Hidden ball trick: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

In the game of baseball, the hidden ball trick is a play in which the runner is deceived about the location of the ball. Typically, the hidden ball trick is tried when the runner has beaten the throw to second base. The second baseman mimes throwing the ball to the pitcher, or goes to the mound and appears to give the ball to the pitcher, but actually hides the ball under his shirt. When the runner takes his lead off second base, the second baseman tags him out.

Third baseman Matt Williams used a different technique; on more than one occasion he asked the runner to step off the bag so that Williams could sweep the dirt off of it, tagging out the runner when the runner complied.

A hidden ball putout is scored as an unassisted putout for the fielder making the play.