Can You Blow On A Baseball To Make It Go Foul?

There are many rules about baseball that can be hard to remember sometimes. You might have heard about cases where baseball players blow on the ball to make it go over the line and as a foul. When I first heard and saw it, I was so curious whether you can actually do that.

So, can you blow on a baseball to make it go foul? Generally, you can blow on a baseball to make it go foul. However, according to Baseball Rule 9.01(a), the official scorer can make judgment calls on decisions on the field. As blowing on a baseball alters the batted ball’s course, it’s unofficially illegal.

So, by all means, try and blow the baseball over the foul line but be prepared that it is ruled as an illegal action.

There have been many cases of blowing on a baseball, and the first one happened in 1981 when Lenny Randle blew the ball on the foul territory. The foul was first accepted, but the opponent team’s manager protested, starting a discussion, and after a while, the batter Amos Otis got to advance in the first place. The decision was made based on the fact that Lenny Randle altered the natural course o baseball.

This is interesting to see, so check out the video below and see it happen!

Related: Can The Sun Cause An Error In Baseball? (& How To Block Sun)

Is It Legal to Blow On a Baseball?

As you saw in the video above, there was a big debate about blowing on the baseball. This raises the question of whether it is, in fact, legal to do so or not?

Blowing on a baseball isn’t illegal because there is no rule against it. However, it’s considered unofficially illegal, as it is done by altering the ball’s course. The baseball rule 9.01(a) states that the umpires can make judgment calls, making it possible.

How Do You Get a Foul In Baseball?

The line between fair and foul can be sometimes underwhelming, but there is a good way to determine whether the ball is foul or not.

The first and third bases determine a fair or foul ball because the bases are along the foul lines. Therefore, it’s a foul if a ball lands on foul territory before the first and third base. However, it’s fair if the ball lands on foul territory beyond the first and third base.

Can a Baseball Go Foul and Then Fair?

Speaking of fouls and fairs, can a baseball be both in the same play? If so, how come?

A baseball can go foul and then fair. For example, if a batter bats a ball and lands on foul territory but then rolls over to fair territory between home and first or third base, it is fair. In this instance, the ball was foul but then turned at fair. The determinator is where the ball will finally settle.

What Does Doctoring Baseballs Mean?

You may have heard of doctoring in baseball. This is related to pitching and the ball itself, but what does it mean exactly?

Doctoring baseballs means altering them so that the pitchers can generate more or different types of motion on their throws. This can include adding a substance that improves spin or altering the ball with a tool such as a nail file to ”doctor” the ball’s movement.

Nowadays, doctoring isn’t popular, but in the 20th century, it was a common practice by the pitchers. It was used to improve the grip on the ball, so they can generate more spin or use a tool to modify the ball’s construction, altering the motion.

It can sound like cheating if this isn’t accessible to every pitcher and isn’t commonly used. This begs the question of whether doctoring baseballs is legal and allowed?

Since 1921, any doctoring on balls surface or interior hasn’t been allowed or legal. The ball can’t be intentionally modified, damaged, discolored, or defaced with any substance, tool or item. In MLB, doctoring baseball results in ejection and a 10-game suspension.

You shouldn’t even train with doctored balls as it gives you a false feel and performance, which doesn’t help you in the game. If you want a better grip of the ball as a pitcher, I recommend using baseballs with raised seams that are easier to grab on.