Simone Lawson
In baseball, a walk (or base on balls) occurs when a batter receives four pitches during a plate appearance that are out of the strike zone, as called by the umpire. The batter is then awarded first base without the possibility of being called out. This rule has not always been in place, with the number of balls required for a walk previously ranging from five to seven. The term walk is used because the batter-runner and any advancing runners normally jog to the base.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of balls that constitute a walk | 4 |
| Other names | Base on balls (BB), intentional base on balls (IBB) |
| History | In 1884, the National League changed the rules to 6 balls for a walk. In 1886, the American Association changed the rules to 6 balls, but the National League changed their rule to 7 balls. In 1887, both leagues agreed to a uniform rule of 5 balls. In 1889, this was changed to 4 balls, which remains the current rule. |
| Additional Information | An intentional base on balls may be given by the defensive team by requesting the umpire to award first base to the batter. This can be done before the batter has been pitched to or at any ball and strike count. |
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What You'll Learn
- Four balls are required for a batter to be 'walked'
- A ball is a pitch that is not struck and is outside the strike zone
- The batter must go to first base before time-out is called
- The ball is still live after a walk, and runners can advance at their own risk
- An intentional walk is a strategic defensive move, often used to bypass a good hitter
Four balls are required for a batter to be 'walked'
In baseball, a walk, or base on balls (BB), is when a batter receives four pitches during a plate appearance that the umpire calls balls. The batter is then awarded first base without the possibility of being called out. This rule was first implemented in 1889 by the National League and the American Association, decreasing the number of balls required for a walk from five to four.
Prior to 1889, the number of balls required for a walk varied between leagues. In 1884, the National League changed the rules to require six balls for a walk, while the American Association followed suit in 1886. However, the National League changed their rules again in 1887, this time increasing the number of balls required to seven.
In 2017, Major League Baseball approved a rule change regarding intentional walks. Before this change, an intentional walk was signalled by the defensive team's manager holding up four fingers, and the batter was awarded first base without any further pitches being thrown. Now, the manager can signal an intentional walk from the dugout at any point during a plate appearance, and the batter is awarded first base automatically. This rule change was implemented to speed up the game and improve the flow of the action.
It is important to note that, despite being known as a "walk", it is considered improper for a professional player to walk to first base. Instead, the batter-runner and any advancing runners typically jog. Additionally, while the term "walk" usually refers to a base on balls, there are other ways for a batter to be awarded first base, such as being hit by the pitch (HBP) or catcher's interference.
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A ball is a pitch that is not struck and is outside the strike zone
Baseball is a game played between two teams of nine players each. The game is divided into nine innings, and each inning is divided into two halves. In the first half, the offensive team bats and tries to score runs, while the defensive team pitches and tries to stop them. In the second half, the teams swap roles. The team with the most runs at the end of the ninth inning wins.
During an inning, the pitcher of the defensive team throws the ball toward the offensive team's batter, who stands at the home plate. The batter attempts to hit the ball with a bat and run to the bases. If the batter can run to all the bases and return to home plate, they score a run. However, if the defensive team catches the ball or throws it to the base before the batter arrives, the batter is out.
The batter attempts to hit the ball when it is thrown within the strike zone. The strike zone is an area where the pitch is considered valid, and the batter must attempt to hit the ball. If the pitch is within the strike zone and the batter does not swing, it is called a strike. If the batter swings at a pitch within the strike zone and misses, it is also called a strike. A batter who accumulates three strikes is out.
However, if the pitch is outside the strike zone and the batter does not swing, it is called a ball. A ball is, therefore, a pitch that is not struck and is outside the strike zone. If a batter accumulates four balls, they are awarded a "walk" to first base. This means they get to advance to first base without any further pitches being thrown. The batter must go immediately to first base before time-out is called. This rule ensures that the pitcher does not repeatedly pitch outside the strike zone to avoid the batter hitting the ball.
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The batter must go to first base before time-out is called
In baseball, a batter receiving four pitches that the umpire calls balls is awarded first base without the possibility of being called out. This is known as a "base on balls" or a "walk". The batter must immediately advance to first base before time-out is called. Although it is called a "walk", batters usually jog to first base instead of walking.
