[gsf23]

This exact thing happened about 15 years ago during a pro game, but it was a wild pitch and not a foul ball so I don't know if it realates to this thread or not. The situation was a runner on first, and the pitch was thrown into the dirt, the ball got away from the catcher, probably about two feet away, the runner was not trying to advance on it. The catcher removed his mask as the pitch got away, then reached out and used his mask to pull the ball back to him. None of the umpires made a ruling, but the manager, I believe it was Sparky Anderson, came storming out of the dugout screaming that the catcher couldn't do that. The umps confered and then awarded the runner at first, home, using the detached equipment rule.