If you interfere with a baseball player that is trying to make a catch in the stands, is that interference?

Question

I get to as many baseball games that my wallet and wife allow, and I always buy front row seats when I go, regardless of where they are in the stadium. While I've never caught a foul ball or homerun, it annoys the heck out of me when I see, either at the game or on TV, a player from the away team reaching into our stands to make a catch.

Could somone please give me some clarity around the interference rule, and more importantly, do different stadiums have different policies about ejecting fans? If I prevent a player from catching a call that is CLEARLY in the stands, perhaps by blocking the player's mitt or arm, will I get ejected?

BTW - I'm not a white trash White Sox fan - just interested in giving my team a little home field advantage is I was ever called upon to do so !

Answer 1

Definition from Major League Baseball Rule 2.00:

INTERFERENCE
(d) Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball.

Therefore, if you stay in the stands, this is not interference. As for what the stadium officials will do, that's their call. But as for the actual rules of the game, once the fielder takes the risk of leaving the field, he's fair game. It does create a home-field advantage. Whether you get to keep your ticket is another story. But if the ball's clearly out of play, you should be fine.

In fact, I found more relevant info in the definition of "CATCH:"
"No interference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk."

In other words, when he goes out of play, whatever happens....happens. MUAHAHA.

Answer 2

If the ball is coming down in the seats, it is fair game for fans or spectators to grab for it. I myself tend to be mystified when fans get in the way of a legitmate play that would help the home team, but no one ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of the American public.

If the ball is coming down over the field, however, fans reaching out of the stands to try and grab the ball can be called for interference. Ejection policies are up to the home team, but for the actual play, if the umpire considers that a fielder likely would have caught the ball, he can award the defensive team the out. I've seen this happen twice.

MLB Rule 2.00, Definitions of Terms

INTERFERENCE
(d) Spectator interference occurs when a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball.
On any interference the ball is dead.

Answer 3

If the spectator reaches across the wall into the field of play, it is ruled fan interference. If the player reaches across the wall into the stands, there is no interference called. Even if interference is not called, it is possible that you may be ejected for poor sportsmanship or some such nonsense - policies for ejecting fans do vary by ballpark. If you are simply trying to catch the ball fouled into the stands, I don't see how you could ever be tossed out.

Answer 4

I'd consider the player as the first bidder. The ball already has an intrinsic value. If the player wants it bad enough he will make a fair offer ... if not, it goes up on ebay. If the players would have been demonstrating their desire to play the game superseded big salaries I would give the ball to the player ... but the players are not like that. To them, the sport is a business. It's about the money ... well, that's what I'd do to them if I had the chance.

Answer 5

As long as you don't reach onto the field, you won't be guilty of interference. A fielder who reaches into the stands to make a catch does so at his own risk.

This doesn't mean you can do whatever you want to prevent a fielder from making a catch and expect to watch the rest of the game in the stadium, though.

Answer 6

Yes, if the player has a chance to get it. They at least called it an interference when moises alou was trying to catch a ball that was going into the stands during game three, and someone got in the way of it. He could have had it, but the cubs would've screwed themselves in the end anyway lol. And what fan wouldn't go for a ball that was coming at them? I know I would.

Answer 7

It's up to the discretion of the umpire as to whether or not a fan was interfering with the play. If the player could have made the catch pretty easily, then it will be ruled an out. Most of the time though interference isn't called because when a player dives into the stands it isn't the "easiest" of catches.

Answer 8

While the above answerw are correct, I find the easiest way to accomplish both objectives (on a fly ball) is to turn your back to the field and catch it. There's no way you can get tangled with his arms.

Answer 9

It won't count as interference, but you will be ejected in each and every stadium in the country.
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Answer 10

As long as you keep your hands out side the field it is not interferencence.