Ball disappears

[CX355]

Where's the ball?
A few weeks ago I was umpiring a middle school game, you make the call!
Man on first, pitcher pitches runner on first steals to second ,catcher throws the ball runner safe. But when the dust clears no one knows what happen to the ball. As the only umpire I called the runner safe and then called time. I thought it went under the bag at first but still no ball then realized it must be in the opposing players shirt. Sure enough he pulled his shirt tail out and out dropped the ball. The ball actually flew into the players shirt down his back side. In a 11 years I have never seen that one. :clapping

[Utility07]

He should get the stolen base, and then an additional base for a ball lodged in a defensive players equipment.

[CX355]

He got the stolen base...the ball was in the offensive players shirt not second baseman:cap:

[dolphindan1]

he got on base before the ball hit him? then safe...

that is a crazy play though....

[DerekD]

he got on base before the ball hit him? then safe...

that is a crazy play though....

Maybe I'm just reading something into this post, but are you suggesting that the runner would be out if the ball hit him before he got to the base?

[xholdourownx]

If I were the runner, I would have kept on running if I knew I had the ball in my shirt. Stealing 2nd, 3rd, and home all at once.

[Francoeurstein]

Where's the ball?
A few weeks ago I was umpiring a middle school game, you make the call!
Man on first, pitcher pitches runner on first steals to second ,catcher throws the ball runner safe. But when the dust clears no one knows what happen to the ball. As the only umpire I called the runner safe and then called time. I thought it went under the bag at first but still no ball then realized it must be in the opposing players shirt. Sure enough he pulled his shirt tail out and out dropped the ball. The ball actually flew into the players shirt down his back side. In a 11 years I have never seen that one. :clapping

That happened today to Mike Jacobs when the Marlins played the Braves.

[CX355]

That happened today to Mike Jacobs when the Marlins played the Braves.

I will look for it on sports highlights....weird:applaud:

[dolphindan1]

Maybe I'm just reading something into this post, but are you suggesting that the runner would be out if the ball hit him before he got to the base?

No...my wording is weird...go figure...no if it hit him on a throw down...but I am not sure about middle school league but in rec play a hit ball that hits the runner the runner is out...

[TrentThomas]

...but in rec play a hit ball that hits the runner the runner is out...

So it's like kickball - and the catcher or fielders can just fire the ball into the runner instead of to the baseman? I wanna see this league... :)


:homeplate:

[Captain Cold Nose]

So it's like kickball - and the catcher or fielders can just fire the ball into the runner instead of to the baseman? I wanna see this league... :)


:homeplate:

I can just imagine the litigation.

I'm guessing this would be just like if a runner makes contact with a ground ball. The runner would be out if he is not standing on a base. It's the equivalent of getting tagged. Fairly standard rule from youth leagues on up. Kickball, too.

[5LilPlayers]

By MLB standards:

"If a baserunner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for interference and also call out the batter-runner because of the action of his teammate."

The act itself wasn't willful or deliberate - weird things happen now and then - but how do you not feel a ball go down your shirt??

Legally speaking, had the runner called time himself to let everyone know it went down his shirt, play could have resumed, with him back on first.

Granted, being a MLB rule, I don't know how it would effect a rec. league...they usually don't play by MLB rules, but I'm sure somewhere in the fine print, there'd be something about it...but who has time - especially in a rec league - to memorize every little detail? Again, not a common happening...so it's hard to judge.

Just hope it never happens again...LOL

[CX355]

Read carefully, the runner is sliding into second and the thrown ball ends up flying down his backside. The runner is safe. Ball is dead. NO FOUL COMMITTED. It was a strange play and had he gotten up and started running with the ball in his shirt without knowing it I don't know what the call would be. Probably the same as if it were lodged in umpires mask or something of the like. You cannot penalize a player for something such as this.:cap:

[jacksimpk]

Little League rule is similar to the MLB rule stated above. If its willful interference the ball is declared dead and runner out. If not willful, ball is dead and runner advances to next base. Either way ball is out of play and declared dead. It all hangs on "willful". The little league rules leave a huge gray area around interference vs. obstruction. So it mostly umpire discretion.