Do's and Don'ts of Catching a Foul Ball
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Baseball players get paid millions to catch foul balls, which means there isn’t a substantial list of do’s and don’ts to consider. When catching the ball impacts both personal stats and the outcome of a game, "do" is the only option. "Don’t" is even less of an option when the playoffs are involved. As long as the ball is caught and nobody dies, the end always justifies the means.
For a fan, on the other hand, the pursuit of a foul ball has nothing to do with earning a paycheck or nobly risking life and limb for the benefit of one’s team. It has everything to do with the selfish pursuit of personal glory and gain. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, as long as the rules that clearly establish right from wrong in this specific scenario aren’t violated.
Of course, there aren’t any official rules in place yet, but we’ve put together a list of the basics to serve as a guideline until that time. Let these do’s and don’ts of catching a foul ball guide all your actions from this point forward.
Do: Commit
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As with anything one wants to achieve in life, a certain level of commitment is involved. Although it does happen occasionally, it’s very rare that a foul ball will just land in the lap of an unsuspecting fan.
Picking the right seats, staying alert, coming prepared with a baseball mitt and properly utilizing the aisles can all improve the odds.Being confident and assertive in the melee is also vital—hesitate for even a second and you become a steppingstone for someone who actually committed.
Don't: Overcommit
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Commitment, as previously noted, is essential to success. That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that the only real reward for success when catching a foul ball is…a foul ball. Sure, catching the ball would make for a cool story and a great souvenir, but only if you live to tell the tale.
Scrambling down cement stairs, perilously leaning over railings and carelessly jumping over seats in pursuit of a foul ball can lead to concussions, broken limbs or worse. And a baseball isn’t going to ease the pain or pay the medical bills, so never overcommit to its pursuit.
Do: Battle with the Visiting Team
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While home-field advantage exists to some degree or another in all major sports leagues, MLB takes it a level above crowd noise or menacing mascots—they allow fans to directly interfere with players.
So if you have the opportunity to snatch a playable ball from the opposition, well then by all means do it.
Don't: Interfere with the Home Team
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Mess with the opposing players to your heart’s content, but never interfere with a playable ball when the home team is playing defense. Don’t even take a chance with a ball that looks like it it’s probably beyond the reach of the closest outfielder.
In that situation, it’s always best to play it safe, pull back and let it fall where it may. If the player misses the ball and it lands in the stands, then obviously it’s fair game.
Do: Improvise
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If catching a foul ball is something you consider a top priority at a baseball game, planning ahead and bringing a mitt along is a must. But some people just aren’t planners, preferring instead to act and react to opportunities as they present themselves.
Should you unexpectedly find yourself in the path of a foul ball, being mittless isn’t the end of the world, particularly if you’re fast on your feet. Never be afraid to improvise—anything that widens your grip or extends your reach will improve your chance to succeed.
And always double down on a good idea. If using your hat to extend your reach is a good idea, and throwing a kid on your shoulders to gain some height is also a good idea, then throwing a kid on your shoulders and letting him use your hat to extend his reach is a great idea.
Don't: Take Your Eye off the Ball
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More often than not, “keep your eye on the ball” is easily dismissed as just another tired cliche in a linguistically lazy world that is full of them. In sports, however, it’s a fundamental rule, and ignoring it can have serious consequences.
While athletes learn about the literal interpretation of the rule at an early age, the rest of us don’t have decades of fastballs whizzing perilously close to our faces to cement its importance. Then again, it’s not like catching a foul ball is on par with a real athletic endeavor.
Keeping your eyes open is just common sense if you’re trying to catch something. However, if embarrassing yourself is the primary objective, closing your eyes and flinching dramatically is the way to go.
Do: Utilize the Parenting Bullpen
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Of the various professional sporting leagues, baseball (generally speaking) is probably the most family-friendly live event. The crowd definitely intensifies as the playoffs approach, but the laid-back atmosphere through much of the 162-game MLB season is far more suited to children than, say, the always-burning-with-rage atmosphere of the 16-game NFL season.
