In baseball, is it ALWAYS interference when the runner collides with a fielder attempting to catch a ball?

Question

I saw this today in a Babe Ruth baseball game: The first baseman settled under a lazy pop fly about three feet to the home plate side of first base and also a couple of feet into foul territory, and stood there under the ball. Just as the runner approached first base (the runner was taking an open, straight line route to first base right along the foul line), the fielder suddenly moved to his right into the direct path of the runner (perhaps because the wind had drifted the flight of the popup), and the two men collided right on the foul line just before the ball came down. The ball dropped and the umpire called the runner out (and also ejected the runner for running into the fielder who was trying to make a catch - league rules). Would this same ruling have occurred under major league baseball rules?

Answer 1

yes , it is always interfearence EVEN IF IT IS NOT INTENTIONAL .. unless if in the umpires view the fielder pourposly jumped in front of the runner to "force"interfearence because he couldnt catch the ball.. but i've never seen that.

Answer 2

I don't think so. I've frequently seen runners from third to home run into the catcher to try to keep him from tagging the runner out. Ditto re runners into second colliding with the shortstop trying to break up a double play.

Answer 3

You have to yield to the fielder on any hit ball or a thrown ball that has been caught(slide or avoid direct contact),except in college or above

Answer 4

Yes, minus the ejection.