Originally known as ‘American baseball’, baseball is a sport played between two teams of nine players. Players take turns batting and fielding. The aim is to score points by making it around all four bases in a nine-inning game. The scoring system is based on statistics, such as hits, runs, base on balls, sacrifices, and doubles. The team with the most points wins the game.
The game starts when the pitcher throws the ball towards the offensive team’s batting position. A batter then swings the bat, attempting to hit the ball out of reach of defensive players. When the batter hits the ball, he scores a run. If the ball is caught, the batter is out. If the ball isn’t caught, the batter is allowed to take another pitch. When the ball is caught, the batter is allowed to move to the first base. If the ball is thrown to the first base before the batter has arrived, he is out.
During the game, each team has three outs. Each team has three players in the infield (the dirt area of the field), and two players in the outfield (the area between the first and third base lines). The team that scores the most points at the end of nine innings wins the game. Typically, extra innings are played to settle ties.
The ball is made of a sphere of rubber cement and has a diameter of about nine inches. It weighs approximately five to five and a half ounces. It is white with red stitching. The ball is wound with constant tension, eliminating any “soft spots” in the ball. A ball made from a poly/cotton blend provides added strength.
The player wears a helmet, a body pad, and leg guards. He or she also wears oversized gloves called mits. The catcher stands behind the batter to catch any missed balls. The outfielder is responsible for catching line drives. The outfielder also wears leg guards. The fielding team wears mits to help fielders catch the ball.
There are four bases: first, second, third, and home. The bases must be constructed to the same level as the home plate. In the 19th century, the ball was changed several times. The 1840s and ’50s balls were not very precise, and did not reflect the exact science of the game.
In the early professional baseball era, the balls were soft and sometimes unbalanced. This led to fewer big hits and lower scores. Early baseball balls were made from old shoe rubber or melted shoe rubber. These balls were also made by cobblers, so there were some variations in size.
During the late 19th century, baseball began to develop its own identity, as nationalistic sentiment helped make the game “America’s game”. In the late 20th century, baseball games were held in stadiums that weren’t identical. This made the game more attractive to tourists, and led to a resurgence of interest.
In the early 1990s, the decline of major league baseball was attributed to competition from other professional sports. It also took a hit due to free agency and the rising costs of attending games. In addition, player strikes contributed to the game’s decline.