Whew, there sure have been a lot of fans interfering with baseballs during the 2024 World Series. First it was a Dodgers fan pulling a reverse Jeffrey Maier in Game 1, then Mookie Betts nearly had his glove ripped off by Yankees fans in Game 2.
MLB Fans: 5 infamous interference moments in baseball history
In both cases the fans were ejected, but what about the actual game itself? What happens when a fan becomes involved in a live play? Major League Baseball has a pretty clear rule on this.
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. When a spectator clearly prevents a fielder from catching a fly ball by reaching onto the field of play, the batter shall be ruled out. But no interference is called if a spectator comes in contact with a batted or thrown ball without reaching onto the field of play — even if a fielder might have caught the ball had the spectator not been there.
