Here’s another rule that, I believe when it actually happened, caught the umps by
surprise:
Back when Manny Ramirez was playing for Boston he was never really celebrated as a
fielder. But on this occasion, in Baltimore, he caught a fly ball with less
than 2 outs on the run on the warning path in left field, climbed the fence to stop
his momentum, and reached out and high fived a fan. He then returned the ball
to the infield retiring the runner on first base prior to returning to the bag
completing a double play. Problem: by touching the fan, either accidental or on
purpose, he has created a dead ball and that should have allowed the runners to
advance one base without liability. This rule, 7.04, is the only rule covering
out of play actions. Remember, the rule does not say intentional or not, just
entering an out of play area. Touching an out of play area during the action of
play is out of play. I’ve seen some parks that the top of the fence was out of
play and could not be used by outfields to assist them in catching ball high on
or over the wall. I think the umps missed that one, but so did everyone else as
no protest or subsequent league office ruling came of it. I think they ignored it
because it was fun.
Red
Rule
7.04(c) Comment: If a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should fall
into a stand or
among
spectators or into the dugout or any other out-of-play area while in possession
of the ball after making a legal catch, or fall while in the dugout after
making a legal catch, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one base,
without liability to be put out, from his last legally touched base at the time
the fielder fell into, or in, such out-of-play area.