[Vis]

It is illegal, and cheating. But, if the umpire doesn't declare that he has pine tar or w/e substance on him, than everything is fine. In a few interviews, MLB veterans have said that most people use pine tar out in the field. On bats, gloves, pretty much everything. It's perfectly acceptable to people in MLB, because everyone does it, but it is still against the rules to use any substance on the ball.