Check out this odd play:
If this happened on the diamonds I work, I would have a coach out asking me about interference. They figure that something this odd has to be an illegal action on the offense’s part.
So, is it illegal? Well, besides the obvious fact that the umpire did not call a second runner out, the answer is no – and it is in the book.
Rule 7.08 (old format):
7.08 Any runner is out when—
(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball;
Intent does not matter when a runner interferes with the fielding of the ball (either by having the ball strike him or hindering the fielder), but intent does matter when dealing with a thrown ball. It is the second word in the rule.
From my vantage point, Oritz clearly did not intentionally interfere with the throw. The no call looks to be a good one on this play.
On this famous play:
I am not so sure the interference was not intentional. But, Reggie got away with it.
BetterRuleBook.com 