Ground rules (baseball)

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In baseball, ground rules are special rules particular to each baseball park (grounds) in which the game is played. Unlike the well-defined playing field of most other sports, the playing area of a baseball field extends to an outfield fence in fair territory and the stadium seating in foul territory. The unique design of each ballpark, including fences, dugouts, bullpens, railings, stadium domes, and TV camera booths, requires that rules be defined to handle situations in which these objects may interact or interfere with the ball in play or with the players.

Examples of ground rules of major league ballparks include:

Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox) - A batted ball that passes through the outfield scoreboard is a ground rule double.
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minnesota Twins) - A batted ball that lodges in the roof is a ground rule double.
Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs) - A batted ball that sticks in the ivy that covers the outfield fence is a ground rule double.
Jacobs Field (Cleveland Indians)- A batted ball that hits a foul pole or attached screen is a fair ball.
Oriole Park (Baltimore Orioles) - Foul poles with screens attached are outside of playing field.
Astrodome (formerly Houston Astros) - A batted ball that hits a public-address system speaker and lands in fair territory is in play.

Note that the term ground rule double is often applied to a batted ball that bounces over the outfield fence in fair territory. Technically, this is not really a ground rule double; it is an automatic double according to the official rules of baseball.