NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Baseball team

Baseball is a team sport, in which a fist-sized ball is thrown by a defensive player called a pitcher and hit by an offensive player called a batter with a round, smooth stick called a bat. The ball itself is also called a baseball. Scoring is accomplished by the batter running and touching a series of four markers on the ground called bases. Baseball is sometimes called hardball to differentiate it from the closely related sport of softball and other similar games. Busch Stadium, 2001, by Rick Dikeman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Busch Stadium, 2001, by Rick Dikeman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Busch Stadium in St. ... The Gateway Arch, shown here behind the Old Courthouse, is the most recognizable part of the St. ... A ball is a round object that is used most often in sports and games. ... In sport, defense (American English) and defence (British English and Canadian English) is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... In sport, offense (American English) and offence (British English and Canadian English) is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals. ... Barry Bonds batting Photo:Agência Brasil In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for ones team. ... In baseball, a bat is a round, smooth stick used in hitting the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. ... A baseball is a ball used primarily in the sport of the same name, baseball. ... A baseball field is a playing field used for baseball. ... Softball is a team sport, in which a fist-sized ball is thrown by a player called a pitcher and hit by an offensive player called a batter with a round, smooth stick called a bat. ... This is a list of sports similar to baseball. ...

Baseball is popular in the Americas and East Asia. In Japan, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Panama, South Korea, Taiwan and some other countries/areas, it is one of the most popular sports by any measurement. In the United States, baseball has often been called the national pastime; the total attendance for Major League games is roughly equal to that of all other American professional team sports combined. Among American television viewers, however, baseball has been surpassed in popularity (in terms of television ratings) by American football and auto racing. Although the three most popular team sports in North America are ball games (baseball, basketball and American football), baseball's popularity grew so great that the word "ballgame" in the United States almost always refers to a game of baseball, and "ballpark" to a baseball field. The Americas (sometimes referred to as America) is the area including the land mass located between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, generally divided into North America and South America. ... East Asia can be defined in either cultural or geographic terms. ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in North America. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... This article is about the sport of stock car racing. ... A ball is a round object that is used most often in sports and games. ... Basketball Basketball is a ball sport in which two teams of five players each try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... A baseball field is a playing field used for baseball. ...

Gameplay

General structure

Baseball is played between two teams of nine players each on a baseball field, usually under the authority of one or more officials, called umpires. There are usually four umpires in major league games; up to six (and as few as one) may officiate depending on the league and the importance of the game. There are four bases. Numbered counter-clockwise, first, second and third bases are cushions (sometimes informally referred to as bags) shaped as 15-inch (38 cm) squares which are raised a short distance above the ground; together with home plate, the fourth "base," they form a square with sides of 90 feet (27.4 meters) called the diamond. Home base is a pentagonal rubber slab known as home plate. The field is divided into two main sections: the infield contains the four bases, and beyond two adjacent sides of the diamond there is an outfield. The other two sides of the diamond form the start of the foul lines, which extend straight, and form the boundary in the outfield as well. Small, paletted version of Image:baseball_field_overview_medium. ... Small, paletted version of Image:baseball_field_overview_medium. ... A baseball field is a playing field used for baseball. ... A baseball field is a playing field used for baseball. ... Home plate umpire Gary Darling signals that the last pitch was a strike In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and meting out discipline. ... Diagram of a baseball diamond In a baseball game officiated by two or more umpires, the umpire-in-chief (or plate umpire) is the umpire who generally is positioned behind home plate. ... A baseball field is a playing field used for baseball. ... A clockwise motion is one that proceeds like the clocks hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top. ... Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial unit of length. ... CM or cm may stand for: Cameroon (ISO country code) centimetre (cm) Championship Manager - an association football computer game circular mil - a USA unit for the cross-sectional area of electrical wires (always CM, in capitals) Computer Modern - the standard font set that ships with the TeX computer typesetting system... Home plate is the final base in baseball and related games that a player must touch to score. ... This article is about a foot as a unit of length. ... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) The metre is the basic unit of length in the International System of Units. ... This shape is a Rhombus In geometry, a rhombus (also known as a rhomb) is a parallelogram in which all of the sides are of equal length. ...

The game is played in nine innings in which each team gets one turn to bat and try to score runs while the other pitches and defends in the field. In baseball, the defense always has the ball -- a fact that differentiates it from most other team sports. The teams switch every time the defending team gets three players of the batting team out. The winner is the team with the most runs after nine innings. In the case of a tie, additional innings are played until one team comes out ahead. At the start of the game, all nine players of the home team play the field, while players on the visiting team come to bat one at a time. An innings, or inning, is a segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably baseball and cricket – during which a side takes its turn to bat. ... In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances safely around all three bases and returns safely to home plate. ... In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. ...

The basic contest is always between the pitcher for the fielding team, and a batter. The pitcher throws—pitches—the ball towards home plate, where the catcher for the fielding team waits to receive it. The batter stands in one of the batter's boxes and tries to hit the ball with a bat. The catcher's job is to catch any ball that the batter misses or does not swing at, and, most importantly, to "call" the game by a series of hand signals to the pitcher what pitch to throw and where. If the pitcher disagrees with the call, he will "shake off" the catcher by shaking his head no; he accepts the sign by nodding. The catcher's role becomes more crucial depending on how the game is going, and how the pitcher responds to a given situation. Each pitch begins a new play, which might consist of nothing more than the pitch itself. Download high resolution version (500x750, 94 KB) GREELEY, Colo. ... Download high resolution version (500x750, 94 KB) GREELEY, Colo. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Barry Bonds batting Photo:Agência Brasil In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for ones team. ... In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. ... The position of the catcher Catcher is a position played in baseball. ... In baseball, softball, and similar sports and games, the batters box is the place where the batter stands when ready to receive a pitch from the pitcher. ...

