20:
220:
the bases anyway, so the ball was in play after his third miss (there were no called strikes) and he could make for first base. There might be no catcher in the game, and if there was he would stand well behind the batter and catch strikes on the bounce (balls were pitched in a gentle arc), so there was no question of the ball being caught; rather it would be fielded and put into play. There were no fielding gloves, and errors were common, so the batter's chance of reaching first base safely was not negligible.
224:
mostly vestigial and its original children's-game purpose forgotten. But still to this day, a third strike is treated as if in play, but now only for the fraction of a second between when the strike occurs and the catcher fields it (if he does). This is why the catcher is given credit on the putout in strikeouts, as with any fielder who catches a ball in play on the fly. But if the catcher doesn't field it cleanly, the ball is still in play like any other ball missed by a fielder.
1666:
1678:
1690:
192:, in the Tee-Ball and Minor League divisions, the batter is out after the third strike regardless of whether the pitched ball is caught cleanly by the catcher. In Little League (or the Major Division), Junior, Senior, and Big League divisions, a batter may attempt to advance to first base on an uncaught third strike. Little League Major Division Softball and many other youth baseball leagues (such as the
245:
This comment represents the official interpretation of the application of the rule. Prior to this rule change, a batter was able to try for first at any time before entering the dugout. The new rule would not have affected the controversial play referenced above, as the batter had not left the dirt
219:
The rule goes back even further, though. A 1796 German book on recreational games for youth contained a chapter on "English Base-ball" which describes a similar rule. The point then was that even an inept batter who failed to hit the softly-tossed ball on three swings would be given a chance to run
223:
This rule continues in baseball today, but catcher became a required position, and starting in the mid-19th century, catchers began moving up to their current position directly behind home plate so as to catch pitches (now following a flatter trajectory) directly on the fly. Thus the rule became
161:. Numerous pitchers have recorded four strikeouts in an inning in an official MLB game, though no five-strikeout innings have ever occurred. A dropped third strike where the batter reaches first would count as a runner reaching first and thus break up a
106:
for a force-out or make a throw to any other base in an effort to force out a runner. An "uncaught" strike includes not only pitches dropped by the catcher, but also pitches that hit the ground before the catcher attempts to catch it.
240:
Rule 5.05(a)(2) Comment: A batter who does not realize his situation on a third strike not caught, and who is not in the process of running to first base, shall be declared out once he leaves the dirt circle surrounding home
1178:
110:
The purpose of the "no runner on first base or two outs" qualification is to prevent the catcher from deliberately dropping a third-strike pitch and then initiating an unfair
27:
attempting to advance to first base after an uncaught third strike, which the catcher has already retrieved and is about to throw to the first baseman to record the putout
383:
94:
does not call the batter out. The umpire may also signal that there is "no catch" of the pitch. The batter may then attempt to reach first base and must be
356:
236:, the application of the rule was changed when a comment was added in 2006 to Rule 6.09(b) (After rule numbering changes, Rule 5.09(a)(2) Comment):
384:"BREAKING: WVU Alum John Means Throws No-Hitter vs Seattle Mariners – Sports Illustrated West Virginia Mountaineers News, Analysis and More"
177:
threw a no-hitter against the
Seattle Mariners, striking out 12 batters while facing the minimum of 27 batters; his only baserunner,
126:, or home plate, in addition to putting the batter out at first base. The logic of the situation is similar to that which led to the
71:(MLB), the specific rules concerning the uncaught third strike are addressed in Rules 5.05 and 5.09 of the Official Baseball Rules:
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102:
out. With two outs and the bases loaded, the catcher who fails to catch the third strike may, upon picking up the ball, step on
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595:
157:'s home run immediately thereafter. Because of the uncaught third strike rule, it is possible for a pitcher to register
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141:, and the batter is statistically charged with one. In an infamous example, on September 28, 2019,
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Following a controversial play involving this rule in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the
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The uncaught third strike rule is one of the oldest in baseball, being codified in the
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357:"Burnett Becomes First New York Yankee to Strike Out 4 in a Single Inning"
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181:, reached on a dropped third strike in the third inning by catcher
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193:
169:. This has happened once in MLB history, as on May 5, 2021,
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133:
Regardless of the outcome of an uncaught third strike, the
457:
Official
Baseball Rules Changed for First Time in 10 Years
185:
and was subsequently caught trying to steal second base.
293:"The Dropped Third Strike: The Life and Times of a Rule"
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425:"Los Angeles Angels vs. Chicago White Sox – Recap"
314:"Justin Verlander reaches 3,000 career strikeouts"
74:On an uncaught third strike with (1) no runner on
208:of 1845: "Three balls being struck at and missed
1708:
261:
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267:"Official Rules | MLB.com: Official info"
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78:, or (2) with a runner on first base and two
405:"27 up, 27 down but NOT perfect? Here's how"
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234:2005 American League Championship Series
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159:more than three strikeouts in an inning
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334:"Rare Feats: Four K's in One Inning"
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596:Comparison of baseball and softball
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13:
431:. October 12, 2005. Archived from
165:, but would still count towards a
14:
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382:Callihan, Schuyler (2021-05-05).
355:Kercheval, Nancy (25 June 2011).
