The Rules
of Baseball
7.00 THE
RUNNER
7.01
A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base when he touches it
before he is out. He is then entitled to it until he is put out, or
forced to vacate it for another runner legally entitled to that base.
If a runner legally acquires title to a base, and the pitcher assumes
his pitching position, the runner may not return to a previously occupied
base.
7.02
In advancing, a runner shall touch first, second, third and home base
in order. If forced to return, he shall retouch all bases in reverse
order, unless the ball is dead under any provision of Rule 5.09. In
such cases, the runner may go directly to his original base.
7.03
Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive,
two runners are touching a base, the following runner shall be out when
tagged. The preceding runner is entitled to the base.
7.04
Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put
out, advance one base when_ (a) There is a balk; (b) The batter's advance
without liability to be put out forces the runner to vacate his base,
or when the batter hits a fair ball that touches another runner or the
umpire before such ball has been touched by, or has passed a fielder,
if the runner is forced to advance; A runner forced to advance without
liability to be put out may advance past the base to which he is entitled
only at his peril. If such a runner, forced to advance, is put out for
the third out before a preceding runner, also forced to advance, touches
home plate, the run shall score. Play. Two out, bases full, batter walks
but runner from second is overzealous and runs past third base toward
home and is tagged out on a throw by the catcher. Even though two are
out, the run would score on the theory that the run was forced home
by the base on balls and that all the runners needed to do was proceed
and touch the next base. (c) A fielder, after catching a fly ball, falls
into a bench or stand, or falls across ropes into a crowd when spectators
are on the field; A fielder or catcher may reach or step into, or go
into the dugout with one or both feet to make a catch, and if he holds
the ball, the catch shall be allowed. Ball is in play. If the fielder
or catcher, after having made a legal catch, should fall into a stand
or among spectators or into the dugout after making a legal catch, or
fall while in the dugout after making a legal catch, the ball is dead
and runners advance one base without liability to be put out. (d) While
he is attempting to steal a base, the batter is interfered with by the
catcher or any other fielder. NOTE: When a runner is entitled to a base
without liability to be put out, while the ball is in play, or under
any rule in which the ball is in play after the runner reaches the base
to which he is entitled, and the runner fails to touch the base to which
he is entitled before attempting to advance to the next base, the runner
shall forfeit his exemption from liability to be put out, and he may
be put out by tagging the base or by tagging the runner before he returns
to the missed base.
7.05
Each runner including the batter runner may, without liability to be
put out, advance_ (a) To home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes
out of the playing field in flight and he touched all bases legally;
or if a fair ball which, in the umpire's judgment, would have gone out
of the playing field in flight, is deflected by the act of a fielder
in throwing his glove, cap, or any article of his apparel; (b) Three
bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with his cap, mask
or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person.
The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at his peril;
(c) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately throws his glove at and touches
a fair ball. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home
base at his peril. (d) Two bases, if a fielder deliberately touches
a thrown ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached
from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play; (e) Two bases,
if a fielder deliberately throws his glove at and touches a thrown ball.
The ball is in play; In applying (b c d e) the umpire must rule that
the thrown glove or detached cap or mask has touched the ball. There
is no penalty if the ball is not touched. Under (c e) this penalty shall
not be invoked against a fielder whose glove is carried off his hand
by the force of a batted or thrown ball, or when his glove flies off
his hand as he makes an obvious effort to make a legitimate catch. (f)
Two bases, if a fair ball bounces or is deflected into the stands outside
the first or third base foul lines; or if it goes through or under a
field fence, or through or under a scoreboard, or through or under shrubbery
or vines on the fence; or if it sticks in such fence, scoreboard, shrubbery
or vines; (g) Two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field,
a thrown ball goes into the stands, or into a bench (whether or not
the ball rebounds into the field), or over or under or through a field
fence, or on a slanting part of the screen above the backstop, or remains
in the meshes of a wire screen protecting spectators. The ball is dead.
When such wild throw is the first play by an infielder, the umpire,
in awarding such bases, shall be governed by the position of the runners
at the time the ball was pitched; in all other cases the umpire shall
be governed by the position of the runners at the time the wild throw
was made; APPROVED RULING: If all runners, including the batter runner,
have advanced at least one base when an infielder makes a wild throw
on the first play after the pitch, the award shall be governed by the
position of the runners when the wild throw was made. In certain circumstances
it is impossible to award a runner two bases. Example: Runner on first.
