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7 Umpire Signals Every Baseball Fan Needs to Know

Baseball fans can get loud. Sometimes, they get really loud.

That’s why umpires (the officials in baseball) use hand signals. That way, the players, coaches, fans in the stands and fans watching TV all know what’s happening.

An umpire’s job is to make sure both teams are playing by the rules. The home-plate umpire is in charge. He makes all the calls at home plate, like balls and strikes. He also wears a mask and other padding to stay safe.

The umpires at first base, second base and third base make the calls at their positions and in the outfield.

Read on to learn some of the most important umpire signals. Plus, learning these signals will help Webelos fulfill one requirement of the Sportsman elective adventure.

Here are the seven most common signals used by baseball umpires:

Out/Strike

Strikes are called with the right hand. Some umpires point to the side; others make a clenched fist. The “out” call — also a clenched fist — is used after a third strike or when a runner is out before reaching a base.

Timeout/Foul Ball

Used when a batter hits a foul ball or when play must be paused.

 

Foul Tip

Used when a batter swings and just barely tips the ball but the catcher still catches it.

 

Do Not Pitch

Used to signal the pitcher to wait before throwing his next pitch.

Safe

Used when a runner safely reaches any base.

Play Ball

Used to signal the pitcher that it is OK to throw the pitch.

Fair Ball

Used when a batter hits a ball that lands in fair ground. This signal can be made with either hand.

With these seven signals in mind, you’ll understand the most common calls in baseball. But there are other signals umpires use during a game to communicate with players, coaches, scorekeepers and other umpires.

Help us keep this list going by describing other signals an umpire uses by commenting below.

20 Comments on 7 Umpire Signals Every Baseball Fan Needs to Know

  1. When a umpire holds both arms out to his side with both hands below the waste, with closed fists, showing one finger or two fingers on both hands; this is indication of showing, requesting or confirming to his partner umpires in the game # of outs at that time.

  2. What does it mean when the home plate umpire taps one hand upon the other after a time out is called

  3. UmpireSignals // December 8, 2022 at 2:00 pm // Reply

    For a fair ball, you have to point towards fair territory. If you point the wrong way, it could be called a foul ball!

  4. I didn’t have a clue about signals, watch BB occasionally thanks good info JJS

  5. LOL “ I play softball so I know this”

  6. Learnt something today.

  7. how do i copy the image

  8. Thanks for this, even though I already knew all of this, I am going to be an umpire for babe ruth baseball.

  9. Thanks for this, even though I already knew all of this, I am going to be an umpire for babe ruth baseball.

  10. a real umpire // February 6, 2019 at 12:47 pm // Reply

    There is no signal for fair ball. The ball is in play unless the umpire signals it is a dead ball. That signal above is nothing. Also, if you use your left hand you are actually signalling a delayed dead ball (normally due to obstruction).

    • Umpire as well // June 1, 2019 at 2:27 pm // Reply

      You do signal fair if it’s down the line, not verbally though. And a clenched fist is usually used to signal a delayed dead ball, yes normally due to obstruction, not interference.

  11. Also, pointing with your right hand like above means nothing, but holding your left arm out is a delay dead ball.

    • the signal used for a fair ball is pointing toward fair territory That’s the signal when it’s on the line you point toward the field that is a fair signal

  12. There is no call for fair ball. Although you may see an Umpire point toward the field of play, technically they are making up a call. As the ball is in play unless the umpire calls a dead ball, such as a foul ball.

    • Only umpired youth baseball, but my toughest thing to NOT do was to yell “Fair Ball” on a well hit ball near the line. It was hard to break that bad habit.

  13. Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. UHH DIS WEIRD

  15. I play softball so I know this

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