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2 replies

When does the ball become live?

H hospo22Member
I had a situation happen and I dont really know the rule. This was 14 year old little league but I would like to know what the rule is on every level.

Here is the situation:

Man on 3rd base with one out. Its a 2-2 pitch, the batter fouls off a ball. The ump yells fould ball. The catcher goes to look for the ball but the ball is at the umpires feet. The runner goes back to 3rd base. The ump hands the ball to the catcher. The catcher throws the ball away from the pitcher. The runner on 3rd base comes home to score. The coach came out after the inning to ask if that was the right call.

My question is - When is the ball offically in play. When the pitcher has it on the mound?
When the ump hands the ball to a player?

Please give me your opinions and if you can where I can find the correct ruling in the rule book.

Thanks!!!
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piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
I dont do little league and this is a HS site ...but for the sake of the issue, I will quote the NFHS rule and the OBR rule... I imagine LL would be similar...

NFHS Rule 5 article 4

After a dead ball, the ball becomes alive when it is held by the pitcher in a legal pitching position, providing the pitcher has engaged the pitcher's plate, the batter and catcher are in their respective boxes, AND the umpire calls "PLAY" and gives the appropriate hand signal.

OBR (Official Baseball Rules) MLB and PONY

OBR Rule 5.11

After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes his place on the pitchers plate with a new ball or the same ball in his possession AND the plate Umpire calls "PLAY". The plate umpire shall call "Play" as soon as the pitcher takes his place on the plate with the ball in his possession.

The ball is not live until those restrictions are met and the umpire signals it live by calling play and (usually) pointing at the pitcher.........
Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
The LL rule is the same as OBR/Pony. Note it doesn't require the batter to be in the box although it's a good idea to wait until he is set before returning it to play. The rason is if you want to appeal a final out, walk-off HR or other type appeal the defense can get the ball put in play without the batter. In HS this isn't necessary because HS can do a deadball appeal.

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