Rules of Baseball

Take me out to the ball game!

Baseball is the United States' national pastime and it's come a long way. Baseball has been the favorite sport of many people ever since it was invented by Abner Doubleday.

The game is played on a wide open field and at the bottom of the field is where the grass doesn't grow to reveal a diamond shaped pacth of dirt known as the "Baseball diamond.". There is a white pentagon shaped mat which the batter steps up to when it's his or her turn known as home plate.

The batter must wear proper safety equipment and a helmet. Standing behind the batter is the catcher of the opposing team, who wears a mask, a special catching mitt, or glove, plus shin guards, and a cup. The batter carries a stick about two to two and one half foot (60-65 centimeter) long wooden or metal stick called a bat. About half the way up the diamond is a mound of dirt where the pitcher stands. He holds the baseball at the beginning of the game and then throws the ball to the batter and the batter must try and hit it with the bat. If the batter is unsuccessful, he gets a "strike," but only if the batter throws the ball within the batters hitting range. If the ball is thrown outside of the range, it is a "ball." If the batter gets three strikes, the batter is out and the next batter steps up to home base. If the batter gets four "balls," which is a ball thrown out of the batters' hitting range, he goes to first base. First base is to the right of the pitcher's mound and is a white mat in a square shape. The batter's hitting range is from his knees to his shoulders. But, if the batter hits the ball, he must run to first base before players from the other team get the ball and throw it to first base where the first base man tags him with the ball. The batter may keep running to get to try to get to second base, which is directly behind the pitchers mound, but the opposing players may still try to tag the runner out. If the any member of the opposing team catches the ball before it hits the ground, he's out.