A-C | D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-U | V-Z
An APPEAL is the
act of a fielder in claiming violation of the rules by the offensive team.
return to top
A BALK is
an illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base, entitling
all runners to advance one base.
return to top
A BALL is a pitch which does not enter the
strike zone in flight and is not struck at by the batter. If the pitch
touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone it is a "ball."
If such a pitch touches the batter, he shall be awarded first base. If
the batter swings at such a pitch after two strikes, the ball cannot be
caught, for the purposes of Rule 6.05 (c) and 6.09 (b). If the batter
hits such a pitch, the ensuing action shall be the same as if he hit the
ball in flight.
return to top
A BASE is one of four points which must be
touched by a runner in order to score a run; more usually applied to the
canvas bags and the rubber plate which mark the base points.
return to top
A BASE COACH is a team member in uniform
who is stationed in the coach's box at first or third base to direct the
batter and the runners.
return to top
A BASE ON BALLS is an award of first base
granted to a batter who, during his time at bat, receives four pitches
outside the strike zone.
return to top
A BATTER is an offensive player who takes
his position in the batter's box.
return to top
BATTER RUNNER is a term that identifies the
offensive player who has just finished his time at bat until he is put
out or until the play on which he became a runner ends.
return to top
The BATTER'S BOX is the area within which
the batter shall stand during his time at bat.
return to top
The BATTERY is the pitcher and catcher.
return to top
BENCH OR DUGOUT is the seating facilities
reserved for players, substitutes and other team members in uniform when
they are not actively engaged on the playing field.
return to top
A BUNT is a batted ball not swung at, but
intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly within the infield.
return to top
A CALLED GAME is one in which, for any reason,
the umpire in chief terminates play.
return to top
A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting
secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly
holding it; providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or any
other part of his uniform in getting possession. It is not a catch, however,
if simultaneously or immediately following his contact with the ball,
he collides with a player, or with a wall, or if he falls down, and as
a result of such collision or falling, drops the ball. It is not a catch
if a fielder touches a fly ball which then hits a member of the offensive
team or an umpire and then is caught by another defensive player. If the
fielder has made the catch and drops the ball while in the act of making
a throw following the catch, the ball shall be adjudged to have been caught.
In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the
ball long enough to prove that he has complete control of the ball and
that his release of the ball is voluntary and intentional. A catch is
legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled,
or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave
their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder
may reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line of demarcation to
make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in
foul ground. 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. If a fielder, attempting a catch at the edge of the dugout,
is "held up" and kept from an apparent fall by a player or players
of either team and the catch is made, it shall be allowed.
return to top
The CATCHER is the fielder who takes his
position back of the home base.
return to top
The CATCHER'S BOX is that area within which
the catcher shall stand until the pitcher delivers the ball.
return to top
The CLUB is a person or group of persons
responsible for assembling the team personnel, providing the playing field
and required facilities, and representing the team in relations with the
league.
return to top
A COACH is a team member in uniform appointed
by the manager to perform such duties as the manager may designate, such
as but not limited to acting as base coach.
return to top
A DEAD BALL is
a ball out of play because of a legally created temporary suspension of
play.
return to top
The DEFENSE
(or DEFENSIVE) is the team, or any player of the team, in the field.
return to top
A DOUBLE HEADER is two regularly scheduled
or rescheduled games, played in immediate succession.
return to top
A DOUBLE PLAY is a play by the defense in
which two offensive players are put out as a result of continuous action,
providing there is no error between putouts.
(a) A force double play is one in which both putouts are force plays.
(b) A reverse force double play is one in which the first out is a force
play and the second out is made on a runner for whom the force is removed
by reason of the first out. Examples of reverse force plays: runner on
first, one out; batter grounds to first baseman, who steps on first base
(one out) and throws to second baseman or shortstop for the second out
(a tag play). Another example: bases loaded, none out; batter grounds
to third baseman, who steps on third base (one out); then throws to catcher
for the second out (tag play).
return to top
DUGOUT (See definition of BENCH)
return to top
A FAIR BALL is a batted ball that settles
on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third
base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield
past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base,
or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third
base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of an
umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the
playing field in flight. A fair fly shall be judged according to the relative
position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not
as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time he
touches the ball. If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and
first base, or home and third base, and then bounces to foul territory
without touching a player or umpire and before passing first or third
base, it is a foul ball; or if the ball settles on foul territory or is
touched by a player on foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a fly ball
lands on or beyond first or third base and then bounces to foul territory,
it is a fair hit. Clubs, increasingly, are erecting tall foul poles at
the fence line with a wire netting extending along the side of the pole
on fair territory above the fence to enable the umpires more accurately
to judge fair and foul balls.
return to top
FAIR TERRITORY
is that part of the playing field within, and including the first base
and third base lines, from home base to the bottom of the playing field
fence and perpendicularly upwards. All foul lines are in fair territory.
