IntroductionSince the ancient cultures in Persia, Egypt, and Greece, stick and ball games have been played. But no other stick and ball game was ever as famous as todays baseball. As in other sports, there are plenty of superstars that have records and are contemporarily playing in the Major Leagues. These baseball players are fueling the fire for little boys and girls to start and play baseball (or its close cousin, softball). With so many people playing, whether in an empty lot or a league, these people are still having fun
This game needs very little to be played; a ball, bat, gloves, and a group of enthusiastic people who want to play. For people who play on fields, they might want to consider cleats for better traction during running.
The game starts when the visiting team goes up to bat. The pitcher throws the ball towards home plate. If the ball passes over it and about from the knees to the hip high, it is called a strike. A ball is called when the ball misses the designated target. If the batter hits the ball out of the playing out of the boundaries, it is called a foul ball. A foul ball counts as one strike. After 3 strikes, the batter is out. You cannot get out because of too many foul balls. If the count is 4 balls, this means the batter gets to advance to first base. The umpires are the people who decide whether the runner is safe or out, or balls or strikes. They are the referees of baseball.
Then the next batter goes up. If the ball it hit, someone must throw the ball towards the base where the batter is running. The person who plays the base must tag the batter if there is no one behind them and forcing them to run. This is called a force play. If there is someone behind the other runner, the base player may only have to touch the base.
If a pop fly is hit, a player must catch it. If it drops to the ground, the base runners may run to the other base. If it is caught, the base runners have to return to the base they were on. After tagging the base, they have the opportunity to advance if the ball is far away.
A triple is when a person hits the ball and gets all the way to third base without getting out. A double is when a person hits the ball and gets all the way to 2nd base without getting out. A single is when the batter advances to first base by a hit. A home run is when the ball is hit out of the out field, not out of bounds to the left or the right, but out of the outfield.
Every time a player crosses home plate after running around the bases, scores a point for their team. If a home run is hit and there are other people on base, they all score. A grand slam occurs when the bases are loaded (a person standing on each base) and the batter hits a home run. Therefore 4 points are scored in a Grand Slam.
The game is broken up into 9 innings or sections. Every inning is passed when both teams go up to bat. After 3 outs, the other team goes up to bat. If the ball game is tied after the nine innings, the game goes into overtime. Whoever has most points within the inning(s) played after regulation wins. The game can go into how ever many innings as needed.
Negro Leagues Baseball Online Archives