Baseball

 

The Game

A baseball game is played between two teams that take turns playing offense (batting and baserunning) and defense (pitching and fielding). Each team plays both offense and defense once per inning, with nine innings as the usual number of scheduled innings. The goal of the game is to score more runs than the other team. There are three basic tools of baseball: the bat, the ball and the glove - also known as a mitt. The bat is a hitting tool, traditionally made of a single solid piece of wood, but can also be metal at the youth and development level. The glove is a fielding tool, made of padded leather with webbing between the fingers. Play begins with a pitch being thrown by the pitcher to the batter, who attempts to hit the ball with the bat. A player who reaches first base safely on a hit is credited with a single. If a player makes it to second base safely as a direct result of a hit, it is a double; third base, a triple, and if the batter hits the ball out of the field of play, or crosses home plate after their own hit, it's a home run!

A pitch that is not hit into the field of play is called either a strike or a ball, and the ball must be hit between the two foul lines - running to first and third base - for it to be considered 'in play'. Runs are scored when batters on base - known as baserunners - are able to score by crossing home plate, either on a hit, on an error by the defense, or in another, less common way.

While the offense is trying to score runs, the defense is trying to prevent them, by registering three outs to end the inning. Outs can be achieved by catching the ball hit by the batter before it hits the ground - called a fly out or line out - or by throwing the ball to the correct base before the batter, or baserunner, can reach it safely. Three outs in one play, a triple play, is possible, though rare.

The batting order is set before the game begins, and may not be altered except for substitutions, who take over in the same batting spot for the duration of the game - just like a substitution in football, a substituted player cannot return to the game. Once a player has completed a plate appearance, that player may not bat again until the eight other members of the player's team have all taken their turn at bat in the batting order.

There are many intricacies to the game of baseball, and the best way to learn them is either by watching or playing! 

History

First played in England, with the Prince of Wales playing in the first recorded baseball game in 1749, Baseball is a popular sport in North America and parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and East Asia. It is believed that it originated in England in the 18th century from bat-and-ball games (rounders, bass-ball) played by immigrants to North America. By the early 1830s, there were reports of uncodified bat-and-ball games being played around North America. The first officially recorded baseball game in North America was played in Beachville, Ontario, Canada, in 1838. The "New York Nine" defeated the Knickerbockers, 23–1, in Hoboken, New Jersey, on June 19, 1846. 

Known throughout the world as "America's National Pastime" the history of baseball in the United States dates to the 18th century. Amateur men's ball clubs were formed in the 1830–50s. Semi-professional baseball clubs followed in the 1860s. The first professional leagues arrived in the post-American Civil War 1870s. Baseball became the national sport of the United States in the 19th century. The major league game in the United States was originally targeted toward a middle-class, white-collar audience due to its high ticket price at the time but a century later the popularity of other sports such as basketball, hockey and football (American) with much higher ticket prices meant baseball shifted towards a working-class/blue-collar following. Today it is one of the most blue-collar-oriented spectator sports in the United States with millions of fans attending games each season

In The UK

As a rapidly growing sport in the UK, there are baseball clubs all around the country that cater to adults, juniors, and students in leagues that range from social and recreational, to competitive. Whether you're a rookie or a pro, whether you're an adult, junior, student or company, we can help get you in the game. There are baseball leagues, clubs and teams around the country ready to welcome you!

To get started in baseball you can get in touch with the British Baseball Federation. 

To find a club local to where you live, use our Team Finder by clicking the logo below!