What is the ruling if the umpire mistakenly calls a fly ball a 'foul ball' before it is caught?

When the umpire mistakenly calls a fly ball a 'foul ball' before it is caught, the ruling states that the ball is considered dead at the moment of the call. This means that the play stops because the umpire's call takes precedence over the ongoing play.

In this situation, the batter would remain at the plate, and the play does not continue, as the dead ball call signifies that any advancement or action following the foul ball call is nullified. The mistake lies with the umpire, but the integrity of the game ensures that the call stands, making the ball dead. Thus, the proper course of action is to regard the play status from the moment the call was made, which prevents further play and any confusion stemming from the erroneous judgment concerning the ball's status.