DETERMINING A CATCH

Definition of Terms: A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform in getting possession. It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously or immediately following his contact with the ball, he collides with a player, or with a wall, or if he falls down, and as a result of such collision or falling, drops the ball. It is not a catch if a fielder touches a fly ball which then hits a member of the offensive team or an umpire and then is caught by another defensive player. In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove that he has complete control of the ball and that his release of the ball is voluntary and intentional. If the fielder has made the catch and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the catch, the ball shall be adjudged to have been caught.

Comment: A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball.

That’s a lot of words used to define a catch, all of them are unnecessary, and it all boils down to a judgment call by the umpire. Notice the Comment at the bottom. This rule prevents clever outfielders, with a runner on third base preparing to tag up, from just continuously batting the ball in the air with their glove as they run toward the infield before finally securing the catch. As soon as the baseball touches a fielder, the runner can take off.

Do you think the fielder held the ball long enough to prove that he had complete control of the ball and that his release of the ball was voluntary?

The catcher clearly secures the ball, exhibits that he has complete control, but drops the ball when he’s transferring it to his throwing hand. You see this come into question a lot of times when a team is trying to turn a double play, and the ball falls out of the middle infielder’s hands as he’s preparing to make a throw to first base.

The umpire immediately mimics the action of a player removing a ball from his glove and declares it a good catch.

TIPS FOR UMPIRES

Don't be too quick in making your call. Make sure you see all elements of a catch take place. If you say "Catch," this will alter the actions of the batter and any base runners. If all of a sudden you see a drop and then change to a no-catch and someone is thrown out that otherwise would have been safe or if you cost a team a run, you will have your hands full. Remember -- it's not anything until you say it is. Timing is your best friend.
Something to keep in mind on a catch/no-catch call of any type: At the beginning of the play, the ball was in flight. You need to see that baseball on the ground for it to be ruled not a catch.

QUICK QUIZ

Right fielder and center fielder are converging, both trying to catch a fly ball hit into the gap. The center fielder reaches out, you see the baseball disappear into his glove, but a split-second later, a collision with the right fielder jars the ball loose and it falls to the ground. Is this a catch?

No.

"In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove that he has complete control of the ball and that his release of the ball is voluntary and intentional."

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