Definition: A foul pole is one of the two tall yellow posts located at the ends of the left-field and right-field fences. Despite its name, a ball that hits the pole is actually considered “fair” and is ruled a home run.
The poles are used by umpires to determine if a long fly ball is fair or foul. If the ball passes on the inside of the pole or hits it directly, it counts as a home run; if it passes on the outside of the pole, it is a foul ball.
Example: The hitter launched a massive drive that clanked off the foul pole, resulting in a two-run home run for his team.
Discover more from PlayTerms | Simple Sports Terms & Definitions.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.