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In Baseball, what is a Baseline?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

In baseball, the baseline essentially is the path of a runner who is attempting to reach a base safely. There are white lines on a baseball field that go from near home plate to first base and third base and then extend past those bases to the outfield fence, as shown in the photo below. Although these lines are often referred to as the first-base line and the third-base line, they technically are not baselines, they are foul lines. Baselines are not marked on the field at all, and they come into consideration only when a defensive player is attempting to tag a runner to get him out. If a runner goes more than 3 feet (about 0.9 m) out of his baseline to avoid a tag, he or she is declared out.

Running the Bases

Baselines extend outward from the sides of home plate to the first and third bases.
Baselines extend outward from the sides of home plate to the first and third bases.

Base runners, especially when they are passing more than one base during a single play, typically do not run in a straight line from one base to the next. A player who is going from home plate to second base, for example, typically takes a wide turn and "rounds" first base instead of turning at a 90-degree angle, which would be impossible to do at full speed. A runner might also need to avoid an opponent who is attempting to field a batted ball and would therefore stray from an imaginary straight line between the bases. All of these deviating paths to the next base are legal in most cases.

The baseline is an imaginary area between bases.
The baseline is an imaginary area between bases.

The only time that a baseline must be determined is when a defensive player tries to tag out a runner. At that point, the baseline becomes an imaginary straight line between the runner's current location and the base that he or she is trying to reach. The runner must not stray more than 3 feet (about 0.9 m) from this imaginary line to avoid the tag, or he or she will be called out. If the runner strays from his or her baseline for any other reason, or if the defensive player does not try to make a tag, the runner will not be called out.

The 3-Foot Line

The baseline refers to the path of a runner who is attempting to reach a base safely.
The baseline refers to the path of a runner who is attempting to reach a base safely.

A base runner is similarly constrained while running from home plate to first base. The last half of the distance from home to first often includes a line that runs parallel to the first-base foul line and is 3 feet (about 0.9 m) over in foul territory. This line, called the 3-foot line, can be seen in the photo below. When this line is not marked on the field, it is an imaginary line.

While the shortstop fields the baseline between second and third base, the second baseman is positioned between first and second when the opposing team is at bat and no one is on base.
While the shortstop fields the baseline between second and third base, the second baseman is positioned between first and second when the opposing team is at bat and no one is on base.

A batter who is running to first base will be called out if he or she does not stay between the foul line and the 3-foot line — other than to step on first base — and thereby interferes with a player who is trying to catch a throw to first base. Any interference is legal if the runner stays between these lines. The runner also is permitted to run outside of this area if no interference occurs. If the batter leaves this area and is hit by a thrown or batted ball while in fair territory, however, he or she will be called out.

Foul Lines

The only time that a baseline must be determined is when a defensive player tries to tag out a runner.
The only time that a baseline must be determined is when a defensive player tries to tag out a runner.

The foul lines on a baseball field extend from the batter's box near home plate, over the outside edges of first base and third base, then to the outfield fence. These white lines typically are made using powdered chalk or mineral lime, although white paint usually is used on grass and artificial turf. There is no standard width for these lines, but most of them are about 2 to 3 inches (about 5 to 7.6 cm) wide. Although they are called foul lines, they're actually in fair territory — the baseball must be completely outside of the line to be in foul territory.

Discussion Comments

tigers88

@summing - I agree. Another reason not to use instant replay is that it would slow down a game that is already pretty slow. Imagine having to review every little call. The game would take 10 hours!

summing

@johnrss - Sure its a hard job to determine foul balls, but that is the point. Baseball has always depended on the human judgment of the umpires. Is a pitch a strike or a ball, did he tag the runner or did he miss him? There are tons of tiny little judgements that come down to a few inches or less but we have always gotten by using umpires.

I don't hate the idea of instant replay but I think it is a slippery slope. First we use it to determine foul and fair, and then ball and strike, and then whether a batter swung all the way around, and before you know it we just have a bunch of robot umpires reviewing every play using cameras. It doesn't fell like baseball to me. Part of the game is leaving it up to the umpires, even when they are wrong.

jonrss

The baselines that run along the sides of the field and mark foul territory have been really contentious lately. Lots of sports have begun to introduce instant replay, and baseball is now considering using it to check if a ball is foul or fair.

This distinction, sometimes only an inch or two either way, can mean the difference between a home run and a foul ball which counts as a strike. Imagine being an umpire and trying to decide definitively where a small ball traveling very fast lands on a huge field that might be very far away from where you are standing. Its not easy. I can definitely understand why they might want to use technology to make their jobs a little easier.

whiteplane

The baselines between first, second and third really only come into play when there is a run down. These are some of the most exciting plays in baseball and they can be really contentious.

Since the lines are not actually painted on the field and a player is given a three foot grace to either side of the line, there is a large part of the field that a player could theoretically use to outrun a defender. Although it is rare that a player is able to sneak around a defender by moving laterally, it has happened and never fails to pump up the crowd. It is kind of like a play from football transplanted onto a baseball diamond.

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    • Baselines extend outward from the sides of home plate to the first and third bases.
      By: Actionpics
      Baselines extend outward from the sides of home plate to the first and third bases.
    • The baseline is an imaginary area between bases.
      By: ASP Inc
      The baseline is an imaginary area between bases.
    • The baseline refers to the path of a runner who is attempting to reach a base safely.
      By: Micah Jared
      The baseline refers to the path of a runner who is attempting to reach a base safely.
    • While the shortstop fields the baseline between second and third base, the second baseman is positioned between first and second when the opposing team is at bat and no one is on base.
      By: ASP Inc
      While the shortstop fields the baseline between second and third base, the second baseman is positioned between first and second when the opposing team is at bat and no one is on base.
    • The only time that a baseline must be determined is when a defensive player tries to tag out a runner.
      By: llandrea
      The only time that a baseline must be determined is when a defensive player tries to tag out a runner.