Baseball is a team sport in which the players of two teams, each consisting of nine active players, alternate between fielding and batting. The game is played for nine innings and the teams score points as they move around four bases. The team that scores the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner.
The game requires just a ball, bat, and a playing field, though higher levels of the game utilize helmets, cleats, and specialized catcher’s gear. Each player on the field is assigned to a specific position, with the pitcher standing on the mound and the catcher stationed behind home plate. The bat is usually made from wood or aluminium materials, and is roughly 3 inches in diameter. The batter hits the ball with the bat and attempts to send it into play in any direction, running around all four bases in order and arriving at each one in a timely manner before the fielders can catch them or throw them out.
Throughout history, baseball has served as a unifying force in America. The sport was the first to integrate black and white players, with Jackie Robinson becoming a symbol of equality during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. And in the aftermath of tragedies, like the 9/11 attacks or Hurricane Harvey, fans gathered at baseball stadiums to watch their heroes.
There are many strategies that can be used to win baseball games, but essentially the fielding team tries to get the batter “out” in a variety of ways. The fielding team consists of the pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman, as well as outfielders in left field, center field, and right field. The players on the fielding team wear protective gear, including a mitt, leg guards, chest protector, and a helmet.
To start the game, the team on defense distributes its defensive players to various positions on the field. Then, the team on offense, called the batting team, takes its turns at batting. A batting team may have up to three strikes before getting out, and a single or double counts as a run scored for the batting team.
A runner must touch all four bases before the fielders can catch them or throw the ball to them, and a runner who reaches first base and touches the next two bases before being tagged out is awarded a run. The batter can also hit the ball out of the field, scoring a home run.
A baseball game consists of nine innings, with the visiting team taking turn batting and the home team playing fielding. The goal of each inning is to score the most points and prevent the opposing team from scoring. The team with the most points at the end of the nine innings is deemed the winner. In the event of a tie, extra innings are played until a clear winner is determined.