What if the batter literally "hit the skin off the ball"?

Question

I was watching a Giants game this weekend. Someone screamed, "Hit the skin off the ball!" and them someone else said, "What is the ruling on that?" No one there could give an answer. In the modern MLB, if a batter hit the bat and the skin is torn off the ball, what would the umpire call? Is it a foul, ball still in play? If so, what part of the ball?

Answer 1

i believe that the call would go whichever way he inside of the ball went. i highly doubt this has ever happened and i dont think it will, although it would be pretty cool if it did.

Answer 2

I am not sure, it may have happened.  Back in the day there was an interesting feature on the Yankees station in NYC.  They featured odd ball information like that.  I remember that theyhad a ball once that was used for an entire game,  It was covered in stains, but they had different standards then.

Answer 3

The ball would be in play until the end of the play, it would then be replaced.  No penalties involved.  The core of the ball is what would be in play, not the 'skin'.

I do not recall this happening in MLB or any baseball game where proper baseballs were used.  Perhaps in some pick up sandlot game where very old balls are sometimes used.

Answer 4

agree with anthony C i guess wherever the inside of the ball went.. its still gonna be in play

the only time i saw it was in Sandlot,

Benny crushed that one man!! ;) hehe

Answer 5

obvioulsy it would be the baseball itself in play and i guess nobody else recalls angels in the outfield when the fat catcher guy hit some of the cover off of it....close enough gosh

Answer 6

i would be surprised if this has ever happened

i dont think they even have a ruling for it, cause an average ball lasts all 8 pitches on average (give or take a few), so i dont think itd ever happen

Answer 7

This is covered in the rules. The majority of the ball remains in play until the end of action.