By: Youheng Zhong

Once a common tactic in baseball, this technique has gradually faded from the modern approach to hitting. It was used to lead to player fatigue to get a good pitch and unnecessarily lengthened games. And it’s none other than the art of fouling off the ball on purpose.

Intentional fouling refers to a batter deliberately hitting a pitch foul to extend their time at bat. This technique allowed batters to wear down pitchers, increase their chances of getting a good pitch, and help runners steal bases. Additionally, fouling off a challenging pitch protects the batter from striking out and can potentially lead to a walk or hit-by-pitch scenario.

However, this strategy was not without its disadvantages. Critics argue that intentional fouls unnecessarily prolong games and lead to player fatigue. Moreover, intentional fouls require excellent bat control, leaving little room for error and often resulting in strikeouts or weak contact if not executed correctly. As former Kansas City Athletics outfielder Jackie Brandt put it, “I had better things to do than mess around with [intentional] foul balls.”

Despite these potential drawbacks, fouling balls off on purpose was once a highly regarded skill. “In my era, we were embarrassed if we struck out,” said Mark Grace, a Chicago Cubs star who retired in 2003 after a 16-year career. With two strikes, hitters would choke up and protect the plate. “Barry Bonds choked up, Barry Larkin choked up,” Grace said.

But today, this approach is becoming less common as hitters now strive for quality contact rather than intentionally fouled pitches. The modern approach emphasizes solid contact and a maximized offensive production. Players prioritize metrics like exit velocity, on-base percentage, and batting average. These rigorous analytics have changed the game, encouraging players to swing at strikes and avoid “wasting” opportunities on fouls.

“The idea is to square the ball up,” Ahmed said. “Going up there with a defensive mentality to try to spoil pitches is not productive.”

In conclusion, the art of intentional fouling in baseball has gradually lost prominence, which is mainly due to being more productive. However, perhaps the new rules have also played a part, making games go faster and upping the number of stolen bases. New rules mean new players with different techniques can choose to counteract the rules, leading to a shift from this once-celebrated skill.