Hidden ball trick; why not more?

Miami/ Shockers

Phil Stephenson at the time the NCAA stolen base leader was the runner picked off.

 

Exactly right. NOTHING can happen until the ball becomes LIVE, including a balk. And since the umpire CANNOT make the ball live without the pitcher being in possession of the ball, we've got nothing.

 

read a story a while back about Matt Williams pulling the hidden ball trick on a rookie. Rookie had just hit his first major league triple and was obviously excited. As the pitcher bent down behind the mound, re-tying a shoe or something, Williams started talking to the kid about what a good hit he had and how good a player he was going to be. He then asked the rookie to step off the bag so he, Williams, could clean off some dirt that had gotten on the base when the kid slid in. The kid obliged and as soon as his foot came off the bag, Williams tapped him on the chest with his glove. The 3rd base umpire, who had watched the whole thing, immediately called the rookie out. The kid looked down at Williams glove and there was the ball tucked inside. Williams smiled at the kid and said "Welcome to the Show... Rook!"

 

HC's bro

yes and Phil was / is the brother of the Wichita St. head coach Gene Stephenson.