MLB, when is the ball out of play?

[Shibby]

I see people jump into the crowd and climb half way up the wall.

[bad14u]

As long as the ball is in the air and within their reach, it is in play. Regardless if they dive into the crowd or climb a wall, if they can catch the ball before it hits the ground or goes over a fence, it is an out.

[Taylor]

yeah but a fielder can't like jump into the stands and then setup under the ball and catch it....like jeter couldn't jump into the stands run up to the third row and seat 7 and wait for the ball to come down

i believe the tarps (for when it rains), that's part of the field of play unless the ball would get stuck underneath....if a throw from RF gets by the 3rd basemen and hits the tarp and bounces into LF, that ball would still be in play

[Shibby]

Well I saw a couple plays yester day. One the guy actually leaped over the short wall into the fans and caught the ball for an out. Then another ( I think an asian Yankee) jumped up the back wall with one foot, pulled himself up from the top with his throwing hand and caught a ball before it went over for an out. What if he climbs on top of the wall and catches the ball?

[beefcake]

What if he climbs on top of the wall and catches the ball?

It's all good. If his feet are still on the other side of the wall then he's all good. He just can't be all the way onto the other side and then catch it. He can lean as far as he can and catch it though.

[bad14u]

yeah but a fielder can't like jump into the stands and then setup under the ball and catch it....like jeter couldn't jump into the stands run up to the third row and seat 7 and wait for the ball to come down

Let's be reasonable here. No player is that fast or stupid, but if someone did do that...it would be an out!