Each half-inning, the goal of the defending team is to get three members of the other team out. A player who is out must leave the field and wait for his next turn at bat. There are many ways to get batters and baserunners out; some of the most common are catching a batted ball in the air, tag outs, force outs, and strikeouts. After the fielding team has put out three batters, that half of the inning is over and the team in the field and the team at bat switch places. Thus, a complete inning consists of each opposing side having a turn on offense. In baseball statistics, an at bat (AB) is used to calculate other data such as batting average. ... In baseball, the rules state that a batted ball is considered in flight when it has not yet touched any object other than a fielder or his equipment. ... In baseball a tag out, sometimes just called a tag, is a play in which a baserunner is out because he is touched by the fielders hand holding a live ball while the runner is in jeopardy. ... In baseball, a force play or force out, referred to as a force when the possibility of such a play exists, is a situation when a baserunner is compelled to vacate his time-of-pitch base because the batter became a runner. ... In baseball, a strikeout or strike out (denoted by K or SO) occurs when the batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. ...

The goal of the team at bat is to score runs; a player may do so only by batting, then becoming a base runner, touching all the bases in order (via one or more plays), and finally touching home plate. To that end, the goal of each batter is to enable baserunners to score or become a baserunner himself. The batter attempts to hit the ball into fair territory—between the foul lines—in such a way that the defending players cannot get them or the baserunners out. In general, the pitcher attempts to prevent this by pitching the ball in such a way that the batter cannot hit it cleanly. In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat. ... In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that has not yet become a foul ball, and that. ...

A baserunner who successfully touches home plate after touching all previous bases in order scores a run. In an enclosed field, a fair ball hit over the fence on the fly is normally an automatic home run, which entitles the batter and all runners to touch all the bases and score. A home run hit with all bases occupied is called a grand slam. In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances safely around all three bases and returns safely to home plate. ... In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that has not yet become a foul ball, and that. ... In baseball, a home run is a base hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring a run, with no errors on the play that result in the batter achieving extra bases. ...

Fielding team

See also: Baseball positions | Baseball positioning There are 10 fielding positions in baseball. ... Normal depth In baseball, while there are nine named fielding positions, players may move around freely. ...

The team in the field is the defensive team; they attempt to prevent the team at bat from scoring. The fielding team has a pitcher, who stands on the mound, and a catcher, who squats behind home plate. This pair is often called the battery. The remaining seven fielders may be positioned anywhere in fair territory, but the standard defensive alignment places four infielders at the edge of the infield and three outfielders in the outfield. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The position of the catcher Catcher is a position played in baseball. ... The following is an alphabetical list of unofficial terms, phrases, and other jargon used in baseball, and explanations of their meanings. ... An infielder is a baseball player who plays on the infield, the dirt portion of a baseball diamond between first base and third base. ... An outfielder moves in to catch a fly ball Outfielder is a collective term including left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder, the three positions in baseball farthest from the batter. ...

The pitcher's main role is to pitch the ball toward home plate with the goal of getting the batter out. Pitchers also play defense by fielding batted balls, covering bases (for a potential tag out or force out on an approaching runner), or backing up throws. The catcher's main role is to receive the pitch if the batter does not hit it. Together with the pitcher and coaches, the catcher plots game strategy by suggesting different pitches and by shifting the starting positions of the other fielders. Catchers are also responsible for defense in the area near home plate. In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. ... In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. ... In baseball, part of the infielders job is to cover bases. ... In baseball a tag out, sometimes just called a tag, is a play in which a baserunner is out because he is touched by the fielders hand holding a live ball while the runner is in jeopardy. ... In baseball, a force play or force out, referred to as a force when the possibility of such a play exists, is a situation when a baserunner is compelled to vacate his time-of-pitch base because the batter became a runner. ...

The four infielders are the first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman. The first and third basemen play near their respective bases. The second baseman and the shortstop position themselves in the gaps on either side of second base, toward first and third base, respectively. Originally, the second baseman played very close to second base; this positioning shifted when teams found it necessary to have four infielders, rather than four outfielders. The position of the first baseman First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that players team. ... The position of the second baseman A second baseman often ranges onto the outfield grass to field a ground ball A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base. ... The position of the shortstop A shortstop moves to his left, toward the center of the field, to play a ground ball Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. ... The position of the third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in the sport of baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base, the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in a counterclockwise succession in order to score a run. ...

The first baseman's job consists largely of making force plays at first base on ground balls hit to the other infielders. The first baseman also fields balls hit near first base, but because the position is less demanding than the others, the team's strongest hitter is often also their first baseman. The second baseman covers the area to the right of second base and provides backup for the first baseman. The shortstop fills the critical gap between second and third bases—where right-handed batters generally hit ground balls—and also covers second or third base and the near part of left field. This position is the most demanding defensively, so a good shortstop need not necessarily be a good batter. The third baseman's primary requirement is a strong throwing arm, in order to make the long throw across the infield to the first baseman. Quick reaction time is also important for third basemen, as they tend to see more sharply hit balls than the other infielders. In baseball, a force play or force out, referred to as a force when the possibility of such a play exists, is a situation when a baserunner is compelled to vacate his time-of-pitch base because the batter became a runner. ...

