1st baseman holding runner on.

[Guest Kenneth]

Can the 1st baseman have 1 ft in foul territory when holding the runner. If not is there a penalty.

[MadMax]

In NFHS (Fed) Ruleset: 1 foot in, 1 foot out is fine.

In Official Baseball Rules (OBR): Both feet in, but on the chalk is considered in.

Here’s the thing, though. In either Ruleset, there is simply a “There Shall Be” statement, stipulating that 7 fielders shall be within Fair territory (as detailed above), while the Catcher is to be in Foul territory, and the Pitcher shall be legally engaged to the pitcher’s plate (rubber) so as to make a pitch legal. There isn’t a penalty delineated. Besides this, if a First Baseman (F3) wants to stand in foul territory to receive pickoff throws, he can ad infinitum. Why? These aren’t pitches. So, if that same F3 shuffles into Fair to defend his position while the pitcher delivers a pitch to the batter, what’s the problem with that?

A “fielder’s balk” is a myth.

Do as @Rich Ives mentions. Umpire should just remind or direct that F3 (or any other fielder) should be in Fair territory, and leave it at that.

[Rich Ives]

16 minutes ago, Guest Kenneth said:

Can the 1st baseman have 1 ft in foul territory when holding the runner. If not is there a penalty.

HS rules yes.

Other rules no. No penalty. Umpire should just tell him to get both feet into fair territory.,

[Rich Ives]

53 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Besides this, if a First Baseman (F3) wants to stand in foul territory to receive pickoff throws, he can ad infinitum. 

Do as @Rich Ives mentions. Umpire should just remind or direct that F3 (or any other fielder) should be in Fair territory, and leave it at that.

I didn't make it up.  (emphasis added)

MLBUM:  Official Baseball Rule 4.03 provides that when the ball is put in play at the start of or during a
game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be on fair territory. In particular, when holding a
runner on first base, the first baseman shall position himself with both feet in fair territory. There
is no penalty specified for violation other than the first baseman shall be instructed to keep both
feet in fair territory if brought to the attention of the umpire, or-if blatant or recurring violationupon
immediate direction of the umpire. If a player, after so directed by the umpire, blatantly
refuses to comply, the player is subject to ejection.

[maven]

1 hour ago, Guest Kenneth said:

Can the 1st baseman have 1 ft in foul territory when holding the runner. If not is there a penalty.

Yes, in all codes.

In OBR, if someone complains, enforce it for both teams.

No penalty: tell F3 to get into fair territory. Any part of the other foot touching a foul line is sufficient.

[MadMax]

Oh, I believe you @Rich Ives (and thank you for citing it). Notice, though, two important things:

1. This is explained in the MLB Umpires Manual, which itself is valuable, but only an accessory to the OBR. Not everyone reads or has access to the Umpires Manual.
2. There is no penalty. Sure, best practice is to direct the First Baseman (and all other fielders) to be in Fair territory in order to put the ball in Play, but it’s not necessary to be so pedantic and particular in enforcing something that has no bearing upon a potential play or incur any penalty.

Again, there is no penalty. Period.

The OP is likely asking because they themselves, as a baseball participant, have heard the myth, or else the mythical penalty was applied against them.

The only way to defeat and end this myth is knowledge, and continual confrontation of it.

[noumpere]

2 hours ago, MadMax said:

In NFHS (Fed) Ruleset: 1 foot in, 1 foot out is fine.

In Official Baseball Rules (OBR): Both feet in, but on the chalk is considered in.

 

Two things:

a) The chalk is also considered "in" in FED -- so even part of one toe on the chalk would be legal.

II) If a pitch is delivered with F3 completely in foul territory, it's a balk, by rule.  That said, it should never be called. If the umpire notices it before the pitch, he should fix it.  If he doesn't notice it before the pitch, he should be concentrating on the pitch and not see it.  If he sees it after the pith, it's too late.

[Ump29]

2 hours ago, Rich Ives said:

I didn't make it up.  (emphasis added)

MLBUM:  Official Baseball Rule 4.03 provides that when the ball is put in play at the start of or during a
game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be on fair territory. In particular, when holding a
runner on first base, the first baseman shall position himself with both feet in fair territory. There
is no penalty specified for violation other than the first baseman shall be instructed to keep both
feet in fair territory if brought to the attention of the umpire, or-if blatant or recurring violationupon
immediate direction of the umpire. If a player, after so directed by the umpire, blatantly
refuses to comply, the player is subject to ejection.

5.02 Fielding Positions

When the ball is put in play at the start of, or during a game, all

fielders other than the catcher shall be on fair territory.

 

Note that this rule says nothing about what happens after the ball is put in play.