force play clarification

Question
QUESTION: Hello- A dispute over a force play happened during my 12-inch softball game in Chicago today and I'm wondering if you can help me clear this up.

I was playing 3B with runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 out. A ground ball is hit fair to my right, which I knock down and grab with my throwing hand, then I touch 3B with my glove hand before the runner reaches. The ump calls the runner safe. I thought this was an obvious force, since I had possession of the ball (albeit in my throwing hand). And from what I've read, the idea that a fielder must tag a base with a foot to complete a force play is a myth.

Unfortunately, this call ended up costing my team, as the other team went on to score a few more runs in that inning and won the game by one run.

Nothing I can find in the MLB rules on force plays specifically addresses a situation like this, so any clarification would be appreciated.

Thank you- Bruce

ANSWER: Bruce,

The base must be tagged with body and/or ball.  For instance, would I call the runner out if you were to tag the bag with your ball cap? No, because that is a piece of the uniform, not your body or ball.  Same applies with the glove, its a piece of equipment and not the body or ball.  Had you tagged the base with your hand, foot, or ball, it would have been an out.

I hope this has helped.

-Martin Hoover

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the prompt follow-up, I appreciate it. But I still have a couple problems with this:

One, we're not talking about a cap or other part of the player's uniform. We're talking about the glove, a piece of equipment, yes, but also an extension of the player's body. Or at least that's always been my understanding. Touch a runner off a base with the ball in your glove, and he's out.

Two, by your definition, a player's cleats and socks are also considered either equipment or part of the uniform, meaning he'd have to remove both and touch the base barefoot to meet your technical definition for a force play.

If this is specifically addressed anywhere in the official baseball or ASA rules, please let me know.

If this specific language isn't in the rules, are you saying this is the way the force play has traditionally been applied by umpires?  

Answer
Bruce,

I'm not arguing the fact, I'm just giving clarification on the rule.

Your glove is not an extension of your body... nothing is an extension of your body in baseball, there is no such thing.  Remember what I said previously, you must touch with body or ball. In your example, the ball is in the glove, you are touching the base with the ball in the glove, that is okay.

Your second example would be considered extreme, and we assume the cleats and socks are the foot, which is part of the body. We can assume this as they do not come off during a game, where a glove does.

This is something that is not spelled out in the rules and is based off of interpretation that has been instructed upon.

-Martin Hoover