The Field: Immovable Objects


 
Unlike most sports, baseball clutters the in-play area with several immovable objects (three 15" square raised bases, a recessed 6" by 24" pitching rubber and a 17" wide recessed plate).

When the ball hits one of these five things, the team at-bat wants the batter placed on a base (but which base?). Meanwhile, the team in field coach wants a foul ball called (maybe even an out?).

What are the rules when a batted ball (in-flight or grounded) hits one of these five objects and then goes foul and then out of play? In each of the five cases, the batted ball is not touched by a fielder, runner, or batter at any time. What does the umpire do?

Call
When the ball hits 1st, 2nd, or 3rd and then goes foul and then out of play, the batter and all runners are awarded two bases from the time of the pitch. If the ball hits home or the rubber then goes foul and then out of play -- it is a foul ball.