Over the last century, baseball's balk rule has been expanded to include 14 violations by a pitcher. A few are so complex and subtle that fans might not immediately understand--or even see--the reason a balk has been called. Why are there so many ways to balk? In the view of The Official Rules of Baseball, "Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner."
The First Balk Rule
Though he did not formally define a balk at the time, Alexander Cartwright nevertheless made mention of one when he wrote the original rules of baseball (the Knickerbocker Rules) in 1845. Twelve years later, a rules committee decided that a balk would be called when a pitcher in the act of delivering the ball strode beyond a line 45 feet from home plate. To do so meant all runners would advance one base.
Bases Occupied
Four decades would pass before the balk rule officially addressed the presence of runners on base. In 1898, it was ruled that any time the pitcher initiates a motion toward a base, he must throw the ball to that base. Again, the penalty was the advancement of one base by any runner.
Common Balks
Officially, a balk is "(a)n illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base, entitling all runners to advance one base." Among the more common balks are when the pitcher fails to stop with his hands together after moving from the stretch to set position, throws from the pitcher's rubber to a base without first stepping toward that base or feints a move or pick-off throw from the rubber to a base without completing the throw. Balks can also be called when the pitcher removes his pivot foot from the rubber while winding up or delivering the ball, drops the ball with his foot on the rubber or starts his pitching motion without the catcher properly stationed in the catcher's box.
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