The three outfielders are called the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder, the positions being named from the catcher's perspective. The right fielder generally has the strongest arm of all the outfielders due to the need to make throws on runners attempting to take third base. The center fielder has more territory to cover than the corner outfielders, so this player must be quick and agile with a strong arm to throw balls in to the infield; as with the shortstop, teams tend to emphasize defense at this position. Also, the center fielder is considered the outfield leader, and left- and right-fielders should cede to his direction when fielding fly balls. The position of the left fielder A left fielder, abbreviated LF, is an outfielder in the sport of baseball who plays defense in left field. ... The position of the center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field - the baseball fielding position between left field and right field (e. ... The position of the right fielder A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in right field (e. ... In baseball, a batted ball can be called one of several various things, depending on how it comes off the bat and where in the field it lands. ...

The locations of the fielders are not specified by the rules. Players often shift their positioning in response to specific batters or game situations, and they may exchange positions with one another at any time. Normal depth In baseball, while there are nine named fielding positions, players may move around freely. ...

Pitching

Main article: Pitching Pitchers motion, Brandon Claussen, Cincinnati Reds, 9/15/2004, by Rick Dikeman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Pitchers motion, Brandon Claussen, Cincinnati Reds, 9/15/2004, by Rick Dikeman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A baseball pitcher delivers the ball to home plate In baseball, pitching is the act of throwing the baseball from the pitchers mound toward the catcher with the goal of retiring a batter who attempts to make contact with it, or draw a walk. ...

Effective pitching is vitally important to a baseball team, as pitching is the key for the defensive team to retiring batters and runners to hold the other team at bat. A full game usually involves over one hundred pitches thrown by each team, and most pitchers begin to tire before they reach this point. In previous eras, pitchers would often throw up to four complete games (all nine innings) in a week. With new advances in medical research and thus a better understanding of how the human body functions and tires out, however, pitchers tend to throw only one game every five days. Multiple pitchers are often needed in a single game, including the starting pitcher and members of the bullpen (an area where pitchers warm up before they play). Pitchers are substituted for one another like any other player (see below), and the rules do not limit the number of pitchers that can be used in a game. The record for the most pitcher used in a single nine-inning game for both teams is held between Houston and San Francisco with 16 pitchers. The pitcher's main weapon is the variation of his pitches, the three variables being accuracy, velocity, and movement. Most pitchers attempt to master two or more pitches. Common pitches include a fastball, which is the ball thrown at a maximum velocity, a curveball, which is made to curve by rotation imparted by the pitcher, and a change up, which is a slower version of a fastball. In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher, often abbreviated as starter, is the pitcher who pitches the first pitch to the first batter of a game. ... While the game goes on, a relief pitcher warms up in the bullpen, beyond the outfield fence In baseball, the bullpen is the area where pitchers warm-up before entering a game. ... In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. ... The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. ... Curveball Pitch Curveball Pitch The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a grip and hand motion that induces extra rotation on the ball causing it to break, to fly in a more exaggerated curve than would be expected. ... The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. ...

The pitcher must keep one foot in contact with the top or side of the pitcher's rubber—a 24" x 6" (~ 61 cm x 15 cm) plate located atop the pitcher's mound—during the entire pitch, so he cannot take more than one step forward in delivering the ball. Nevertheless, the average major-league pitcher can throw the ball up to ninety miles per hour (145 km/h), and a few pitchers have even exceeded 100 miles per hour (161 km/h). The act of throwing a baseball overhand at high speed is unnatural to the body and somewhat damaging to human muscles—pitchers are very susceptible to injuries and soreness, so baseball teams always have several pitchers. Some pitchers choose to throw the 'submarine style,' which is a very efficient sidearm way of pitching. Pitchers with a sidearm delivery are often some of the best in the game. The pitcher moves forward off the rubber as the pitch is released. ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ...

Team at bat

The ultimate goal of the team at bat is to score runs. The team at bat sends its nine players up to home plate as batters in an order called a lineup. Each team sets its batting lineup at the beginning of the game and may not change the order. Once a runner reaches home plate, they score a run and are no longer a base runner. They must leave the playing area until their spot in the order comes up again. A runner may only circle the bases once per plate appearance and thus can score no more than a single run.

Each player's turn at the plate is a plate appearance. When the batter hits a fair ball, he must run to first base, and may continue or stop at any base unless he is put out. A successful hit where the batter reaches only first base is a single; if he reaches second base, a double; or third base, a triple. A hit that allows the batter to touch all bases in order on the same play is a home run, whether or not the ball is hit over the fence. If a player has hit all four types of base hits in a single game, he is said to have "hit for the cycle." Once a runner is held to a base, he may attempt to advance at any time, but is not required to do so unless the batter or another runner displaces him. In baseball statistics, a player has a plate appearance (denoted by PA) every time he: Has an at bat (AB) Receives a base on balls (BB) Receives a hit by pitch (HBP) Hits a sacrifice fly (SF) Hits a sacrifice bunt (SH) Reaches base because of interference A batter does... In baseball, a home run is a base hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring a run, with no errors on the play that result in the batter achieving extra bases. ...

