Does MLB have a rule about the maximum/minimum distance from home to any outfield fence?

Question

Great .Since there is no required maximum distance then wouldn't it make sense to push the outfield fences out another 50-70'
Because :
Good outfielders are easier to find than good pitchers
The greats of the game played on big fields . Yankee Stadium was 461' to straightaway center when Joe D and Mantle played there
His Budness would be making an integrity -of -the- game statement and officially ending the cheap home run/ steroid era

Answer 1

As noted, Rule 1.04 defines the minimum fences, although (as also noted), pretty much every new park (20 since 1989, with five more on the way) gets a waiver for some part of the fence if necessary.

Moving the fences out might sound good, but there are two effects which offset the likely reduction in homers:
1. good outfielders might be easier to find (topic for another time), but they're used to patrolling the standard amount of outfield range and not have to gallop into the next county. So there'd be plenty more doubles and triples, and they'd get tired eventually.
2. Lower scoring results in lower ticket sales, and I think we can all see where Seligula & Co. wouldn't much like that.

Answer 2

The minimum distance from home plate to the stands or a wall in fair territory is 250 feet. There is no maximum distance required by the rules.

Rule 1.04 says only that the minimum distances of 320 feet down the lines and 400 feet to center are "preferable."

The rule was amended in the 1950s to require any field built or remodeled after June 1, 1958, to have minimum distances down the lines of 325 feet and to center field 400 feet.

Some newer stadiums have shorter distances down the lines. In these cases, the teams have asked the commissioner's office to waive the newer rule. Sometimes these parks require slightly shorter distances because of space restrictions for the stadium.

Answer 3

In 1958 a new rule said the foul poles must be 325 feet from the plate, and center field 400. It's still on the books, but not particularly enforced. Several new ballparks have shorter pole distances, and as far as I know no team has ever been penalized for it.

What you can't do is change your distances during the season. Whatever distance you establish in April, you're stuck with through October. Teams have tried to move their fences in or out depending on the hitting strength of the opposing team and been slapped down by the Commissioner for it. It hasn't been tried since the Sixties, however, because the deterrent was too strong.

Answer 4

Mlb Center Field Distances

Answer 5

Rule 1.04 States:
(a)The distance from home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on fair territory shall be 250 feet or more. A distance of 320 feet or more along the foul lines, and 400 feet or more to center field is preferable.

NOTE (a) Any Playing Field constructed by a professional club after June 1, 1958, shall provide a minimum distance of 325 feet from home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on the right and left field foul lines, and a minimum distance of 400 feet to the center field fence. (b) No existing playing field shall be remodeled after June 1, 1958, in such manner as to reduce the distance from home base to the foul poles and to the center field fence below the minimum specified in paragraph (a) above.

In addition though...

Now when new ballparks are built, they are supposed to follow Major League Baseball Rule 1.04, Note (a), which states that any field built or remodeled after 1958 is supposed to have a minimum of 325 feet to the foul poles and 400 feet to center. When you see a new park open with shorter distances than that (like in SF, Houston and next year in Cincinnati) it’s because the team petitioned MLB to waive the rule (usually in exchange for the fence being higher than usual).

--- Joe Mock, Webmaster of BASEBALLPARKS.COM and the Grand Slam Mall
Ballpark guru at Baseball Guru

Answer 6

I forget if dead center, left-center, or right-center have a rule, but I'll check. I know dead left and dead right are by rule supposed to be 325, but that the rule is not enforced always. I remember when the Buccos were planning PNC I read something about being lenient w/ small revenue clubs trying to build newer parks, allowing them to do it, but I forget the reasoning. But I think almost every park where it is less they have something to make up for it, i.e. left in Minute-Maid the ball has to clear into the crawford boxes and in right in PNC the fence is 21' high (for Clemente, who wore 21 in right field) to make up for it being 321' from home (number 21 there again).

I'm gonna get the rule.

* Or someone will beat me to it while typing, lol. Good job on Rule 1.04a and its note.

Again though, that isn't enforced everywhere, aka right in PNC.

Answer 7

In football, the distance from one goal line to the other is 300 feet. In basketball, the court is what, 94 feet long? Baseball is no different: it's 90 feet between bases and 60.5 feet from the pitcher's plate to home plate, no matter which field you're at. Next you'll be asking why all baseball stadiums don't have the same number of seats, ditto for football and basketball.

Answer 8

There's a minimum requirement, but the maximum depth has to depend on the shape and size of the property on which the stadium has been built.

Rule 1.04 gives the current minimums. Camden Yard (RF), PNC Park (RF) and Minute Maid Park (LF) received exemptions based on the property restrictions.

Answer 9

yes there is a minimum of 320 feet along the foul lines and 420 feet in center field

there is no maximum though

some parks are grandfathered in though and they wouldn't HAVE to move the fences

Answer 10

thats the same question i keep wondering to myself. I would have to say if they can Allow fenway to be that small, then thats the minimum, the maximum i would have to say probally from 450-500 ft. or so.