Ground rule double
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In baseball, a ground rule double is a term used to describe any fair ball that leaves the playing field, but in a situation where regulations prohibit calling the hit a home run. The most common situation is a ball bouncing fair on the field and then leaving play (such as over a fence); however, ground rules exist for various ballparks which provide ground rule doubles in other situations. As the name implies, a ground rule double entitles the batter to two bases.
In every park, a hit that goes out of play (into the stands or out of the park) just as a home run, but on the bounce after touching the ground in fair territory, is an automatic double as specified in Major League Baseball rules 6.09(e) through 6.09(g). The same applies if a batted ball becomes lodged in, or rolls under, the outfield fence. Such hits are typically referred to as ground rule doubles, which, while not truly a ground rule, has come to be an almost universally understood misnomer and has entered into accepted usage.
Any baserunners ahead of the batter are also entitled to advance two bases on a ground rule double, based on their positions when the ball was pitched. This sometimes has the effect of denying a team a run, since a runner starting from first base would frequently come around to score on a normal double to the outfield, but in this case must stop at (or go back to) third base.
One additional rule covers the very rare situation where a fielder deliberately uses his cap or mask to play the ball, or if he throws his glove at a batted ball that he cannot reach on his own. This rule (7.05 sections (b) and (c)) awards the batter and any runners three bases on such a play (which could theoretically be referred to as a "ground rule triple"). This rule very rarely, if ever in the modern game, comes into effect.
Originally, all batted balls that cleared the fence after a bounce in fair territory or on a fly were counted as home runs. The rule was changed by the American League prior to the 1930 season and was subsequently adopted by the National League on December 12, 1930.
