Overrun First Base
No outs. Runner on 3rd base. Batter hits ground ball to 3rd. 3rd fields the ball, checks the runner on 3rd, and then makes a bad throw to 1st. The batter-runner runs past 1st base and then turns to return back to 1st base. The right fielder gets the ball and also checks the runner at 3rd. The 1st base coach wants the runner at 3rd to score, so the coach yells at the runner coming back to 1st base to go to 2nd. The runner coming back to 1st then breaks for 2nd base. The right fielder again checks the runner at 3rd and finally throws to 2nd, but the runner coming from 1st slides safely under the tag. Meanwhile, the runner from 3rd scores. What do you have? Back to Quiz
Opps. The wrong answer.
The answer below was wrong, and no one caught it! We initially said:
2 outs. No score.
RS (Rules Supplement) #34.G (Look Back Rule) says:
"Batter-runner overrunning first base can not start back to the base and before reaching first advance to second base. If a batter-runner commits to first base, moving toward first base, the runner must return to that base. The batter-runner may not change their mind and advance to second base once they have started moving directly to first base following the overrun. If they do so, the runner is out. Umpires judgment determines what is committing towards first base."
Therefore, once the runner coming back to 1st base breaks for 2nd base, the umpire should immediately call the runner out.
In addition, once called out, if the runner continues to run onto 2nd base to draw the throw, then there is interference by a retired runner. In this case, the umpire would immediately kill the play and call interference. For this type of interference, the runner closest to home is also called out. Hence, 2 outs and no score.
As this answer is based on umpire judgment, different umpires may have different rulings.
The above answer would have been correct if the ball was back in the pitcher's circle before the batter-runner overrunning 1st base broke for second base. In that case, the Look Back Rule (rule 8-7-T) would apply. In addition, when a retired runner coming from 1st base draws a throw from the pitcher to second base, there may also be interference (rule 8-7-P NOTE).
However, without the ball in the pitcher's circle, the Look Back Rule would not apply so the batter-runner, after overrunning 1st base, has the following options:
- Returning directly to 1st base without liability of being put out (rule 8-8-I) or,
- Attempting to run to 2nd base with liability of being put out (rules 8-4-I and 8-7-H).
As a result, the correct answer for this play would be:
No outs, and the run scores.
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