{{Short description|Part of a baseball field that is closest to the wall}} [[Image:Fenway warning track.JPG|thumb|The orange-colored clay warning track is seen between the outfield grass and the ''Green Monster'', the left field wall at Fenway Park.]]
The '''warning track''' is the part of the baseball field that is closest to the wall or fence and is made of a different material than the field. Common materials for the warning track include dirt or rubber; it should always be of a different material than the playing field.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://cdn3.sportngin.com/attachments/document/0124/3820/Baseball_Field_Maintenance_Guide.pdf|title=Baseball Field Maintenance: A General Guide for Fields of All Levels|publisher=Major League Baseball & Major League Baseball Players Association|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref>{{Rp|18}} The change of terrain serves as a "warning" for fielders trying to make a deep catch that they are running out of room, since it is often difficult for the fielder to keep his eye on a fly ball while keeping track of his position relative to the wall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingcharts.com/dictionary/mlb/warning-track.aspx|title=Warning Track Definition - Sporting Charts|website=www.sportingcharts.com|access-date=2019-08-29|archive-date=2019-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829152740/https://www.sportingcharts.com/dictionary/mlb/warning-track.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> It runs parallel to the ballpark's outfield wall.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|18}} The track can also be utilized by vehicles on grass fields, thus preserving the playing field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballfields.com/2019/07/26/danger-artificial-turf-warning-tracks/|title=The Danger of Artificial Turf Warning Tracks {{!}} Beacon Athletics|last=Zwaska|first=Paul|date=2019-07-26|website=Beacon Athletics Blog & Ballfield Tips|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref>
Despite the warning track's presence, it is common to see outfielders crash into the wall to make a catch, due to a desire to field the play regardless of the outcome; because they fail to register the warning in time, as they are looking up at the fly ball; or because they do not know how many steps they will have on the track.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8313341/baseball-warning-track-useless|title=The warning track is useless|last=Glanville|first=Doug|date=2012-08-29|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref>
The "track" part of the term comes from Old Yankee Stadium, where an actual running track was built for the use of track and field events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://waybackandgone.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/this-day-in-baseball-history-july-12th-1949/|title=This Day in Baseball History: July 12th, 1949|date=2009-07-12|website=Way Back and Gone|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref> In 1949 Major League Baseball formally began requiring a warning track.<ref name=":1" /> There still are professional fields without a proper warning track, however, such as Rogers Centre and Tropicana Field, which use brown-colored turf.<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2014/05/beware_of_warning_track_at_tro.html Beware of warning track at Tropicana Field: Cleveland Indians chatter]. May 9, 2014; retrieved Aug. 6, 2014.</ref>
The width of warning tracks can vary by rules and level of play.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|18}} In general it is designed to give fielders three steps of warning before the outfield wall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballfields.com/baseball-field-dimensions/building-the-warning-track/|title=Building the Warning Track {{!}} Beacon Athletics|website=Beacon Athletics Blog & Ballfield Tips|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref> The warning tracks in Major League Parks are roughly {{convert|16|ft|m|0}} wide, while the warning track in Olympic stadiums are roughly {{convert|20|ft|m|0}} wide, and on softball fields are often {{convert|10|ft|m|0}}.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|18, 21}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kagan|first=David T.|date=1990-02-01|title=The effects of coefficient of restitution variations on long fly balls|url=https://aapt.scitation.org/doi/10.1119/1.16224|journal=American Journal of Physics|volume=58|issue=2|pages=151–154|doi=10.1119/1.16224|bibcode=1990AmJPh..58..151K|issn=0002-9505|url-access=subscription}}</ref> When Major League Baseball instituted the warning track, it was {{convert|10|ft|m|0}} wide.<ref name=":1" />
==References== {{Portal|Baseball}} {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Warning Track}} Category:Baseball fields