Hidden ball trick

Ahidden ball trickis a play in which a player deceives the opposing team about the location of the ball. Hidden ball tricks are most commonly observed inbaseball,where the defence deceives the runner about the location of the ball, totag outthe runner. Ingoal-based sports (e.g.,American footballandlacrosse), the offence deceives the defence about the location of the ball, in an attempt to get the defence running the wrong way, such as in afumblerooski.

Baseball and softball

In the sports ofbaseballandsoftball,the hidden ball trick usually involves afielderusing sleight of hand or misdirection to confuse abaserunneras to the location of the ball, allowing the fielder totag outthe runner unawares. Though several variations of the play exist, they usually involve a fielder keeping the ball without the runner's knowledge, waiting for the runner to step off abase,and then quicklytaggingthe runner out. For the trick to work, the fielder (generally aninfielder) must get the ball while the ball is stillin play,and the runner must either not know that the fielder has the ball or think that the play is over.

Fielders usually try to fool the runner by miming a throw to the pitcher or another defender while keeping the baseball out of sight, often in his glove. If the runner is not paying attention and assumes that the closest fielder no longer has the ball, he may stray off the base and be tagged out.A related tactic is to quickly re-tag the runner after an unsuccessful tag in the hope that his hand or foot has lost contact with the base after aslidebut before time has been called.

In most situations, thebalkrule precludes apitcherfrom performing a hidden ball trick.In high school and college baseball, a balk is called (NFHS R6-S2-A5) if a runner or runners are on base and the pitcher, while he is not touching the pitcher's plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch, or he places his feet on or astride the pitcher's plate or positions himself within approximately five feet of the pitcher's plate without having the ball. In professional baseball, under Rule 6.02(a)(9), abalkoccurs if the pitcher is standing on or astride of thepitching rubberwithout the ball.As play after afoul ball,hit batsman,ortime out,must not resume until the pitcher is on thepitcher's mound,theinfieldercannot use these times to obtain the ball.

Examples

While variations exist, the use of the play in major league baseball is somewhat rare. Some say that the hidden-ball trick has been pulled fewer than 300 times in over 100 years of major league baseball.

Afirst basemanmay attempt the play after a pitcher, in an attempt topick offa runner, throws to first. The first baseman then fakes the throwback to the pitcher while keeping the ball in his glove, and if and when the runner leaves the base, tags the runner.Dave Bergmanis a former first baseman who pulled this off on multiple occasions.A second baseman could attempt a similar play after a successfulstealof second base, having received a throw from the catcher.

Third basemanBill Coughlinwas reputed to have been the master of the hidden ball trick. Although not verified, Coughlin reportedly pulled it off seven times.The first known recorded and successful example of Coughlin's hidden ball trick was against theDetroit Tigerson September 24, 1901, as seen from a contemporary description of the game:

In returning the sphere to the infield the ball was thrown to our tricky third baseman and he promptly did a little sleight-o'-hand work, his hands moving faster thancoachers' eyes, and shoved the ball up under his arm and assumed his position as it there were nothing wrong.Carrickwas standing in the box as if he were about to toss the globule over, andCronineased off theottomanslightly, but enough to get him caught, and he returned to the bench amidst the jeers and howls of the populace.

He did it again on September 3,1906,catchingGeorge Stonein the first inning. In Game 2 of the1907 World Series,Coughlin caughtJimmy Slaglewith a hidden ball trick, the only one in World Series history. The play went fromGermany Schaeferto Coughlin.

Formersecond basemanMarty Barrettalso successfully performed the trick more than once.After a runner reached second base on a ball hit to the outfield, and after receiving the throw-in from the outfield, he faked a throw to the pitcher while retaining the ball.To aid the deception, Barrett took the throw with his back to the runner, then placed the ball between the back of his glove and one of his fingers: this way, he exposed his glove to the runner without the ball in the pocket, suggesting that he did not have the ball.Other players have hidden the ball in their armpits.

Formerthird basemanMatt Williamsused a different technique which asked the runner to step off the base so that Williams could sweep the dirt off it, then tagged out the runner when the runner complied.This worked twice.

Former third basemanMike Lowellalso made the trick work twice, each time after a throw-in from the outfield. The key to Lowell's success was acting, placement, and waiting: acting as if nothing was on, standing away from the bag but not too far from it, and waiting, at least 10 seconds, until the runner on third took a few steps.

Willie Kammwas considered another master of the trick.On April 30,1929,in a game against theCleveland Indians,Kamm was involved in a raretriple playinvolving a hidden-ball trick.The Indians hadbaserunnerson first and second bases whenCarl Lindgrounded outto theshortstop.Johnny Hodapp,who had been on second base, tried to score but got caught in arundownbetween third and home.Charlie Jamiesonadvanced to third. Kamm retrieved the ball andtaggedboth runners, whereupon the umpire ruled Hodappout.Kamm then hid the ball under his arm and waited for Jamieson to step off the base. When he did so, Kamm tagged him out to complete the triple play.

