Expert: Rebecca Toney - 8/9/2001

Question
just so you know this question is not really about the indians. I've asked a lot of people this question and no one seems to know so i thought that maybe someone with baseball knowledge would.. Why do they call it a foul pole if it is in play? respond whenever...thank you  

Answer
Joseph,

I checked the official rules of Major League Baseball, and there was no "official" explanation of this.  Foul poles were not originally part of the field of play, but were increasingly built into modern ballparks to help umpires better judge fair and foul flys.  (Remember, home runs were not a major part of the game until Babe Ruth came along).  

My best guess is that they wanted to be consistent with the convention that the "foul line" is also in play.  It is the line that, beyond which, balls are considered foul.  Sorry I don't have anything more convincing for you.

Hope this helps,

Rebecca