Baseball meets the High Jump >>

[El Supremo]

Junior College

[RockaFowler]

1. What a great catch!!

[rocktivity]

2. ...AND he stuck the landing!

rocktivity

[Indianademocrat91]

3. I thought that is a home run?

I thought he had to stay in play and have both feet down? I didn't think you could just hop over the fence and catch it..

[rocktivity]

4. He jumped up to get the ball, and his MOMENTUM took him over the fence

Last edited Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:25 AM - Edit history (8)

He made the catch BEFORE the ball cleared the field of play -- in the umpire's view, at least.

I remember a Mets game in which Mookie Wilson hit a deep drive that took a high bounce, hit off the top of the outfielder's glove, and went over the wall. A ground-rule double, normally, though Mookie had ended up on third base. But instead of sending Mookie back to second base, the umpire signaled for him to cross home plate. Why? Because in the umpire's opinion, the ball would have bounced off the top of the wall if the outfielder hadn't touched it, and Mookie's speed was such that he would have scored: he was credited with an inside-the-park home run.


rocktivity

[JonLP24]

5. Plenty of people

robbed home runs where they fell over the fence, in this case he cleared it. I'm not sure there is a difference whether it counts it or not.

[Renew Deal]

6. Here's the rule on what is a catch

A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of
a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or
any other part of his uniform in getting possession. It is not a catch, however, if
simultaneously or immediately following his contact with the ball, he collides with a player,
or with a wall, or if he falls down, and as a result of such collision or falling, drops the ball.
It is not a catch if a fielder touches a fly ball which then hits a member of the offensive team
or an umpire and then is caught by another defensive player. If the fielder has made the
catch and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the catch, the ball shall
be adjudged to have been caught. In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall
hold the ball long enough to prove that he has complete control of the ball and that his
release of the ball is voluntary and intentional.

Rule 2.00 (Catch) Comment: A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though
juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant
the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder may reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line of
demarcation to make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in foul ground. No
interference should 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.

If a fielder, attempting a catch at the edge of the dugout, is “held up” and kept from an apparent fall
by a player or players of either team and the catch is made, it shall be allowed.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2010/official_rules/2010_OfficialBaseballRules.pdf

I don't see anything that doesn't make this a catch.