Baseball : Overview.
Baseball, usually considered the national sport or pastime of the United States,
originated in the country and quickly spread to Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, England,
Spain, Australia, Tunisia, and other parts of the world.
Baseball was popularized heavily and is widely considered to mirror the spirit of United
States. So many articles on the history of baseball, which were not very clearly based on
historical reports, were made up and propagated by the media. But common consensus
was arrived recently owing to its immense popularity in United States of America. It is
said to be North American modification of older English games like Rounders and
Stoolball which also influenced other similar games like Cricket.
The game turned professional after the Civil War in 1860’s and attracted commercial
interests, yet amateur baseball is equally popular and was separated from the
professional one in 1871. Though the sport was initially played among teams of various
ethnic groups in the States, like the German Americans, the African Americans, and the
Irish Americans. The sport helped in bringing harmony among the diverse ethnic groups
and the native Americans in the 80’s and 90’s.
Objective
Baseball is a team game played by two teams of nine players each on an enclosed
Baseball field under the direction of a manager in accordance with rules under
jurisdiction of one or more umpires.
An offending player tries to hit the ball away from the reach of the defenders and score
runs by running around the bases. Players of the defending team try to out the player
who is batting. Both the teams take turns at batting and fielding. Three consecutive outs
from each team make an innings, and nine innings make a game. The objective of each
team is to win by scoring more runs and try to prevent opponents from scoring runs.
Team Members
Baseball is a team game; it has two teams of nine active players each. While one team
plays defence (fielders), the other team plays offence (batters).
In leagues, the rules vary widely. Some professional teams contain as many as 25
players, including eight position players, five starting pitchers, six relief pitchers, and
substitutes. Substitute players include catchers, relievers, infielders, outfielders,
and another player specialising in pinch hitting. If a hitter replaces the starting player in
the batting order he is called a pinch hitter. A player replacing a base runner is called a
pinch runner.
The offensive team that has to bat sends its batsman as per the batting order decided by
the umpire. The batsman, who is at bat, stays in the batting box to hit the balls pitched
by the pitcher of the defending team. Some batsmen can strike with both their hands,
such batters are called Switch-Hitters. The Catcher, also called Behind, stays behind the batsman to pick any balls he missed.
Players are further identified by their special skills. The team’s best pitcher usually
pitches first and is called an Ace. Anyone with all-around skills is called a Utility player
and can fill any position the situation demands. A relief pitcher replaces the starting
pitcher and the relief pitcher who finishes the game is called a Closer. Sometimes the
starting pitcher pitches for the whole game, in that case he is said to have pitched a
Complete Game.
Apart from players, training and managing personnel also work with players in a team.
Each team has a manger to make strategic decisions like deciding the batting order,
starting rotation, line-up, and deciding when to introduce pinch hitter as a substitute.
Players of a team are trained in hitting, fielding, and pitching by two coaches. Base
coaches stand on the bases to suggest the players. Two or more umpires declare
outcomes and look over the running of the game.
Participating Countries
Baseball is undoubtedly more popular in the United States and many league matches
have been organised in the country every year. Though many countries are part of IBAF,
the international regulating body of Baseball, not all of them send their teams to major
international tournaments. Baseball is more popular as a sport of league matches in the
US, but league matches are also common in other countries that send their teams to
international tournaments.
Some of the active participants in international competitions from Asia are Israel, Japan,
Philippines, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Taiwan. The game is
very popular in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan; they have also won some international
Championships.
The game is a prominent sport in other countries of Europe and South America. Some of
the countries that participated in international championships are Italy, Spain,
Netherlands, United Kingdom, Canada, Cuba, Dominion Republic, Puerto Rico, Australia,
New Zealand, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Columbia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Cuba, Netherlands, and UK are also champions and many players from these countries
participate in league matches in their countries and also in international league matches.
The baseball field, also called the baseball diamond, is a specially-designed field
composed of two basic parts: the infield and the outfield.
