Clemson's Hidden Ball Trick & Rule Requirements

Clemson's hidden ball trick play proved successful during a college playoff game thanks to the Tigers' compliance with baseball's rules, requirements, and restrictions for fielders and pitchers. Umpires should bear in mind balk and pocketed ball regulations vary by level of play. Let's go over them.

The hidden ball trick—wherein the defense confuses the offense about the ball's whereabouts—must comply with several rules, including those pertaining to the pitcher as well as to the fielder holding the ball (and other fielders, too).

This play generally requires the ball-carrying fielder to hide the baseball from the runner. There are legal ways to do this and others that are explicitly legal. While simply placing the ball into your glove to conceal it is legal, at no level of baseball are fielders allowed to deliberately put a ball into their pocket, under their cap, etc., but the rules and penalties vary by level.

Placing Ball in Uniform: Professional baseball is the only level to specifically address a fielder intentionally putting the ball in their clothing, as in Official Baseball Rule 5.06(c)(7) Comment: "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."

The lower levels do not directly address this case, but do discuss balls in uniforms. NCAA 8-3-1 states, "If a fair batted or thrown ball becomes lodged in a player's uniform, the ball shall be declared dead and bases awarded at the umpire's discretion," while NFHS 8-3-3c awards two bases for a thrown ball becoming dead because it is lodged in a player's equipment or uniform.

Pitcher Restrictions and Balks: While no level of baseball allows the pitcher to engage the pitcher's plate without the baseball, the three levels differ as to where a pitcher may stand during a hidden ball play.

NCAA 9-3-f is the most restrictive, prohibiting pitchers from being on the dirt of the mound at all.

NFHS 6-2-5 takes a moderate approach, stating pitchers may not stand within five feet of the rubber.

OBR 6.02(a)(9) is the most lenient, only prohibiting pitchers from standing "on or astride" the rubber.

Pitcher's Fake Throws to a Base: While college and professional baseball restrict fake throws by a pitcher from the rubber to first or third base (NCAA 9-3-a, OBR 6.02(a)(2)), high school restricts the feign to first but allows a fake to third (NFHS 6-2-4a). All codes allow a fake to second and none of them allow a fake to home plate (all from the rubber, of course).

Video as follows:
Alternate Link: Reviewing college, high school, and minor league hidden ball trick plays