"ground" rule double
 

Evan Longoria hit a long fly to the corner in right field against the Yankees Sunday at Tropicana Field. The ball landed in fair territory and bounced up and struck the extended foul pole screen above the yellow line on the outfield fence and then returned to the field of play. The play was halted, Longoria was awarded a double and the runner on first was held at third.

So, by rule, if a fair batted ball bounces up and hits any part of the foul pole above a yellow line is the ball dead and the batter awarded a double? Is this rule unique to MLB or is it standard at most levels?

Thanks in advance for any answer.

"standard" basically it could go from the foul pole or left down the left field line or foul pole or right down the right field line.

If the foul pole is located behind the fence, yes.

6.09(e): A fair ball, after touching the ground, bounds into the stands,
or passes through, over or under a fence, or through or under a scoreboard,
or through or under shrubbery, or vines on the fence, in which case the
batter and the runners shall be entitled to advance two bases.

I'm sure you've seen or know that a fly ball that hits this "screen" is a home-run. So a two-base award on a bounding ball is consistent with this.

Thanks to all for the answers.

Yes, Bob the ball hitting the foul pole or the screen is universally understood as a home run. But the question of the ball bouncing into the screen was a question posed to me and I was not able to convince the questioner about the logic of the screen and foul pole having the same effect on a fair ball that bounded into either.

Thanks to this forum the answer is simple. The pole and the screen are in the stands and serve as visual aides for the umpire to determine whether the ball entering the stands was fair or foul. If fair on a fly=HR. On a bounce from fair ground=Double.

Thanks

It doesn't matter if the ball bounces from fair ground into FOUL stands, it's still a double. I don't understand why anyone would find this difficult to understand.

Ground Rule Double
 

Where would the ball have gone if the pole and screen were not there?

The difficulty was grasping that the foul pole and screen are part of the stands.
He understands the ball landing fair and bouncing into the stands in foul ground is a fair ball. He thought the pole and screen were part of the playing field and, therefore, a ball bouncing into either and then back on to the field was ion play.

Some HS fields (though none around here) have foul poles that are inside the fence. Those are in play. All MLB parks have their poles outside the fence and thus out of play.

They don't groundrule them "outside"? Wow!

Besides, unless its far from the fence it's a pretty easy "fix" to put a short piece of fence in front of it.

Around here if that happens, there's usually a line on the pole -- above the line, it's out. In this situation, a double.

How about the line toward the centerfield side of the Green Monster in Fenway? If it hits the line is it in play? My guess would be that it would need to be clear of the line on the centerfield side to be a homer but I'm not that familiar with Fenway. Been there just once.

Yep, same here.

Agreed. But, it's in direct conflict with some FED interp (for those who are sticklers about such things).

Using this logic, a ball that bounces and hits the outfield wall would also be a double.

Or a fielder.

I believe the old Tiger Stadium in Detroit had a flagpole in fair territory about 440 feet from home plate which had a line on it. I'm not exactly sure if there was a ground rule for a ball on a bounce, but it would be a shame to hit one 440 feet, have it bounce up, hit the pole above the line, and not have a chance to leg out a triple!

HUH?

If the pole/screen wasn't there it would continue on and go over the fence and be a double.

And if the fence wasn't there, the ball would continue into dead ball territory and be a double.

The rule *could have been* written so the foul pole / screen was just part of the fence (e.g., the fence is 8' high except for the last 18" on each side where it's 25' feet high), and a ball bouncing off it and remaining in play is still live. But, it wasn't.

Minute Maid Park in Houston has a flag pole inside the fence in deep center field, which is also on a steeply sloping "terrace". I don't have the details, but a few years ago, a fly ball hit the pole 30-40 feet above the ground and the ball remained in play. I believe the BR got a double on what clearly would have neen a HR absent the pole.

Groound Rules - Minute Maid Park
 

Ball hits flagpole and leaves field - HOME RUN.
Ball remains on field - IN PLAY. Ball hits flag pole, bounces on ground and then over fence - TWO BASES.

And Ball bounces, hits pole, then over fence - also 2 bases.

Fenway Park ground rules (note that a ball striking the dividing line in center is a homerun)

Foul poles, screen poles and screen on top of left field fence are outside playing field.
A ball going through scoreboard, either on the bound or fly, is two bases.
A fly ball striking left-center field wall to right of line behind flag pole is a home run.
A fly ball striking wall or flag pole and bounding into bleachers is a home run.
A fly ball striking line or right of same on wall in center is a home run.
A fly ball striking wall left of line and bounding into bullpen is a home run.
A ball sticking in the bullpen screen or bouncing into the bullpen is two bases.
A batted or thrown ball remaining behind or under canvas or in tarp cylinder is two bases.
A ball striking the top of the scoreboard in left field in the ladder below top of wall and bounding out of the park is two bases.