# Baseball tagging out question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-tagging-out-question/300755 "2005-04-23T14:11:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-tagging-out-question/300755/1 "2005-04-23T14:11:41Z")
This is one of those wake up at 3 a.m. and say “I wonder?” questions. Clearly there is virtually no chance of it happening, but I still wonder, “What if?” What if a, let us say, third baseman trying to make a put out is suddenly rendered unconsious (has a stroke, runs into a teammate, narcolepsy - I don’t know, whatever - I told you it had virtually no chance of happening) but he retains control of the ball and he is in the base path. At this point the nearby runner stops and touches the prone body. Is the runner out? Now the runner did not touch the ball only the shoulder (or ankle, neck or whatever) of the third baseman. Now, I know that in recent years umpires have ruled that catchers in tagging out runners need not touch them with the ball or mitt but does this hold true of other players too and does one have to be awake (or even alive) to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-tagging-out-question/300755/2 "2005-04-23T14:23:31Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > Now, I know that in recent years umpires have ruled that catchers in tagging out runners need not touch them with the ball or mitt… You got a cite on this? The runner in your hypothetical is not out unless tagged by the ball, inside or outside the fielder’s glove. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-tagging-out-question/300755/3 "2005-04-23T14:24:45Z")
If the runner can not successfully revive the third baseman and then continues to run to third or home, he is safe. However, if he does revive the third baseman, and the third baseman says “tag, you’re out” loud enough to be heard, the runner is out. ---
**Author:** ![Redsland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@Redsland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redsland)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-tagging-out-question/300755/4 "2005-04-23T14:37:25Z")
With a complicit teammate, this would make a good trick play. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-tagging-out-question/300755/5 "2005-04-23T14:57:41Z")
> [@Ass For A Hat](#): > > You got a cite on this? Just what I have seen numerous times. The catcher tucks the ball in his mitt around his midsection and then goes shoulder to shoulder heading for home never touching the runner with the ball or mitt and the ump calling the runner out once it has been determined that the ball was securely in the control of the catcher. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-tagging-out-question/300755/6 "2005-04-23T15:05:28Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > Just what I have seen numerous times. The catcher tucks the ball in his mitt around his midsection and then goes shoulder to shoulder heading for home never touching the runner with the ball or mitt and the ump calling the runner out once it has been determined that the ball was securely in the control of the catcher. The mitt always touches the player. Or should, for a tag out to be called. From the definition of “tag” in the official rule book of major league baseball: > [@](#): > > A \*\*TAG \*\*is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; _or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove._ Italics mine. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-tagging-out-question/300755/7 "2005-04-23T15:49:47Z")
> [@x-ray vision](#): > > If the runner can not successfully revive the third baseman… I think rulings in this scenario would vary by jurisdiction. And if the good Mr. DeLay was involved…