Bringing the kids along doesn’t immediately disqualify a parent from competing for a foul ball, but the rules dictating basic human decency should still apply…dad. Let’s not pretend that accidentally dumping children on their heads to free up space to catch a baseball is something that needs to be explained to mom.
Which is why it’s best to lean on mom in this situation—there’s no shame in handing the baby off. There'slots of shame in accidentally dropping it.
Don't: Succumb to Mob Mentality
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Being cognizant of our surroundings and able to adjust our behavior accordingly is one of the major things that separates humans from animals. A bear in church isn’t going to act any different than a bear at a strip club. Whereas most people, we like to imagine, know there’s an entirely different code of conduct expected (and amount of cash required) for church versus a strip club.
So next time you’re at a baseball game, look around—basic powers of observation will indicate it’s a sporting event and not, as some people seem to think, a live-action sports adaption of Lord of the Flies. It’s just a baseball, which is not a reasonable or rational excuse for the complete (if not momentarily) collapse of everything that holds us together as a society.
Do: Consider Giving the Ball Away
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As painful as the idea of parting with the fruit of your labor may seem after finally getting your grubby little mitts on a foul ball, it’s rare that paying it forward can pay such immediate dividends. Worst-case scenario, you give the ball to someone and everyone in your immediate vicinity thinks you’re a seriously swell human being. Yeah, you’re down a baseball, but you’re being rewarded with the approving head nods and smiles of countless strangers.
Best-case scenario, you’re slick enough to pick just the right person, attracting both the gaze of the cameras and the attention of the guys calling the game. All of a sudden, you’re not just a nice person with a giving spirit, but rather a national treasure whose game exceeds anything that has ever played out on a baseball field. The opportunity to play the hero without incurring even the slightest bit of risk almost never comes along—take advantage when it does.
Don't: Strong-Arm Women, Children or the Elderly
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Not everyone has it in them to give away something they may never again have the opportunity to replace, and there is no shame in that. No one should be pressured or forced to give away a foul ball that is rightfully their own.
That being said, the mere act of catching the ball shouldn’t be enough to determine absolute ownership of a ball. Certain actions taken during the course of a pursuit—like grown men mowing down children, expectant mothers or the elderly—should be grounds for instant forfeiture.
While such behavior isn’t implicitly verboten, those who choose to engage in it run the risk of being personally identified and publicly shamed on social media—something that can have far-reaching consequences.
FAQs
When catching a ball What should you not do? ›
Don't try to run or worry about the defense until you have the ball in your hands and tucked away. One mistake a lot of receivers make is to try and catch the ball too close to their body. Catch the ball with your hands. Snatch it out of the air.
What do you do with a foul ball? ›In general, when a batted ball is ruled a foul ball, the ball is dead, all runners must return to their time-of-pitch base without liability to be put out, and the batter returns to home plate to continue his turn at bat. A strike is issued for the batter if he had fewer than two strikes.
Should you catch a foul ball? ›Commitment, as previously noted, is essential to success. That being said, it's important to keep in mind that the only real reward for success when catching a foul ball is…a foul ball. Sure, catching the ball would make for a cool story and a great souvenir, but only if you live to tell the tale.
Where do you sit to catch a foul ball? ›Field Level 108-114 — These sections, 108, 110, 112 and 114, are on the 3rd base side (left field). In baseball, fouls have a very slight edge in tendency toward going left into the 3rd base stands. To be sure, this edge is minor, amounting to roughly 1-2 extra fouls per game.
How do you properly catch a ball? ›How to Catch a Ball - YouTube
Can you catch a foul ball in the stands? ›Catching a foul ball rules
For baseball players, many rules determine how to catch a foul ball. However, for a spectator in the stands, there are virtually no rules. As long as you stay in the stands and catch the foul ball after it's crossed the boundary, you should be perfectly fine.
Yes, a runner can tag up and advance on a foul ball that is caught in the air by a defensive player. Just like tagging up on a regular fly ball, the runner must keep a foot on the bag until the ball lands in the defenders glove at which point the runner can advance and the ball is live.
