Although baseball may be America’s national pastime, not everyone knows or understands the game. Baseball really is quite understandable and enjoyable. Here are the basics.
The game is played on a diamond-shaped infield, with one tip situated at home plate, as well as in the outfield, the grassy area beyond and farthest away from home plate. The first baseline extends along the right side of the diamond as viewed from home plate, and ends at first base. Second base lies at the top of the diamond, and third base on the left tip of the diamond. The pitcher’s mound is situated 60’6” from home plate in the direction of second base. Those defensive players who cover the infield area are appropriately termed infielders. Each base is manned by a defensive player: first, second and third basemen, respectively. The shortstop defends the area between second and third bases. The pitcher throws the ball to the batter at home plate. The catcher is responsible for signaling to the pitcher what pitch to throw in each situation and also for stopping any pitches that are not hit by the batter. The catcher may also field any balls hit close to home plate.
The outfield area directly behind second base marks center field. As viewed from home plate, the outfield area to the right of center field is aptly termed right field, while the left is considered left field. The center, left and right fielders are collectively referred to as outfielders. The center fielder “is usually the fastest of the three outfielders. His territory overlaps the other fielders, and they usually defer to his authority.”
On offense, nine or ten players cycle through the batting order. The number depends upon the league level and rules.
Each fielder wears a baseball glove, used to knock down or catch any batted balls. The catcher wears protective equipment such as a helmet, throat guard, mask, breastplate, shin guards, and cup, since this position exposes the player to potential impact from nearly 100 mph pitches, foul tips and even stray bats. Batters wear batting helmets for protection, batting gloves for grip, and sometimes even shin guards. The batter uses his or her bat of choice for hitting.
With defenders in place, the pitcher delivers a pitch to the batter. The batter attempts to hit the ball in such a way as to allow him or her to reach at least first base if not farther, with the goal of eventually getting to first, second, third and home bases before the ball does. A runner who reaches home base scores a run.
If a batter swings and misses a pitch, fails to swing at a good pitch (as judged by the umpire), or causes a foul tip (ball that goes out of bounds), a strike is called. If a batter accumulates three strikes, that batter is called out. An exception is in the event of a foul ball on the third strike. Such a foul ball does not register as a strike. If the pitcher fails to throw the pitch in a hittable zone called the strike zone, a ball is called. In the event that four balls are called, the runner advances to first base. This is called a base on balls. If a batter is hit by a pitch, the batter advances to first base.
The fielders defend the bases, attempting to forward the ball to the appropriate base before the runner reaches the destination. If the runner is advancing from home plate to first, or if the player must advance to the next base because another runner must advance from behind him, it is considered a “force.” In a force situation, the defensive players need only get the baseball to the base before the runner arrives in order to achieve an “out,” which disqualifies the runner from moving around the bases anymore. The runner then leaves the field. In a non-force situation, the runner must be tagged by the ball in order to be called out. A fielder may also get a batter out if the ball is caught before it touches the ground. This happens most often when a batter hits a fly ball (a ball hit high in the air) or a line drive (a ball hit in a straight line above the ground). If there are runners on the bases at the time a fly ball is caught, the runners must touch their starting base after the ball is caught in order to advance without being called out. If the runner has left the base, the fielder who caught the fly ball may throw the ball to the runner’s starting base. If the throw beats the fielder to the starting base, that runner is out also. If the runner beats the throw, the runner is safe, and if there is time, he or she may also proceed forward to the next base if there is no danger of a throw beating them there.
Each time a team bats, they are allowed three outs before they lose their turn at bat and must assume the defensive position in the field. Three outs are allowed for each team during one inning of play. The number of innings per game depends on the level of league play. Typically, youth baseball games run seven innings, while major league baseball games are 9 innings long, barring the need for extra innings in the event of tie scores.
The team with the most points at the end of play wins.
Where Baseball is Played
The game is played on a diamond-shaped infield, with one tip situated at home plate, as well as in the outfield, the grassy area beyond and farthest away from home plate. The first baseline extends along the right side of the diamond as viewed from home plate, and ends at first base. Second base lies at the top of the diamond, and third base on the left tip of the diamond. The pitcher’s mound is situated 60’6” from home plate in the direction of second base. Those defensive players who cover the infield area are appropriately termed infielders. Each base is manned by a defensive player: first, second and third basemen, respectively. The shortstop defends the area between second and third bases. The pitcher throws the ball to the batter at home plate. The catcher is responsible for signaling to the pitcher what pitch to throw in each situation and also for stopping any pitches that are not hit by the batter. The catcher may also field any balls hit close to home plate.
The outfield area directly behind second base marks center field. As viewed from home plate, the outfield area to the right of center field is aptly termed right field, while the left is considered left field. The center, left and right fielders are collectively referred to as outfielders. The center fielder “is usually the fastest of the three outfielders. His territory overlaps the other fielders, and they usually defer to his authority.”
On offense, nine or ten players cycle through the batting order. The number depends upon the league level and rules.
Baseball Equipment
Each fielder wears a baseball glove, used to knock down or catch any batted balls. The catcher wears protective equipment such as a helmet, throat guard, mask, breastplate, shin guards, and cup, since this position exposes the player to potential impact from nearly 100 mph pitches, foul tips and even stray bats. Batters wear batting helmets for protection, batting gloves for grip, and sometimes even shin guards. The batter uses his or her bat of choice for hitting.
Baseball Basics
With defenders in place, the pitcher delivers a pitch to the batter. The batter attempts to hit the ball in such a way as to allow him or her to reach at least first base if not farther, with the goal of eventually getting to first, second, third and home bases before the ball does. A runner who reaches home base scores a run.
If a batter swings and misses a pitch, fails to swing at a good pitch (as judged by the umpire), or causes a foul tip (ball that goes out of bounds), a strike is called. If a batter accumulates three strikes, that batter is called out. An exception is in the event of a foul ball on the third strike. Such a foul ball does not register as a strike. If the pitcher fails to throw the pitch in a hittable zone called the strike zone, a ball is called. In the event that four balls are called, the runner advances to first base. This is called a base on balls. If a batter is hit by a pitch, the batter advances to first base.
The fielders defend the bases, attempting to forward the ball to the appropriate base before the runner reaches the destination. If the runner is advancing from home plate to first, or if the player must advance to the next base because another runner must advance from behind him, it is considered a “force.” In a force situation, the defensive players need only get the baseball to the base before the runner arrives in order to achieve an “out,” which disqualifies the runner from moving around the bases anymore. The runner then leaves the field. In a non-force situation, the runner must be tagged by the ball in order to be called out. A fielder may also get a batter out if the ball is caught before it touches the ground. This happens most often when a batter hits a fly ball (a ball hit high in the air) or a line drive (a ball hit in a straight line above the ground). If there are runners on the bases at the time a fly ball is caught, the runners must touch their starting base after the ball is caught in order to advance without being called out. If the runner has left the base, the fielder who caught the fly ball may throw the ball to the runner’s starting base. If the throw beats the fielder to the starting base, that runner is out also. If the runner beats the throw, the runner is safe, and if there is time, he or she may also proceed forward to the next base if there is no danger of a throw beating them there.
Each time a team bats, they are allowed three outs before they lose their turn at bat and must assume the defensive position in the field. Three outs are allowed for each team during one inning of play. The number of innings per game depends on the level of league play. Typically, youth baseball games run seven innings, while major league baseball games are 9 innings long, barring the need for extra innings in the event of tie scores.
The team with the most points at the end of play wins.
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