Fair ball

Fair ball

In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that has not yet become a foul ball, and that...

* settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base; or
* is on or over fair territory when bounding past first or third base; or
* touches first, second, or third base (which by rule are in fair territory); or
* touches the person of an umpire or player while the ball is on or over fair ground (but a batted ball touching the batter in the batter's box, or bouncing off the ground and immediately hitting the bat is foul even if the contact is over fair territory); or
* passes out of the playing field in flight while over fair ground; or
* touches any part of the foul pole, including an attached screen, while in flight.

It is possible for a ball moving in foul territory to become a fair ball. Batted balls can also be foul balls or foul tips.

Fair territory or fair ground is defined as the area of the playing field between the two foul lines, and includes the foul lines themselves and the foul poles.

A fair ball that is obviously fair is not signaled by the umpires; however, a fair ball that is ruled fair close to the foul lines is signaled by the umpire extending or pointing with his right arm towards fair territory (unless a home run, in which case the home run signal is given). On a fair ball, the batter attempts to reach first base or any subsequent base, runners attempt to advance and fielders try to record outs. A fair ball is considered a live ball until the ball becomes dead by leaving the field or any other method.

Rules in covered facilities

In retractable or fixed roof baseball facilities, a batted ball is a fair ball if it:
* strikes the roof, roof support structure, or objects suspended from the roof (e.g., speakers) in fair territory and lands in fair territory, or
* becomes lodged in any of those objects in fair territory and does not fall back to the playing field.A ball striking or becoming lodged in the roof or suspended object in fair territory beyond the outfield fence is a home run, regardless of where it may land.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fair ball — Fair Fair (f[^a]r), a. [Compar. {Fairer}; superl. {Fairest}.] [OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. f[ae]ger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. f[ u]gen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fair ball — ☆ fair ball n. Baseball a FLY1 (n. 8) or LINE DRIVE that is caught or touched on the fly in fair territory or lands on or inside either foul line in the outfield, or a GROUNDER that is touched in fair territory, comes to a stop in the infield, or …   English World dictionary

  • fair ball — fair′ ball′ n. spo a batted baseball that lands, rolls, or is caught within the foul lines or legal area of play • Etymology: 1855–60 …   From formal English to slang

  • fair ball — noun (baseball) a ball struck with the bat so that it stays between the lines (the foul lines) that define the width of the playing field • Ant: ↑foul ball • Topics: ↑baseball, ↑baseball game • Hypernyms: ↑contact, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • fair ball — noun A ball which has been hit between the first base and third base lines Its a ... fair ball; it rolls into the corner; Jones is stretching for two; the throw safe! …   Wiktionary

  • fair ball — Baseball. a batted ball that both lands and settles within the foul lines in the infield, or that is within the foul lines when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that first lands within the foul lines of the outfield or would… …   Universalium

  • fair ball — noun Date: 1856 a batted baseball that lands within the foul lines or that is within the foul lines when bounding to the outfield past first or third base or when going beyond the outfield for a home run …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Fair — (f[^a]r), a. [Compar. {Fairer}; superl. {Fairest}.] [OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. f[ae]ger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. f[ u]gen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and prob. also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fair hit — Fair Fair (f[^a]r), a. [Compar. {Fairer}; superl. {Fairest}.] [OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. f[ae]ger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. f[ u]gen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fair maid — Fair Fair (f[^a]r), a. [Compar. {Fairer}; superl. {Fairest}.] [OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. f[ae]ger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. f[ u]gen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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