FIELDERS' EQUIPMENT

RULE 5.06(b)(3)(E) - Each runner, other than the batter, may without liability to be put out, advance one base when... A fielder deliberately touches a pitched ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play, and the award is made from the position of the runner at the time the ball was touched.

RULE 5.06(b)(4) - Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance:

(A) To home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and he touched all bases legally; or if a fair ball which, in the umpire’s judgment, would have gone out of the playing field in flight, is deflected by the act of a fielder in throwing his glove, cap, or any article of his apparel;

(B) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a fair ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at his peril.

(C) Three bases, if a fielder deliberately throws his glove at and touches a fair ball. The ball is in play and the batter may advance to home base at his peril.

(D) Two bases, if a fielder deliberately touches a thrown ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person. The ball is in play.

(E) Two bases, if a fielder deliberately throws his glove at and touches a thrown ball. The ball is in play.

Rule 5.06(b)(4)(B) through (E) Comment: In applying (B-C- D-E) the umpire must rule that the thrown glove or detached cap or mask has touched the ball. There is no penalty if the ball is not touched.

Under (C-E) this penalty shall not be invoked against a fielder whose glove is carried off his hand by the force of a batted or thrown ball, or when his glove flies off his hand as he makes an obvious effort to make a legitimate catch.

If a catcher uses his detached mask to touch a PITCHED ball, that is a one-base award for all runners.
If a fielder throws his glove or uses his hat or mask and makes contact with a fair ball, it’s a three-base award for the batter and runners.
If a fielder throws his glove or uses his hat or mask and makes contact with a THROWN ball, it’s a two-base award for the batter and runners.
If a fielder throws his glove or uses his hat or mask and makes contact with a fair ball that, in the umpire's judgment, would have cleared the outfield fence, it is a home run.

SITUATION: RULE 5.06(b)(3)(E): Catcher uses his mask detached from its proper place on his person to deliberately touch a pitched ball. After a conference, the umpires make the call. All runners advance one base.

COMMENT: On the initial play, the catcher's body shielded the plate umpire from seeing the action.

Same deal, only this time the plate umpire sees it and can make the call right away. You'll wrongly catch grief from the defensive manager, but you'll rightly catch grief from the offensive manager if you don't call it. While there are plenty of "gray areas" in the rulebook, this rule is right there in black-and-white.

SITUATION: No runners on base. A ground ball hits the third-baseman then ricochets toward the outfield. The shortstop whips his glove at the ball, making contact. The runner is awarded second base.

COMMENTS: Why was the batter awarded only two bases since it was a fair ball? Once the ball hit the third-baseman, it made the status of the ball a "bounding ball" rather than a "batted ball" and the umpires treated the award like that of a "thrown ball."

SITUATION: The pitcher throws his glove at the batted ball but does not make contact. He picks up the ball and gets the batter-runner out at first base.

COMMENTS: Because no contact was made, it’s as if the glove was never thrown.

SITUATION: Sharp comebacker gets lodged in the webbing of the pitcher's glove. He can't remove it in time, so decides to toss the entire thing to first base to get the out.

COMMENTS: There is no rule saying a fielder can't throw his glove, with ball attached, to a teammate.

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