Fair or foul

[Guest Bartonboy12]

If a ball is hit down the third base line and hits the foul line bounces up in the air a day continues to go foul but the third basemen catches the ball while his left foot is on third base but the ball while still in the air is in foul territory when caught by the third basemen, what is the call? Fair or foul?

[Richvee]

On any ball that has touched the ground before 1B or 3B, the only thing that matters is where THE BALL is when the fielder touches it. Where the fielder's feet are has no bearing on fair / foul.

[stkjock]

The players position is not relevant.  Where the ball is relative to the foul line is what's important.  

 

Therefore as described, if in the plate umpire's judgement the ball is over foul territory , then foul ball, 

[MooseLoop]

Reread the definitions of fair and foul balls.  Once the ball has touched the ground before passing third or first base untouched, its fair/foul status depends on whether any part of the ball is on or over fair territory as it bounds past the base.  Umpire judgment as to when the ball passes the base, and where the ball is in midair as it passes.  The fielder's position, or the ball's position when the fielder touches it, is irrelevant.  

If the ball touches the ground and then touches the fielder, including his glove, before bounding over or past the base, then the fair/foul status depends on the ball's position when it first touches a non-ground object.  So if the fielder was leaning forward with his foot on third base, and the ball touched his glove while partially or wholly over fair territory before passing the base, the ball is fair, even if it ticks off the glove and passes the base in foul territory.  But if the fielder is leaning behind the base, and the ball passes the base before touching his glove, then the position of the glove does not matter; only the position of the ball at the instant it passes the base matters.

I notice both the FED and OBR definitions of fair and foul balls use the phrase "on or over".  If a ball is adjudged to be partially over foul territory and partially over fair territory at the time of determining its fair/foul status, it is fair.  

[beerguy55]

Depends on whether he touched it behind or in front of the base.  If in front, then depends on where the ball is.  If behind, then it depends on where the ball was when it passed the base.