Depending on the way the ball comes off the bat, the play has different names. A batted ball is called a fly ball if it was hit in the air in a way causing the fielder to catch it on its descent, or a line drive if it is hit in the air, but almost level to the ground. A batted ball which is not hit into the air, and which touches the ground within the infield before it can be caught, is called a ground ball. In baseball, a batted ball can be called one of several various things, depending on how it comes off the bat and where in the field it lands. ... In baseball, a batted ball can be called one of several various things, depending on how it comes off the bat and where in the field it lands. ... In baseball, a batted ball can be called one of several various things, depending on how it comes off the bat and where in the field it lands. ... In baseball, a batted ball can be called one of several various things, depending on how it comes off the bat and where in the field it lands. ...

Once the batter and any existing runners have all stopped at a base or been put out, the ball is returned to the pitcher, and the next batter comes to the plate. After the opposing team bats in its own order and three more outs are recorded, the first team's batting order will continue again from where it left off.

Batting

Main article: Batting (baseball) Barry Bonds batting Photo:Agência Brasil In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for ones team. ...

Each plate appearance consists of a series of pitches, in which the pitcher throws the ball towards home plate while a batter is standing in the batter's box. With each pitch, the batter must decide whether or not to swing the bat at the ball in an attempt to hit it. The pitches arrive fast, so the decision must be made in less than a second. This decision is largely based on whether or not the ball is in the strike zone, a region defined by the area directly above home plate and between the batter's knees and underarms. In addition to swinging at the ball, a batter who wishes to put the ball in play may hold his bat over home plate and attempt to tap a pitch very lightly; this is called a bunt. Batter at baseball. ... Batter at baseball. ... In American sports, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests. ... Bonds at the plate Photo: Agência Brasil Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964 in Riverside, California) is a professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants; he is most famous for his home run hitting. ... In baseball statistics, a player has a plate appearance (denoted by PA) every time he: Has an at bat (AB) Receives a base on balls (BB) Receives a hit by pitch (HBP) Hits a sacrifice fly (SF) Hits a sacrifice bunt (SH) Reaches base because of interference A batter does... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... In baseball, softball, and similar sports and games, the batters box is the place where the batter stands when ready to receive a pitch from the pitcher. ... Strike zone boundaries (MLB) Definition In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual rectangular area over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing. ... A bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball or fastpitch softball. ...

On any pitch, if the batter swings at the ball and misses, he is charged with a strike. If the batter does not swing, the home plate umpire judges whether or not the ball passed through the strike zone. If the ball passes through the zone, it is ruled a strike; otherwise, it is declared to be a ball. The number of balls and strikes thrown to the current batter is known as the count. Home plate umpire Gary Darling signals that the last pitch was a strike In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and meting out discipline. ... Strike zone boundaries (MLB) Definition In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual rectangular area over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing. ... In baseball, the count refers to the number of balls and strikes a batsman has in his current at bat. ...

If the batter swings and makes contact with the ball, but does not put it in play in fair territory—a foul ball—he is charged with a strike, except when there are already two strikes. Thus, a foul ball with two strikes leaves the count unchanged, though a ball that is bunted foul with two strikes always counts as a third strike. If a pitch is batted foul and a member of the defensive team is able to catch it, before the ball strikes the ground, the batter is declared out. In the event that a batter makes contact with the ball, but the ball continues directly into the catchers mitt without striking the ground a foul tip is called and the batter is charged with a strike. If the batter has two strikes already, the batter is now out, charged with a strikeout. In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that is not a foul tip, and that. ... In baseball, a foul tip is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catchers hands and is legally caught. ...

On the third strike the batter is declared out, a strikeout; on the fourth ball the batter is entitled to advance to first base without risk of being put out. This is called a base on balls or walk. If the batter puts the ball in play in fair territory, he becomes a baserunner, and must get to first base safely. A batter always drops his bat when running to first base—the bat otherwise would slow him down and also be a danger to fielders. In baseball, a strikeout or strike out (denoted by K or SO) occurs when the batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. ... Strike zone boundaries (MLB) Definition In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual rectangular area over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing. ... In baseball statistics, a base on balls (BB), also called a walk, is used in baseball to track the performance of pitchers and batters. ... In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat. ...

If the pitcher, either intentionally or unintentionally, hits the batter, the umpire will declare a hit by pitch and the batter is awarded first base. In baseball, being hit by a pitch refers to the batter being hit in some part of the body by a pitch from the pitcher. ...

Running the bases

Main article: Baserunning In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat. ...

The goal of each batter is to become a baserunner himself (usually by a safe hit or a base on balls), or to help move other baserunners along. Once a batter gets a hit, a base on balls, or otherwise reaches base, he is said to be "on" that base until he attempts to advance to the next base, until he is put out, or until the half-inning ends. Runners on second or third base are considered to be in scoring position since ordinary hits, even singles, will often score them. In baseball statistics, a base on balls (BB), also called a walk, is used in baseball to track the performance of pitchers and batters. ... In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat. ...

