fair ball

American  

noun

Baseball.

1. a batted ball that both lands and settles within the foul lines in the infield, or that is within the foul lines when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that first lands within the foul lines of the outfield or would if it were not caught or deflected.

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Etymology

Origin of fair ball

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fair ball

A trio of Pirates scored Sunday when New York pitcher Taijuan Walker knocked a barely fair ball into foul territory and nobody went to retrieve it.

From Fox News ● Jul. 20, 2021

The Pittsburgh Pirates swiped three runs Sunday when Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker mistakenly batted a fair ball into foul territory, prompting a wild argument in which New York manager Luis Rojas was ejected.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 18, 2021

Detroit took a 2-0 lead in the eighth when the ball boy down the first-base line mistakenly picked up a fair ball, resulting in a ground-rule double.

From Washington Times ● May 5, 2018

In the sixth inning, Beltran hit a ground ball over third base, and television replays showed it hitting the foul line — clearly a fair ball, but not to the umpire, who called it foul.

From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2012

A fair ball, legally delivered by the Pitcher, but not struck at by the Batsman.

From Spalding's Baseball Guide and Official League Book for 1889 by Chadwick, Henry