Baseball: Difference between revisions
Sylvain1972 (talk | contribs) rv - seems to according to who? citations need. |
No edit summary |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Kick the can''' (a.k.a. "Tip the can") is a [[game]], related to [[tag]], [[hide and seek]], and [[capture the flag]] which can be played outdoors by anywhere from three to a few dozen people (kids from about age 7 or older). |
|||
{{portal}} |
|||
{{For|the ball used in baseball|Baseball (object)}} |
|||
{{For|the Ken Burns documentary|Baseball (documentary)}} |
|||
{{For|computer and video games entitled '''Baseball''' or similar|Baseball (computer game)}} |
|||
In general the game goes something like this: One person (possibly a team of people) is (are) designated as "it" and a can (paint can or metal pail (bucket)) or similar object is placed in the open (usually the middle of a backyard,a green, ''cul de sac'', parking lot or '''very''' lightly traveled street). |
|||
[[Image:Busch Stadium.jpg|thumb|230px|A view of the playing field at [[Busch Stadium II]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri]].]] |
|||
[[Image:Fenway_park.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Picture of [[Fenway Park]]. Part of the "[[Green Monster]]" can be seen on the right side of this picture]] |
|||
The other players run off and hide while the "it" covers his eyes and counts to 100 or so (call it two minutes at one count per second). |
|||
'''Baseball''' is one of the most popular [[team sports]] in [[the Americas]] and [[East Asia]]. The modern game was developed in the [[United States]] from early bat-and-ball games played in Britain, and it has become the [[national sport]] of the United States. It is a [[ball game]] in which a [[pitcher]] throws ([[pitch (baseball)|pitches]]) a hard, fist-sized [[Baseball (object)|ball]] past the hitting area of a [[Batting (baseball)|batter]]. The batter attempts to hit the [[baseball (object)|baseball]] with a tapered, smooth, cylindrical [[baseball bat|bat]] that in [[professional baseball]] must be made out of wood. |
|||
A team scores only when batting, by advancing counter-clockwise past a series of four markers called [[baseball field|bases]] arranged at the corners of a diamond. Each base is 90 feet from the previous base. |
|||
Baseball is sometimes called ''hardball'' to differentiate it from [[List of sports similar to baseball|similar games]] such as [[softball]]. |
|||
"It" then tries to find and tag each of the players. Any play who is tagged (caught and touched) is sent to the holding pen (jail) which is simply a designated area for all the captured players to congregate, generally in plain sight of the can. |
|||
==History== |
|||
Any player who has not been caught can '''"kick the can"''' (thus the name of the game). If they can kick the can without being caught then they set all of the captured players free. |
|||
{{main|History of baseball}} |
|||
If "it" catches all of the players he or she wins that round and generally a new "it" is designated for the next round. |
|||
===Origins of baseball=== |
|||
{{main|Origins of baseball}} |
|||
The distinct evolution of baseball from among the various bat-and-ball games is difficult to pin down. However, it is mainly agreed that modern baseball is an American development from earlier British games, such as [[rounders]], with possible influences from [[cricket]]. |
|||
Thus this game is one of skill, strategy and stealth as well as fleetness. (In some variations "it" merely has to call out a player's name and hiding place rather than tagging him by touch. In this variation, "it" must jump over the can after calling the player's name and location. This rule can also be invoked to be fair for smaller children playing with teens or pre-teens). |
|||
[[Image:Conner-prairie-baseball.jpg|300px|thumb|1886 baseball demonstration at [[Conner Prairie]] living history museum.]] |
|||
The earliest known mention of the sport is in a 1744 British publication, ''A Little Pretty Pocket-Book'' by John Newbery. It contains a wood-cut illustration of boys playing "base-ball" (showing a similar set-up to the modern game, yet significantly different) and a rhymed description of the sport. |
|||
As another variation, more than one can (or milk cartons -- easier on bare feet when kicking them over) is used. The cartons are scattered at the beginning of the game when everyone runs to hide. "It" must gather them and stack them so they don't fall over. Then, when "it" spots someone hiding, "it" must run back and touch the tower of cartons without knocking them down. If they fall, the "caught" hider can run away and hide again. If they remain standing, the hider goes to jail. While "it" is searching for others, someone not yet caught can sneak in and kick over the cartons, freeing those in jail. |
|||
[[Alexander Cartwright]] had a hand in compiling and publishing an early list of rules in 1845 (the so-called ''[[Knickerbocker Rules]]'') to meet the demands of the already popular sport, and today's [[Baseball rules|rules of baseball]] have evolved from them. |
|||
