Is fan interference a ground rule double?

Let’s clear up a myth: fan interference does not result in an automatic ground rule double call.

Do fans get ejected for fan interference?

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.

Does a ground rule double count as a double?

A ground rule double is a double awarded by the umpire because a fair ball became unplayable according the the ground rules of the ballpark.

What is the rule on fan interference in MLB?

Rule 3.16 Situation A – If a batter hits a foul fly ball along the first base or third base fence, and as the fielder prepares to catch the ball, a spectator reaches over the fence and touches the ball, this would be considered spectator interference.

What causes a ground rule double?

A ground rule double is a baseball rule that awards two bases from the time of pitch to all baserunners including the batter-runner, as a result of the ball leaving play after being hit fairly and leaving the field under a condition of the ground rules in effect at the field where the game is being played.

Who has the most ground rule doubles?

Hall of Fame center fielder Tris Speaker holds the Major League Baseball career doubles record with 792.

What is the penalty for fan interference?

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.

What happens if a fan robs a homerun?

In every case of spectator interference with a batted or thrown ball, the ball shall be declared dead and the baserunners can be placed where the umpire determines they would have been without the interference.

Does umpire have discretion on ground rule double?

“It’s in the rule book. It’s a ground-rule double. There’s no discretion that the umpires have,” Holbrook said. “There’s no, ‘he would have done this, would have done that.

What happens if a fan catches the baseball?

This rule is the simplest rule of fan etiquette in all of baseball: If you catch the ball, you get to keep the ball. If a ball comes flying into the stands down the line, or looping into the first row of the upper deck and you catch it, you keep that ball.