Baseball Instruction/home run, or out

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Expert: - 5/18/2004


Question
I need to clarify this questions that I asked previously, so that there is no room for confusion.  An outfielder leaps up to catch a fly ball, catches it with part of his body over the wall, and his momentum carries him completly over the wall.  He does not drop the ball, but is no longer on the field.  Home run...or Out?  
Thanks!  

Answer
Brian,

In the situation you described, the batter has just been retired by a spectacular play turned in by the outfielder!

If the outfielder had jumped the fence, landed, then turned and caught the ball, the batter would be celebrating a home run.

Hope this helps!

Brian

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Brian Flaspohler

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Questions about baseball rules, general information about the game, statistical analysis, questions about players, questions about Baseball records. I am a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and a lifelong baseball fanatic. Don't ask me questions about training - this is not my area of expertise.

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