Infield
The infield is the centre of action. It is marked by four rugged pads or bases, also called
bags usually made of canvas. They are set equidistant at 90 feet from one another on
the ground in a square, aligned diagonally, forming a diamond shape. The third base is
also called the hot corner.
A home plate, where the batter bats, is larger and is on one of the bases, closer to the
deck. Unlike the other bases the home plate is a flat slab of rubber, pentagonal in shape
and has a batter’s box allocated for the batter with a barrier called backstop behind it.
The other three bases are equal in size and are numerically labelled from the right side
of the batter standing on home plate facing the outfield. Players must run from the
bases to reach the home plate and score runs.
The path joining a base to the next is made of mud or dirt, and the diamond is enclosed
by base lines covered in grass or in artificial turf. The rest of the infield outside the
diamond and enclosed by the outfield is not covered with grass.
Pitchers’Mound
Inside the grassy infield and near the middle of it is a dirt mound called pitchers’ mound.
The circular mound is 18 ft in diameter and a white rubber slab rectangular in shape of
5 ft × 3 ft levels it at the top.
The front side of the plate is about 60 ft, 6inches from the home base and the plate is
elevated by 10 inches at its back. Another rectangular pitchers’ plate or pitchers’ rubber
is placed in the rectangle at about 6 inches from the front, 18 inches from the sides, and
24 inches from the back.
The ball is pitched from the pitcher’s mound at the batsman who tries to hit it with the
bat from the home plate.
Outfield
The sides of infield that corner the home plate are extended and marked by mud, they
are foul lines and they enclose outfield between them. The outfield is enclosed by a fence
and its distance from home plate varies from 290 ft to 400 ft.
A painted box called catcher’s box is behind home plate; it is where the catcher
crouches to catch the ball if the batsman misses it. Coaches’ boxes and on-deck circles
are outside the foul lines. A bull pen or simply a pen is a warm-up area for relief
pitchers. Officials involved in the game and teammates not in play sit at a designated
area called Dugout.
The distance of fence from the field and audience varies significantly from one field to
another
Here is a list of all the necessary equipment that are used while playing baseball:
Batting Helmet
Helmet is worn by a batter to protect his/her head and the ear facing the pitcher from
the ball. While some helmets have ear protectors only on one side as only the ear facing
the pitcher should be protected, helmets with ear protectors on both sides are more
common as some batters are left handed and some right handed.
Baseball cap
All players wear a hat to shade their eyes from the sun. Baseball hat design has become
so popular with the general public that they are also used to make a style statement.
Catcher’s helmet
Catchers wear a helmet with face mask similar to a hockey goalkeeper mask to protect
both their head and face. Sometimes they might wear a separate helmet and a
facemask.
Uniform
All players, coaches and managers wear shirts and pants. Each team has a uniform dress
of a specific colour and design.
Sliding shorts
Players sometimes wear padded support shorts to protect the player’s thighs when
he/she slides into the bases. Some sliding shorts contain a pocket for a cup that serves
as a jockstrap.
Baseball Cleats
These are baseball specific shoes made of rubber or metal that players wear for better
traction.
Bat
Baseball bat is a round, solid wooden or hollow aluminium bat. Wooden bats are
traditionally made from ash wood, though sometimes maple and bamboo is also used.
Ball
The ball used in baseball is called a baseball. Layers of yarn or string is rolled on a cork
sphere and a leather coat is stitched over it to make a baseball.
Gloves
Players wear leather gloves to protect their palms. A webbed “pocket” between the
thumb and first finger helps the fielder to catch the ball easily.
Catcher’s mitt
Catchers wear leather mitts with connected finger pockets that are much wider and
better padded than a normal fielder’s glove.
First baseman’s mitt
First basemen wear leather mitts that are longer and wider than a standard fielder’s
glove. They are similar to catcher’s mitt as the four fingers are connected; additionally, it
is rounded and has more padding than a standard fielder’s glove
Batting gloves
Batsmen wear gloves on one or both hands for additional grip and to avoid shock when
they strike the ball.
