fould territory?
(I’m too lazy to look up rules right now, but I could swear that a ball bouncing off a player and over the wall is a homer. Isn’t that what happened to Canseco?)
If I’m wrong, sorry.
From ESPN :
He once let a ball bounce off his head and over the wall for a homer.
Juggling the ball may have an advantage. I’m surprised I’ve never seen it.
If the base runner is not intending to tag up and is off the base a few steps, the runner may make an initial movement toward the next base thinking the ball has been missed, increasing the potential of the fielder throwing him out.
Juggling the ball would only be advantageous if the runners aren’t paying attention or the batter isn’t running out the play.
There are many other ways to catch stupid runners.