return to top
A FIELDER is any defensive player.
return to top
FIELDER'S CHOICE is the act of a fielder
who handles a fair grounder and, instead of throwing to first base to
put out the batter runner, throws to another base in an attempt to put
out a preceding runner. The term is also used by scorers (a) to account
for the advance of the batter runner who takes one or more extra bases
when the fielder who handles his safe hit attempts to put out a preceding
runner; (b) to account for the advance of a runner (other than by stolen
base or error) while a fielder is attempting to put out another runner;
and (c) to account for the advance of a runner made solely because of
the defensive team's indifference (undefended steal).
return to top
A FLY BALL is a batted ball that goes high
in the air in flight.
return to top
A FORCE PLAY is a play in which a runner
legally loses his right to occupy a base by reason of the batter becoming
a runner. Confusion regarding this play is removed by remembering that
frequently the "force" situation is removed during the play.
Example: Man on first, one out, ball hit sharply to first baseman who
touches the bag and batter runner is out. The force is removed at that
moment and runner advancing to second must be tagged. If there had been
a runner on third or second, and either of these runners scored before
the tag out at second, the run counts. Had the first baseman thrown to
second and the ball then had been returned to first, the play at second
was a force out, making two outs, and the return throw to first ahead
of the runner would have made three outs. In that case, no run would score.
Example: Not a force out. One out. Runner on first and third. Batter flies
out. Two out. Runner on third tags up and scores. Runner on first tries
to retouch before throw from fielder reaches first baseman, but does not
get back in time and is out. Three outs. If, in umpire's judgment, the
runner from third touched home before the ball was held at first base,
the run counts.
return to top
A FORFEITED GAME is a game declared ended
by the umpire in chief in favor of the offended team by the score of 9
to 0, for violation of the rules.
return to top
A FOUL BALL is a batted ball that settles
on foul territory between home and first base, or between home and third
base, or that bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory,
or that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base, or that,
while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player,
or any object foreign to the natural ground. A foul fly shall be judged
according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including
the foul pole, and not as to whether the infielder is on foul or fair
territory at the time he touches the ball. A batted ball not touched by
a fielder, which hits the pitcher's rubber and rebounds into foul territory,
between home and first, or between home and third base is a foul ball.
return to top
FOUL TERRITORY is that part of the playing
field outside the first and third base lines extended to the fence and
perpendicularly upwards.
return to top
A FOUL TIP is a batted ball that goes sharp
and direct from the bat to the catcher's hands and is legally caught.
It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is
a strike, and the ball is in play. It is not a catch if it is a rebound,
unless the ball has first touched the catcher's glove or hand.
return to top
A GROUND BALL
is a batted ball that rolls or bounces close to the ground.
return to top
The HOME TEAM is the team on whose grounds
the game is played, or if the game is played on neutral grounds, the home
team shall be designated by mutual agreement.
return to top
An ILLEGAL PITCH is (1) a pitch delivered
to the batter when the pitcher does not have his pivot foot in contact
with the pitcher's plate; (2) a quick return pitch. An illegal pitch when
runners are on base is a balk.
return to top
An INFIELDER is a fielder who occupies a
position in the infield.
return to top
An INFIELD FLY
is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt)
which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and
second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are
out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the
infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of
this rule. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield
Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare "Infield Fly" for
the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire
shall declare "Infield Fly, if Fair." The ball is alive and
runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and
advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the
hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul. If a declared
Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul
before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield
Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair
before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly. On the infield
fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have
been handled by an infielder not by some arbitrary limitation such as
the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is
an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire's
judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder.
The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire's
judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately. When
an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk.
If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball,
the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05 (L). The
infield fly rule takes precedence.
return to top
IN FLIGHT describes a batted, thrown, or
pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or some object other
than a fielder.
return to top
IN JEOPARDY is a term indicating that the
ball is in play and an offensive player may be put out.
return to top
An INNING is that portion of a game within
which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are
three putouts for each team. Each team's time at bat is a half inning.
return to top
INTERFERENCE
(a) Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes
with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to
make a play. If the umpire declares the batter, batter runner, or a runner
out for interference, all other runners shall return to the last base
that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of
the interference, unless otherwise provided by these rules. In the event
the batter runner has not reached first base, all runners shall return
to the base last occupied at the time of the pitch.
(b) Defensive interference is an act by a fielder which hinders or prevents
a batter from hitting a pitch.
(c) Umpire's interference occurs (1) When an umpire hinders, impedes or
prevents a catcher's throw attempting to prevent a stolen base, or (2)
When a fair ball touches an umpire on fair territory before passing a
fielder.
