# Can one fielder assist another to make a catch in MLB? Plus more **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [June 2, 2026, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557 "2026-06-02T03:14:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/61 "2026-06-03T15:47:19Z")
OK, that Braves uniform isn’t too bad, but those Sox and Astros pictures are great examples of why a lot of folks would like to forget the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/62 "2026-06-03T15:56:13Z")
The Padres’ uniforms were pretty bad back then, too. It made them look like they were working behind the counter at Taco Bell. [![](https://content.sportslogos.net/news/2013/12/San-Diego-Padres-1984.jpg) ](https://content.sportslogos.net/news/2013/12/San-Diego-Padres-1984.jpg) [![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/1*PkGS57kcfvoY2kUgqHWsKA.jpeg) ](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/1*PkGS57kcfvoY2kUgqHWsKA.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/63 "2026-06-03T16:07:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > those Sox and Astros pictures are great examples of why a lot of folks would like to forget the 70s. The throwback Astros uniforms are actually surprisingly popular. They sell incredibly well and you see them all the time at the ball park. I don’t get it, but I’m clearly no arbiter of taste or style, either ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/64 "2026-06-03T16:08:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, that Braves uniform isn’t too bad, but those Sox and Astros pictures are great examples of why a lot of folks would like to forget the 70s . The fuchsia Cleveland double-knits were rough. I wonder how often that red showed as fuchsia/magenta on televisions and baseball cards? [![](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/08/ef/61/08ef610afa50b3740700e6a188572c06.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/08/ef/61/08ef610afa50b3740700e6a188572c06.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/65 "2026-06-03T16:10:28Z")
I always thought the White Sox uniforms in the 70s were the worst. And that’s before we even get to them wearing shorts: [![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yGz5n4ssHl8/UhVIbyUSykI/AAAAAAAAANE/gt5DsSouqI4/s1600/Chicago+White+Sox+Awful+Jersey.jpg) ](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yGz5n4ssHl8/UhVIbyUSykI/AAAAAAAAANE/gt5DsSouqI4/s1600/Chicago+White+Sox+Awful+Jersey.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/66 "2026-06-03T16:15:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, that Braves uniform isn’t too bad, but those Sox and Astros pictures are great examples of why a lot of folks would like to forget the 70s . I grew up with the White Sox and Astros ones, so I don’t mind those. At some point in the early 1980s, the Astros switched to the “rainbows” only appearing along the shoulders, from neck to sleeve-end. The White Sox, though kept the broad-stripe “SOX” look through at least 1985-86 or thereabouts. Tom Seaver won his 300th game in that get-up. [![](https://www.nydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2020/11/21/TE3WT6IPRJRZTSR4SPTJFIRC2U.jpg?w=620) ](https://www.nydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2020/11/21/TE3WT6IPRJRZTSR4SPTJFIRC2U.jpg?w=620) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/67 "2026-06-03T17:01:22Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Railer13](#): > > > > Again, from the MLB rulebook: > > > > > A catch is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform in getting possession. > > I know that “protector” in this case was undoubtedly meant to describe the catcher’s protective gear. But, even so, my brain went, “he caught the ball with his _cup_?” Here is a play dealing with using a protector but not on a catch. Luis Torrens is catching when a pitch gets away from him a short distance away. The hand holding his mask is the closest so he reaches down and stops the ball with the mask. Runners are on 2nd and 3rd. They are both awarded a base. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NeiEz9M22b0/maxresdefault.jpg "Luis Torrens touched the ball with his mask, which allowed runners on base to advance 😭 #mets #mlb") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeiEz9M22b0) ---
**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 3, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/68 "2026-06-03T17:11:18Z")
Perhaps tangential, note that it is allowed to catch the ball in the glove and then throw the glove, ball-and-all, to first base and be recorded as an out (as long as it beats the runner there.) John Lester of the Chicago Cubs was known for doing this twice in the 2016 season, with a .500 success rate. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/69 "2026-06-03T18:00:27Z")
Yes, that situation (although not Jon Lester in particular) was mentioned early in the thread. ---
**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 3, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/70 "2026-06-03T18:08:08Z")
Gosh darn it. I swear I skimmed over the whole thread. Should’ve done a FIND I guess (though I guess if Lester wasn’t mentioned, I wouldn’t have found it anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557/71 "2026-06-03T18:19:43Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > As described it doesn’t even make any sense - how would a center fielder stand on a first baseman’s shoulders in “short right field” to rob a home run? My takeaway was, “Stands on shoulder. With cleats. Ouch!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fielder-assist-another-to-make-a-catch-in-mlb-plus-more/1030557.md?page=3)