Appeal play: missed bases and early tag-ups
A runner who misses a base or leaves early on a tag-up isn't out until the defense appeals. We have to do it the right way, and we have to do it before the next pitch.
The appeal play is one of those rules that most youth coaches have heard of, but very few have practiced. A runner misses a base or leaves early on a tag-up, and as coaches, we tend to assume the umpire will call him out. He won’t. The defense has to ask, and it has to ask the right way.
A runner misses second by a foot on a double, and the other dugout is yelling about it. Then the pitcher throws the next pitch. Where did the out go?
The umpire may have seen it too, but he can’t call it until the defense appeals.
How it works. Under the pro rules and in Little League, the ball has to be live. If time was called, the umpire puts it back in play with the pitcher on the rubber. The step-on, step-off routine isn’t in the book. It’s a habit most pitchers are taught, and he can throw from the rubber too. He throws to the base in question, and the fielder tags the base (or the runner) and tells the umpire what he’s appealing — “He missed second.” It has to be unmistakable. If your pitcher balks during any of this, the appeal is gone.
The deadline. The appeal has to come before the next pitch or the next play (an attempt counts). That second part catches a lot of teams. If your pitcher tries to pick off the runner at first while you’re still arguing about third, you’ve made a play, and the appeal is dead. An appeal itself doesn’t count as a play. And if the violation came on the play that ended the inning, the window closes when your defense leaves the field.
High school and USSSA make it simpler. A coach or player can appeal verbally during a dead ball, with no throw required. Which book your tournament plays under decides it, so ask before you assume.
It takes about five minutes to walk your infield through this once at practice. The first time they calmly appeal a missed base and get the third out, you’ll be glad you did!
Which rulebook? Official Baseball Rules 5.09(c). The appeal must be unmistakable and made with the ball live, before the next pitch, play or attempted play, or, after a play that ends the half-inning, before the defense leaves the field. An appeal is not itself a play. No pitcher ritual is required, and after time is called the umpire puts the ball back in play. NFHS 8-2 and USSSA 7.04.E also allow a dead-ball verbal appeal by a coach or player. Little League follows the live-ball procedure.
The runner on second misses third base on his way home and scores. The pitcher throws the next pitch before the defense does anything. Can they still appeal?
Still have a question? Ask Coach Fungo.
“The whole park saw him miss second. If you don't appeal before the next pitch, it never happened.”
Is a runner out if a batted ball hits him?
A fair ball that hits a runner in fair territory before it gets past an infielder is an out. The ball is dead, and the batter gets first. Once it's by the infielders, or off one of their gloves, we usually play on.
“Let the ball go by before you take off. If it hits you, you're out.”
Is the injured player’s spot an automatic out?
I almost always batted our whole lineup, and I understood the risk: In USSSA and a lot of Perfect Game events, an injury leaves a hole that's an automatic out. The umpire should announce it the moment the player leaves the game.
“I've been the bad guy, and it's no fun.”
The rules quiz
Ten questions, two minutes. Would you have gotten the call right?
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