In baseball , a pitcher may commit illegal motions or actions that constitute a balk . Most of these violations involve pitchers pretending to pitch when they have no intention of doing so. In games played under the Official Baseball Rules that govern professional play in the United States and Canada, a balk results in a dead ball or delayed dead ball. In certain other circumstances, a balk may be wholly or partially disregarded. In the United States, under the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS Baseball Rules), a balk results in an immediate dead ball. In the event a balk is enforced, the pitch is generally (but not always) nullified, each runner is awarded one base, and the batter (generally) remains at bat with the previous count. The balk rule in Major League Baseball was introduced in 1898.
34-507: According to the Official Baseball Rules: "Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner." A pitcher is restricted to a certain set of motions and one of two basic pitching positions before and during a pitch. If these regulations are violated with one or more runners on base, an umpire may call a balk. The batter at home plate does not advance on
68-651: A 1.95 ERA. He made his major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970 but did not join the Dodgers bullpen full-time until the 1973 season. He became a top reliever for the Dodgers from 1973 until he was sold to the Texas Rangers in 1980. With the Dodgers, he was one of the pitchers who served up one of the three home runs that New York Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson hit on three straight pitches in Game 6 of
102-480: A balk in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game with Dodger Enrique Hernández at third base. There have been at least 25 such walk-off balks (or "balk-offs") in major league history since 1914. The Kansas City Royals won two games in the 2023 season via a balk-off. The first was on August 1 vs. the New York Mets in the bottom of the 10th inning when relief pitcher Josh Walker balked before throwing
136-425: A balk occurs when The pitcher's acts of spitting on the ball, defacing or altering the ball, rubbing the ball on the clothing or body, or applying a foreign substance to the ball are not balks; however, it will result in the pitcher's ejection from the game if caught. A pitcher was allowed to feint toward third (or second) base, and then turn and throw or feint to first base if the pitcher's pivot foot disengaged
170-421: A balk. With a runner on base and the pitcher on or astride (with one leg on each side of) the rubber , under Official Baseball Rules, it is a balk when the pitcher: With the addition of new pace-of-play rules introduced for the 2023 season , a pitcher is charged with a balk if he attempts a pickoff more than twice in a single at-bat without recording an out, and without the runner advancing. Under NFHS Rules,
204-421: A ball being called with the bases empty. If the pitcher commits an act confusing to the batter with nobody on, stops their delivery, or otherwise violates, play is restarted without penalty and time is called. If a pitcher repeatedly commits illegal actions without runners on base, they may be subject to ejection for persistently violating the rules. If, during an attempt to execute the " hidden ball trick " (where
238-407: A discernible pause). This is called coming set . After coming set, the pitcher takes a step toward home and delivers the pitch. Typically, pitchers from the set use a high leg kick, thus lunging toward home in pitching; a pitcher may instead release the ball more quickly by using the slide step , quickly stepping directly and immediately toward home and pitching. In the set position, the time of pitch
272-409: A right-handed pitcher). During the delivery of the pitch, the pitcher must take one step forward, in the direction of home plate . Alternatively, the pitcher may step off the rubber with their pivot foot (the right foot, for right-handed pitchers) or step toward and throw or feign a throw to a base, subject to the balk rules. The balk rules do not apply if there are no runners on base. In the windup,
306-524: A single pitch, scoring MJ Melendez and resulting in a 7-6 victory for the Royals. The Royals' second balk-off victory came 36 days later in a game against the Chicago White Sox on September 5 when Gregory Santos balked with 2 outs in the 9th inning and the bases loaded to score Maikel García ; coincidentally, this game also ended with a score of 7-6. According to Elias Sports Bureau , the 2023 Royals are
340-639: A single season is held by Dave Stewart , who had 16 balks in 1988 while pitching for the Oakland Athletics . The major league record for the most balks in one game is held by Bob Shaw , who had five balks in a May 4, 1963, game while pitching for the Milwaukee Braves against the Chicago Cubs . Four of the five balks came when the Cubs' Billy Williams was on base: one in the first inning, then three more in
