Rule sets / OBR
Official Baseball Rules
The Official Baseball Rules govern professional baseball and are the default rule set for most games played around the world.
Delivery
Balks that arise from how the pitch is started and completed.
- Quick-Pitch Balk
6.02(a)(5), Definition of Terms: Quick ReturnA pitcher may not deliver a pitch before the batter is reasonably set in the box. Doing so is a balk.
- Start-Stop Delivery Balk
6.02(a)(1)Once a pitcher begins his delivery to the plate he must continue without interruption.
Pickoffs
Illegal moves and throws toward a base while a runner is on.
- Free Foot Swing
6.02(a)(1) CommentOnce the pitcher's free (stride) foot swings past the back edge of the rubber, the pitcher is committed to delivering home. The only exception is a throw to second base on a pickoff play.
- Illegal Feint Balk
6.02(a)(2)It varies by rule set but feints to first base are generally prohibited and a feight to third base might be as well.
- No-Step Balk
6.02(a)(3)A pitcher must step toward the base he is throwing to. Failing to do so is a balk.
- Unoccupied Base Balk
6.02(a)(4)A pitcher may not throw to an unoccupied base unless the throw is part of a play to retire a runner.