Basic question re: foul balls
 

I'm not a baseball umpire, but I need a ruling from you all for use in discussion on a scenario for another sport. It should be a fairly basic answer for you, but I don't have a rulebook, so I'll yield to your answers.

Batter hits a foul ball that is over the stands, player reaches into the stands to catch the ball, and a fan intentionally prevents the player from catching the ball by knocking the ball out of player's way. The ball was in the stands, so the fan did NOT reach over onto the field to touch the ball, but did so in (say) the second row of bleachers.

Would this be anything other than just a foul ball?

Thanks for your time.

Foul Ball.

Foul ball. Once the ball is contacted by a fan on his side of the fence, thats it.

FMadera,

I'm with mcrowder and Tuss on this one.

Also, while a player who fearlessly reaches into the stands going after a foul may get my admiration, he gets no protection from interference by the fans.

JM

Thanks for the replies.
 

Just as I thought. I appreciate your answers.

And if you're in Chicago, the interfering fan will get no protection from anyone else. :D

He's now living in Ecuador under an assumed name.

Bob