Understanding Legal Catches in Baseball: Glove vs. Body

Question
I know that a legal catch occurs when the ball is secured in the glove or the hand.  In my first year of umpiring I made the wrong call on a ball (called an out) on a ball that was between the arm and the body and wrecked an inning for an offensive team.

What about the "snow cone" catch. Man on first and one out.  Line drive back to the pitcher and is caught (out 2)and throw back to first, runner off the bag....  The first baseman catches the ball with foot on the bag, "snow coned" and tags the runner (though didn't have to).  The ball falls to the ground.  I called "safe" because I did not feel the fielder had control of the ball.  I realize that on that play that a tag of the runner is not needed, but I expected the first baseman to take their other hand and make sure the ball did not fall out.

My partner called me aside and said the runner was "out".  No tag was needed.  I agree, but I thought the snow cone effect showed that she did not have control of the ball, therefore not legally caught.

Out or Safe?

Answer
Hi Michael,

IF F3 had control of the ball in their glove at the time of the catch it is an out regardless of sno-coning. It would seem to me that they could attempt a tag after the catch would help demonstrate they had initial control. W/out some type of bobble or ball movement in the glove at the time of the catch, I have an out.

Mark