A runner who is touching a base which he is entitled to occupy is "safe"—he may not be tagged out. Runners may attempt to advance from base to base on any fair ball that touches the ground. When a ball is hit in the air, a fly ball, and caught by the defending team, runners must return and touch the base they occupied at the time of the pitch—called tagging up—after the ball is caught. Once they do this, they may attempt to advance at their own risk. In baseball, the time of pitch is that instant when the pitcher has begun his pitching motion and, by the rules, has committed himself to throwing the pitch. ... In baseball, a runner must tag up if a batted ball is caught in flight. ...

Baserunners may attempt to advance, or steal a base, while the pitcher is throwing a pitch. The pitcher, in lieu of delivering the pitch, may try to prevent this by throwing the ball to one of the infielders in order to tag the runner; if successful, it is called a pick-off. If the runner attempts to steal the next base but is tagged out before reaching it safely, he is caught stealing. Caption: 040229-N-8629D-070 USA Stadium, Millington, Tenn. ... Caption: 040229-N-8629D-070 USA Stadium, Millington, Tenn. ... The all-time stolen base leader, Rickey Henderson, swipes third in 1985 In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. ...

The standard dimensions of a baseball field, with 90 feet (27.4 m) between bases, generate many close baserunning plays. In tag plays, a good slide can affect the outcome of the play; even routine ground ball outs are recorded by a margin of less than a second. In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game requiring good judgment by runners (and their coaches) to assess the risk in attempting to advance. In baseball a tag out, sometimes just called a tag, is a play in which a baserunner is out because he is touched by the fielders hand holding a live ball while the runner is in jeopardy. ... Ty Cobb sliding into first base at Comiskey Park in 1913. ...

Innings and determining a winner

An inning consists of each team having one turn in the field and one turn to hit, with the visiting team batting before the home team. A standard game lasts nine innings, although some leagues (such as minor leagues and high school baseball) use seven-inning games. The team with the most runs at the end of the game wins. If the home team is ahead after eight-and-a-half innings have been played, it is declared the winner, and the last half-inning is not played. If the home team is trailing or tied in the last inning and they score to take the lead, the game ends as soon as the winning run touches home plate; however, if the last batter hits a home run to win the game, he and any runners on base are all permitted to score. An innings, or inning, is a segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably baseball and cricket – during which a side takes its turn to bat. ... Minor leagues in the sense intended in this article are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. ...

If both teams have scored the same number of runs at the end of a regular-length game, a tie is avoided by the addition of extra innings. As many innings as necessary are played until one team has the lead at the end of an inning. Thus, the home team always has a chance to respond if the visiting team scores in the top half of the inning; this gives the home team a small tactical advantage. In theory, a baseball game could go on forever; in practice, however, they eventually end. In Major League Baseball the longest game played was a 26-inning affair between the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves on May 1, 1920. The game ended in a 1-1 tie called on account of darkness. To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. ... Extra innings is the procedure by which a tie is broken in the sport of baseball. ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in North America. ... Los Angeles Dodgers National League AAA Las Vegas 51s AA Jacksonville Suns A Columbus Catfish Vero Beach Dodgers R Ogden Raptors Gulf Coast Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers redirects here. ... Two major American professional sports teams have existed under the name Boston Braves, both of which still exist today but are no longer located in Boston, Massachusetts. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...

In Major League Baseball, games end with tie scores only because conditions have made it impossible to continue play. A tie game does not count as an official game in the standings unless it is finished later or replayed; however, individual player statistics from tie games are counted. Inclement weather may also shorten games, but at least five innings must be played for the game to be considered official; four-and-a-half innings are enough if the home team is ahead. Previously, curfews and the absence of adequate lighting caused more ties and shortened games. Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in North America. ... A curfew can be one of the following: An order by the government for certain persons to return home before a certain time. ...

In Japanese baseball, if the score remains tied after nine innings, up to three extra innings may be played before the game is called a tie. Some youth or amateur leagues will end a game early if one team is ahead by ten or more runs, a practice known as the "mercy rule" or "slaughter rule". Rarely, a game can also be won or lost by forfeit. Part of the History of baseball series. ... A slaughter rule, also well known by the slightly more polite term mercy rule or less commonly, knockout rule, brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a very large and presumably insurmountable lead over the other team. ... In rare cases, baseball games are forfeited, and the score is recorded with the forfeiting team scoring no runs; their opponents are credited with the same number of runs as innings scheduled. ...

There is a short break between each half-inning during which the new defensive team takes the field and the pitcher warms up. Traditionally, the break between the top half and the bottom half of the seventh inning is known as the seventh-inning stretch. During the "stretch," fans often sing the chorus of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Fans stand and sing Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the seventh-inning stretch In baseball, the seventh-inning stretch is a tradition that takes place in the middle of the seventh inning of any game. ... Take Me Out to the Ball Game is an early-20th century Tin Pan Alley song which became the unofficial anthem of baseball. ...

Substitutions

Each team is allowed to substitute for any player at any time, but no player, once removed from the game, may return. A batter who replaces another batter is referred to as a pinch hitter; similarly, a pinch runner may be used as a replacement for a baserunner. Any replacement is a permanent substitution; the replaced player may not return to the game. Baseball In Baseball, a Pinch hitter is a common term for a substitute batter. ... A pinch runner is a baseball player who is used in substitution for another player that is on base. ...

