Tracking Foul Balls

6D SUNDAY 08.05.2007 FROM THE COVER SPORTS//THE SUN TRACKING FOUL BALLS If you attend an Orioles game hoping to catch a foul ball, this guide might give you pause. In an attempt to find the best places to catch a foul, The Sun plotted every foul ball hit into the seats at Oriole Park during a nine-game interleague homestand from June 8 through June 17. The results appear inconclusive, although chances for a souvenir seem best in sections behind first base and third base. So if you'll be sitting in any "hot" section, consider bringing a glove. Fouls hit into seats by section during homestand Terrace level : Club: level : Upper level • Foul balls hit into the seats by right- handed batters. 204 7-8 balls 5-6 balls 96 98 306 306 206 94 308 3-4 balls 220 E 92 310 Total:113 1-2 balls 90 : 210 O balls 312 11 10 312 • One foul ball 316 12 216 318 Upper level Club : Terrace level : level 14 Field level 15 318 218 322 17 86 87 388 288 322 18 84 324 386 286 85 82 326 83 384 284 Note: Fifty-three foul balls were hit into the protective screen in front of sections 30 through 44. 80 328 328 78 • Foul balls hit into the seats by left- handed batters. 282 81 382 76 330 381 Visitors dugout 74 Total: 101 72 332 380 70 O 68 • 62 56 54 50 48 334 334 ..... 378 69 67 65 61 55 53 336 376 270 268 264 262 260 258 256 248 244 374 340 372 370 366 364 362 358 356 354 350 346 GRAPHIC BY 374 342 LOUIS SPIRI TO [SUN NEWS ARTISTĮ 344 372 370 368 364 362 360 356 354 352 348 346 [email protected] During the nine-game homestand, a total of 2,657 pitches were thrown. Pitches were slightly more likely to be hit fair than foul, and 64 percent of all pitches were not struck at all, while 8 percent headed into the seats. 214 24 Average number of foul balls hit into the seats per game Total number of pitches hit foul into the 151 381 Pitches hit into fair territory safely into play. resulting in outs or fielding errors. 1,703 Pitches not struck by a batter. For example, a called strike, swinging strike, ball, or batter hit by pitch. 422 46 Highest number of foul balls hit into the seats in one game (June 8) Pitches hit Pitches hit into foul territory 13 Lowest number offoul balls hit into the seats in one game (June 15) seats Foul balls by seating level Field |117 Terrace |38 |45 Club Upper |14 Foul balls by pitch type Fastball |177 Slider 16 Curve 11 Change19 Splitter |1 Sources: Sun reporting, Orioles, Major League Baseball ****************.....******..***. ***************************************** Screen **************.. PRESS BOX