Rule question...

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Playing on a field with a temporary, collapsible fence. A ball is hit to centerfield and the person makes the catch but lands over the fence... HR or OUT? Does the fielder need to land 'in bounds' then fall over the fence? Or can the fielder make the catch in the air while going over the fence?

 

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According to the way this was answered in a post a few months ago, you can basically run through the fence and catch the ball. My feeling is that a temporary fence should be treated just like a permanent fence - with the obvious exception that it is succeptible to being knocked down or moved. In that case, it should be a judgement call by the umpires that if the fence was moved BEFORE the ball was caught, it's not a catch, because the fence was altered. A fixed, permanent fence may even be climbed to make a catch - provided someone is athletic enough to do that! IMO, standing on a knocked-down temporary fence section and THEN making a catch should not qualify as a caught ball.

There is, of course, safety considerations, but this is pretty much a common sense issue. You shouldn't be allowed to alter the playing field (move the fence) to make a play that otherwise would not have been possible!

 

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But, do the feet have to come down in FAIR TERRITORY with possession of the ball? Can the person catch the ball, in mid air, while jumping over the fence? (assume it was a small fence!) Or can they catch it in mid air and land on the opposite side of fence?

 

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This one has a lot of "if's and maybe's"...

If the outfielder runs, jumps and makes the catch while in the air, then leaps right over the fence you have legal catch, batter out. You also have what is commonly called a "catch and carry", the same as if any other fielder made a legal catch and her momentum carried her into dead ball territory.

A ball unintentionally carried into dead ball territory is a dead ball and any runners are awarded one base. On a play like this one the carry should always be ruled unintentional.

Should the umpire judge that the ball was intentionally carried out-of-play, in an attempt to kill the ball and stop the runners from advancing, the ball is dead and the award is then two bases for each runner.

As long as the fielder makes the catch BEFORE coming down on the other side of the fence and touching dead-ball territory, this is a valid catch.

 

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...A ball unintentionally carried into dead ball territory is a dead ball and any runners are awarded one base......

bretman, what you are telling me is that on a field where the fences do not extend out to the outfield a pop-up on the 3rd base side that is caught by the 3rd baseman in live ball area but her momentum carries her a step into dead ball territory a runner on 3rd is awarded home without jeopardy?
:-?

 

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bretman, what you are telling me is that on a field where the fences do not extend out to the outfield a pop-up on the 3rd base side that is caught by the 3rd baseman in live ball area but her momentum carries her a step into dead ball territory a runner on 3rd is awarded home without jeopardy?
:-?

In a word...yes!

The ASA rules covering this are 8-5-J and 8-5-K. Additionally, this is covered in Rules Supplement #27.

 

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Is this a basic rule of baseball/softball or an ASA only rule? I've seen many MLB players catch a foul ball and fall into the dugout and/or stands and everybody cheers for the great play. All runners stay where they are at.

 

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The Major League rule reads about the same as the softball rules on this. Stepping entirely out of bounds with one foot means that the fielder is now in dead ball territory.

Due mainly to the configuration of most Major League stadiums, there are some things you might see that look like a fielder going out of play, but are not interpreted as such under this rule.

A fielder can lean over into the stands (dead ball territory) to make a catch. Even if the upper part of his body is out of play, if his legs and feet remain over live ball territory and he is able to regain his footing there, the play remain live with no base awards to the runners.

A player is not considered to be in dead ball territory until he has fallen over the fence or railing such that he is not able to regain his footing in live ball territory, or one of his feet touch the ground out of play.

In the past, an exception was made to this rule for a player entering a team dugout to make a catch. A player could legally step into a dugout (but not anywhere else in dead ball teritory) to make a catch. MLB changed that rule this year and such a catch is no longer allowed.

Next time you see one of these plays, check to see if the fielder was able to regain his footing on the field, before his feet actually touch down outside of it.

 

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Ahh, it's all in the details. I'll know what to watch for next time.