If a player goes up and catches a ball and his inertia takes him out of the ballpark, is that an out, or is that considered a homerun. if it is a homerun, could a player jump over a fence and than catch a homerun ball?
2007-06-17 14:46:42 · 17 answers · asked by kingrottenboy 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I was more thinking on the amateur level of baseball where some ball parks have fences that are not tall at all, like 4 feet hight.
2007-06-17 15:00:01 · update #1
"Still"? That assumes it was a home run to begin with.
No. Even though the act of catching the ball wasn't complete until the fielder's momentum stopped, he is considered to have caught the ball on the field.
A fielder cannot leave the field and then make a catch off the field, in answer to the second part of your question.
Guys who are citing 6.05(a), that comment applies to catching foul balls near the dugout.
2007-06-17 19:11:40 · answer #1 · answered by Ryan R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not a home run. The defense team cannot jump over any fences to catch the ball for an out. They have to be legally in the ballpark to catch the ball.
MLB Rules 6.05
A batter is out when --
(a) His fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder;
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. Status of runners shall be as described in Rule 7.04(c) Comment
2007-06-17 16:04:42 · answer #2 · answered by Mark C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's an out if the fielder maintains control of the ball while falling over the wall.
If he drops or loses it over the wall, oh dear, that's a home run. (This once happened to Brad Komminsk after snaring a Cal Ripken fly; fell over and lost the ball.)
Jumping the wall and THEN making the catch isn't allowed -- home run.
The ball is dead.
MLB Rule 6.05:
6.05
A batter is out when --
(a) His fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder;
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.
2007-06-17 15:04:13 · answer #3 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
One time my dad caught a Mark McGuire foul ball in '98 when he was chasing the home run record. It was at Shea Stadium and the ball just missed being a home run. At the last second it curved foul, then it hit off a guys hand and my dad caught it. I was with him when he caught it so that's kind of like I caught it in a way. Only in a way though cause I didn't actually catch it. I was real young then. That year we had went to every Saturday home game. Those were the days. However, I never actually caught anything. From a foul ball, to a home run, to a shirt that they launch into the stands. Absolutely nothing. The closest I ever came was when Rey Ordonez threw a ball into the stands, and I was in another world at the time and ignored it. I also was sick at the time, and again I was real young.
2016-03-14 00:52:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is an out if it is caught in the field of play and is at the disgretion of the umpire as to if the player caught and had control of the ball or not. It is a homerun if the player jumps over the fence than catches it.
2007-06-17 14:54:47 · answer #5 · answered by DANNY A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is an out and no, a player cannot jump out of the field of play and catch a ball outside the boundaries of the field of play and catch a homerun ball.
2007-06-17 14:50:24 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A player can't jump over the fence and catch a HR ball, but it is legal to jump, catch a ball, then fall into the stands.
P.S. Did you see Gary Matthews Jr.'s leaping catch last year? Admittedly, he didn't fall over the wall, but the catch was unbelievable!
2007-06-18 15:11:39 · answer #7 · answered by Megan 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It would still be an out because a home run is if it goes over the wall un caught and bounces or lands in the stands. Since he caught it before it bounced into the stands it's an out.
2007-06-17 14:58:04 · answer #8 · answered by John H 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Love the question. Unfortunately for the hitter, it would still be an out...and no, a player can not hop over the fence to make an out (doubt they'd be able to anyway).
2007-06-17 14:54:48 · answer #9 · answered by Hugo M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can't jump the fence and then catch it on the other side....
If your momentum takes you over than it's an out... as long as you hold on to it.
It's called ROBBING.
2007-06-18 06:40:23 · answer #10 · answered by Michael F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