Have you ever been in the situation where the other team made a gaffe and you needed to appeal the play? How do you make the appeal? You have seen it done many times before by other coaches, but you have never done it. What are the baseball rules or softball rules for asking an umpire to review to the previous play? Here is how it is done.
Two Types of Appeal Plays
There are two categories of appeal plays: live ball appeals and dead ball appeals.
- Live ball appeal play: A live ball appeal occurs during a live ball situation (ie., normal play on the field can still continue such that base runners can advance to the next base at their own risk). Examples of live ball appeals are when a defensive player who has possession of the ball either touches the base missed by the runner or tags the runner who committed the violation if that runner is still on the playing field.
- Dead ball appeal play: A dead ball appeal occurs when play on the field is stopped (ie., umpire calls time out and the runners are free to leave their base, but must return to the original base before the ball is put back into play). Examples of dead ball situations are when the umpire calls time, the batter is hit by a pitch, a ball is illegally batted, the ball travels out of the field of play, a foul ball is not caught, a fair ball is lodged under a fence, or the ball is illegally touched by a runner (runner interference) or a spectator.
Although the list for dead ball situations is longer than live ball appeal opportunities, a coach making an appeal needs to be aware of whether the ball is dead or alive.
To make it more confusing, the rules governing the situations where dead ball appeals are applied vary from league to league based on age and level of play. In many youth and school leagues, a coach who wants to make a live ball appeal is allowed to call time out and make the appeal (dead ball). This allows coaches to turn any live ball appeal into a dead ball appeal.
Whereas in the tournament, college and professional leagues, live ball appeals can only happen during live play situations. If a coach tries to turn a live ball appeal into a dead ball appeal, the umpire will instruct the pitcher to put the ball back into play by stepping on the pitching rubber and then making the appeal.
How to Make a Dead Ball Appeal
Once the umpire had called time after the completion of play, a coach or any player may make a verbal appeal. If the ball goes out of play and is declared dead, a dead ball appeal can be made AFTER the runners have been given the opportunity to complete their base running responsibilities. An umpire must declare the ball dead before a dead ball appeal can be made. If a player or coach attempts to make a dead ball appeal during a live ball situation, that appeal will simply be ignored (notice the word "ignored"). The umpire will not acknowledge an "improper" dead ball appeal. The player or coach can still call "time" and make the appeal again prior to the next legal pitch.
Dead Ball Appeal Play Example Based on the NFHS Rule Book
This play involves two runners that does and does not require an appeal for both to be declared "out". Runner 1 (R1) is on third base, runner 2 (R2) is on second base, and there is one out. The batter (B1) hits a double into the outfield. R1 misses touching home base and turns around to wait for R2 to score. R2 touches home plate and is congratulated by R1 before heading to the team's dugout (R1 has still not touched home plate).
In this situation, R2 is immediately declared "out" by the home plate umpire and an opportunity is created for the defensive team to make a dead ball appeal. Since R1 is still a runner until he touches home base, R2 is ruled out for passing R1 without the need for an appeal. R1 will also be declared out if a proper appeal is made by the defensive team prior to the next pitch. If no appeal is made, R1 is not out and the run is allowed. If the opposing team tags R1 before the ball becomes dead, they will be out. If R1 made no obvious effort to go back and touch home plate prior to the defensive team asking for time to make a dead ball appeal, time will be granted and the appeal will be successful (R1 declared out).
How to Make a Live Ball Appeal
To properly execute a live ball appeal, either the offensive or defensive team may communicate to the umpire what they believe is an infraction of the rules. Such communication may be non-verbal, implicit, or assumed as long as the intent of the fielder is clear to the umpire. The most important point to remember about a live ball appeal occurs when play is "live". That is, base runners may attempt to advance at their own risk, and the defense may attempt to put the batter or base runners out. If the defensive team makes a play on the advancing runner, this constitutes a new play and any appeal on the previous play (before throwing to make a play on the advancing runner) is not allowed.
A live ball appeal can occur immediately after a dead ball, but before the defensive team makes the next pitch, play, or attempted play. An appeal itself does not count as an attempted play for the purposes of subsequent appeals. For example, R1 is on third base, R2 is on first base, and the batter hits a fly ball into the outfield that is caught. R1 fails to tag up properly from third before crossing home plate. In order to get R1 out, the outfield throws the ball to home. On the throw home, R2 properly tags at first base and runs to second base as the catcher throws the ball to second. R2 slides into second safe and request time to dust themselves off.
The defensive team can still appeal R1 leaving third base too early, but they must put the ball in play before they can make a live ball appeal. The pitcher must have the ball, be in contact with the pitching plate, and the umpire say "play ball." The pitcher can then step off the pitching plate, throw over to third base, and request the appeal.
Live Ball Appeal Play Example That Happened in the MLB
A famous live ball appeal occurred in 1998 during Game 2 of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. The Indians had a runner on first base and no outs when the batter laid down a bunt that was fielded in fair territory by the Yankee first baseman. The throw to first base hit the batter runner in the back and caromed 20 feet away. Instead of chasing the ball down, the Yankee first baseman argued with the umpire claiming runner interference. During the debate, the Indian's runner that started on first rounded all the bases and reach home plate to score the go-ahead run.
Depending on the umpire's initial call, this situation could be either a dead ball appeal by the offensive team or a live ball appeal by the defensive team. Since the umpire did NOT call runner interference, the ball remained live and the Yankees executed a live ball appeal that allowed the runner to score from first. (They should have chased the ball down and thrown it to the pitcher so that the Indian runner was forced to stop before appealing the play.) On the other hand, if the umpire had called runner interference, the ball would be "dead" and the Indians could have executed a dead ball appeal by requesting the umpire to confer with the rest of the umpire crew to determine if the base runner was within the base path when the ball struck them.
Some Leagues Make Appeals Easier
In many youth and school leagues, all appeals can occur as dead ball appeals. This helps a coach by allowing them to call time out before requesting any type of appeal. In order to determine if your league rule book allows for any appeal to be a dead ball appeal, you need to check the "appeals" section within the "runner is out" chapter of the rule book under the description that describes the "runner missing a base". What you are looking for is an appeal rules (USSSA) a phrase like "any live ball appeal can occur after the coach or player calls time out" (NFHS) or "live ball appeal" (ASA).
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