137:is statistically credited with a
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90:. The strike is called, but the
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118:with possible force plays at
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43:(sometimes referred to as
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55:fails to cleanly catch a
196:) also follow the rule.
462:. Accessed 2007-03-14.
210:and the last one caught
151:3000th career strikeout
49:non-caught third strike
1650:Variations of baseball
1615:Seventh-inning stretch
1595:List of baseball films
1427:Defensive indifference
1377:Tie goes to the runner
243:
28:
1529:Uncaught third strike
1274:Striking out the side
956:Hitting for the cycle
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153:, and then scored on
69:Major League Baseball
41:uncaught third strike
22:
1722:Baseball terminology
1570:Bench-clearing brawl
859:Batting out of order
45:dropped third strike
1727:Catching statistics
1560:Baseball statistics
1003:Lefty-righty switch
206:Knickerbocker Rules
1407:Blocking the plate
931:Ground rule double
886:Charging the mound
601:fastpitch softball
435:on August 11, 2014
155:Andrelton Simmons
51:) occurs when the
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1487:Neighborhood play
1462:Hidden ball trick
1229:Pitching position
1179:Immaculate inning
901:Designated hitter
536:Rules of baseball
175:Baltimore Orioles
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1472:Infield fly rule
1442:Fielder's choice
1347:Scoring position
1194:Intentional walk
1189:Intentional balk
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606:16-inch softball
551:Infield fly rule
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723:Batting helmet
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183:Pedro Severino
59:for the third
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1555:Baseball card
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854:Batting count
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367:September 28,
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361:Bloomberg.com
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336:. mlb.mlb.com
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269:. Mlb.mlb.com
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1605:Scorekeeping
1590:Injured list
1580:Doubleheader
1565:Bench jockey
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1482:Interference
1362:Squeeze play
1327:Left on base
1307:Bases loaded
1294:Base running
1214:Perfect game
1167:split-finger
1013:Mendoza Line
951:Hit by pitch
879:squeeze play
816:Pace of play
777:Game process
713:Batting cage
645:Batter's eye
640:Batter's box
561:Interference
546:Ground rules
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163:perfect game
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1694:WikiProject
1517:Triple play
1492:Passed ball
1432:Double play
1397:Appeal play
1367:Stolen base
1332:Obstruction
1317:Hit and run
1269:Strike zone
1239:Quick pitch
1224:Pitch count
1199:Knuckleball
1053:Strike zone
1033:Pull hitter
993:Infield hit
946:Hit and run
849:Batted ball
576:Strike zone
566:Pitch clock
453:Roder, Rick
363:. Bloomberg
120:second base
116:triple play
25:Ryan Kalish
23:The batter
1711:Categories
1539:Wheel play
1534:Wall climb
1522:unassisted
1457:Fourth out
1452:Force play
1357:Small ball
1284:Wild pitch
1174:Full count
1137:Emery ball
1087:(softball)
1058:Sweet spot
1008:Line drive
966:Grand slam
753:Shin guard
439:2011-09-28
390:2021-06-19
340:August 17,
299:2017-07-24
273:2022-07-04
250:References
171:John Means
124:third base
104:home plate
76:first base
1575:Dead ball
1264:Strikeout
1244:Screwball
1209:No-hitter
1152:four-seam
1127:Curveball
1048:Strikeout
936:Hat trick
916:Foul ball
874:slap bunt
806:Positions
695:Equipment
660:Foul pole
556:In flight
541:Ejections
167:no-hitter
139:strikeout
1670:Category
1620:Shagging
1386:Fielding
1322:Lead off
1259:Spitball
1234:Pitchout
1147:two-seam
1142:Fastball
1115:Changeup
1100:Beanball
1083:Pitching
981:Moonshot
976:Walk-off
961:Home run
921:Foul tip
844:Bat flip
758:Stirrups
733:Doughnut
680:Outfield
630:Backstop
618:Ballpark
591:Cheating
521:Glossary
506:concepts
504:softball
500:Baseball
386:. Si.com
246:circle.
214:hand-out
37:softball
33:baseball
1643:winning
1634:Streak
1548:Related
1512:Tag out
1507:Rundown
1497:Pickoff
1337:Rundown
1249:Shutout
1219:Pickoff
1018:On-deck
986:Chinese
826:Batting
789:Innings
763:Uniform
670:Infield
650:Bullpen
515:Outline
410:MLB.com
319:MLB.com
212:, is a
200:History
173:of the
135:pitcher
53:catcher
1682:Portal
1638:losing
1610:Series
1600:Pepper
1585:Jargon
1502:Putout
1402:Assist
1372:Tag up
1254:Slider
1204:Maddux
1162:sinker
1157:cutter
1132:Eephus
1068:Triple
1043:Single
906:Double
834:At bat
655:Dugout
295:. SABR
241:plate.
112:double
100:forced
96:tagged
92:umpire
84:batter
82:, the
61:strike
1630:Slump
1437:Error
1412:Catch
1352:Slide
622:field
529:Rules
194:USSSA
67:. In
63:of a
57:pitch
39:, an
1342:Safe
1302:Balk
1095:Balk
1073:Walk
864:Bunt
703:Ball
502:and
429:ESPN
369:2011
342:2012
80:outs
35:and
941:Hit
811:Run
801:Out
728:Cap
708:Bat
216:."
188:In
149:'s
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