===History of baseball in the United States=== |
|||
{{main|History of baseball in the United States}} |
|||
As far back as the 1870s, American newspapers were referring to baseball as "The National Pastime" or "The National Game." An award-winning account of the origins of the game is David Block's ''Baseball Before We Knew It: A Search for the Roots of the Game'' (University of Nebraska Press, 2005). The [http://unp.unl.edu/bookinfo/4625.html publisher's description of the book] notes that "David Block looks into the early history of the game and of the 150-year-old debate about its beginnings. He tackles one stubborn misconception after another, debunking the enduring belief that baseball descended from the English game of rounders and revealing a surprising new explanation for the most notorious myth of all—the Abner Doubleday–Cooperstown story." In short, the debate on the game's origins may never be settled to everyone's satisfaction. |
|||
Another early mention of the game can be found in an 1886 edition of ''Sporting Life'' magazine, in a letter from Dr. Matthew Harris of [[Boston, Massachusetts]], formerly of [[St. Marys, Ontario, Canada]], who details a base ball game played in Beachville, Ontario, Canada, on [[June 4]], [[1838]] -- Militia Muster Day. |
|||
Professional baseball began in the [[United States]] around 1865, and the [[National League]] was founded in 1876 as the first true major league, quickly producing famous players such as [[Cap Anson]]. Several other major leagues formed and failed, but the [[American League]], established in 1901 as a major league and originating from the minor Western League (1893), did succeed. While the two leagues were rivals who actively fought for the best players, often disregarding one another's contracts and engaging in bitter legal disputes, a modicum of peace was established in 1903, and they began playing a [[World Series]] that year. The next year however, John McGraw, manager of the National League Champion New York Giants refused to participate in the World Series against the American League champion Boston Pilgrims, as McGraw refused to recognize the American League. The following year, McGraw relented and the Giants played the Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series. |
|||
Compared to modern times, games in the early part of the 20th century were lower scoring and pitchers were more successful. The "inside game", whose nature was to "scratch for runs", was played rather more violently and aggressively than it is today. [[Ty Cobb]] said of his era especially, "Baseball is something like a war!" This period, which has since become known as the "[[dead-ball era]]", ended in the 1920s with several rule 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 and thus changed the nature of the game. |
|||
During the first half of the 20th century, a "gentlemen's agreement" in the form of the [[baseball color line]] effectively barred African-American players from the major leagues (though not Native Americans, oddly enough), resulting in the formation of several [[Negro Leagues]]. Finally in [[1947 in sports|1947]], Major League Baseball's color barrier was broken when [[Jackie Robinson]] was signed by the National League's [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Brooklyn Dodgers]]. Although it was not instantaneous, baseball has since become fully [[racial integration|integrated]]. |
|||
The middle of the century led major league 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. |
|||
Despite the popularity of baseball, and the attendant high salaries relative to those of average Americans, the players have become unsatisfied from time to time, as they believed the owners had too much control. Various job actions have occurred throughout the game's history. Players on specific teams occasionally attempted strikes, but usually came back when their jobs were sufficiently threatened. The throwing of the [[1919 World Series]], the "Black Sox scandal", was in some sense a "strike" or at least a rebellion by the ballplayers against a perceived stingy owner. But the strict rules of baseball contracts tended to keep the players "in line" in general. |
|||
This began to change in the 1960s when former [[Steelworkers Union]] president [[Marvin Miller]] became the [[Major League Baseball Players Association|Baseball Players Union]] president. The union became much stronger than it had been previously, especially when the reserve clause was effectively nullified in the mid-1970s. 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 and carried over into 1995 before it was finally settled. |
|||
The players typically always got what they demanded, but the popularity of baseball diminished greatly as a result of the players' actions, and fans were slow to return. [[Cal Ripken, Jr.|Cal Ripken's]] record-breaking 2131st consecutive game in 1995 was a feel-good moment that helped boost interest in the sport. The great home run race of [[1998 in sports|1998]] between [[Mark McGwire]] and [[Sammy Sosa]] really turned things around, captivating fans all summer. As with other times when adversity threatened the game, positive on-field events had triggered a renewed surge in baseball's popularity in America. |