The rules regarding walks have evolved over time. In the early days of baseball, there was no concept of a "ball". In 1884, the National League mandated six balls for a walk, while the American Association required six in 1886 and seven in 1887. The two leagues agreed to reduce the number to four in 1889.
An intentional base on balls, or intentional walk, is a strategic defensive move where the defensive team intentionally walks the batter. This is often done to face a weaker hitter or create a more favourable matchup for the pitcher. In Major League Baseball and amateur leagues, the defensive team's manager signals an intentional walk by holding up four fingers, and the batter is awarded first base without any further pitches.
Before the 2017 season, teams had to throw four balls to intentionally walk a batter, but now the manager can signal the walk during any point in the batter's appearance. The ball is then declared dead before the award of first base.
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The ball is still live after a walk, and runners can advance at their own risk
In baseball, a batter receiving four pitches during a plate appearance that the umpire calls balls results in a base on balls (BB), commonly referred to as a walk. The batter is then awarded first base without the possibility of being called out. The ball is still live after a walk, and runners can advance at their own risk. This means that any runner not forced to advance can attempt to move to the next base, but if they fail to reach it, they will be out. This is often done on a steal play, passed ball, or wild pitch.
The ability for runners to advance beyond the base awarded is outlined in Rule 6.08. For example, if ball four is a passed ball or a wild pitch, the batter-runner may attempt to advance beyond first base at their own risk.
The concept of a "ball" was introduced in 1863 by the NABBP as a penalty for pitchers who were intentionally delaying the game by not delivering fair balls. At the time, the rule gave the pitcher nine balls, as each penalty ball could only be called on the third offense. In 1869, the rule was modified so that only those baserunners forced to advance could advance. Over the next two decades, the number of balls required for a walk fluctuated between five and seven, before settling at four in 1889.
An intentional base on balls (IBB) occurs when the defensive team intentionally issues a walk to the batter. This is usually done to bypass one hitter for one the defensive team believes is less likely to initiate a run-scoring play. In Major League Baseball, this is signalled by the defensive team's manager holding up four fingers.
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An intentional walk is a strategic defensive move, often used to bypass a good hitter
In baseball, a base on balls (BB), commonly known as a walk, occurs when a batter receives four pitches during a plate appearance that the umpire calls balls, and the batter is then awarded first base without the possibility of being called out. The number of balls required for a walk has changed over time, with the National League requiring six balls in 1884, then seven in 1887, and finally settling on four balls in 1889.
An intentional base on balls (IBB), or intentional walk, is a strategic defensive move where the defensive team intentionally issues a walk to the batter. This is often done to bypass a good hitter and face a weaker one, or to set up a more favourable matchup for the pitcher. It is also used to set up a double play or force out situation for the subsequent batter.
Prior to the 2017 season, an intentional walk was issued when the pitcher deliberately pitched the ball away from the batter four times. However, since 2017, a new rule allows the defending team's manager to signal an intentional walk from the dugout at any point, automatically awarding the batter first base without the need to throw four balls. This rule change has had little effect on the length of major league games but represents a shift in mindset.
During a plate appearance, an intentional walk typically occurs with no one on first base, but it can very rarely happen with first base occupied. An intentional walk is signalled to the home plate umpire by the defensive team's manager holding up four fingers, upon which the batter is awarded first base without further pitches.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes four balls for a batter to be awarded a walk, also known as a base on balls (BB).
No. In 1884, the National League required six balls for a walk. In 1886, the American Association changed this to six balls, but the National League required seven. In 1887, the number was reduced to five, and in 1889, it was reduced to four.
An intentional walk, or intentional base on balls (IBB), is a strategic defensive move where the defensive team intentionally walks the batter. This is usually done to bypass a good hitter for a worse hitter, or a more favourable matchup for the pitcher. Beginning in the 2017 season, managers can signal an intentional walk from the dugout, and the batter is awarded first base without the need for four balls.
