Why Do MLB BU's point foul...
 

on caught, foul, fly balls near the foul line?

Scoring purposes

To signal that the ball was caught in foul territory. If for some reason, the fielder drops the ball, and it is not ruled a catch, WHERE the ball was on contact is important.

Thank you for your responses. I had guessed at the dropped ball idea. Also - then is it procedure for MLB umpires to not make the "out" signal on those and other obviously caught fly balls?

an ordinary effort, routine fly balls are not signaled because everyone obviously knows the ball was caught.

As taught at school
 

As taught at umpire school and PBUC camp in 1997:

An umpire's order of priorities in calling a play are:

(1) Fair/Foul
(2) Catch/No-Catch
(3) Safe/Out (on bases)
(4) Other plays

In otherwords, pro umpires are taught to always point fair or foul FIRST. Then, SECOND, they signal catch/No-catch. However, it is perfectly acceptable (in fact it was taught) to make NO catch signal if the catch is made cleanly by the fielder above his belt.

PDX pretty much hit on the head as to why the Fair/Foul is signaled first.

Well, I do know that in the CCA manual, it is stated that an umpire will make a signal for all outs except "routine caught balls". I assume that MLB umpires manual says something similar. I don't remember if the NFHS manual says this or not (our association hasn't really used those mechanics for a few years), but I can't remember ever signaling a routine catch, except to point it fair/foul when caught.

Thanks everyone. Good info.