A Question For The Sports Fans Among Us

[Michael P]

Has there ever occured in baseball a situation where a batter, with a runner on base, hit the ball at such an angle and in such a direction that it collided with the runner as he was running to the next base?

And if so, is there video?

[spoon_jenkins]

Yup, it's happened many, many times. There's a rule about it. The base runner is called out and the batter gets first base.

[Tadhg]

It happens. There's even rules about it. Last time I remember seeing it was a few years ago with Mets/Yankees when the ball struck Posada in the leg.

[Tadhg]

Yup, it's happened many, many times. There's a rule about it. The base runner is called out and the batter gets first base.

Isn't the runner out only if his being hit by the ball is ruled interference? I thought if the umps felt that no infielder could make a play, the ball was considered still in play.

[DonC]

Isn't the runner out only if his being hit by the ball is ruled interference? I thought if the umps felt that no infielder could make a play, the ball was considered still in play.


I've never heard of that. I've seen runners try to avoid balls that were rolling into the outfield so I don't think it's true.

[Pheonix-NoRelation]

Isn't the runner out only if his being hit by the ball is ruled interference? I thought if the umps felt that no infielder could make a play, the ball was considered still in play.
Nope, as long as it doesn't touch another player before hitting the runner, he's out no matter what. I'm pretty sure.

[Valmore]

MLB rule 7.9:

It is interference by a batter or a runner when --
(a) After a third strike he hinders the catcher in his attempt to field the ball;
(b) He intentionally deflects the course of a foul ball in any manner;
(c) Before two are out and a runner on third base, the batter hinders a fielder in making a play at home base; the runner is out;
(d) Any member or members of the offensive team stand or gather around any base to which a runner is advancing, to confuse, hinder or add to the difficulty of the fielders. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate or teammates;
(e) Any batter or runner who has just been put out hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate;
Rule 7.09(e) Comment: If the batter or a runner continues to advance after he has been put out, he shall not by that act alone be considered as confusing, hindering or impeding the fielders.
(f) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for interference and also call out the batter-runner because of the action of his teammate. In no event may bases be run or runs scored because of such action by a runner.
(g) If, in the judgment of the umpire, a batter-runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball, with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead; the umpire shall call the batter-runner out for interference and shall also call out the runner who had advanced closest to the home plate regardless where the double play might have been possible. In no event shall bases be run because of such interference.
(h) In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving third base or first base.
(i) With a runner on third base, the base coach leaves his box and acts in any manner to draw a throw by a fielder;
(j) He fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball, provided that if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner comes in contact with one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and shall not declare the runner out for coming in contact with a fielder other than the one the umpire determines to be entitled to field such a ball;
Rule 7.09(j) Comment: When a catcher and batter-runner going to first base have contact when the catcher is fielding the ball, there is generally no violation and nothing should be called. “Obstruction” by a fielder attempting to field a ball should be called only in very flagrant and violent cases because the rules give him the right of way, but of course such “right of way” is not a license to, for example, intentionally trip a runner even though fielding the ball. If the catcher is fielding the ball and the first baseman or pitcher obstructs a runner going to first base “obstruction” shall be called and the base runner awarded first base.
(k)A fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder. If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder, the umpire shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted ball. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted ball on which the infielder has missed a play, then the runner shall be called out for interference.
PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE: The runner is out and the ball is dead.

[Brian Cronin]

Here's video of a Randy Johnson fastball killing a dove that happened to fly into the wrong place at the wrong time!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kIhvqobMOp8

-Brian

[Subotai]

Not exactly the same situation, but Reggie Jackson made a little hip move during a '78 series game, when Bill Russell threw the ball to first after a missed pop-up, and knocked the ball into the outfield. Jackson was called out automatically, but Pinella, who hit the ball, rolled into second. Lasorda predicably freaked, saying it was intentional (he was probably absolutely right) but no one wins against the umps.

[Fish Sauce]

Here's video of a Randy Johnson fastball killing a dove that happened to fly into the wrong place at the wrong time!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kIhvqobMOp8

-Brian

Holy crap! Reminds me of Duck Hunt.

Poor bird.

[Sanagi]

Here's video of a Randy Johnson fastball killing a dove that happened to fly into the wrong place at the wrong time!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kIhvqobMOp8

-Brian
Gah! That poor bird. Ouch.

Ryu from Ninja Gaiden should've had a baseball weapon, I guess.

[Winslow]

Here's video of a Randy Johnson fastball killing a dove that happened to fly into the wrong place at the wrong time!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kIhvqobMOp8

-Brian

Heh

I kid you not, my brother nailed a sparrow when he drove a golfball once. The thing died instantly of course. Then we all started laughing, "He got a birdie!"

Dorky, I know, but it was hilarious at the time.

[Tadhg]

MLB rule 7.9

(k) is what I was thinking of. I think it's mostly ignored though.

[Grazzt]

Holy crap! Reminds me of Duck Hunt.

You know, before you said that, my thought was "Poor bird."

Now, all I want to see is someone edit in the dog from Duck Hunt lifting the bird up, along with some Duck Hunt sound effects.