Batter hits fly to short right. Runner holds up between first and second
and batter comes around first and pulls up behind him. Ball falls safely.
Outfielder, in throwing to first, throws ball into stand. APPROVED RULING:
Since no runner, when the ball is dead, may advance beyond the base
to which he is entitled, the runner originally on first base goes to
third base and the batter is held at second base. The term "when
the wild throw was made" means when the throw actually left the
player's hand and not when the thrown ball hit the ground, passes a
receiving fielder or goes out of play into the stands. The position
of the batter runner at the time the wild throw left the thrower's hand
is the key in deciding the award of bases. If the batter runner has
not reached first base, the award is two bases at the time the pitch
was made for all runners. The decision as to whether the batter runner
has reached first base before the throw is a judgment call. If an unusual
play arises where a first throw by an infielder goes into stands or
dugout but the batter did not become a runner (such as catcher throwing
ball into stands in attempt to get runner from third trying to score
on passed ball or wild pitch) award of two bases shall be from the position
of the runners at the time of the throw. (For the purpose of Rule 7.05
(g) a catcher is considered an infielder.) PLAY. Runner on first base,
batter hits a ball to the shortstop, who throws to second base too late
to get runner at second, and second baseman throws toward first base
after batter has crossed first base. Ruling Runner at second scores.
(On this play, only if batter runner is past first base when throw is
made is he awarded third base.) (h) One base, if a ball, pitched to
the batter, or thrown by the pitcher from his position on the pitcher's
plate to a base to catch a runner, goes into a stand or a bench, or
over or through a field fence or backstop. The ball is dead; APPROVED
RULING: When a wild pitch or passed ball goes through or by the catcher,
or deflects off the catcher, and goes directly into the dugout, stands,
above the break, or any area where the ball is dead, the awarding of
bases shall be one base. One base shall also be awarded if the pitcher
while in contact with the rubber, throws to a base, and the throw goes
directly into the stands or into any area where the ball is dead. If,
however, the pitched or thrown ball goes through or by the catcher or
through the fielder, and remains on the playing field, and is subsequently
kicked or deflected into the dugout, stands or other area where the
ball is dead, the awarding of bases shall be two bases from position
of runners at the time of the pitch or throw. (i) One base, if the batter
becomes a runner on Ball Four or Strike Three, when the pitch passes
the catcher and lodges in the umpire's mask or paraphernalia. If the
batter becomes a runner on a wild pitch which entitles the runners to
advance one base, the batter runner shall be entitled to first base
only. The fact a runner is awarded a base or bases without liability
to be put out does not relieve him of the responsibility to touch the
base he is awarded and all intervening bases. For example: batter hits
a ground ball which an infielder throws into the stands but the batter
runner missed first base. He may be called out on appeal for missing
first base after the ball is put in play even though he was "awarded"
second base. If a runner is forced to return to a base after a catch,
he must retouch his original base even though, because of some ground
rule or other rule, he is awarded additional bases. He may retouch while
the ball is dead and the award is then made from his original base.
7.06
When obstruction occurs, the umpire shall call or signal "Obstruction."
(a) If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter
runner is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead
and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the
bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgment, if there had
been no obstruction. The obstructed runner shall be awarded at least
one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction.
Any preceding runners, forced to advance by the award of bases as the
penalty for obstruction, shall advance without liability to be put out.
When a play is being made on an obstructed runner, the umpire shall
signal obstruction in the same manner that he calls "Time,"
with both hands overhead. The ball is immediately dead when this signal
is given; however, should a thrown ball be in flight before the obstruction
is called by the umpire, the runners are to be awarded such bases on
wild throws as they would have been awarded had not obstruction occurred.
On a play where a runner was trapped between second and third and obstructed
by the third baseman going into third base while the throw is in flight
from the shortstop, if such throw goes into the dugout the obstructed
runner is to be awarded home base. Any other runners on base in this
situation would also be awarded two bases from the base they last legally
touched before obstruction was called. (b) If no play is being made
on the obstructed runner, the play shall proceed until no further action
is possible. The umpire shall then call "Time" and impose
such penalties, if any, as in his judgment will nullify the act of obstruction.
Under 7.06 (b) when the ball is not dead on obstruction and an obstructed
runner advances beyond the base which, in the umpire's judgment, he
would have been awarded because of being obstructed, he does so at his
own peril and may be tagged out. This is a judgment call. NOTE: The
catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the
pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to
the runner and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding
a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.
