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Reference.org
Ground rule double
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<p>A ground rule double is a <a href="/facts/Baseball/42bEQy1Y">baseball</a> rule that awards two bases from the <a href="/facts/Time_of_pitch/j09KpeHy">time of pitch</a> to all <a href="/facts/Baserunner/Dc9CsLFX">baserunners</a> including the <a href="/facts/Batter_(baseball)/UNp96n1L">batter-runner</a>, as a result of the ball leaving play after being hit fairly and leaving the field under a condition of the <a href="/facts/Ground_rules/aqXr7ldU">ground rules</a> in effect at the field where the game is being played. An automatic double is the term used to refer to a fairly hit ball leaving the field in circumstances that do not merit a <a href="/facts/Home_run/op1enhjP">home run</a>, such as when the ball's first bounce was within the field. The automatic double (or rule-book double) is commonly called a ground rule double. </p>