The penalty for fan interference in baseball is the ball is ruled a dead ball and umpires will advance base runners to where they believe those base runners would have advanced to if the interference had not taken place. The fan responsible for the interference will usually be thrown out of the game.
Also, the spectator who commits interference is usually ejected from the stadium. Note that spectators are allowed to catch a ball that is in play when the ball has broken the plane of the spectators’ side of the wall.
Rule 6.01(b) Comment: Defensive interference is an act by a fielder that hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a pitch. The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when the catcher or any fielder interferes with him.
When there is spectator interference with any thrown or batted ball, the ball is dead at the moment of interference and the umpire will impose such penalties as in his opinion will nullify the act of interference.
According to the official MLB Rule Book under rule 9.02(e), “each umpire has authority at his discretion to eject from the playing field any spectator or other person not authorized to be on the playing field.”
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.
There is no reversal of a player’s ejection or coach in a baseball game by the umpire crew members. While the umpire may miss a call, which may lead to the removal of a player arguing with them, they won’t’ reverse an ejection.
Runner touched by a batted ball. As we said, any runner touched by a live batted ball has committed interference and is out. The ball is dead. The batter-runner is awarded first base (unless he is the one touched by the batted ball), and other runners advance only if forced.
One key distinction between interference and obstruction: Interference is defined as a violation of either the offense or the defense; obstruction can only be committed by the defense.
The rule provides that a runner must vacate any space needed by a fielder to make a play on a batted ball, unless the runner has contact with a legally occupied base when the interference occurs. In this case, the runner should not be called out unless the hindrance is intentional.
Offensive Interference is when the batter or a runner interfere with the defense’s ability to make a play. Interference on a Batted ball. Batter is out for interfering with the catcher on a pop-up in foul territory. The fielder always has the right of way over a runner when attempting to field a batted ball.
Knowing who has the “right of way” will help you decide between an obstruction or interference call. 1. On a batted ball: the fielder has the right to the ball including within the base path. - If a runner impacted a fielder’s attempt to make a play on the ball, the ruling is interference on the runner.
Believe it or not, some levels of baseball even have “verbal interference” rules, which can occur when opposing teams (or fans) yell “I got it” on a pop fly, thus hindering the defense from making a play.
It is strictly the judgment of the umpire as to whether a violation occurred. Running in front of the fielder MAY BE a distraction, and CAN BE an interference violation.
When a batter swings at a pitch and the momentum of his swing brings the bat around and hits the catcher, or more commonly, the catcher’s mitt, this is backswing interference.
Professional baseball umpires don’t make quite as much as the MLB player minimum salary, but they’re still well off financially. According to Career Trend, the starting rookie umpire salary is $150,000 and the more experienced umpires and senior umpires (like Joe West) rake in as much as $450,000 per year.
In 1996, Major League Baseball (MLB) player Roberto Alomar spat in umpire John Hirschbeck’s face during a dispute. Alomar received a five-game suspension for the incident, but the punishment was served during the following season, and not the 1996 playoffs.
Physical contact with an umpire is a ground for ejection. Refusal to stop arguing, and further delaying the game after the umpire has provided a player or manager adequate opportunity to make a point, is a ground for ejection.
If you catch a milestone ball (or scrounge for it on the ground after the people next to you drop it) then you have, by law, every right to keep that ball. If you want to sell it for an easy buck, nobody should begrudge you of that.
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.
Rule 5.05(a):
Unless provided otherwise by local ground rule, a fair fly ball striking the top of the outfield wall and bounding over the wall shall be ruled a home run.
On a half swing, if the manager comes out to argue with first or third base umpire and if after being warned he persists in arguing, he can be ejected as he is now arguing over a called ball or strike.
So, does an umpire have the authority to eject a spectator or entertainment staff member? You bet he does. The Official Baseball Rules Book is used by many levels of play, including both MLB and minor league baseball.
Ejections. In baseball, an ejection is the act of an umpire removing a player or coach from the game. There are a variety of actions that can cause an umpire to make an ejection. Once a player or coach is ejected, they cannot reenter the game.
If a batted ball hits the plate first it’s a foul ball.
Approved Ruling: Home plate, first, second, and third base are all completely within fair territory. The foul lines are also within fair territory. In order to rule the ball foul, it must have come to rest in foul territory or be touched in foul territory.