The Runner.
A runner acquires the right to an unoccupied base
when he touches it before he is put out. He is then entitled to it until he
is put out, or forced to vacate it for another runner legally entitled to that
base.
In advancing, a runner shall touch first, second,
third and home base in order. If forced to return, he shall retouch all bases
in reverse order, unless the ball is dead under any provision of Rule 5.09.
In such cases, the runner may go directly to his original base.
Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the
ball is alive, two runners are touching a base, the following runner shall be
out when tagged. The preceding runner is entitled to the base.
Each runner including the batter-runner may, without
liability to be put out, advance -
To home base, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out
of the playing field in flight and he touched all bases legally; This is called
a HOMERUN
Any runner is out when -
- He is tagged, when the ball is alive, while off
his base.
EXCEPTION: A batter-runner cannot be tagged out after overrunning or oversliding
first base if he returns immediately to the base; - A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching
a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his
hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or
glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in
his hand or glove.
- He fails to retouch his base after a fair or foul
fly ball is legally caught before he, or his base, is tagged by a fielder.
He shall not be called out for failure to retouch his base after the first
following pitch, or any play or attempted play. This is an appeal play;
- He fails to reach the next base before a fielder
tags him or the base, after he has been forced to advance by reason of the
batter becoming a runner. However, if a following runner is put out on a force
play, the force is removed and the runner must be tagged to be put out. The
force is removed as soon as the runner touches the base to which he is forced
to advance, and if he overslides or overruns the base, the runner must be
tagged to be put out. However, if the forced runner, after touching the next
base, retreats for any reason towards the base he had last occupied, the force
play is reinstated, and he can again be put out if the defense tags the base
to which he is forced;
EXAMPLE of when a runner is forced to run:
When the batter hits a fair ball he must run to first base. If a runner is
on first base, that runner is forced to run to second. If a runner is on second
and no runner is on first, the runner at second is NOT forced to run when
the batter hits a fair ball, because first base is vacant. - He is touched by a fair ball in fair territory before
the ball has touched or passed an infielder. The ball is dead and no runner
may score, nor runners advance, except runners forced to advance.
- He passes a preceding runner before such runner
is out;
- He fails to return at once to first base after overrunning
or oversliding that base. If he attempts to run to second he is out when tagged.
If, after overrunning or oversliding first base he starts toward the dugout,
or toward his position, and fails to return to first base at once, he is out,
on appeal, when he or the base is tagged;
- In running or sliding for home base, he fails to
touch home base and makes no attempt to return to the base, when a fielder
holds the ball in his hand, while touching home base, and appeals to the umpire
for the decision.
First base and home may be overrun, second and third
may not.
