# Baseball rule question **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 17, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008 "2009-06-17T00:16:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/1 "2009-06-17T00:16:53Z")
Batter hits a high pop fly past third base. The left fielder is standing in foul ground to catch it but the ball ticks off his glove and lands fair. The ball likely would have been foul if it hadn’t been touched by the fielder. Is the ball ruled fair or foul? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/2 "2009-06-17T00:23:26Z")
Rule 2.00 states: > [@](#): > > A FOUL BALL is a batted ball that settles on foul territory between home and first > base, or between home and third base, or that bounds past first or third base on or over foul > territory, or that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or that, while on or over > foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, or any object foreign to the natural > ground. > > A foul fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul > line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the infielder is on foul or fair territory at > the time he touches the ball. > > Rule 2.00 (Foul Ball) Comment: A batted ball not touched by a fielder, which hits the pitcher’s > rubber and rebounds into foul territory, between home and first, or between home and third base is a foul > ball. I believe this should mean the ball is ruled foul. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/3 "2009-06-17T01:19:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Rule 2.00 states: > > I believe this should mean the ball is ruled foul. This is a common question and not a stupid question. The umpire must rule if the ball was foul at the time it was touched, not where it lands. This rule will most commonly come into effect when a first or third baseman tries to field a line drive hit up the base line. If they catch it, it is an out. If they miss the catch, the umpire (usually the home plate umpire) has to rule whether the ball was in fair or foul territory (a plane over the base line) when it was touched. I’m thinking that the reason for the rule is to prevent player from using his glove to direct the ball either fair or foul with the intent of not catching it in order to force a baserunner into an out. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/4 "2009-06-17T01:32:55Z")
Even when the ball is caught, the umpire will rule if it is fair or foul, although there it makes no difference. Incidentally, the home plate umpire rules on infield balls, but once it passes first or third, it is the base umpire’s call (except in playoff games where there are outfield umpires). I was unaware of the rule about the pitcher’s mound. I guess umpires are beyond the base lines, so if it hits an umpire in fair territory and bounds foul it is still a fair ball. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/5 "2009-06-17T02:45:00Z")
It’s a foul ball, as shown in the referenced rule. I’ve got one. Remember when Jose Canseco had a ball bounce off his head and go over the outfield fence for a homer? Well, suppose Smith hits a screaming line drive at third base. The third baseman, who was unfortunately playing the bunt, is in the head in fair territory. The ball then richochets into foul territory and over the dugout into the stands on the fly. What’s the call? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/6 "2009-06-17T02:53:30Z")
The rule as quoted by **pulykamell** is strongly suggestive that it is a foul ball. However, while the fielder was standing in foul territory, the question is whether his (arm and) glove, as the ball grazed it and then fell fair, was within fair territory – as the rule clearly suggests. Where his feet were is immaterial; it is where his glove was that counts. There’s good reason to believe it was in foul territory, but it would be the umpire’s call wiether it was in foul or fair territory at the time the ball ricocheted off it. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/7 "2009-06-17T03:41:20Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s a foul ball, as shown in the referenced rule. > > I’ve got one. Remember when Jose Canseco had a ball bounce off his head and go over the outfield fence for a homer? > > Well, suppose Smith hits a screaming line drive at third base. The third baseman, who was unfortunately playing the bunt, is in the head in fair territory. The ball then richochets into foul territory and over the dugout into the stands on the fly. What’s the call? According to your scenario, the 3rd baseman is playing a bunt which would position him between 3rd base and home. Therefore, if it hit him and went foul it would be a foul ball. Think of a bunt that hits the ground fair but rolls into foul territory. It is a foul ball. If the 3rd basemen was on the other side of 3rd base then the call would be different. Think of a ball that is hit to left field inside the foul line and then hooks into the corner of left field that is in foul territory. It is a fair ball and the fielder must play it as such. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/8 "2009-06-17T03:42:58Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s a foul ball, as shown in the referenced rule. > > I’ve got one. Remember when Jose Canseco had a ball bounce off his head and go over the outfield fence for a homer? > > Well, suppose Smith hits a screaming line drive at third base. The third baseman, who was unfortunately playing the bunt, is in the head in fair territory. The ball then richochets into foul territory and over the dugout into the stands on the fly. What’s the call? Once it touches the 3rd baseman in fair territory it’s a fair ball. When it goes out of play foul, it’s a ground rule double. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/9 "2009-06-17T04:13:43Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Once it touches the 3rd baseman in fair territory it’s a fair ball. When it goes out of play foul, it’s a ground rule double. This would be my guess, as well, based on 2.00 for fair ball: > [@](#): > > 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, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory 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, passes out of the playing field in flight. > A fair fly shall be judged 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 he touches the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/10 "2009-06-17T04:58:15Z")
Moving to The Game Room from GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/11 "2009-06-17T12:42:47Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Once it touches the 3rd baseman in fair territory it’s a fair ball. When it goes out of play foul, it’s a ground rule double. Ah, yes. Thanks. That helped me find the correct rule. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/12 "2009-06-17T21:55:55Z")
> [@Spartydog](#): > > According to your scenario, the 3rd baseman is playing a bunt which would position him between 3rd base and home. Therefore, if it hit him and went foul it would be a foul ball. No. Once the infielder touches it in fair territory, the call is fair ball and the ball is in play. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/13 "2009-06-17T22:00:15Z")
> [@Spartydog](#): > > According to your scenario, the 3rd baseman is playing a bunt which would position him between 3rd base and home. Therefore, if it hit him and went foul it would be a foul ball. Think of a bunt that hits the ground fair but rolls into foul territory. It is a foul ball. If the 3rd basemen was on the other side of 3rd base then the call would be different. Think of a ball that is hit to left field inside the foul line and then hooks into the corner of left field that is in foul territory. It is a fair ball and the fielder must play it as such. No. Otherwise players would just “slap” or “accidentally” botch bunts or slow rollers foul. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-rule-question/500008/14 "2009-06-18T02:49:56Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > No. Otherwise players would just “slap” or “accidentally” botch bunts or slow rollers foul. I stand corrected. I didn’t do my homework with the rule book and actually contradicted the logic in my earlier post. You are right. The player touching the ball in fair territory makes it a fair ball. Otherwise they would slap the bunts into foul territory.