thumb|[[Nook Logan, of the Erie SeaWolves, hitting a foul ball during a game against the Reading Phillies on July 2, 2006.]]
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:
- Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or
- Bounces and then goes past first or third base on or over foul territory, or
- Has its first bounce occur in foul territory beyond first or third base, or
- Touches an umpire or player, or any object foreign to the natural ground, while on or over foul territory. By interpretation, a batted ball that touches a batter while in his batter's box is foul regardless of whether it is over foul territory.
The entirety of the batted ball must be on or over foul territory in order to be adjudged foul in the above situations; otherwise it is a fair ball that forces the batter to attempt to reach first base.
A foul fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on foul or fair territory at the time he touches the ball. If the foul ball gets caught, then it would be judged as an out.
Additionally, ballpark ground rules may specify that batted balls striking certain fixed objects such as railings, nets, or a roof if present are foul balls.
Overview
thumb|The batter and catcher are the only players that are generally stationed in foul territory, with the home plate umpire nearby to call balls and strikes.
Foul territory or foul ground is defined as that part of the playing field outside the first and third base lines extended to the fence and perpendicularly upwards. according to Thorn, even home runs were potentially considered foul in this set of rules, since losing the club's only ball in the nearby Hudson River would prematurely end the game.
Originally, any ball that landed in fair territory was called fair, even if it went foul before leaving the infield. These "fair fouls" led to first and third basemen being forced to play closer to the foul lines, leading to calls for ten-person baseball teams. Fair fouls were amended out of the game before the 20th century.
Modern history
Until the 1920s, Major League Baseball spectators were often ejected if they attempted to keep foul balls, and teams employed security guards to ensure it. Factors such as negative public sentiment, a decrease in the cost of baseballs relative to team revenues and increased pressure to discontinue use of worn, damaged and/or discolored baseballs (especially after the death of Ray Chapman) combined to persuade several teams to change their foul ball policies during this period; the New York Giants changed theirs after losing a New York Supreme Court case (Reuben Berman vs. National Exhibition Co.) filed by Reuben Berman. Berman, a businessman, was ejected in 1921 after tossing a foul ball he caught into the stands.
Strategies
thumb|Umpire [[Bill Miller (umpire)|Bill Miller gives the hand signal for a foul ball]]
Depending on the exact situation, a foul ball may be considered beneficial to the offense or the defense.
When there are zero or one strikes, a foul ball counts as a strike, benefiting the pitcher. However, a foul ball may reveal to the batter that he has timed a pitch well and need only make adjustment to the location of his swing on the next such pitch; this is often called a good cut or simply a good swing. Foul balls with two strikes are generally considered positive for the batter, since he thus avoids strike three on a potentially difficult pitch. Also, foul balls with two strikes increase the pitcher's pitch count, adding to their fatigue, thus providing some small advantage to the offense.
A strategy of swinging on any ball to try to produce additional fouls and prolong an at-bat is often used against strong pitchers to try to drive them from the game sooner (and also the possibility of the pitcher throwing a pitch a hitter can get a hit on); this does, however, have the disadvantage of generating more strikeouts.
In very specific circumstance—such as in the bottom of the ninth inning (or later) of a tie game when a runner is on third base with less than two outs—outfielders may intentionally not catch deep fly balls in foul territory, as catching such a ball would create a sacrifice fly, potentially allowing the winning run to score.
See also
- Baseball Rule, legal doctrine from 1913 court case that generally prevents spectators from holding teams liable for injuries from foul balls