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Under Federation rules, there is no violation and the runner should not have been called out. The interference rule (3-2-2) prohibits giving assistance during playing action. Running the bases following a home run over the fence is not to be construed as "playing action" since the ball is dead and the batter-runner is awarded four bases. (See Casebook 3.2.2a)
If the umpire really wants to have a hard time for the rest of the game, the umpire may issue warnings to or eject any players, substitutes, attendants, or coaches who are on the field improperly(3-3-1j), but with the ball being dead in this case it would really be inappropriate. This kind of enthusiasm by teammates is ok, as long as it is not deemed to be unsportsmanlike in the face of the opponents (no taunting, cat calls, finger pointing, etc.).
This practice is not permitted while the ball is live, and has been a point of emphasis "to protect the safety of players as well as to eliminate the possibility of a player interfering with play." As such, 3-3-1j should be enforced - warning minimum - if this were to occur, for example, as a runner from second is scoring on a base hit.
Thom/FL
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Tue May 29, 2001, 09:05pm
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