Can you steal a base on a foul ball? ›You cannot steal a base on a “dead” or foul ball. Overthrown or passed balls may be stolen on, as long as the ball is still considered to be “live” The base ahead of you must be unoccupied (unless the runner ahead of you also attempts to steal the base in front of them; this is known as a double steal)
What happens if a fan catches a foul ball? ›In every case of spectator interference with a batted or thrown ball, the ball shall be declared dead and the baserunners can be placed where the umpire determines they would have been without the interference.
What is the foul tip rule? ›A foul tip is a batted ball that goes sharply and directly to the catcher's hand or glove and is legally caught. A foul tip is considered equivalent to a ball in which the batter swings and misses, in that the baserunners are able to advance at their own risk (without needing to tag up).
How rare is it to catch a foul ball? ›
The likelihood of catching a foul ball at a professional baseball game is not too high, with studies putting the odds at 1-580. Catching two — in the very same at-bat — is more than luck.
How rare is it to catch a foul ball in baseball? ›In the case of these general calculations, the general, MLB-wide odds of snagging a foul ball is 1:835.
How early should you show up for an MLB game? ›12:30 PM – Players start to arrive to the stadium typically 20-30 minutes before game time (usually 1:00 PM). You can either wait at the clubhouse as they start to walk to the stadium or at the stadium near the dugout as they are getting loose before the game.
What time should I arrive to a baseball game? ›Depending on the MLB stadium, you should arrive 1½ hours before the game because that's when the gates will open on all days of the week. On weekends, some stadiums open 2 – 2½ hours before the game, so to catch batting practice, you should arrive then.
How fast is a foul ball? ›A typical foul ball enters the stands at speeds between 100 and 110 miles per hour, according to the report.
How does a player catch a ball without hurting him? ›Tensing your hands to try to immediately stop the ball when you catch it can result in pain or even injury. Allow your hands and elbows to follow the motion of the football, easing it to a stop. By keeping your fingers spread and your hands "big," you increase surface area and make the ball easier to catch.
Why is it so hard to catch a ball? ›The eyes need to converge together, towards the nose, to track a ball that is coming towards them. The eyes diverge when the ball is thrown away from the body. Each eye needs to move in a well-coordinated tandem.
What is the first step in catching a football? ›The first step to catching a football is to focus on the position of your body. Ideally, you'll want to be able to run your route during a game and then position your body as if you're simply having a catch with someone with no one else around.
Can you catch a foul ball in the dugout? ›The rule book states: "A catch may be completed in the stands or dugout, but the fielder's first touch must occur with one or both feet on or over the playing surface, and with no foot touching the ground inside the stands or dugout.
Why is foul tip not an out? ›A foul tip is always a strike, regardless of the existing ball-and-strike count. A player with two strikes against him is automatically struck out. A player with fewer than two strikes against him is not out.
How many foul balls can a batter hit? ›
In baseball, there is no set limit to how many foul balls a batter can hit. Even though a foul ball is considered a strike, a foul ball will not increase the number of strikes when the batter already has two strikes in the count.
Can you steal a base on a caught foul tip? ›Stealing on a Foul Tip
Baserunners do not have to tag up on a foul tip, and can also steal a base. However, it is a foul ball if the foul tip isn't caught, and runners must return to their previous base, even if the steal was successful.
8-2-9 Each runner shall touch his base after the ball becomes dead. All awarded bases must be touched in their proper order. The runner returns to the base he had reached or passed when the ball became dead.
Can you run to the next base if the ball is caught? ›Runners are allowed to advance at their own jeopardy the same as any other fly ball. If caught, the runners must re-touch the base or risk being called out on appeal. If uncaught, the runners may run or choose to stay on their base, but if they run they have to be tagged out as they are no longer forced to run.
Can you steel on a foul tip? ›A ball that is not caught by the catcher is not (and cannot be) a foul tip. A foul tip is always a strike; and, unlike a foul ball, a foul tip can result in strike three. A foul tip is a live ball. Runners can advance (steal) at their peril.
