The score is tied in the bottom of the sixth. With one out and a lone runner on third, the count is 0 and 2. The pitch is thigh-high on the outside half of the plate. The left-handed batter gets all of it and sends a sky-high fly ball down the line. The right fielder drifts across the first base line (extended) and camps under the ball, making the catch. As your partner signals the out, you’re keeping an eye on the runner at third to make sure of the tag-up for the game winning run. Then it happens a deep voice from the stands (or worse, a coach) yells, "FOUL!". The runner rocks back to the bag and the dejected batter drags his feet on his way back to the dugout.

What’s wrong with these pictures?

The simple truth is, play should have continued in both of these situations. In the first scenario, the runner from first should have continued his steal of second (with a possible delayed steal of home by the runner at third). In the second, the runner from third should have tagged and come home, ending the game. Because most players (and coaches) are taught that everything stops when you hear FOUL (or FOUL BALL), that’s what they do even if the voice making the call isn’t the umpire’s. Because most players, coaches and spectators don’t know that there are three types of fouls, they assume a foul is a foul is a foul. How wrong they are! These should have been the epitome of what the game of baseball can be. Now they’re just horrible mistakes that can’t be fixed and the umpires are blameless (for a change).

While the most important rule in book, for all levels, is Rule 1.01 "Baseball is a game", the second most important is Rule 2 "Definitions". Keeping in mind that most situations are an application of a cross section of rules, let’s take a look at ‘fouls’.

"A foul ball is a batted ball that settles on foul territory between home and first or home and third base or that bounds past first or third on or over foul territory or that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base or, while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or player or any object foreign to the natural ground."

If any of these circumstances occur, the ball is dead. Rule 5.09(e) and Rule 2.00-"Definitions" "Strike"(c) and, possibly, (d) apply.

"A foul tip is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike and the ball is in play (alive)."

Legally caught is found in (surprise!) Rule2 Definition of "Catch".

"A catch is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his/her hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing (s)he does not use his/her cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his/her uniform in getting possession."

If the ball is alive, play can continue…ranging from the next batter stepping in, to a daring triple steal attempt.

A foul fly is determined by a sequence of events. First, it must be a fly ball (a batted ball that goes high in the air in flight). You will notice that the definition does not refer to any location in regard to the ground. This is important. Second, the fly ball would have to be over foul territory. You now have a potential foul fly. If it stays over foul territory and is not caught, it is a foul ball as previously defined. If it is caught, it is a caught fly ball with all the play potential a caught fly encompasses. This includes the classic ‘sacrifice fly’ with its tag-up and run as covered in Rule 7.10(a).

You’ve probably noticed a common theme to the determination of the ‘alive and in play’ status of these ‘fouls’ the ball was in flight and did not touch the ground before it was caught.

Just to round out this discussion of ‘fouls’, remember that the position of the fielder has no bearing on whether or not a batted ball is in ‘foul’. If you think "Everybody Knows" that, think again.

Bottom of the first, batter sends one almost straight up, but only 8 feet up the third base line. As the batter-runner watches the ball as he semi-jogs towards first, the pitcher charges in, stops and stretches his glove arm across the base line while taking extreme care to keep both feet inside the line. Unfortunately, his arm isn’t quite long enough and the ball brushes the edge of the webbing before it hits the ground. Like a shot, he scoops it up and fires to first well ahead of the batter-runner. As he’s making his throw, the umpire yells, "FOUL BALL!". The pitcher quickly points out that it’s a fair ball because he kept his feet in fair territory. His coach, who has come out of the dugout to ‘enlighten’ the official behind the plate, echoes this logic. The plate umpire carefully explains that, unlike most sports, it is the location of the ball, not the fielder (or his feet), that determines whether or not a ball is foul. After three repetitions of this explanation, I finally resorted to, "the call’s been made, coach, go back to your dugout!". When he insisted on trying to resurrect the issue on every close call thereafter, I finally put him out of my misery in the fourth. I should have done it in the second.