374-434: A single, and was then called for three balks while facing Alonso, balking the runner home. Marlins Manager Don Mattingly was ejected for arguing the third balk. After Alonso grounded out for the third out of the inning, Bleier was also ejected for continuing to argue the balks. Until that point, Bleier had never had a balk called against him in his seven-year major league career, over the course of 303 games. This instance tied
SECTION 10
#1733104725290408-403: Is that instant when the pitcher makes a move toward home plate after coming set. As with the windup, prior to the time of pitch, the pitcher may step toward and throw or feign a throw to a base, subject to the balk rules, or disengage the rubber by stepping back (toward second base) with their pivot foot. Both types of pitching position have their strengths and weaknesses. Compared to the set,
442-465: The 1977 World Series . He was converted into a starting pitcher in Texas, where he pitched from 1980 to 1990, making his only All-Star team in 1986. He left Texas as the franchise leader in wins (139), strikeouts (1,452), innings pitched (2,308), complete games (98), and losses (123), which all still stand as club records as of 2024. He was famous for his "dancing knuckleball" pitch that he threw around 80% of
476-579: The Los Angeles Dodgers , Texas Rangers , Chicago White Sox , and Florida Marlins from 1970 to 1994. Hough was drafted out of Hialeah High School in the 8th round of the 1966 Major League Baseball draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers . While in high school, he had spent the summer of 1964 pitching against collegiate competition for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League where he
510-412: The "set" position, the pitcher may either: 1) deliver the ball to the batter: 2) throw to a base for a pickoff; or 3) step off the rubber. MLB rules state that: "Pitchers shall take signs from the catcher while in contact with the pitcher’s plate" (the rubber), but the rules do not describe the infraction as a balk. Steve Carlton had 90 balks during his major league career. The major league record in
544-465: The 1993 season and started the first regular season game in team history, on April 5, pitching six innings for the win as the Marlins defeated the Dodgers 6–3. He retired at age 46 after the 1994 season. He was the last active player who was born in the 1940s. During a 25-season career, Hough compiled 216 wins, 216 losses, 2,362 strikeouts and a 3.75 earned run average . His 216 wins rank 86th all-time on
578-484: The ball and umpire Babe Pinelli waved Robinson to second base. A famous balk came in the first All-Star Game of 1961 , when strong winds at Candlestick Park caused pitcher Stu Miller to sway erratically and be called for a balk. This story is often exaggerated in re-tellings of baseball lore, some having Miller being blown off the pitching mound. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers on June 18, 2015, when Rangers relief pitcher Keone Kela committed
612-403: The catcher is not completely within the catcher's box when the pitcher releases the ball during delivery, it is a violation. The balk is still charged to the pitcher, because such a pitch is defined as a "Pitcher Illegal Action." A pitcher is not required to step off the rubber before throwing to an occupied base in a pick-off attempt. With one foot on the rubber in either the windup position or
646-440: The defensive team deceives the runner(s) as to the ball's location while the play is live), the pitcher stands on the rubber prior to the fielder revealing the ball and applying the tag, the runner is not out. Instead, it is a balk, with all runners on base being awarded their next base. "Catcher's balk" is not a term in the official rules, but is sometimes used to describe an atypical situation relating to an intentional walk : if
680-472: The major league record of Ray Katt , catching knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm in 1954. The record was tied by Ryan Lavarnway of the Boston Red Sox in 2013, catching knuckleballer Steven Wright in his first major league start. He pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1991 to 1992, where, at 43 years old, he was a teammate of 43-year-old Carlton Fisk . He joined the expansion Florida Marlins for
714-485: The only team in the Live Ball Era to have multiple balk-off wins in a single season. On June 14, 2019, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen intentionally balked during a game with the Chicago Cubs . With the Dodgers leading, 5–3, and two outs in the top of the ninth inning, the Cubs' Jason Heyward was on second base. Concerned that a runner at second base could possibly steal signs , Jansen intentionally balked, advancing
SECTION 20
#1733104725290748-405: The pitching motion when pitching from the set. A pitcher is in the windup when, with the ball, the pitcher stands on or directly in front of the pitching rubber , located at the top of the mound , with their feet pointing toward home plate . Prior to throwing a pitch , the pitcher has the option of taking one step back toward second base or to either side, using their free leg (left leg for
