Spectator Interference | Glossary | MLB.com (2024)

FAQs

What is spectator interference? ›

Spectator interference in baseball happens when a fan crosses into the field of play and disrupts the play. This can happen in the outfield, the side fences, or even a ball boy or ball girl catching a live ball. After this happens, the umpires have to determine what the outcome would have been.

In every case of spectator interference with a batted or thrown ball, the ball shall be declared dead and the baserunners can be placed where the umpire determines they would have been without the interference.

Consequences of fan interference

For fans that commit spectator interference, the most likely outcome is that the fan will be ejected from the stadium for the rest of the game. If there are occasions where the fan interference is determined to be accidental, then the fan is usually not ejected.

The ball becomes dead, and the umpire will award any bases or charge any outs that, in his judgment, would have occurred without the interference. Such interference often occurs when a spectator in the first row of seats reaches onto the field to attempt to grab a fair or foul fly ball.

Base runner "confuses" the fielder

Members of the "team at bat" (that means coaches and players in the dugout as well as players on the field) cannot scream, yell or shout in an attempt to impede a fielder's play on a batted ball (or thrown ball, for that matter).

When a runner is called out for crashing into a fielder holding the ball, the ball becomes dead. Each runner must return to the last base touched at the time of interference.

The refs have the power to eject a fan if, "in the opinion of the game officials," the fan is interfering. The rules also allow officials to stop a game for what the rules call an "unusual circ*mstance."

The severity of the head injury depends on the materials that are used to make the fan blade and the speed of the fan. Even though minor injuries such as lacerations on the scalp and face are commonly reported, depressed skull fractures and intracranial bleed have been reported as well [1,2].

Even at slow speeds, fans pose an amputation risk. That is, if your finger touches a spinning fan blade, the blade may have sufficient force to sever your finger.

Definitions: Spectators are those who watch sport, either directly (in person) or indirectly (via the media), while fans also watch but have an affiliation in which aspects of identity, emotional significance and value are derived from group membership.

What do you mean by the spectator? ›

: one who looks on or watches.

People, possibly former, current, or future players, who observe the actions that players do in a game without being able to affect the game themselves. Not all people who can observe the development of a game played are players. Those who cannot directly affect the game as a player are Spectators.

a person who looks on or watches; onlooker; observer. a person who is present at and views a spectacle, display, or the like; member of an audience.