It is common for a pitcher to pitch for several innings and then be removed in favor of a relief pitcher. Because pitching is a specialized skill, most pitchers are relatively poor hitters; it is common to substitute for a pitcher when he is due to bat. This pinch hitter is typically then replaced by a relief pitcher when the team returns to the field on defense, but more complicated substitutions are possible, most notably the double switch. A relief pitcher warms up in the bullpen as the game goes on A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness or fatigue. ... In baseball, the double switch is a type of player substitution. ...

Many amateur leagues allow a starting player who was removed to return to the game in the same position in the batting order under a re-entry rule. Youth leagues often allow free and open substitution to encourage player participation. The word amateur has at least two connotations. ...

Most leagues, notably Major League Baseball's American League, allow a designated hitter, a player whose sole purpose is to hit when it would normally be the pitcher's turn. This is not considered a substitution but rather a position, albeit a purely offensive one. A designated hitter does not play in the field on defense and may remain in the game regardless of changes in pitchers. Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in North America. ... The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... A designated hitter, or DH, is a baseball player who is chosen at the start of a game to bat in place of any defensive player in the lineup, however it is used almost exclusively for the pitcher. ...

Other personnel

Each team is run by a manager, whose primary responsibility during the game is to assign players to fielding positions, determine the lineup, and decide how to substitute players. Managers are also assisted by coaches in helping players to develop their skills. When a team is at-bat, they will position a coach or manager in each coach's box referred to as the first and third base coaches. These coaches must help the players decide whether they should try to run to the next base; also, the coaches will signal plays to the batter and runners. Baseball is unique in that the manager and coaches all wear numbered uniforms similar to those of the players. In baseball, the head coach of a team is called the manager; this individual controls matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. ... In the baseball game, the coach is a member of the team at bat stationed near first or third base to signal and direct the runners and batters. ...

Any baseball game involves one or more umpires, who make rulings on the outcome of each play. At a minimum, one umpire will stand behind the catcher, to have a good view of the strike zone, and call each pitch a ball or a strike. Additional umpires may be stationed near the bases, thus making it easier to see plays in the field. In Major League Baseball, four umpires are used for each game, one near each base. In the all-star game and playoffs, six umpires are used: one at each base and two in the outfield along either foul line. Home plate umpire Gary Darling signals that the last pitch was a strike In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and meting out discipline. ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in North America. ...

Another notable role in baseball is that of the official scorer. The results of baseball games are summarized in tables called box scores. The scorer is responsible for a number of judgments that go into the boxscore. For example, if a batted ball is misplayed by a fielder, the scorer may choose to charge the fielder with an error instead of crediting the batter with a hit. Within certain guidelines, the scorer also determines which pitchers are credited with winning and losing the game, and whether a relief pitcher will be awarded a hold or save, specific situations in which a relief pitcher keeps a lead intact for his team. In the game of baseball, the official scorer is a person appointed by the league to record the events on the field and to send this official record of the game back to the league offices. ... In baseball, the totality of a game is summarized in a line score, or more verbosely in a box score. ... In baseball, a hold is awarded to a relief pitcher if he enters in a save situation, records at least one out, and leaves the game without having reliquished that lead. ... To save in a sport means to stop a goal or to maintain the lead. ...

Baseball's unique style

Time element

American football, basketball, ice hockey and soccer all use a clock, and games often end by a team killing the clock rather than competing directly against the opposing team. In contrast, baseball has no clock; a team cannot win without getting the last batter out, and rallies are not constrained by time. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Basketball Basketball is a ball sport in which two teams of five players each try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... The striker (wearing red jersey) has run past the defender (in white jersey) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to stop the ball. ... Killing the clock is a term used in timed sports such as American football or Basketball to indicate a strategy by a winning team to stall until time runs out when the score is close; thus preventing the opposing team from tying or taking the lead towards the end of...

In recent decades, observers have criticized professional baseball for the length of its games, with some justification as the time required to play a baseball game has increased steadily through the years. One hundred years ago, games typically took an hour and a half to play; today, the average major league baseball game is finished in two and a half hours for the National League, and just under three hours for the American League. This is due to longer commercial breaks, increased offense, more pitching changes, and a slower pace of play. This article refers to the American baseball league. ... The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ...

In response, Major League Baseball has instructed umpires to be more strict in enforcing speed-up rules and the size of the strike zone. Although the official rules specify that when the bases are empty, the pitcher should deliver the ball within 20 seconds of receiving it (with the penalty of a ball called if he fails to do so), this rule is rarely, if ever, enforced. Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in North America. ... Strike zone boundaries (MLB) Definition In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual rectangular area over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing. ...

Individual and team

Baseball is fundamentally a team sport—even two or three Hall of Fame-caliber players are no guarantee of a pennant—yet it places individual players under great pressure and scrutiny. The pitcher must make good pitches or risk losing the game; the hitter has a mere fraction of a second to decide what pitch has been thrown and whether or not to swing at it. While their respective managers and/or coaches can sometimes signal players regarding the strategies the manager wants to employ, no one can help the pitcher while he pitches or the hitter while he bats. If the batter hits a line drive, the outfielder, as the last line of defense, makes the lone decision to try to catch it or play it on the bounce. Baseball history is full of heroes and goats—men who in the heat of the moment distinguished themselves with a timely hit or catch, or an untimely strikeout or error. A pennant is usually a narrow tapering flag most commonly flown by ships at sea. ...

