Sliding into first base is an unusual occurrence in baseball. However, it is legal to slide into first base and players can do it by sliding feet first or diving in hands first. The reason most players don't slide into first base is that the rules of baseball allow the batter to overrun first base, meaning they can run at top speed as they cross the bag without putting themselves at risk. Players need to follow rules and regulations of the game when sliding into first base.
Base Path
Players can slide into first base, but they must be legally in the base path when starting their slide. A runner may want to slide into first when the the first baseman has the ball and is attempting to tag the runner as he goes toward the base. It may be a more logical play for the first baseman to tag the runner than to run to the base. In this case, the runner can slide to avoid the tag. However he must not avoid the baseline in an attempt to evade the tag. If the runner has gone out of the baseline to avoid being tagged, the umpire can call him out even if he slides into first base safely.
Diving Back to First
On a pickoff play at first base, when the pitcher attempts to get the runner out instead of pitching the ball to the batter, the runner will regularly dive or slide back to first base. Many times these dives are head first. However, there are some occasions where a runner will slide feet first back into first base. In these cases, the runner may not raise his spikes above shin level. If the runner attempts to injure the fielder in the view of the umpire, the runner will be ejected from the baseball game.
Over-sliding the Base
The runner who slides into first base as he proceeds down the first base line after hitting the ball has the same right to over-slide the base that he would have if he overran the base. The only restriction is that the runner may not make any intentional move towards second base after reaching first base. If the umpire believes the runner has made a move toward second, the runner is now vulnerable to being tagged out if he cannot get back to the bag.
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