Ruling needed

Question
Using major league rules. Runner on 1st base 1 out batter hits a foul ball down the left field line. Runner on 1st goes back and retags 1st base as the left fielder retrieves the ball then runs toward 2nd base stopping 1 foot before the base by this time the ball comes back in. The umpire checks it and throws in back to the pitcher then call play to but the ball back in play. The runner who is near 2nd now steps on 2nd base. Is he safe and is this legal. If not please explain to me why...Thank you

Answer
Hi Al:

Thanks for your question.  If I understand correctly, we have a foul ball, and a runner who has wandered to second base.

No, this is not legal.  The runner must return to first base.  As soon as the ball becomes foul, all runners must return to their base of origin, no matter how far they got to the next base.

The reason is that runners cannot advance on a dead ball - a dead ball is any ball that has left the field of play, ie: a foul ball.

I hope this answers your question; thanks for e-mailing!

Cheers,
Gareth