Back to: Professional Rules Course – Master

Definition

The hidden ball trick is both satisfying and embarrassing depending on which side of the tag you are on. To execute the hidden ball trick several factors must be in place. Here is a list of the important things players, coaches and umpires should know about the hidden ball trick:

• The ball must be in play. If any umpire calls time out prior to the tag of the “sleeping” runner, there is no out.
• The pitcher is permitted to be in the pitching circle without penalty.
• The pitcher cannot be on, astride, or straddling the pitching rubber. This is a balk.
• The pitcher cannot place the rosin bag in his glove in an attempt to deceive the runner. This is a balk.
• The umpire must see the play to make the call. So umpires, always know where the ball is.
• Fielders are not permitted to place the ball inside their uniform, this includes the pocket.
  • This is not a balk but it is a minimum one-base award penalty. This rule was added to the OBR in 2019. “If a ball is intentionally placed inside a player’s uniform (e.g., a pants pocket) for the purpose of deceiving a base runner, the umpire shall call “Time.” The umpire will place all runners at least one base (or more if warranted, in the umpire’s judgment, in order to nullify the action of the ball being put out of play), from the base they originally occupied.”  

Remember

Most often the hidden ball trick works best right after a play at a base – after a pick-off attempt is the most common time. The pitcher throws to the base, runner dives back to the base, and the fielder fakes a throw back to the pitcher but actually holds on to the baseball. Some fielders have hidden the ball by holding it under their arm, so that their glove is empty. However, placing it in their pocket is no longer legal. The runner doesn’t realize the fielder kept the ball and he wanders off the base and is tagged out.

Coaching Note

Matt Williams, a former third baseman for the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks had an interesting strategy. On more than one occasion, Williams would politely ask the runner if he would move off the base so Williams could sweep the dirt off. He would then tag out the obliging runner.

Videos