• A missed third strike can have negative consequences.Baseball pitcher and batter image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com
  
  "Three strikes, you're out!" may be one of the most well-known phrases in the English language. Borrowed from baseball and applied to everyday life, it expresses the idea that, in most areas of endeavor, a person is given only a limited number of chances to succeed. Like the rules of life, however, the rules of baseball sometimes leave a bit of wiggle room. In baseball, there's an instance when strike three does not necessarily mean the batter is out: when the catcher fails to catch a third strike.
  
  

The Rule

• Rule 6.09(b) of the Official Rules of Major League Baseball states: “The batter becomes a runner when … the third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out."
  
  

The Comment

• The addendum to the rule states: "Rule 6.09(b) Comment: A batter who does not realize his situation on a third strike not caught, and who is not in the process of running to first base, shall be declared out once he leaves the dirt circle surrounding home plate.”
  
  This means that if the batter doesn't realize the catcher missed the third strike and turns to return to the dugout or otherwise does not run to first, he is considered out.
  
  

Example

• The most famous dropped third strike occurred in Game 4 of the 1941 World Series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees. A Dodgers win would have tied the Series at two games. In the top of the ninth inning, with the Dodgers leading 4-3, Yankees outfielder Tommy Henrich faced Dodgers relief pitcher Hugh Casey with two outs and the bases empty. The pitch count ran full, then Henrich swung at strike three. The umpire called Henrich out and the game was presumably over, but the ball got past Dodgers catcher Mickey Owen, allowing Henrich to reach first base safely. Joe DiMaggio and Charlie Keller followed with hits, giving the Yankees a 5-4 lead. They scored two more runs before the inning was over and won the game 7-4. The Yankees went on to win the Series the next day.