If you watch baseball regularly, you may have heard an umpire yelling an unusual word in the pitcher's direction. This word, the "balk," refers to one of the most misunderstood rules of the game. In fact, former Major League umpire Ron Luciano claims that he never called a balk during his career because he never understood the rule, according to the Baseball Almanac website. Although the definition of a pitcher's balk is quite simple, the rules behind the charge are a bit more complex.
Identification
In baseball, a balk can be called if a pitcher fails to complete his delivery of the ball once it has started. Once a pitcher sets, he cannot move his shoulders, midsection or legs until he is moving toward the plate for delivery. If the pitcher is touching a plate and makes a move to pitch or throw toward first base, he must deliver the ball. If he does not, he balks. Similarly, the pitcher cannot make any move naturally associated with his pitch if he is not touching his plate and he must come to a stop after his set position and before he pitches the ball.
Considerations
A balk can also be charged if the pitcher fails to step toward second or third base before throwing to the base. The pitcher cannot throw or pretend to throw toward an unoccupied base unless he is making a play. A balk can also be called if the pitcher makes an illegal pitch, such as a quick pitch, or throws the ball without facing the batter. Additionally, the pitcher cannot throw the ball if the catcher is not inside the catcher's box. Umpires may also call a balk if the pitcher removes one or both hands from the ball after coming to the legal pitching position or if the pitcher drops the ball.
Penalty
When a pitcher is charged with a balk, all base runners advance one base. Once the umpire yells "balk," the ball is dead. If the batter is able to claim first base on a hit, as a result of four balls pitched, through an error or after being hit by the ball, and all runners are able to advance one base, the balk charge is simply forgotten.
Fun Fact
As of 2010, Dave Stewart of the Oakland A's and Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies hold the records for the most balks in a single season of baseball, according to the Baseball Almanac website. During 1988, Stewart was charged with 16 balks. During 1979, Carlton had 11 balks. The record for the most balks called in a single game goes to Bob Shaw of the Milwaukee Brewers, who was charged with five balks in a May 1963 game.
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