Fair or foul when the ball hits or passes the base
A ball that hits the bag is fair, and one that bounces past it is judged where it passes. In the air past the bag, it's judged where it first lands or is touched.
Line drive down the third base line. It’s fair over the bag, and then it hooks and lands a foot foul. The umpire calls it foul, and now the coach is out of the dugout: “It was fair when it passed the bag!”
He’s right that it was fair over the bag. But on this play, that doesn’t matter. Three different plays happen at that bag, and each one has its own answer…
The first is a ball that hits the bag. First and third base sit in fair territory. A batted ball that touches either one is fair the instant it touches, even if it kicks into foul territory right after. That one’s automatic — no one has to judge anything.
The second is a ball that bounces past the bag. Now it’s judged at the bag, and only there. Is it over the bag or inside it when it passes? Then it’s fair, no matter where it goes afterward. It can hook foul and stop in the coach’s box, and it’s still fair. If it’s outside the bag when it passes, it’s foul, even if it spins back and stops on the line.
The third is a ball that flies past the bag in the air, and then the bag means nothing. It’s judged by where it first lands or where a fielder first touches it. So a line drive that’s fair over the bag and lands foul is foul (that’s our coach above). And a line drive that’s foul over the bag, hooks back and lands fair is fair.
In every one of these, the umpire is watching the ball and not the fielder.
It doesn’t matter where the fielder’s feet or glove were. A fielder in foul territory can touch a ball over fair territory, and it’s fair. And the foul pole, despite the name, is fair. Hit it and it’s a home run!
Which of these three causes the most arguments where you play?
Which rulebook? Official Baseball Rules, Definitions of Terms, 'Fair Ball' and 'Foul Ball': a ball that touches first or third base is fair. A bounding ball is judged where it passes the base. A ball in flight past the base is judged where it first lands or is touched. NFHS 2-5-1 and 2-16-1 match. The foul pole is fair under all of them.
A hard ground ball bounces over first base in fair territory, then kicks foul and stops in the coach’s box. Fair or foul?
Still have a question? Ask Coach Fungo.
“On a ball down the line, figure out whether it bounced past the bag or flew past it. That decides it.”
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