Diving over another player

Mattinglyfan · #1 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 19, 2003, 10:12am

Babe Ruth.. Runner rounds first base. Pitcher fields ball in foul territory, and throws behind the runner. The runner then Dives back to the bag over the first baseman. The umpire calls the runner out stating that it is illegal in Babe Ruth to dive over another player. Is this true ? Either way it was an amazing play. The player showed a tremendous amout of hustle.

bluezebra · #2 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 19, 2003, 01:03pm

Babe Ruth plays by OBR. There is NO such rule in OBR.

You say F1 fields the ball in FOUL TERRITORY. Was he fielding a FAIR or FOUL ball? If F3 blocked 1B without the ball (fair ball), that's OBSTRUCTION.

Bob

Mattinglyfan · #3 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 19, 2003, 01:13pm

2nd baseman fielded the ball and over through 1B. Pitcher picked up the ball in Foul territory. Threw the ball to first. My runner was off the bag toward 2nd. When the first baseman caught the ball , my runner tried to get back to first bay diving over the first baseman who had to stretch to catch the throw. The umpire called the runner out. His explaination was only in the Pro's can you dive over a player.

bob jenkins · #4 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 19, 2003, 02:04pm

Some local leagues have a "no diving" rule.

Mattinglyfan · #5 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 19, 2003, 02:20pm

Umpire said that it was a Babe Ruth rule when I asked, not local. But I will look into it. Thank You----

bluezebra · #6 (**permalink**) Sat Sep 20, 2003, 12:16am

Why didn't you post the ENTIRE scenario at the start? It would make it easier to answer.

As I said before, BR plays OBR. There is no rule against diving over a fielder. If it wasn't a "local" rule, the ump made this one up.

Bob

Cubbies87 · #7 (**permalink**) Sun Sep 21, 2003, 12:36am

I was under the impression that it was completely fine. I have always operated under the principle of "avoiding contact" whether that is by a non-malicious slide, or a dive, or a jump away, etc.

However, I was reading National Federation Safety Rules as written on ETeamz.com (found at: http://eteams.com/baseball/rules/fed/safety/ ) and one rule really caught my eye.

About half-way down the page, there are two "rules" written.

Quote:

Runner dives over fielder: A runner may not dive over a fielder. Penalty: The runner is out, but the ball remains alive unless the umpire calls interference.

Runner hurdles fielder: A runner may not hurdle, jump over, or leap over a fielder unless the fielder is lying prone on the ground. Penalty: The runner is out, but the ball remains alive unless the umpire calls interference. Note: Jumping over a kneeling fielder is illegal.

So, for the Babe Ruth game following Official Baseball Rules, it would still be legal. But, it appears in FED it would be illegal. Maybe that is what the Umpire was thinking of.

But, looking through my rule book, I couldn't find any reference to the safety rules. Maybe they would they be in the officials manual or case book?