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.