782-479: The record for most balks in an inning and for most balks in a single at bat. CBS Sports opined: "Some balks are obvious. Those are not... You almost have to be looking for a reason to call a balk to ring Bleier up on that motion three -- again, three! -- times in a single inning." During the 1947 World Series (New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers) Spec Shea dropped the ball trying to pick off Jackie Robinson at first base; after at least one other attempt, he dropped
816-426: The rubber after the initial feint. This is called the "fake to third, throw to first" play. However, Major League Baseball classified this as a balk beginning with the 2013 season. If no runners are on base and the pitcher commits an otherwise balkable action, there generally is no penalty. However, delivering a quick return or pitching while off the rubber (which constitute balks when runners are on base) results in
850-450: The runner to third base. Jansen then struck out batter Víctor Caratini for the final out of the game. Other intentional balks, while rare, have subsequently occurred in MLB. Pitching position In baseball , there are two legal pitching positions: the windup, and the set. Colloquially, the set is often referred to as "the stretch", although this term actually only refers to one part of
884-400: The set is called the stretch, because the pitcher usually stretches toward home plate to take signs from the catcher. At this point, the pitcher may make any number of preparatory movements necessary for delivering the pitch. The pitcher may optionally throw to a base or disengage the rubber, but in order to pitch, he first brings his arms together in front of his body (a movement punctuated with
918-419: The set position and thus use it regardless of the situation. Whether a pitcher starts from the windup or the stretch is all about what feels best for their own personal preference. The reason more than half of pitchers start from the windup position is because that type of motion gets a little bit more of a rhythm going before pitching. Data analysis indicates that pitch velocity is equivalent whether thrown from
952-525: The third inning. In the latter frame, Shaw walked Williams, and then proceeded to balk him to second, third and home. Shaw's balks were blamed on his difficulty adjusting to a then-new point of emphasis in the rules: umpires were told to strictly enforce the section of the balk rule that required the pitcher, when going from the stretch to the set position, to come to a complete stop with his hands together for one full second before pitching. The rule had been virtually ignored before. Knuckleballer Charlie Hough
986-445: The time of pitch is the instant when one of the following occurs: the pitcher commits to taking a step backward, or they take a step to the side, or bring their hands together. A pitcher is in the set when, with the ball, they stand on, or directly in front of—and touching—the pitching rubber, with their toes pointing toward the side (toward third base for a right-handed pitcher) and their arms apart at their sides. This initial part of
1020-525: The time. Hough complemented his knuckleball with a fastball and slider . Hough was well known for throwing a large number of complete games each season and led the league in 1984 with 17. In his last complete game of the season, the opposing pitcher, Mike Witt of the California Angels , hurled a perfect game . In 1987, Hough, in battery with Geno Petralli , put Petralli in the record books as Petralli committed four passed balls in one inning to tie
1054-478: The windup has a relatively slower execution, and it is therefore better suited for situations in which there are no baserunners or when the lead runner is on third base, because it is difficult to steal home plate. Conversely, a pitch from the set, having a relatively faster execution, is preferred when there are baserunners. Faster execution is important to prevent stolen bases . However, some pitchers, particularly relief pitchers, are more comfortable pitching from
Balk - Misplaced Pages Continue
1088-411: The windup or the set position. Additionally, common wisdom is that the set is less damaging to the connective tissue of a pitcher's arm, but research in this area has been unable to support this hypothesis. Charlie Hough Charles Oliver Hough ( / ˈ h ʌ f / ; born January 5, 1948) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) knuckleball pitcher and coach who played for
1122-654: Was named a league all-star. After pitching in the low minor leagues from 1967 to 1969 with the Ogden Dodgers , Santa Barbara Dodgers and Albuquerque Dodgers with limited success, Hough's career and fortunes changed dramatically when he learned how to throw a knuckleball in spring training in 1970, leading to a successful season with the Spokane Indians in AAA, where he led the Pacific Coast League in saves and posted
1156-500: Was once called for nine balks in a single major league exhibition game, occurring in March 1988. Hough was called for seven balks in a single inning of the game, as umpires set out to "enforce a full set position" for the coming season. On September 27, 2022, Miami Marlins reliever Richard Bleier was called for three balks in a row by first-base umpire John Tumpane , all while facing New York Mets batter Pete Alonso . Bleier had given up
#289710