Expert: Andrew Mullins - 6/2/2009

Question
Hi - We have been looking all over the internet with regard to a force out with a fielder having possession of the ball and have read that ANY PART of the body can touch the bag, but is the glove alone considered part of the body - even if the ball is not in the glove hand? We have seen/heard conflicting answers. In other words, would there be a force out by touching the bag with glove with the ball in the other hand? And we are assuming that if the ball was in the glove hand and the bag was touched with the glove that would be an out even though part of the "body" did not touch the bag. Thanks for clarifying.

Answer
#1 stop looking on the internet....Find & read an actual rule book.  All rules books say that the defensive player must "have possession of & control the ball" before an out can be recorded.......In your specific scenario, the ball must be in the players glove to record an out or the ball has to touch the bag.

When a first baseman steps on the bag, he normally has the ball in his gloved hand, hence the out.  If you stretch & touch the bag w/ the glove but the ball is in the players other hand, safe, no out...

Great question...

Thanks, Andy