ground rule double

American  

noun

Baseball.

1. a safe hit ruled for two bases according to the rules of a particular stadium, as when a fly ball bounces once in the outfield and then clears a fence.

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Etymology

Origin of ground rule double

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

Example Sentences

But instead of allowing Straw and Barger to score, the play was ruled to be a ground rule double,, external putting the runners on second and third.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2025

Despite a home run from outfielder Randal Grichuk and a ninth-inning RBI ground rule double from Brandon Drury, the Angels fell to the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Saturday night for their fifth consecutive loss.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2023

However, the umpires ruled that Kiermaier hit should be ground rule double sticking Kiermaier on second base and Diaz on third instead of a two-out RBI double.

From Fox News • Oct. 10, 2021

His homer came on a 370-foot that barely cleared the wall in left-center field, and Pham temporarily stopped at second base, believing it was a ground rule double.

From Washington Times • Jul. 5, 2015

Ross Gload and Carlos Ruiz hit back-to-back singles and Rollins drove in Gload with a ground rule double to center.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 2, 2011