Foreign Substance Balk

The pitcher shall not:

(2) expectorate on the ball, either hand or his glove;

(3) rub the ball on his glove, person or clothing;

(4) apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball;

(5) deface the ball in any manner; or

(6) deliver a ball altered in a manner prescribed by Rule 6.02(c)

(2) through (5) or what is called the "shine" ball, "spit" ball, "mud" ball or "emery" ball. The pitcher is allowed to rub the ball between his bare hands.

PENALTY: For violation of any part of (c)(2) through (7):

(1) The pitcher shall be ejected immediately from the game and shall be suspended automatically. In the Minor Leagues, the automatic suspension shall be for 10 games.

(2) If a play follows the violation called by the umpire, the manager of the team at bat may advise the umpire-in-chief that he elects to accept the play. Such election shall be made immediately at the end of the play. However, if the batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batsman, or otherwise, and no other runner is put out before advancing at least one base, the play shall proceed without reference to the violation.

(3) Even though the team at bat elects to take the play, the violation shall be recognized and the penalties in subsection 1 will still be in effect.

(4) If the manager of the team at bat does not elect to accept the play, the umpire-in-chief shall call an automatic ball or, if there are any runners on base, a balk.

(5) The umpire shall be sole judge on whether any portion of this rule has been violated.

If a pitcher violates either Rule 6.02(c)(2) or Rule 6.02(c)(3) and, in the judgment of the umpire, the pitcher did not intend, by his act, to alter the characteristics of a pitched ball, then the umpire may, in his discretion, warn the pitcher in lieu of applying the penalty set forth for violations of Rules 6.02(c)(2) through 6.02(c)(6). If the pitcher persists in violating either of those Rules, however, the umpire should then apply the penalty.