It would be a balk if the pitcher, after having his entire non-pivot foot pass behind the perpendicular plane of the back edge of the pitcher's plate, attempted to pick off the runner at first base.

It would be a balk if the pitcher, after having his entire non-pivot foot pass behind the perpendicular plane of the back edge of the pitcher's plate, attempted to pick off the runner at first base.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It would be a balk only if there are runners on base.
• D. It would be a balk in all cases.

Answer: (A)

A balk is called when the pitcher violates his pitching position on the mound. Here, the key rule is that the non-pivot foot must not completely pass behind the perpendicular plane of the back edge of the pitching plate before the ball is delivered. If that foot crosses behind that plane and the pitcher then tries to throw to first to pick off the runner, he’s no longer in a legal pitching position, so the move is ruled a balk. This applies regardless of whether a runner is on base, so it happens in all cases.

A balk is called when the pitcher violates his pitching position on the mound. Here, the key rule is that the non-pivot foot must not completely pass behind the perpendicular plane of the back edge of the pitching plate before the ball is delivered. If that foot crosses behind that plane and the pitcher then tries to throw to first to pick off the runner, he’s no longer in a legal pitching position, so the move is ruled a balk. This applies regardless of whether a runner is on base, so it happens in all cases.