On June 8,2007,shortstopJulio Lugoof theBoston Red SoxcaughtAlberto Callaspoof theArizona Diamondbacks.However, third baseman Lowell, Lugo's teammate, claimed it was not a true hidden ball trick since the pitcher did most of the work "selling" the trick.Before Lugo caught Callaspo, Lowell laid claim to the last successful hidden ball trick and held that position for eight years to the day. Lowell's occurred on August 10,2005,when he, then with theFlorida Marlins,caught theArizona DiamondbacksLuis Terrero,with relieverTodd Joneson the mound. Lowell also caughtBrian Schneiderof theMontreal Exposin2004.

On July 12, 2013,San Diego PadresshortstopEverth Cabreraattempted to execute the hidden-ball trick onSan Francisco Giantsthird basemanPablo Sandovalafter Sandoval hit a double. As pitcherSean O'Sullivanwalked onto the mound and Sandoval took his lead, Cabrera, while holding the ball, tagged Sandoval. However, Sandoval had requested and was granted time by second base umpireLaz Díazimmediately after his double. Because O'Sullivan never assumed his position on the pitcher's plate with the baseball, the umpires appropriately never called "Play" and Cabrera's tag of Sandoval was therefore not legal. TheUmpire Ejection Fantasy Leagueexplains this is why a hidden-ball trick may never be executed after a base hit, mound visit, or other events in which "time" is called: to put the ball back into play, the pitcher must engage the rubber and if the pitcher engages the rubber without the ball, it is a balk under Rule 8.05(i).

On August 10, 2013, in a Tampa Bay loss tothe Los Angeles Dodgers,5–0,Evan Longoria,Tampa Bay Rays'sthird baseman pulled the trick in the fourth inning onJuan Uribe.With the bases loaded and no outs,A.J. Ellisflew out to the center field, withAndre Ethiertagging to score, Uribe tagging to third andSkip Schumakertagging to second. Tampa first baseman (and former Dodger)James Loneycut off-center fielderWil Myers'throw at the mound, flipped to shortstopYunel Escobar,who flipped to third baseman Longoria standing several feet behind third base, out of Uribe's line of sight. Longoria just stood behind the bar looking bored and kicking the dirt for several seconds before he got his chance. "I was watching it, and I didn't know what to do to stop it", said pitcherZack Greinke,who wason deck."I didn't want to yell at Uribe, because I might get him off [the bag]. I didn't know what to do. He just lifted his foot for a tenth of a second and Longoria was ready for it. As Uribe shifted his weight and took his foot off the third-base bag, Longoria sneaked from behind and slapped Uribe's thigh with a tag. Longoria looked over his shoulder at umpireAngel Hernández,who called Uribe out for an 8-3-6-5 double play. In an after-the-game stunt from his teammates, Uribe was presented with a baseball shoe taped to a base.

On September 19, 2013,Colorado Rockiesfirst basemanTodd HeltoncaughtMatt Carpenterof theSt. Louis Cardinalsfor the final out of the first inning in a day game atCoors Field.Helton, who days earlier had announced his retirement after 17 seasons with the Rockies,tagged Carpenter after faking a throwback to pitcherRoy Oswaltfollowing a pickoff attempt. Carpenter was dusting his hands after a head-first slide when he stepped off the backside of the first base towards 1B umpire Bill Miller. Cardinal's first base coachChris Maloneywas unable to help Carpenter before Helton got him with a poking tag. "I've been wanting to do that for 17 seasons. Now I can cross that off my bucket list", said the 40-year-old Helton,who at the time was the oldest active professional athlete in Denver.The Rockies went on to win 7-6 in a 15 inning game that was the second-longest in Coors Field history.

In the minor leagues, on August 31, 1987, catcher Dave Bresnahan of theWilliamsport Billspulled an unusual hidden ball trick against theReading Philliesin theEastern League.With a runner on third base, Bresnahan switched catcher's mitts and put on a glove in which he had secreted a peeled potato. When the pitch came in, Bresnahan fired the white potato down the third-base line, enticing the runner to sprint home. Bresnahan then tagged the runner with the baseball which he kept in his mitt. The umpire awarded the runner home plate for Bresnahan's deception. Bresnahan was subsequently released from the Bills for the incident, but the fans of the Bills loved the play and the team eventually retired Bresnahan's number.

Goal-based sports

Ingoal-based sports (e.g.,American footballandlacrosse), the offence deceives the defence about the location of the ball, in an attempt to get the defence running the wrong way.

American football

A hidden ball trick is considered atrick playinAmerican football.There are various executions of such plays, including theStatue of Liberty playandFumblerooski.

On November 9, 1895John Heismanexecuted a hidden ball trick utilizing quarterbackReynolds Tichenorto getAuburn's only touchdown in a 6 to 9 loss toVanderbilt.During the play, the ball was snapped to a half-back who was able to slip it under the back of the quarterback's jersey and who in turn was able to trot in for the touchdown. This was also the first game in the south decided by a field goal.Heisman later used the trick againstPop Warner's Georgia team. Warner picked up the trick and later used it at Cornell against Penn State in 1897.He then used it in1903atCarlisleagainst Harvard and garnered national attention.

The hidden ball trick was famously parodied in the 1930s by theMarx Brothersin the filmHorse Feathersand by theThree Stoogesin the comedy shortThree Little Pigskins,and was used in the final play of the football game in the 1970 filmM*A*S*H.

Other goal-based sports

Hidden ball tricks can be used in rugbyand lacrosse.

See also

• Trick play