If a batter swings and is hit by the pitch, is it a strike or does he advance to 1st?

See rules 2.00 STRIKE(e) and 6.08(b).

2.00

A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which:

e) Touches the batter as he strikes at it;


6.08 The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when_

<i>b) He is touched by a pitched ball <u>which he is not attempting to hit</u></i>

APPROVED RULING: When the batter is touched by a pitched ball which does not entitle him to first base, the ball is dead and no runner may advance.

Thanks so much for answering my question, as it happened in a game last night and both the umpire and opposing coach said it was a hit batsman, and awarded him 1st. If this question was wasting anyone's precious time, please excuse me. Isn't that what this forum is for?

No, the forum is not for wasting people's time. ;)

Well then, I won't waste any more time here

See ya Ken,
I think Bob Jenkins was playing with your words a little.
You asked "If this question was wasting anyone's precious time, please excuse me. Isn't that what this forum is for?
He just answered your question. I thought it was funny. Thanks Bob...

And all that "Hardassed T" <Tim C> meant was that we cover this topic quite often.

Posters ought to perform some reasearch and they would find this topic, and the answer you desired, repeated again and again within our discussions.

I know it is easier to just type in your question and have someone answer it. Tim has been around a while and he gets tired of reviewing the posts and answering the same questions over, and over again.

Here are several I found by just searching for "Hit by Pitch." The first one is your topic specifically:

http://www.officialforum.com/showthr...?threadid=8465

http://www.officialforum.com/showthr...?threadid=8587

http://www.officialforum.com/showthr...?threadid=8621

Don't leave Ken. It is to your benefit and also possibly ours for you to stick around. :)