Can a fielder stand in foul territory? ›A fielder may go into foul territory to back up an appeal after the ball has been put into play. d. All personnel except the nine defensive players on the field must remain in the dugout or bullpen (see 5-2-c PENALTY).
Can you steal 1st base? ›First base can be stolen - and has been on more than one occasion - but not with traditional baserunning techniques and tactics.
Can a runner run into a fielder? ›A runner may slide into the fielder. a. When a runner is called out for crashing into a fielder holding the ball, the ball becomes dead. Each runner must return to the last base touched at the time of interference.
Can a base runner run over a fielder? ›A fielder who is making a play on a batted ball is "protected" from interference by a base runner. In other words, the fielder gets the right-of-way in cases where a base runner converges on a fielder who is making a play on a batted ball.
What if a fan catches a home run? ›If an outfielder catches the home run with one foot on or over the playing surface and maintains possession of the baseball then the batter is called out. However, if no part of the player is on or over the playing surface then the play is ruled a home run.
Is a dropped foul ball fair? ›
If it drops to the ground, it is simply a foul ball, and runners cannot advance. A ground ball hit in foul territory is simply a foul ball, and cannot be played.
Is a dropped foul ball an error? ›A batter does not necessarily need to reach base for a fielder to be given an error. If he drops a foul ball that extends an at-bat, that fielder can also be assessed an error.
Does a foul tip pick up speed? ›The primary physics involved is the frictional force as the ball skids along the surface of the bat when the bat just skims the ball, leading to a foul tip directly away from the pitcher. If the frictional force is away from the pitcher, the ball will speed up. And if toward the pitcher, it will slow down.
Can fans keep baseballs? ›It is the custom at major league baseball games that fans can keep all baseballs which are hit or thrown out of play into the spectator seating area. Not surprisingly, many fans treasure souvenir baseballs obtained in this manner.
How do you get a foul ball in baseball? ›Comment: A batted ball not touched by a fielder, which hits the pitcher's rubber and rebounds into foul territory, between home and first, or between home and third base is a foul ball. A batted ball that is not a foul ball is a fair ball. A foul ball may be either in play or out of play.
Can you catch a baseball with your hand? ›are there any rules against taking a catch with the hand without the Mitt on it? There are no rules against catching a ball in flight with the hand.
How many foul balls are there in a baseball game? ›46 foul balls are hit per game historically.
What do MLB players do after a game? ›Once the game is completed, we all shower, eat dinner, and head home. By the time we leave the clubhouse it's usually around 11pm, and it can sometimes be tough to unwind after a game. Sleep is key though, especially when you play 150 or more games in a season.
Why do the Dodgers tap their helmets when they get a hit? ›#Dodgers new on base celebration is a reference to a scene from the movie "Wolf of Wall Street". Trea Turner is one of the the originators. The Dodgers evolved from that to a celebration spearheaded by Turner's love for “The Wolf of Wall Street” movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Do MLB Players get free tickets? ›You might assume baseball players get all the free tickets they want, and that life as a Major Leaguer is pretty much puppydogs and daffodils and giant stacks of front-row tickets for all your family and friends. But alas.
Why do ball games start at 7 05? ›
Baseball games start at weird times for two main reasons: Allow time for pregame festivities such as national anthems and a ceremonial first pitch. Allow television broadcast time for game introductions and a commercial break prior to first pitch.
What do you yell at a baseball game? ›"Let's go [team]!" -- The most common baseball fan chant. "Come on, Blue!" -- This comes from hecklers in the stands. "Blue" is the umpire (blue generally being the color of his shirt). When fans don't like the ump's call -- especially on balls and strikes -- you'll hear them yell this.
Is it okay to leave a baseball game early? ›The early exit cheat sheet
you should leave after the sixth inning if the leading team is ahead by four or more runs. There is a less than 5 percent chance that the other team will deliver a miracle comeback. If the run differential exceeds two at the top of the ninth, it's safe to head to the exits.