7.07
If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze
play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front
of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or
his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall
be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead.
7.08
Any runner is out when_ (a) (1) He runs more than three feet away from
a direct line between bases to avoid being tagged unless his action
is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball; or (2)
after touching first base, he leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning
his effort to touch the next base; Any runner after reaching first base
who leaves the baseline heading for his dugout or his position believing
that there is no further play, may be declared out if the umpire judges
the act of the runner to be considered abandoning his efforts to run
the bases. Even though an out is called, the ball remains in play in
regard to any other runner. This rule also covers the following and
similar plays: Less than two out, score tied last of ninth inning, runner
on first, batter hits a ball out of park for winning run, the runner
on first passes second and thinking the home run automatically wins
the game, cuts across diamond toward his bench as batter runner circles
bases. In this case, the base runner would be called out "for abandoning
his effort to touch the next base" and batter runner permitted
to continue around bases to make his home run valid. If there are two
out, home run would not count (see Rule 7.12). This is not an appeal
play. PLAY. Runner believing he is called out on a tag at first or third
base starts for the dugout and progresses a reasonable distance still
indicating by his actions that he is out, shall be declared out for
abandoning the bases. In the above two plays the runners are considered
actually abandoning their base paths and are treated differently than
the batter who struck out as described. APPROVED RULING OF 7.08 (a).
APPROVED RULING: When a batter becomes a runner on third strike not
caught, and starts for his bench or position, he may advance to first
base at any time before he enters the bench. To put him out, the defense
must tag him or first base before he touches first base. (b) He intentionally
interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make
a play on a batted ball; A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a
fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether
it was intentional or not. If, however, the runner has contact with
a legally occupied base when he hinders the fielder, he shall not be
called out unless, in the umpire's judgment, such hindrance, whether
it occurs on fair or foul territory, is intentional. If the umpire declares
the hindrance intentional, the following penalty shall apply: With less
than two out, the umpire shall declare both the runner and batter out.
With two out, the umpire shall declare the batter out. If, in a run
down between third base and home plate, the succeeding runner has advanced
and is standing on third base when the runner in a run down is called
out for offensive interference, the umpire shall send the runner standing
on third base back to second base. This same principle applies if there
is a run down between second and third base and succeeding runner has
reached second (the reasoning is that no runner shall advance on an
interference play and a runner is considered to occupy a base until
he legally has reached the next succeeding base). (c) He is tagged,
when the ball is alive, while off his base. EXCEPTION: A batter runner
cannot be tagged out after overrunning or oversliding first base if
he returns immediately to the base; APPROVED RULING: (1) If the impact
of a runner breaks a base loose from its position, no play can be made
on that runner at that base if he had reached the base safely. APPROVED
RULING: (2) If a base is dislodged from its position during a play,
any following runner on the same play shall be considered as touching
or occupying the base if, in the umpire's judgment, he touches or occupies
the point marked by the dislodged bag. (d) He fails to retouch his base
after a fair or foul ball is legally caught before he, or his base,
is tagged by a fielder. He shall not be called out for failure to retouch
his base after the first following pitch, or any play or attempted play.
This is an appeal play; Runners need not "tag up" on a foul
tip. They may steal on a foul tip. If a so called tip is not caught,
it becomes an ordinary foul. Runners then return to their bases. (e)
He fails to reach the next base before a fielder tags him or the base,
after he has been forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming
a runner. However, if a following runner is put out on a force play,
the force is removed and the runner must be tagged to be put out. The
force is removed as soon as the runner touches the base to which he
is forced to advance, and if he overslides or overruns the base, the
runner must be tagged to be put out. However, if the forced runner,
after touching the next base, retreats for any reason towards the base
he had last occupied, the force play is reinstated, and he can again
be put out if the defense tags the base to which he is forced; PLAY.
Runner on first and three balls on batter: Runner steals on the next
pitch, which is fourth ball, but after having touched second he overslides
or overruns that base. Catcher's throw catches him before he can return.
Ruling is that runner is out. (Force out is removed.) Oversliding and
overrunning situations arise at bases other than first base. For instance,
before two are out, and runners on first and second, or first, second
and third, the ball is hit to an infielder who tries for the double
play. The runner on first beats the throw to second base but overslides
the base. The relay is made to first base and the batter runner is out.