Baseball : Term
Given below is a list of some frequently used terms in baseball:
Around the Horn: The runner who runs from the third base, to the second and
then to the first is said to have run ‘Around the Horn’.
Backdoor Slider: If a pitch that seems to be a ‘ball’ lands on the plate, it is
called a backdoor slider.
Balk: The pitcher may trick runners as if he is pitching to make them advance to
the next base. This is illegal in a game.
Baltimore Chop: A popular hit named after the Baltimore Orioles, where the
batsman strikes in such a way that the ball bounces high off from the home plate
and the batsman gets a chance to make a single.
Base Hit: The batsman strikes in such a way that the ball reaches at least the
first base without any error.
Box Score: Runs scored and other information of innings is presented by
checking a series of relevant boxes. The score board is called the Box Score.
Brush-back: Sometimes the ball that is pitched comes close to the batsman, but
the batsman narrowly escapes getting hurt. Such a pitched ball is called a brushback.
Circus Catch: The outfielder might dive, jump or skid to catch a ball, such a
tough catch is called a Circus Catch.
Bunt: If the ball hits the bat in the infield though it is not pitched at it, it is called
a Bunt.
Called Game: If the umpire temporarily stops the game for some reason, then
the game is said to have been ‘Called’.
Change Up: Sometimes the batsman might be tricked to believe a slow ball to be
a fast one. Then the ball is said to have ‘Changed Up’.
Force Play: The batsman starts running, so the next baseman is forced to
advance. Forcing a runner to advance is called ‘Force Play’.
Texas Leaguer: The ball that lands on the ground between an infielder and an
outfielder is called a Texas Leaguer.
Chin Music: The ball that comes close to the batsman’s face and sometimes
might hurt his face is called Chin Music.
Cycle or Natural Cycle: If a batsman scores a single, double, triple, and a
home run in the same game, he/she is said to have finished a Cycle.
Donut: A donut shaped weight is attached to the bat to practice during warm up.
Ground Rule Double: If the ball that was hit bounces and flies beyond the wall
or fence, runners on bases can advance by two bases.
Designated Hitter: A Non-field player is called a designated hitter if he has to
bat from the pitcher’s position.
Double Header: A team is said to be a Double Header if it plays two games
continuously.
Fielder’s Choice: When a fielder, for some reason, chooses to throw the ball to a
base the batter is not running towards, it is called the Fielder’s Choice.
Fireman: The relief pitcher that closes out the game.
Infield Fly: A batsman hits the ball in such a way that it flies in the infield and
can be easily caught by an infielder.
Intentional Walk: A batsman might be forced to advance to the first base;
intentionally, by pitching four times.
Line Drive: It is a kind of hit that drives the ball straight to a fielder.
Left On Base: If the bases are loaded despite three outs, the runners are said to
be ‘Left on Base’.
Mendoza Line: Named after the legendary shortstop Mario Mendoza, it indicates
a batting average of over 200.
Passed Ball: The ball sometimes escapes from the catcher and gives runners a
chance to advance to next base.
Perfect Game: The game is considered perfect if the pitcher could prevent every
batsman from advancing to first base.
Pick Off: To tag a base runner and prevent him from scoring a run, the pitcher
throws the ball to a fielder. The throw is called a ‘Pick Off’.
Pull Hitter: A Hitter is called a pull hitter if he drives the ball towards the batting
side of the field.
Sacrifice Bunt: The ball is carefully tapped to put out a batsman by forcing a
base runner to advance.
Sacrifice Fly: The runner scores a point but the fly ball lands in a catch.
Save: A relief pitcher is credited with a ‘Save’ if three or more innings are pitched
without a tie game or if the team leads even when the opponent is tying or
winning runs on base.
Wheelhouse: The power zone or sweet sport of a hitter.
