Rule 2.00 FAIR BALL

FAIR BALL

A FAIR BALL is a batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair out of the playing field in flight.

A fair fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time he touches the ball.

Rule 2.00 (Fair Ball) Comment: If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and first base, or home and third base, and then bounces to foul territory without touching a player or umpire and before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball; or if the ball settles on foul territory or is touched by a player on foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a fly ball lands on or beyond first or third base and then bounces to foul territory, it is a fair hit.
Clubs, increasingly, are erecting tall foul poles at the fence line with a wire netting extending along the side of the pole on fair territory above the fence to enable the umpires more accurately to judge fair and foul balls.


DISCUSSION:
A batted ball that comes to rest with a portion of the ball breaking the plane of the foul line is a fair ball. [BRD]

A ball that settles over fair territory is a fair ball.
Ball hits knob and settles fair
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=4978223

A ball that is bouncing on or over fair territory when passing first or third base bag is a fair ball.

Ball bounces foul, then passes first base over fair territory
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19922135
The home plate umpire is responsible for fair/foul calls before the front edge of the base. In this video the first base umpire rules a fair ball when the ball is first touched in front of the base.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=10522083

A ball that contacts first, second, or third base is a fair ball.
Fair Ball hits base
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12127713
Fair ball hits third base
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=18761763&topic_id=9780550&c_id=mlb

A ball that is airborne and falls in fair territory beyond first, second or third is a fair ball.
Ball first touches in fair territory past third base. Fair ball.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17806723

A ball that is airborne and enters dead ball territory over fair territory is a fair ball.
Kirk Gibson hits a ball into dead ball territory over fair territory. Fair ball.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=13062937

A ball is touched while over fair territory by a person is a fair ball.
Fair Ball hits pitcher and ricochets into foul territory
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15452657&topic_id=9780550&c_id=mlb

Fair Ball hits pitcher and ricochets into foul territory
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17690291

Ball is ruled first touched in fair territory.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=5792953

Ball spins fair
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12643927

Fair ball first touched in fair territory then bobbled into foul territory.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=18521635

When a player engages in an act of blowing on the ball, moving or digging dirt, etc. that causes the a fair ball to roll foul. The ball remains alive and it is a fair ball. [J/R] The ball is fair immediately when the player attempts to cause it to roll foul.
Fielder blows on fair ball
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14207879

The foul pole is both fair and dead. Fair ball hits foul pole. Fair ball home run.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12280615

The foul lines extend from point of plate. In this video the ball is ruled fair.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12883705