The first baseman, seeing the runner at second base off the bag, makes
the return throw to second and the runner is tagged off the base. Meanwhile
runners have crossed the plate. The question is: Is this a force play?
Was the force removed when the batter runner was out at first base?
Do the runs that crossed the plate during this play and before the third
out was made when the runner was tagged at second, count? Answer: The
runs score. It is not a force play. It is a tag play. (f) He is touched
by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has touched or passed
an infielder. The ball is dead and no runner may score, nor runners
advance, except runners forced to advance. EXCEPTION: If a runner is
touching his base when touched by an Infield Fly, he is not out, although
the batter is out; If two runners are touched by the same fair ball,
only the first one is out because the ball is instantly dead. If runner
is touched by an Infield Fly when he is not touching his base, both
runner and batter are out. (g) He attempts to score on a play in which
the batter interferes with the play at home base before two are out.
With two out, the interference puts the batter out and no score counts;
(h) He passes a preceding runner before such runner is out; (i) After
he has acquired legal possession of a base, he runs the bases in reverse
order for the purpose of confusing the defense or making a travesty
of the game. The umpire shall immediately call "Time" and
declare the runner out; If a runner touches an unoccupied base and then
thinks the ball was caught or is decoyed into returning to the base
he last touched, he may be put out running back to that base, but if
he reaches the previously occupied base safely he cannot be put out
while in contact with that base. (j) He fails to return at once to first
base after overrunning or oversliding that base. If he attempts to run
to second he is out when tagged. If, after overrunning or oversliding
first base he starts toward the dugout, or toward his position, and
fails to return to first base at once, he is out, on appeal, when he
or the base is tagged; Runner who touches first base in overrunning
and is declared safe by the umpire has, within the intent of Rule 4.09
(a) "reached first base" and any run which scores on such
a play counts, even though the runner subsequently becomes the third
out for failure to return "at once," as covered in Rule 7.08
(j). (k) In running or sliding for home base, he fails to touch home
base and makes no attempt to return to the base, when a fielder holds
the ball in his hand, while touching home base, and appeals to the umpire
for the decision. This rule applies only where runner is on his way
to the bench and the catcher would be required to chase him. It does
not apply to the ordinary play where the runner misses the plate and
then immediately makes an effort to touch the plate before being tagged.
In that case, runner must be tagged.
7.09
It is interference by a batter or a runner when: (a) After a third strike
he hinders the catcher in his attempt to field the ball; (b) After hitting
or bunting a fair ball, his bat hits the ball a second time in fair
territory. The ball is dead and no runners may advance. If the batter
runner drops his bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory
and, in the umpire's judgment, there was no intention to interfere with
the course of the ball, the ball is alive and in play; (c) He intentionally
deflects the course of a foul ball in any manner; (d) Before two are
out and a runner on third base, the batter hinders a fielder in making
a play at home base; the runner is out; (e) Any member or members of
the offensive team stand or gather around any base to which a runner
is advancing, to confuse, hinder or add to the difficulty of the fielders.
Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate
or teammates; (f) Any batter or runner who has just been put out hinders
or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall
be declared out for the interference of his teammate; If the batter
or a runner continues to advance after he has been put out, he shall
not by that act alone be considered as confusing, hindering or impeding
the fielders. (g) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully
and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act
of fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double
play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for interference
and also call out the batter runner because of the action of his teammate.
In no event may bases be run or runs scored because of such action by
a runner. (h) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a batter runner willfully
and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act
of fielding a batted ball, with the obvious intent to break up a double
play, the ball is dead; the umpire shall call the batter runner out
for interference and shall also call out the runner who had advanced
closest to the home plate regardless where the double play might have
been possible. In no event shall bases be run because of such interference.
(i) In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or
first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him
in returning to or leaving third base or first base. (j) With a runner
on third base, the base coach leaves his box and acts in any manner
to draw a throw by a fielder; (k) In running the last half of the distance
from home base to first base while the ball is being fielded to first
base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three foot line, or inside
(to the left of) the foul line and, in the umpire's judgment, interferes
with the fielder taking the throw at first base, or attempting to field
a batted ball; The lines marking the three foot lane are a part of that
"lane" but the interpretation to be made is that a runner
is required to have both feet within the three foot "lane"
or on the lines marking the "lane." (l) He fails to avoid
a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally
interferes with a thrown ball, provided that if two or more fielders
attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner comes in contact with
one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled
to the benefit of this rule, and shall not declare the runner out for
coming in contact with a fielder other than the one the umpire determines
to be entitled to field such a ball; When a catcher and batter runner
going to first base have contact when the catcher is fielding the ball,
there is generally no violation and nothing should be called. "Obstruction"
by a fielder attempting to field a ball should be called only in very
flagrant and violent cases because the rules give him the right of way,
but of course such "right of way" is not a license to, for
example, intentionally trip a runner even though fielding the ball.
