Three Outs Witrhout The Defense Touching The Ball

[SavoyBG]

Three Outs On The Same Play Without The Defense Touching The Ball

Anybody know how this can happen?

It actually did happen in a college game a few years ago.

[EdTarbusz]

First and second, no outs. Next two batters hit pop ups and are called out on the infield fly rule. Next batter hits a sharp grounder that hits a baserunner for the third out.

Or there could be three base runners who get hit by batted balls while running between bases.

[SavoyBG]

First and second, no outs. Next two batters hit pop ups and are called out on the infield fly rule. Next batter hits a sharp grounder that hits a baserunner for the third out.

Or there could be three base runners who get hit by batted balls while running between bases.

I should have clarifed, this has to occur all on the same play. You got the first and second no outs part right. The runners are running with the pitch. Batter pops the ball up near 2B. The runner leaving from 2B picks up the 3B coach and heads back to 2B.
The batter is called out on the infield fly (1 out). The runner from 1B is deked by the 2Bman who goes out into RF like he's setting up for a relay. That runner from 1B rounds 2B hard and passes the runner who was returning to 2B (2 outs). The runner who was returning to 2B is so shocked that the other runner passed him that he's off the base a few feet and the ball comes down and hits him (3 outs).

[Brooklyn]

[B]

It actually did happen in a college game a few years ago.

Do you have a link to the story or better yet a video of that happening?

[ipitch]

It actually did happen in a college game a few years ago.

I've seen this same question asked many times on the internet. Color me skeptical that you can find some solid proof that it actually happened. Youtube comments and comments written at Yahoo Answers don't count. In my many years of watching/playing baseball and softball, I don't think I've ever even seen a runner hit by a pop fly. But, yet it happened on this mythical one-in-a-billion chance play?

BTW, how is the runner going to be "deked by the 2Bman who goes out into RF like he's setting up for a relay" when the umpire yells "INFIELD FLY - BATTER'S OUT!" ?? A pop-up is hit near 2nd base, but the 2nd baseman runs out into the outfield for a deke?!? Who does that?

[dgarza]

Three Outs On The Same Play Without The Defense Touching The Ball

I guess we should clarify that it's OK for the pitcher to touch the ball, even though the pitcher is part of the defense???

[westsidegrounds]

if the pitcher is allowed to touch the ball:

bases loaded. pitcher is standing near home, arguing with umpire. time has not been called.

runner on 1B misinterprets signal from 3B coach & tries to steal 2B; he's so focused on doing that that he runs right past his teammate on 2B. one out. (passing previous runner)

runner on 3B tries to steal home in the confusion. pitcher reaches out to tag him & runner knocks the ball out of his hand. two out (hindering a potential tag out near home with less than 2 out)

runner on 2B becomes totally exasperated with his team mates' ineptitude and shows it by "stealing" 1B. three out (making a mockery of the game).

[Ubiquitous]

Has there ever been an inning where the catcher doesn't touch the ball?

[Brooklyn]

Has there ever been an inning where the catcher doesn't touch the ball?

there have been many three pitch innings. I'd assume that qualifies?

[RBIS]

Do you have a link to the story or better yet a video of that happening?

Bugs Bunny did it once, in a cartoon........he threw a super slo-mo ball, the batter swung and whiffed three times before the ball got half way to home plate, the next two batters came up did the same......3 outs, one pitch.