<P> In baseball, a pitcher can commit a number of illegal motions or actions that constitute a balk . Most of these violations involve a pitcher pretending to pitch when he has no intention of doing so . In games played under the Official Baseball Rules, a balk results in a dead ball or delayed dead ball . In certain other circumstances, a balk may be wholly or partially disregarded . Under other rule sets, notably in the United States under the National Federation of High Schools (Fed or Federation) Baseball Rules, a balk results in an immediate dead ball . In the event a balk is enforced, the pitch is generally (but not always) nullified, each runner is awarded one base, and the batter (generally) remains at bat, and with the previous count . The balk rule in Major League Baseball was introduced in 1898 . </P> <P> A pitcher is restricted to a certain set of motions and one of two basic pitching positions before and during a pitch; if these regulations are violated with one or more runners on base, an umpire may call a balk . The batter at home plate does not advance on a balk . </P>

What is a balk in major league baseball