# What is the strike zone? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [June 3, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443 "2024-06-03T17:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/1 "2024-06-03T17:22:32Z")
If the strike zone is from the elbows to the knees… what is the strike zone in this case? [![](https://www.thepitchkc.com/content/uploads/2019/07/R18.594da2cbf08f1-771x1024.png) ](https://www.thepitchkc.com/content/uploads/2019/07/R18.594da2cbf08f1-771x1024.png) ---
**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, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/2 "2024-06-03T17:24:57Z")
Whatever the ump says it is. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/3 "2024-06-03T17:29:42Z")
MLB says: > The official strike zone is the area over home plate from the midpoint between a batter’s shoulders and the top of the uniform pants – when the batter is in his stance and prepared to swing at a pitched ball – and a point just below the kneecap. In order to get a strike call, part of the ball must cross over part of home plate while in the aforementioned area. - [SOURCE](https://www.mlb.com/glossary/rules/strike-zone) It would seem there is some room there from the shoulders to the knees or top of the pants (not quite sure how to parse that rule. As an aside, [the St. Louis Browns put a little person in the rotation.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel) Their strike zone was so small they’d likely get a walk and then a pinch runner put in. But it was only a gimmick. (His jersey number was “1/8”) ---
**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, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/4 "2024-06-03T17:32:47Z")
Darn it!! I was just about to correct you. The Chicago connection you originally had was with Bill Veeck and the White Sox. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/5 "2024-06-03T18:16:43Z")
It’s defined as the “natural stance” and there’s no way any umpire would call that a natural stance. As a fan, I’d actually have no problem with the ump tossing a player that tried it. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/6 "2024-06-03T18:39:46Z")
Even if it’s Weird Al? ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/7 "2024-06-03T18:42:25Z")
This was a charity event and Weird Al is just being Weird Al. 🙂 Interesting that a MLB team tried to have a little person bat. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/8 "2024-06-03T18:43:43Z")
This makes sense to me (outside of this charity event for kids and Weird Al is just trying to be funny). ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/9 "2024-06-03T18:48:58Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0M-ZCG7fD80/maxresdefault.jpg "Fun Zone") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M-ZCG7fD80) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/10 "2024-06-03T18:59:42Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > Interesting that a MLB team tried to have a little person bat. It’s a classic real-life instance of “Show me the rule against it!” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/11 "2024-06-03T19:32:09Z")
Bill Veeck wanted the 3’7" Eddie Gaedel to bat from a crouch, but Gaedel insisted on standing up straight, which gave the pitcher a (theoretical) strike zone to aim for. The catcher actually got down on his knees to give the pitcher a target, but the four pitches to Gaedel all went at least as high as his head or higher ---
**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, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/12 "2024-06-03T19:32:49Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > Interesting that a MLB team tried to have a little person bat. If you know anything about Bill Veeck (whose idea this was), you wouldn’t be surprised. 🙂 ---
**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, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/13 "2024-06-03T19:37:27Z")
Ooh, I hadn’t realized that was Weird Al. In that case, his strike zone is wherever the heck he wants it to be. Nice to see that he’s recovered so well from his assassination by Madonna. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/14 "2024-06-03T19:47:30Z")
There was a much better photo on his Facebook page but it wouldn’t link here properly. (For clarity, I was asking what if a MLB batter did this, not Weird Al) ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/15 "2024-06-03T19:50:36Z")
I’ll do that. Thanks! 🙂 I’m not actually a baseball fan despite all of the baseball questions I’ve been asking lately. I don’t dislike baseball either, I’m just not much into sports. I am; however, a very curious person so when I see something I want to know the … Straight Dope. … Ok stop groaning… it wasn’t that bad. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/16 "2024-06-03T19:51:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > If you know anything about Bill Veeck (whose idea this was), you wouldn’t be surprised. 🙂 With everyone having a smartphone, I’m waiting for a team to bring back the “manager fan section” for a game once they’re eliminated. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/17 "2024-06-03T22:53:28Z")
Veeck took out a policy insuring against sudden growth of Gaedel. He cancelled the policy after the stunt had occurred to get a partial refund of the premium. This is known as “short rate” pricing. Veeck became concerned that Gaedel might swing for the fences when Gaedel asked him how tall Wee Willie Keeler was. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/18 "2024-06-04T00:46:36Z")
It’s also claimed Veeck told Gaedel that he had a sharpshooter hidden in the park with orders to shoot Gaedel if he even tried to swing the bat. For all Veeck’s carnival-barker showmanship, he also signed Larry Doby to be the first African-American player in the American League. Herre’s a life-size cutout of Gaedel at the plate against the uniform of John Rauch, who as the tallest MLB player ever at 6’!1". [![](https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/styles/fullscreen_image_popup/public/_30A7425.jpg.jpeg?itok=ztfBlx9Q) ](https://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/styles/fullscreen_image_popup/public/_30A7425.jpg.jpeg?itok=ztfBlx9Q) ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/19 "2024-06-04T02:06:04Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > The catcher actually got down on his knees to give the pitcher a target, but the four pitches to Gaedel all went at least as high as his head or higher As seen in this famous photograph. [![](https://i.ibb.co/VHn4HDm/IMG-1832.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/VHn4HDm/IMG-1832.jpg) Veeck threatened to kill him if he swung. After walking, he was subbed for a pinch runner. And thus ended his career, as he was banned afterwards. At his funeral, the only ball player to attend was the pitcher, Bob Cain. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443/20 "2024-06-04T02:41:43Z")
5’10" Bert Campaneris, either in '70 or '71 judging by the uniform. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/xKc7qE5.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/xKc7qE5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-strike-zone/1002443.md?page=2)