(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.
return to top
THE LEAGUE is
a group of clubs whose teams play each other in a pre arranged schedule
under these rules for the league championship.
return to top
THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT shall enforce the official
rules, resolve any disputes involving the rules, and determine any protested
games. The league president may fine or suspend any player, coach, manager
or umpire for violation of these rules, at his discretion.
return to top
LEGAL (or LEGALLY)
is in accordance with these rules.
return to top
A LIVE BALL is a ball which is in play.
return to top
A LINE DRIVE is a batted ball that goes sharp
and direct from the bat to a fielder without touching the ground.
return to top
THE MANAGER is
a person appointed by the club to be responsible for the team's actions
on the field, and to represent the team in communications with the umpire
and the opposing team. A player may be appointed manager.
(a) The club shall designate the manager to the league president or the
umpire in chief not less than thirty minutes before the scheduled starting
time of the game.
(b) The manager may advise the umpire that he has delegated specific duties
prescribed by the rules to a player or coach, and any action of such designated
representative shall be official. The manager shall always be responsible
for his team's conduct, observance of the official rules, and deference
to the umpires.
(c) If a manager leaves the field, he shall designate a player or coach
as his substitute, and such substitute manager shall have the duties,
rights and responsibilities of the manager. If the manager fails or refuses
to designate his substitute before leaving, the umpire in chief shall
designate a team member as substitute manager.
return to top
OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who,
while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the
ball, impedes the progress of any runner. If a fielder is about to receive
a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough
to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may
be considered "in the act of fielding a ball." It is entirely
up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act
of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball
and missed, he can no longer be in the "act of fielding" the
ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes
him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the
runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner.
return to top
OFFENSE is the team, or any player of the
team, at bat.
return to top
An OUT is one of the three required retirements
of an offensive team during its time at bat.
return to top
An OUTFIELDER is a fielder who occupies a
position in the outfield, which is the area of the playing field most
distant from home base.
return to top
OVERSLIDE (or OVERSLIDING)
is the act of an offensive player when his slide to a base, other than
when advancing from home to first base, is with such momentum that he
loses contact with the base.
return to top
A PENALTY is the
application of these rules following an illegal act.
return to top
The PERSON of a player or an umpire is any
part of his body, his clothing or his equipment.
return to top
A PITCH is a ball delivered to the batter
by the pitcher. All other deliveries of the ball by one player to another
are thrown balls.
return to top
A PITCHER is the fielder designated to deliver
the pitch to the batter.
return to top
The pitcher's PIVOT FOOT is that foot which
is in contact with the pitcher's plate as he delivers the pitch.
return to top
"PLAY"
is the umpire's order to start the game or to resume action following
any dead ball.
return to top
A QUICK RETURN pitch is one made with obvious
intent to catch a batter off balance. It is an illegal pitch.
return to top
A RETOUCH is the act of a runner in returning
to a base as legally required.
return to top
A RUN (or SCORE)
is the score made by an offensive player who advances from batter to runner
and touches first, second, third and home bases in that order.
return to top
A RUN DOWN is the act of the defense in an
attempt to put out a runner between bases.
return to top
A RUNNER is an offensive player who is advancing
toward, or touching, or returning to any base.
return to top
"SAFE"
is a declaration by the umpire that a runner is entitled to the base for
which he was trying.
return to top
SET POSITION is one of the two legal pitching
positions.
return to top
SQUEEZE PLAY is a term to designate a play
when a team, with a runner on third base, attempts to score that runner
by means of a bunt.
return to top
A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called
by the umpire, which_
(a) Is struck at by the batter and is missed;
(b) Is not struck at, if any part of the ball passes through any part
of the strike zone;
(c) Is fouled by the batter when he has less than two strikes;
(d) Is bunted foul;
(e) Touches the batter as he strikes at it;
(f) Touches the batter in flight in the strike zone; or
(g) Becomes a foul tip.
return to top
The STRIKE ZONE is that area over home plate
the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between
the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower
level is a line at the hallow beneath the knee cap. The Strike Zone shall
be determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing
at a pitched ball. (For diagram of STRIKE ZONE see page 23.)
return to top
A SUSPENDED GAME is a called game which is
to be completed at a later date.
return to top
A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching
a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his
hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or
glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in
his hand or glove.
return to top
A THROW is the act of propelling the ball
with the hand and arm to a given objective and is to be distinguished,
always, from the pitch.
return to top
A TIE GAME is a regulation game which is
called when each team has the same number of runs.
return to top
"TIME"
is the announcement by an umpire of a legal interruption of play, during
which the ball is dead.
return to top
A TRIPLE PLAY is a play by the defense in
which three offensive players are put out as a result of continuous action,
providing there is no error between putouts.
return to top
A WILD PITCH
is one so high, so low, or so wide of the plate that it cannot be handled
with ordinary effort by the catcher.
return to top
WIND UP POSITION is one of the two legal
pitching positions.
return to top