Fan interference

[Guest Xero]

Had a fan throw a baseball onto the field during play. Neither I nor my partner saw who threw it snd the fans were all silent when questioned. The ball thrown confused the fielder on the pop up and he didn’t catch it. Partner deferred to me so i called fan interference and awarded the base. I could use reference points for my own knowledge. I’m surprised but quite happy that this isn’t a normal occurance obviously. I’ll probably never find this thread again. Xerotrek328@aol

[Tborze]

27 minutes ago, Guest Xero said:

Had a fan throw a baseball onto the field during play. Neither I nor my partner saw who threw it snd the fans were all silent when questioned. The ball thrown confused the fielder on the pop up and he didn’t catch it. Partner deferred to me so i called fan interference and awarded the base. I could use reference points for my own knowledge. I’m surprised but quite happy that this isn’t a normal occurance obviously. I’ll probably never find this thread again. Xerotrek328@aol

If you had fan interference shouldn’t you have had an out and runner/s returned or placed? 

[Rich Ives]

23 minutes ago, Tborze said:

If you had fan interference shouldn’t you have had an out and runner/s returned or placed? 

Yep!

[maven]

Fan interference allows the umpire to rule based on what he judges would have happened without the INT.

In this case, calling an out for a popup seems the right way to go, even at the lowest levels.

[Senor Azul]

2019 OBR rule 6.01(e) Spectator Interference

When there is spectator interference with any thrown or batted ball, the ball shall be dead at the moment of interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in his opinion will nullify the act of interference.

APPROVED RULING: If spectator interference clearly prevents a fielder from catching a fly ball, the umpire shall declare the batter out.

Rule 6.01(e) Comment: There is a difference between a ball which has been thrown or batted into the stands, touching a spectator thereby being out of play even though it rebounds onto the field and a spectator going onto the field or reaching over, under or through a barrier and touching a ball in play or touching or otherwise interfering with a player. In the latter case it is clearly intentional and shall be dealt with as intentional interference as in Rule 6.01(d). Batter and runners shall be placed where in the umpire’s judgment they would have been had the interference not occurred. No interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing field side of such fence, railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the batsman should be called out for the spectator’s interference.

EXAMPLE: Runner on third base, one out and a batter hits a fly ball deep to the outfield (fair or foul). Spectator clearly interferes with the outfielder attempting to catch the fly ball. Umpire calls the batter out for spectator interference. Ball is dead at the time of the call. Umpire decides that because of the distance the ball was hit, the runner on third base would have scored after the catch if the fielder had caught the ball which was interfered with, therefore, the runner is permitted to score. This might not be the case if such fly ball was interfered with a short distance from home plate.