Baserunning

[Guest Mike]

When a base runner intentionally knocks his helmet off while running the bases. 
what is the call?

[maven]

Pro rules alone have no provision for this, but leagues often supplement pro rules with some safety provisions. These often including sliding rules, but sometimes address equipment violations such as this one. Obviously, you'd have to consult the league rules to determine the penalty, if any.

For FED/HS baseball, after the playing action ends, the umpire will call time and issue a team warning to the coach, and the next player from that team to intentionally remove his helmet during a live ball will be ejected. There is no other penalty (in particular, nobody is out). 1-5-1 PENALTY

[Senor Azul]

Since you did not specify a league or rule set, here are some examples—

2019 OBR rule 3.08 Helmets

A Professional League shall adopt the following rule pertaining to the use of helmets:

(a)   All players shall use some type of protective helmet while at bat and while running the bases.

Rule 3.08 Comment: If the umpire observes any violation of these rules, he shall direct the violation to be corrected. If the violation is not corrected within a reasonable time, in the umpire’s judgment, the umpire shall eject the offender from the game, and disciplinary action, as appropriate, will be recommended.

2019 Little League rule 1.16 approved ruling:  A.R.—If a player, during play, removes his/her helmet or causes his/her helmet to come off, he/she shall NOT be called out, but shall be warned not to intentionally remove his/her helmet and, if it continues, the player may be removed for unsportsmanlike conduct, as this can cause an unsafe condition.

2019 NFHS Case Book play 1.5.1 Situation D:  B1 receives a walk (not intentional). On his way to first base he removes his helmet to give it to the on-deck batter. RULING:  This is a delayed dead-ball situation. At the end of playing action, B1 and his coach are warned that subsequent violators shall be ejected. B1 is not declared out. If a team warning previously had been given to that team, B1 would be ejected and replaced by a legal substitute.

[Senor Azul]

Mike, if you are referring to a runner who deliberately removes his helmet while actually running (in the hopes of causing some kind of confusion) that could be interference.

From the 2016 BRD (section 316, p. 211):

FED Official Interpretation:  Hopkins:  A batter-runner or runner may not deliberately throw a helmet or other personal equipment and interfere with a batted or thrown ball, or a fielder’s attempt to play on that ball. PENALTY:  The ball is dead, the interferer is out, and other runners remain TOI. The umpire may declare two outs if he judged the interference prevented a double play.

2007 NFHS Baseball Interpretations SITUATION 2: With R1 on first base, B2 hits a ground ball to F4. While running to second base, R1's batting helmet falls off (a) and makes contact with the batted ball, deflecting it away from F4, or (b) in front of F4, which distracts him and results in his misplaying the ball. RULING: If R1's helmet accidentally fell off, there would be no penalty in either (a) or (b). Had the helmet been deliberately removed, and interference occurred, then R1 would have been declared out for interference. The umpire could also rule out B2 if he judged the interference prevented a double play. (8-4-2g, 8-4-1h)

2019 OBR Rule 5.09(a)(8) Comment:   …If, in the umpire’s judgment, there is intent on the part of a baserunner to interfere with a batted or thrown ball by dropping the helmet or throwing it at the ball, then the runner would be out, the ball dead and runners would return to last base legally touched.

[beerguy55]

On 3/13/2021 at 11:05 AM, Guest Mike said:

When a base runner intentionally knocks his helmet off while running the bases. 
what is the call?

Assuming the helmet was not removed to interfere with the play...If there is a league/tourney rule prohibiting this it's typically an ejection...usually with a warning, but not always.  Every league and tourney is a little different.   

As well, when this rule is in effect, at least in my experience, it applies to any member of the offense, at any time the ball is live - ie. batter, on deck batter, runner, retired runner, scored runner, teammate coming to collect catcher's pads from on deck circle.  I've seen players ejected for taking their helmet off after scoring a run but before reaching the dugout.  

Oddly, in some cases I've seen this dictated by the facility, under CYA frameworks.

So, short answer...it depends.

[MadMax]

I can tell you, with 99% certainty, what the culprit is:

Harper isn't the only one; there are several young star ballplayers who do it.

So, the baserunner in the OP ain't jettisoning his helmet to interfere; he's jettisoning it because it draws attention and "looks cool". 

[wolfe_man]

7 hours ago, MadMax said:

I can tell you, with 99% certainty, what the culprit is:

Harper isn't the only one; there are several young star ballplayers who do it.

So, the baserunner in the OP ain't jettisoning his helmet to interfere; he's jettisoning it because it draws attention and "looks cool". 

I was hoping for a Bartolo Colon helmet-drop instead, but okay with Harper.  Personally, Harper is over-hyped IMHO.  For a guy who's not a true perennial MVP candidate, he gets a lot of press and cash.

[beerguy55]

9 hours ago, MadMax said:

Harper isn't the only one; there are several young star ballplayers who do it.

So, the baserunner in the OP ain't jettisoning his helmet to interfere; he's jettisoning it because it draws attention and "looks cool". 

This long pre-dates this generation of ball players...kids were doing it when I was playing Little League...and that was when the only baseball games anyone saw was Saturday afternoon's Game of the Week on NBC  (Garagiola and Scully broadcasting)

I'm sure some are doing it to look cool...many more are doing it because the helmet doesn't fit right and is bouncing on their head or into their eyes, or it hurts, or they somehow believe it will make them lighter and run faster.

[BLWizzRanger]

Back in the day of shared helmets... I always thought it was the kid who just previously used the shared helmet sweated like a pig and the runner didn't want deal with the sweat getting in their eyes... 

[JonnyCat]

52 minutes ago, beerguy55 said:

This long pre-dates this generation of ball players...kids were doing it when I was playing Little League...and that was when the only baseball games anyone saw was Saturday afternoon's Game of the Week on NBC  (Garagiola and Scully broadcasting)

I'm sure some are doing it to look cool...many more are doing it because the helmet doesn't fit right and is bouncing on their head or into their eyes, or it hurts, or they somehow believe it will make them lighter and run faster.

Speaking of pre-dating, Pete Rose was notorious for this.