Runner touches 2nd base with his detached helmet

[HumblePie]

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If this play was already discussed on this forum, please delete this post and direct me to it.

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Runner slides into 2B on a fairly close play, but not a banger. For some inexplicable reason, he takes off his helmet as he slides, overslides the bag, but then touches the bag firmly with his helmet in hand.  The middle infielder then places a firm tag on him, and the umpire calls him safe.

The debates swirled on whether this is a case of detached equipment, and whether that rule applies to the offense or only to the defense.

I'll leave it there for now to start the discussion.

Edited November 20 by HumblePie
Added video

[maven]

6 hours ago, HumblePie said:

The debates swirled on whether this is a case of detached equipment, and whether that rule applies to the offense or only to the defense.

That's an easy one: the rule applies to the defense, because only the defense would be trying to touch the ball with detached equipment (that's what the rule prohibits, with the base award depending on the status of the ball, pitched, thrown, or batted). Nothing in that rule mentions detached equipment used to touch a base.

The legality of the removed helmet aside (it's illegal in FED by a separate rule, of course), a runner is not in contact with (for touch or tag of) a base unless his "person" is touching the base. A player's person, by rule, includes his uniform and equipment properly worn (which is why a fielder can tag a base with a glove on his hand).

A detached helmet is not properly worn, so not part of the runner's person, so touching the base with a detached helmet is not a legal touch. 

QED

[noumpere]

It was discussed (I'll leave it to others to find the thread).  Pretty sure MLB cam out and said the call of "safe" was incorrect; the call should have been "out."

[flyingron]

7 hours ago, maven said:

  A player's person, by rule, includes his uniform and equipment properly worn (which is why a fielder can tag a base with a glove on his hand).

 

I'll take a small issue here (of course none of this has anything to do with the original question).    It doesn't say anything about properly worn for tags, just that he's holding the ball securely or firmly in the glove.

Touching (which is incorporated in to the definition of tag) of a player, requires that the glove only be in contact with the "intended place" (presumably the hand) on his person.

Detatched equipment references refer to using that equipment to intercept the pitch, thrown ball, of fair batted ball.

There's notably this play: