# Why does the Catcher's Balk rule exist?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-catchers-balk-rule-exist/558701>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [October 28, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-catchers-balk-rule-exist/558701 "2010-10-28T20:43:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-catchers-balk-rule-exist/558701/21 "2014-06-19T00:33:25Z")

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Not strictly true. An illegal pitch is a balk with runners on, a ball with no runners on. Not all balks are illegal pitches.

Example of a balk that’s not an illegal pitch: (1) failure to come to a stop. (2) Not stepping towards the base when throwing over. (3) Catcher’s balk.

Example of an illegal pitch (balk with runners on, ball without): (1) pitching without the foot on the rubber. (2) A quick pitch.

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**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-catchers-balk-rule-exist/558701/22 "2014-06-19T00:37:32Z")

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> [@Obeseus](#):
>
> There is also rule 7.07, which states:  
> Years ago, catchers were actually charged with balks, hence the term ‘catcher’s balk.’ Despite Tim McCarver using the term too many times, it is now a misnomer as all balks are charged to the pitcher, and have been for the last 70 or so years.

To be fair, McCarver was catching 70 years ago.

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