I vaguely remember seeing an outfielder falling over the other side of the outfield wall while making a catch and having it count as a home run, but that was over 10 years ago so I don't know if my memory is correct. A few years ago, Bobby Kielty also made a catch where he almost fell over that short wall in right field at Fenway and spent a while trying to make sure he didn't fall over. So it seems like the outfielder also has to stay in the field of play, is this true?
But I've seen a lot of plays where players trying to catch a foul ball fall into the stands and it still counts as a catch and the batter is out. Why is there this difference?
2006-07-18 13:33:32 · 11 answers · asked by twentyten88 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I think the rule is...it's an out if the fielder's momentum carries him over the wall. If he ran over a short wall, for instance, 15 rows up, it would be a home run since the fielder intentionally left the field of play.
Otherwise its an out as long as he doesn't drop the ball.
Rule 6.05(a) Comment: A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a dugout to make a catch, and if he holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed. A fielder, in order to make a catch on a foul ball nearing a dugout or other out-of-play area (such as the stands), must have one or both feet on or over the playing surface (including the lip of the dugout) and neither foot on the ground inside the dugout or in any other out-of-play area. Ball is in play, unless the fielder, after making a legal catch, falls into a dugout or other out-of-play area, in which case the ball is dead.
2006-07-18 13:41:12 · answer #1 · answered by Chapin 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If I'm correct, if a ball goes out of the field of play, it's a homerun. Each ballpark is different due to the depth of the field. Some ballparks have a shorter left or right field so over the wall there might be a stand up double or triple, depending on the park rules. As for the foul ball, if it's caught, it's treated like a pop up and the man on base needs to tag up.
2006-07-18 20:38:01 · answer #2 · answered by yodeladyhoo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the ball is caught, it's not a home run. Regardless of where the outfielder ends up.
Chapin, below me, is correct. I didn't think about the possibility of an outfielder jumping over a wall before catching a ball.
2006-07-18 20:37:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Regardless of where it is, and the length of the play/field of a catch is made in mid-air (before the ball bounces, or touches anything else!) it will always be an out.
2006-07-18 20:39:44 · answer #4 · answered by ShouldBeWorking 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as the fielder catches the ball in midair without the ball hitting the ground, its an out.
2006-07-18 20:37:12 · answer #5 · answered by letsgomets1108 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no but if he either drops its a home run but if a fan took the ball then its a ground rule double.
2006-07-18 22:32:15 · answer #6 · answered by J-Dizzle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No as long as he jumps from the playing field not anywhere else
2006-07-18 22:05:56 · answer #7 · answered by cameroncrazie4566 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it would only be a home run if they dropped the ball. if he catches it, it's an out.
2006-07-18 20:35:35 · answer #8 · answered by tylerj121 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no its not because the catch has to be made in fair gound but if he robed it in fair gounds it wound be a out
2006-07-18 20:56:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if he holds on to the ball.
2006-07-18 23:30:43 · answer #10 · answered by mike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