Strategy and goals

Baseball requires skill and athleticism, but also has a depth of strategy and anticipation which often goes unrecognized by those less familiar with the sport. Pitchers develop strategies on how to pitch to the batter by studying the batter's previous plate appearances throughout the year. Pitchers will vary their approach with each time they see the same batter. Defensive players are positioned based on statistics about where the batter is likely to hit the ball and what specific type of pitches will be thrown. Hitters are given signals about coordinated plays the manager is calling (e.g. a hit and run or sacrifice bunt), and sometimes are explicitly instructed not to swing. Pitchers are sometimes given signals to throw a specific pitch, or even to avoid pitching to the batter at all (e.g. an intentional base on balls or a pitchout.) Hit and run is the act of hitting an object with a vehicle and leaving the location of the incident. ... In baseball, a sacrifice hit is the act of deliberately striking the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base, while the batter is himself put out. ... In baseball statistics, an intentional base on balls (denoted by IBB), often called an intentional walk, is used in baseball to count the number of times a walk was issued with no intent of ever allowing a hit. ...

The goals of a team vary across scope, from individual pitch to the season. Teams develop a strategy to match this varying scope. They have a broad set of goals for the season, but more specific strategies for the early part of the season, varying that by the team and even by home games vs. away games. Meanwhile, they have very specific strategies for a single game and even down to the inning, the players who are due to bat, including the next pitch.

The uniqueness of each baseball park

Unlike the vast majority of sports (with the exception of cricket and a few others), baseball parks do not have to follow a strict set of guidelines. The official rules (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp) simply state that fields built after 1958 must have a minimum distance of 325 feet from home plate to the fences in left and right field and 400 feet to center. Because of this, there are all sorts of variations in parks, from different lengths to the fences to uneven playing surfaces to massive amounts of foul territory to quirks such as trains in the outfield. 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Statistics

Main article: Baseball statistics As with many sports, and perhaps even more so, statistics are very important to baseball. ...

As with many sports, and perhaps even more so, statistics are very important to baseball. Statistics have been kept for the Major Leagues since their creation, and presumably statistics were around even before that. General managers, baseball scouts, managers, and players alike study player statistics to help them decide from various strategies to best help their team. Statistics is the science and practice of developing knowledge through the use of empirical data expressed in quantitative form. ... Professional sports scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scouts organization. ...

Traditionally, statistics like batting average for batters—the number of hits divided by the number of at bats—and earned run average—approximately the number of runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings—have governed the statistical world of baseball. However, the advent of sabermetrics has brought an onslaught of new statistics that better gauge a player's performance and contributions to his team from year to year. Batting average is a statistic in both baseball and cricket measuring the performance of baseball hitters and cricket batsmen, respectively. ... In baseball statistics, earned run average (denoted by ERA) is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. ... Sabermetrics is the analysis of baseball through objective evidence, especially baseball statistics. ...

Some sabermetrics have entered the mainstream baseball statistic world. On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a somewhat complicated formula that gauges a hitter's performance better than batting average. It combines the hitter's on base percentage—hits plus walks plus hit by pitches divided by plate appearances—with their slugging percentage—total bases divided by at bats. Walks plus hits per inning pitched (or WHIP) gives a good representation of a pitcher's abilities; it is calculated exactly as its name suggests. In baseball statistics, on-base plus slugging (denoted by OPS) is defined by the sum of on base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). ... In baseball statistics, on base percentage (OBP) (sometimes referred to as on base average (OBA)) is a measure of how often a batter gets to first base for any reason other than a fielding error or a fielders choice. ... In baseball, being hit by a pitch refers to the batter being hit in some part of the body by a pitch from the pitcher. ... In baseball statistics, a player has a plate appearance (denoted by PA) every time he: Has an at bat (AB) Receives a base on balls (BB) Receives a hit by pitch (HBP) Hits a sacrifice fly (SF) Hits a sacrifice bunt (SH) Reaches base because of interference A batter does... In baseball statistics, slugging percentage (SLG) is a measure of the power of a hitter. ... In baseball statistics, total bases is the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i. ... In baseball, walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) is a sabermetric measurement of how many baserunners a pitcher is responsible for allowing per inning pitched. ...

Also important are more specific statistics for a certain situation. For example, a certain hitter's ability to hit left-handed pitchers might cause his manager to give him more chances to face lefties. Some hitters hit better with runners in scoring position, so an opposing manager, knowing this statistic, might elect to intentionally walk him in order to face a poorer hitter. In baseball statistics, an intentional base on balls (denoted by IBB), often called an intentional walk, is used in baseball to count the number of times a walk was issued with no intent of ever allowing a hit. ...

History

Main article: History of Baseball Wikipedia has a number of articles about the history of baseball: Origins of baseball History of baseball in the United States History of baseball outside the United States Negro League baseball Minor league baseball Japanese baseball Baseball championships World Series Japan Series Caribbean World Series Little League World Series This...

Baseball is thought to be a direct descendant of cricket, rounders, and town ball, though the game's origins are uncertain. Alexander Cartwright published the first known list of rules in 1845 to meet the demands of the already popular sport, and today's rules of baseball have evolved from them. For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket Portal. ... Diagram of a rounders pitch. ... The game of town ball, sometimes called townball, is a descendant of rounders, and often thought to be a stepping stone from rounders to modern baseball. ... Alexander J. Cartwright (April 17, 1820 _ July 12, 1892) was an American engineer who has as good a claim as any as the inventor of baseball. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Baseball around the world is played under three major rules codes, which differ only slightly. ...

