Baseball - A Simple Guide

The popular game baseball is believed to have arrived by means of immigrants from Britain and Ireland, to the United States. The baseball game, according to popular belief, has originated in the Ireland few centuries back. Baseball is played between two competing teams - the batting team and the fielding team, where the team that scores the maximum ‘runs’ will win the game. Hence, the goal of the game is scoring more points than the rival team and in the language of baseball; points are referred to as ‘runs’.

By running through all the bases in the square shaped field called ‘diamond’, each of the nine member teams will attempt to score runs when they are batting. The process of running through the bases is called a ‘tour’. A player will tour counter clockwise, starting from the home plate, until he arrives back to the home plate.

It is important to know the basic tolls or the basic equipment of baseball, when looking at how the game baseball is player. They are the bat, the ball, the mitt and the field.

The bat is an offensive tool made of wood or aluminum, is long and hard and has a diameter of about 5 centimeters with a handle of smaller diameter (about 1 inch).

The ball used in baseball has the size of a fist and is usually white in color with red lacing (though the color could vary).

The mitt which is also known as gloves is worn as defensive baseball equipment and it is made of leather. Wearing the mitt helps in catching the ball. Also, depending upon the needs of the defending position of the player, the shapes of mitts can also differ.

The baseball field has a diamond shape and depending on the age of the players, its dimensions may vary.

Baseball has a series of innings when it is played. Each inning will be divided into two. The nine defensive players will arrange themselves on the field at the beginning of each half-inning of the baseball match, with one defensive player standing at a designated spot in the centre called the mound while another defensive player - the ‘catcher’ will stand at the side of the home plate which is in the other side of the pitcher.

When the batter holding a bat stands at the home plate, and hits the ball that was thrown at him; the game begins and the batter will start running towards the first base. Meanwhile, any runners who are already on the base will try to run to other additional bases. By this time, the catcher should catch the ball and return them to the pitcher.

Those were some of the basic information on baseball - one of the most popular games in the United States of America.