A 2019 investigation by NBC Sports identified 808 serious foul ball injuries (requiring hospitalization) over the previous eight seasons, an average of 27 per MLB stadium.
Is it a foul ball if it hits the line? ›The ball is considered fair if it hits the line past first or third base. It can go into foul territory after hitting the line as long as it makes contact with the line past one of the bases. So, yes, hitting the foul line can result in a fair ball.
What is the difference between a foul ball and a foul tip? ›So what is the main difference between a foul tip and a foul ball? It's in the catcher's hands. A foul tip is a pitch that is nicked by the hitter's bat, goes directly into the catcher's hand or glove and is caught before touching the batter, the umpire or the ground. Anything else is a foul ball.
What type of force is catching a ball? ›The muscular force is used to stop the motion of the ball while catching, while frictional force allows the ball to stay in the hand. During this activity, the gravitational force is exerted all the time on the ball by the Earth.
Is catching a ball stop moving? ›To catch a ball, the fielder has to stop the ball. This means, force is applied against the motion of the ball. So, the fielder applied the force on the ball and the ball moves in the direction opposite to the direction of force till the ball comes to rest, . Thus work is negative.
How do you catch a tennis ball? ›How To Catch A Tennis Ball On Your Racket (Tennis Trick Shot) - YouTube
Why can't kids catch a ball? ›The eyes need to converge together, towards the nose, to track a ball that is coming towards them. The eyes diverge when the ball is thrown away from the body. Each eye needs to move in a well-coordinated tandem.
Which law is used while catching a ball? ›
According to Newton's second law, the force with which ball is moving is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. When we catch a ball, momentum of the ball is transferred from ball to hand.
Why does a fielder pull his hands backwards while holding a catch? ›While catching a fast moving cricket ball, a fielder in the ground gradually pulls back his hand back with the moving ball. In doing so, he experiences a smaller force for a longer interval of time to catch the ball, resulting in a lesser impulse on his hands and hence it will not hurt the hands of the fielder.
What happens if you do not pull your arms back while catching a cricket ball? ›Expert-verified answer
Since momentum is the product of mass and velocity of the object, so the time in which the ball reaches the hands will decrease. As a result, the ball strikes the hands of the person at a high velocity. As a result, the hands of the person catching the ball can hurt.
Friction makes the ball stop on rolling after sometime
When a ball rolls on the ground, for example, friction is created between the ball's surface and the ground's surface. The imperfections on the two surfaces lock onto each other, preventing the ball from moving any farther unless a force is applied outside.
There are no rules against catching a ball in flight with the hand.
What happens if I throw a ball up in a moving car? ›When a person throws a ball up in a moving vehicle, say, a train, the ball does come straight back to thrower as though the train were at rest. This is an iron-clad evidence for the law of inertia as the horizontal motion of ball before, during and after the catch is the same.
How does a player catch a ball without hurting him? ›Tensing your hands to try to immediately stop the ball when you catch it can result in pain or even injury. Allow your hands and elbows to follow the motion of the football, easing it to a stop. By keeping your fingers spread and your hands "big," you increase surface area and make the ball easier to catch.
How can I get better at catching a tennis ball? ›How to catch a ball. - YouTube
How do you catch a big ball? ›How to Catch a Basketball for kids | Easy fundamental movement skills ...
What age should a child catch a ball? ›Age 3 - Your child should be able to catch a ball thrown from 5 feet away with hands only, and arms outstretched. Ages 4-5 - Your child can catch a tennis ball, with hands only, from 5 feet away. Age 6 - Your child should be able to bounce a tennis ball and catch it with one hand.
How do you teach someone to catch a ball? ›
How To Teach 6-8 Year Olds To Catch A Baseball [Baseball Catching Drills]
At what age can a child catch a ball? ›When to expect it: Many toddlers will attempt their first throw between 12 and 18 months. Catching comes later — around age 3 or 4 — and most toddlers will make their first catch hugging the ball to the chest.