fair ball

noun

, Baseball.

1. a batted ball that both lands and settles within the foul lines in the infield, or that is within the foul lines when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that first lands within the foul lines of the outfield or would if it were not caught or deflected.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fair ball¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Earlier in the at-bat in which he singled against Darvish, Ohtani hit a foul ball that registered an exit velocity of 119.2 mph — harder than any fair ball he’s ever hit in the major leagues.

From Los Angeles Times

"I looked at it in replay and it’s really hard to believe it wasn’t reversed to a fair ball. There’s nothing you can do but keep playing the game."

From Fox News

A trio of Pirates scored Sunday when New York pitcher Taijuan Walker knocked a barely fair ball into foul territory and nobody went to retrieve it.

From Fox News

Three Pirates scored on Sunday when New York pitcher Taijuan Walker knocked a barely fair ball into foul territory and nobody went to retrieve it.

From Seattle Times

But TV replays showed the ball was touching the chalk when Walker hit it, and plate umpire Jeremy Riggs called it a fair ball.

From Seattle Times