What call would you make?

Question

Testing everyone's knowledge of the rules here. Runner on first base and 1 out. Runner from first takes off on the pitch. A routine fly ball is hit to the first baseman. The runner stealing has to immediately retreat to first base. On his way back to first base, the runner collides with the first baseman attempting to catch the fly ball. (The first baseman is indeed in the baseline for your reference) While on the ground the first baseman still catches the ball. What is the call? 10 points to the first correct answer!!

Answer 1

Out on the catch and defensive interference on the 1B. Runner awarded 1B.

Answer 2

The batter is out; the fielder made the catch. (original answer, revised in edits).

The runner is out; interference.  He must allow the fielder to make the play on the batted ball.

Rules citation in a minute.

EDIT:

The runner is out by Rule 7.08(b); he has hindered a fielder making a play on a batted ball.  The rule's "Comment" indicates that the runner is out whether such hindrance is intentional or not.

Normally, the runner is out for running out of the baseline, but he is allowed to do so to avoid making contact with a fielder making a play on a batted ball (7.08a1).

Actually, if the hindrance is intentional, the runner and batter are BOTH out, whether the catch is made or not (7.08b Comment).

EDIT: I actually still thought the batter would be out as a result of the interference.  Looking for the exact citation here.  It would seem that if the interference occurs on a fly ball that can be caught by an infielder, the batter should be out to mitigate the effect of the interference.  If that rule isn't on the books, then it should certainly be considered someday!

EDIT: Looks like I got it wrong; I would have called the batter out.  Still, it would seem as if the batter would almost always be called out on this play, because it would almost certainly take a deliberate effort for the runner to not avoid the fielder on this play.  If the fielder is in the baseline, the runner should know to go around that fielder.

EDIT: True, there is that tiny possibility that the runner happens to turn around at the exact moment that the fielder finds his way into the runner's path.  Unlikely, but hey, it's baseball, weird things happen all the time.  Still, it would be interesting to give the umpires the chance to make the call on a case-by-case basis, especially on easily-catchable pop-ups.  Base awards are judgment calls on obstruction and spectator interference, so why not offensive interference?  Food for thought...

Great question though!

Answer 3

was unfeild fly rule called??? otherwise it could be a dbl play  the runner interfered with the feilder he is out automaticly and the batter is out on the catch

Answer 4

because he still caught the ball its an out and the runner stays at first because the interference didnt effect the outcome of the play

Answer 5

Only the batter is out 1st base was in the line

Answer 6

The runner is out.