If the catcher is fielding the ball and the first baseman or pitcher
obstructs a runner going to first base "obstruction" shall
be called and the base runner awarded first base. (m) A fair ball touches
him on fair territory before touching a fielder. If a fair ball goes
through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back
of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder,
the umpire shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted
ball. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the
ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder
had the chance to make a play on the ball. If, in the judgment of the
umpire, the runner deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted
ball on which the infielder has missed a play, then the runner shall
be called out for interference. PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE: The runner
is out and the ball is dead.
7.10
Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when_ (a) After a fly ball
is caught, he fails to retouch his original base before he or his original
base is tagged; "Retouch," in this rule, means to tag up and
start from a contact with the base after the ball is caught. A runner
is not permitted to take a flying start from a position in back of his
base. (b) With the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base,
he fails to touch each base in order before he, or a missed base, is
tagged. APPROVED RULING: (1) No runner may return to touch a missed
base after a following runner has scored. (2) When the ball is dead,
no runner may return to touch a missed base or one he has left after
he has advanced to and touched a base beyond the missed base. PLAY.
(a) Batter hits ball out of park or ground rule double and misses first
base (ball is dead)_he may return to first base to correct his mistake
before he touches second but if he touches second he may not return
to first and if defensive team appeals he is declared out at first.
PLAY. (b) Batter hits ball to shortstop who throws wild into stand (ball
is dead)_batter runner misses first base but is awarded second base
on the overthrow. Even though the umpire has awarded the runner second
base on the overthrow, the runner must touch first base before he proceeds
to second base. These are appeal plays. (c) He overruns or overslides
first base and fails to return to the base immediately, and he or the
base is tagged; (d) He fails to touch home base and makes no attempt
to return to that base, and home base is tagged. Any appeal under this
rule must be made before the next pitch, or any play or attempted play.
If the violation occurs during a play which ends a half inning, the
appeal must be made before the defensive team leaves the field. An appeal
is not to be interpreted as a play or an attempted play. Successive
appeals may not be made on a runner at the same base. If the defensive
team on its first appeal errs, a request for a second appeal on the
same runner at the same base shall not be allowed by the umpire. (Intended
meaning of the word "err" is that the defensive team in making
an appeal threw the ball out of play. For example, if the pitcher threw
to first base to appeal and threw the ball into the stands, no second
appeal would be allowed.) Appeal plays may require an umpire to recognize
an apparent "fourth out." If the third out is made during
a play in which an appeal play is sustained on another runner, the appeal
play decision takes precedence in determining the out. If there is more
than one appeal during a play that ends a half inning, the defense may
elect to take the out that gives it the advantage. For the purpose of
this rule, the defensive team has "left the field" when the
pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory on their way to
the bench or clubhouse. If two runners arrive at home base about the
same time and the first runner misses home plate but a second runner
legally touches the plate, the runner is tagged out on his attempt to
come back and touch the base or is called out, on appeal, then he shall
be considered as having been put out before the second runner scored
and being the third out. Second runner's run shall not count, as provided
in Rule 7.12. If a pitcher balks when making an appeal, such act shall
be a play. An appeal should be clearly intended as an appeal, either
by a verbal request by the player or an act that unmistakably indicates
an appeal to the umpire. A player, inadvertently stepping on the base
with a ball in his hand, would not constitute an appeal. Time is not
out when an appeal is being made.
7.11
The players, coaches or any member of an offensive team shall vacate
any space (including both dugouts) needed by a fielder who is attempting
to field a batted or thrown ball. PENALTY: Interference shall be called
and the batter or runner on whom the play is being made shall be declared
out.
7.12
Unless two are out, the status of a following runner is not affected
by a preceding runner's failure to touch or retouch a base. If, upon
appeal, the preceding runner is the third out, no runners following
him shall score. If such third out is the result of a force play, neither
preceding nor following runners shall score.
Go to Page:1 2
3 4 5
6 8 9
10
