Ruling Question -- Ground rule double or homerun?

[josephgarland]

Hi everyone, I had a quick question over something that I've never seen before.

I know that when a fly ball hits off a glove or part of the player and goes over the fence that it is a homerun.

However, the other day, a ball was hit deep down the foul line at the fence, the outfielder was in FAIR territory and it hit off of his glove, but the ball went over the FOUL fence. How do you rule this?

I assumed it would be a ground rule double, but correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks!

[RKBUmp]

The fielder was in fair territory, but was the ball also over fair territory when it was tipped by the fielders glove?

If it was over fair territory when tipped and the ball goes over the fence in foul territory then yes it is a ground rule double. The ball must clear the fence in fair territory to be a home run.

[josephgarland]

Had the ball not been touched, it would have fallen foul by about a foot. But the defensive player was on the line when it hit his glove, making it a fair ball if I'm not mistaken. And yes, it tipped the glove while the player was in fair territory, going over the foul fence.

You answered my question when you said that the ball must go over the fence in fair territory to be a homerun. Thank you!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by josephgarland

Had the ball not been touched, it would have fallen foul by about a foot. But the defensive player was on the line when it hit his glove, making it a fair ball if I'm not mistaken. And yes, it tipped the glove while the player was in fair territory, going over the foul fence.

You answered my question when you said that the ball must go over the fence in fair territory to be a homerun. Thank you!

No, the location of the ball when touched determines fair or foul, not where the player is

[youngump]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

The fielder was in fair territory, but was the ball also over fair territory when it was tipped by the fielders glove?

If it was over fair territory when tipped and the ball goes over the fence in foul territory then yes it is a ground rule double. The ball must clear the fence in fair territory to be a home run.

Can't be a ground rule double, the ball didn't hit the ground. It'll have to be a book rule double.

[Mountaincoach]

Now that we know the ball was in foul territory when it was first touched, the correct call should have been foul ball. Right?

[Altor]

Actually, the reply said that had it not been touched, it would have landed foul. That still doesn't answer the question of where the ball was when it was touched. It's entirely possible that it was slicing, touched directly above the line, but would have landed foul.

[MT 73]

The position of the player is irrelevant.
Where was the ball when it was touched?
Was it fair?
Then it is a 2 base award.
Was the ball foul when touched? ( Did his glove reach over across the foul line?)
Foul ball.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

No, the location of the ball when touched determines fair or foul, not where the player is

Just repeating because it is questioned so often.

The location of the player determines out of play or not, but location of the player has no bearing on fair or foul.

if it happens, 2 base award, not double
or
if it happens, 4 base award, not homerun

[chapmaja]

Based on the question, I remember a discussion from a couple years ago.

Fly ball down the line. Fielder is clearly in fair territory when she is attempting to make a running catch. The ball hits her glove and she bobbles it before running into the fence on the foul side of the line. As she hits the fence, the ball pops up and goes over the fence on the foul side of the line. The umpires ruled it a 4 base award. The DC coach was then ejected for arguing it was a 2 base award because it did not clear the fence over fair territory.

The association used this as an example of a tough call. The umpires had to report the ejection to the state association. The issue of the ejection was that the original call was incorrect.

Were the umpires correct in a 4 base award. I personally felt they were incorrect and it should have been a two base award.

[MT 73]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

Based on the question, I remember a discussion from a couple years ago.

Fly ball down the line. Fielder is clearly in fair territory when she is attempting to make a running catch. The ball hits her glove and she bobbles it before running into the fence on the foul side of the line. As she hits the fence, the ball pops up and goes over the fence on the foul side of the line. The umpires ruled it a 4 base award. The DC coach was then ejected for arguing it was a 2 base award because it did not clear the fence over fair territory.

The association used this as an example of a tough call. The umpires had to report the ejection to the state association. The issue of the ejection was that the original call was incorrect.

Were the umpires correct in a 4 base award. I personally felt they were incorrect and it should have been a two base award.

Was the ball over fair or foul territory when it was first touched?
( Yes, her body may have been in fair territory but was her glove over the foul line when she touched the ball?)
If fair it is a 2 base award.
If foul it is a foul ball.
BTW--this is NOT a tough call.
It is basic.
My daughter once hit a long shot that hit the foul pole well above the fence and the opposing coach argued that it was a foul ball.
One of the umpires felt it was a live ball because it bounced back into left field.
It took the umpires 20 minutes and several phone calls to rule it a home run.
Really guys--learn the damn rules before making a fool of yourself.

[teebob21]

(comment deleted, mods please delete)