Can of Corn: The ball sometimes is shot in such a way that the outfielder can
catch it easily without moving from his position. Such an easy fly-ball catch is
called a Can of Corn.
Baseball: how to play ?
There are two main aspects of playing the game. A team has to bat initially and the
other team has to defend the pitch. Once the innings is complete the roles are reversed,
and this goes on for up to nine innings at professional level.
As discussed earlier, nine players of a team stand at specific defensive positions on the
field during defensive play. During offensive play, all players act as batsmen, taking
turns and try to hit the ball.
Once the batter hits the ball, he/she can begin to run from home plate counter clockwise
from one base to the other and back to the home plate to score a point. The defensive
team that fields the court tries to get the ball and tag it to the batsman to end the run
chase.
The pitcher pitches the baseball at a certain level towards the batsman, over the
home plate. A clever pitcher pitches a difficult ball to make it difficult for the
batsman to hit it far and score runs.
The catcher takes his position behind the home plate with heavy protective gear
and a special mitt. He crouches to pick the ball up if the batsman misses it and
also fields if the ball lands close by.
The first baseman, who should be a good catcher, stands at the first base and
tries to get hold of the ball before the batsman reaches the first base and tags
him.
The second baseman tries to tag the batsman by guarding the area between the
first and the second base, and helps catch ground balls before they roll into the
outfield.
The third baseman closely guards third base; he is skilled in sending the balls
back to the first base across the diamond with a strong throwing arm.
Three players, called the out-fielders, guard each of the left, right, and centre
sections of the outfield. They catch balls that reach far when the batsman hits
hard to score more runs.
The umpire shouldn’t favour any team and should act unbiased. He watches the
game closely to announce runs scored in each play.
Only offensive team members who bat can get an out. Once a player is out, he or
she is removed from the batting rotation and from play for the rest of the inning.
Once three players of the offensive team are out, the defensive team gets a
chance to bat.
A batsman can hit either a fair ball or a foul ball. If the batsman advances to a
base without any errors, it is called a hit.
When the batsman swings at the ball but misses it, it is called a strike. Foul balls
too result in strike. Three strikes will make the batsman out and is called a Strike
Out.
Once a batsman is out, the next batsman in the batting order gets the chance to
bat.
When a ball is pitched too far from the hitting area to be hit by the batsman, it is
called a ball. After four balls, the batsman gets a free advancement to first base.
The situation is also called base on balls or walk.
When the batsman hits the ball outside the foul lines, it is a foul ball.
When a foul ball is caught and turned into flyout, the foulball is counted as a
strike.
Besides the batsmen, the runners too stay at the bases to score runs. They try to
steal the bases by running even before the batter hits the ball, this is called hit
and run.
Pitching Styles
There are many styles of pitching. The defending team members pitch the ball in such a
way that it is difficult for the batsman to hit and score runs. They also try to out the
batsman.
Checked Swing: A ball pitched in such a way that it rotates almost halfway
around.
Cheese: A great fastball pitch.
Curveball: A ball that bends leftwards when pitched with the right hand, and
rightwards when delivered with the left.
Cutter: A fast ball is called a cutter or a cut fastball when it breaks slightly before
reaching home plate.
Fork Ball: A ball pitched by holding it firmly with the index and middle fingers to
pitch it slower and usually ground it.
Fast Ball: A ball pitched straight and fast.
Throw: It is different from a pitch. A pitcher uses the hand to drive the ball
towards a teammate or to a specific spot.
Sinker: A fastball pitched downwards.
Wild Pitch: A ball is pitched too wide by mistake that the catcher cannot block it
and runners get time to advance and score runs.
Slider: A curveball made with a straight wrist, to trick the hitter that it is a
fastball, but it breaks on reaching the home plate.
Knuckle Ball: Holding the ball with knuckles to prevent it from spinning.
Quick Return Pitch: A pitch intended to throw off the batsman, sometimes
pitched when the batsman signals joy after a home run.
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