# Hit by pitch

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch/114278>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 16, 2002, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch/114278 "2002-06-16T00:16:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Snetho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Snetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snetho)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch/114278/1 "2002-06-16T00:16:48Z")

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If a batter accidentally steps on home plate in an effort to avoid an oncoming pitch, will he still be called out?

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch/114278/2 "2002-06-16T00:37:31Z")

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Depends upon where the pitch is. If the pitch is in the strike zone, then it’s a strike. If it isn’t, then it’s “Take your base”. This is presuming also that the batter isn’t stepping on home plate in an effort to impede the catcher from making a throw to another base. But let’s say the pitcher throws a pitch at the batter’s head and he hits the dirt and his feet end up on the plate and the ball hits his helmet. That’s an HBP in my book.