Professional baseball began in the United States around 1865, and the National League was founded in 1876. Several other leagues formed and failed, but the American League, formed in 1893 as the Western League, did succeed. While rivals who fought for the best players, the two major leagues began playing a World Series in 1903. 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ... This article refers to the American baseball league. ... 1876 is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... In baseball, the World Series is the championship series of Major League Baseball in North America, played in October after the end of the regular season between the pennant winner of the American League and the pennant winner of the National League. ... 1903 has the latest occurring solstices and equinoxes for 400 years, because the Gregorian calendar hasnt had a leap year for seven years or a century leap year since 1600. ...

Compared to modern times, games in the early part of the 20th century were lower scoring and pitchers more successful. This period, which has since become known as the "dead-ball era", ended in the 1920s with several rules changes that gave advantages to hitters and the rise of the legendary baseball player Babe Ruth, who showed the world what power hitting could produce. The dead-ball era is a baseball term generally used to describe the period between 1900 (though some date it to the beginning of baseball) and the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1920. ... Ruth batting for the Yankees George Herman Ruth, (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948), better known as Babe Ruth and also commonly known by the nicknames The Bambino and The Sultan of Swat, was an American baseball player and United States national icon. ...

During the first half of the 20th century, a "gentlemen's agreement" effectively barred non-white players from the major leagues, resulting in the formation of several Negro Leagues. Finally in 1947, Major League Baseball's color barrier was broken when Jackie Robinson was signed by the National League's Brooklyn Dodgers. Although it was not instantaneous, baseball has since become fully integrated. Part of the History of baseball series. ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Baseball color line was the unwritten policy which excluded African American United States before 1947. ... Brooklyn Dodger infielder Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball in 1947. ... For the 1930s NFL team, see Brooklyn Dodgers (football). ... Desegregation is the process of ending racial segregation, most commonly used in reference to the United States. ...

The middle of the century led baseball to the West of the United States and also became a time when pitchers dominated. Scoring became so low in the American League, due to pitching dominance, that the designated hitter was introduced; this rule now constitutes the primary difference between the two leagues. A designated hitter, or DH, is a baseball player who is chosen at the start of a game to bat in place of any defensive player in the lineup, however it is used almost exclusively for the pitcher. ...

Despite the popularity of baseball, the players became unsatisfied, as they believed the owners had too much control—a stance that many baseball fans found objectionable. A series of strikes and lockouts began in baseball, affecting portions of the 1972 and 1981 seasons and culminating in the infamous strike of 1994 that led to the cancellation of the World Series. The popularity of baseball diminished greatly as a result, and fans were slow to return until the home run race of 1998 between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Since then, baseball has enjoyed another surge in popularity in America. The thrilling playoffs of 2004 were highlighted by the Red Sox's epic comeback against the Yankees and resulted in what some have called the "New Golden Age" for baseball. 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Mark McGwire hits a home run during his last Major League season in 2001 Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963 in Pomona, California) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 through 2001. ... Samuel Peralta Sosa, better known as Sammy Sosa (born November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic), is a professional Major League baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles. ...

Professional baseball leagues began to form in countries outside of America in the 1920s and 1930s, including the Netherlands (formed in 1922), Japan (1936), and Australia (1934). Today, the whole of Europe (1953), Italy (1948), Korea (1982), Taiwan (1990), and mainland China (2003) all have professional leagues as well. Competition between national teams, such as in the World Cup of Baseball and the Olympic baseball tournament, has been administered by the International Baseball Federation since its formation in 1938. As of 2004, this organization has 112 member countries. Part of the History of baseball series. ... Sometimes referred to as the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age. ... Events and trends Technology Jet engine invented First atom was split with a particle accelerator Golden Age of radio begins in U.S. Disney adopts a three-color Technicolor process for cartoons First Kit Kat in UK The photocopier is invented by Carlson Air mail service across the Atlantic Science... 1922 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1936 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1934 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Korea (한국) is a formerly unified country, situated on the Korean Peninsula in northern East Asia, bordering on China to the west and Russia to the north. ... 1982 is a number and represents a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar Events January January 6 - William Bonin is convicted of being the freeway killer. January 8 - AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions January 11 - Mark Thatcher, son of the British Prime... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament, featuring Major League players, to be first held in March 2006 and annnually thereafter. ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... The International Baseball Federation (or IBAF) is the worldwide body which governs play between national teams, including the World Cup of Baseball (in conjunction with Major League Baseball) and the Olympic baseball tournament (in conjuction with the International Olympic Committee). ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Gameplay

General structure

Fielding team

Pitching

Team at bat

Batting

Running the bases

Innings and determining a winner

Substitutions

Other personnel

Baseball's unique style

Time element

Individual and team

Strategy and goals

The uniqueness of each baseball park

Statistics

History

See also

Culture

Organized leagues

Statistics and lists

References

External links

Gameplay GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

General structure

Fielding team

Pitching

Team at bat

Batting

Running the bases

Innings and determining a winner

Substitutions

Other personnel

Baseball's unique style

Time element

Individual and team

Strategy and goals

The uniqueness of each baseball park

Statistics

History

See also

Culture

Organized leagues

Statistics and lists

References

External links

Gameplay