an errant pitch that the catcher cannot be expected to catch and that allows a base runner to advance a base
a legally delivered ball so high, so low, or so wide of home plate that the catcher cannot, or does not, stop and control it with ordinary effort
a pitch that cannot be handled by the catcher with ordinary effort
A pitch so far from the strike zone that the catcher cannot catch or block it, permitting any base runner to advance a base.
A pitch that is so high, low or wide that a catcher, using ordinary effort, cannot control it and which allows runners to advance.
A pitch that is delivered in such a manner that the catcher cannot catch it with ordinary effort.
A legally delivered ball that is so high, low, or wide that the catcher cannot stop or catch it with "ordinary effort" (in the judgement of the official scorer) and which allows a runner or runners to advance. A pitch that touches the ground before reaching the plate and is not handled by the catcher should be scored a Wild Pitch if a runner or runners advances. See also Passed Ball.
A pitch that eludes the catcher and allows base runners to advance. A scoring decision of a wild pitch puts responsibility for the action on the pitcher.
In 1980 Matt Christopher published one of his most popular novels, Wild Pitch. The story revolves around a boy who feels uncomfortable about girls playing baseball. When one of his pitches accidently strikes a girl in the head, he feels guilty and begins to reconsider his feelings.