Expert: Dennis Girardi - 8/19/2007

Question
QUESTION: If a fielder literally hurdles/jumps over the outfield fence and catches the ball while his body is still in the air,(but his entire body and the ball are beyond the fence),is it a good catch or homerun.
Thank You.

ANSWER: Hey Bill,

From the way you describe it, it sounds like a catch, but his feet must be in fair territory and in play.
Dennis

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: You say "his feet must be in fair territory and in play"

By that do you mean "prior to jumping for the ball",or "as he makes the catch",or "where he lands after the catch".

thanks for the clarification

Answer
Hey Bill,

Some umpires don't know this, but his feet must be directly in play (but does not have to be on the ground like football) as he makes the catch.. An umpire may say that his body was out of play cause of the angle at which he sees the play.
Good Luck.
Dennis