|||
Professional baseball leagues began to form in [[History of baseball outside the United States|countries outside of America]] in the 1920s and 1930s, including the [[Netherlands]] (formed in 1922), [[Japan]] (1936), and [[Australia]] (1934). Today, Venezuela (1945), the whole of [[Europe]] (1953), [[Italy]] (1948), [[Korea]] (1982), [[Republic of China|Taiwan]] (1990), and [[People's Republic of China|mainland China]] (2003) all have professional leagues as well (however, the leagues in [[Australia]], [[Italy]] and the [[United Kingdom]] have generally had a niche appeal compared to the leagues in [[Asia]] and [[Venezuela]] and only now is the sport beginning to broaden in scope in those nations, most notably in [[Australia]], who won a surprise silver medal in the [[2004 Olympic Games]]). [[Israel]] is trying to form a professional baseball league with the help of American emigres. [[Canada]] has a franchise in [[Major League Baseball]] as well. Competition between national teams, such as in the [[World Cup of Baseball]] and the [[Baseball at the Summer Olympics|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. The new [[World Baseball Classic]], first held in March, 2006, seems likely to have a much higher profile than previous tournaments, owing to the participation for the first time of a significant number of players from the United States Major Leagues. |
|||
The [[117th IOC Session|117th meeting]] of the [[International Olympic Committee]], held in [[Singapore]] in July 2005, voted not to hold baseball and [[softball]] tournaments at the [[2012 Summer Olympic Games]], but they will remain an [[Olympic sport]] during the [[2008 Summer Olympic Games]], and will be put to vote again for each succeeding Summer Olympics. The elimination of baseball and softball from the 2012 Olympic program enabled the IOC to consider adding two other sports to the program instead, but no other sport received a majority of votes favoring its inclusion. While baseball's lack of major appeal in a significant portion of the world was a factor, a more important factor was the unwillingness of [[Major League Baseball]] to have a break during the Games so that its players could participate, something that the [[National Hockey League]] now does during the [[Winter Olympic Games]]. Because of the seasonal nature of baseball and the high priority baseball fans place on the integrity of major-league statistics from one season to the next, however, it would be much more difficult to accommodate such a break in MLB. |
|||
==Gameplay== |
|||
A simplified version of the rules of baseball is at [[simplified baseball rules]]. The complete Official Rules can be found [http://www.mlb.com www.mlb.com], the official web site of Major League Baseball in the United States. |
|||
===General structure=== |
|||
[[Image:baseball field overview thumbnail.png|thumb|300px|right|Diagram of a [[baseball diamond]].]] |
|||
Baseball is played between two teams of nine players each on a [[baseball field]], under the authority of one or more officials, called [[umpire (baseball)|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 ''[[base (baseball)|bases]]''. Numbered [[counter-clockwise]], first, second and third bases are cushions (sometimes informally referred to as ''bags'') shaped as 15 [[inch|in]] (38 [[centimetre|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 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]] (27.4 [[metre|m]]) called the [[diamond (shape)|diamond]]. Home base (plate) is a pentagonal rubber slab known as simply ''home.'' The field is divided into two main sections: |
|||
*The infield, containing the four bases, is for defensive and offensive purposes bounded by the foul lines and the grass line (see figure). However, the infield technically consists of only the area within and including the bases and foul lines. |
|||
*The outfield is the grassed area beyond the infield grass line (for general purposes; see above under infield), between the foul lines, and bounded by a wall or fence. Again, there is a technical difference; properly speaking, the outfield consists of all fair ground beyond the square of the infield and its bases. The area between the foul lines, including the foul lines (the foul lines are in fair territory), is fair territory, and the area outside the foul lines is foul territory. |
|||
The game is played in nine [[innings#Baseball|innings]] (although it can be played with fewer, such as it is in little league) in which each team gets one turn to [[#Batting|bat]] and try to score ''[[run (baseball)|runs]]'' while the other pitches and defends in the field. An inning is broken up into two halves in which the away team bats in the top (first) half, and the home team bats in the bottom (second) half. 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 (baseball)|out]]''. The winner is the team with the most runs after nine innings. If the home team is ahead after the top of the ninth, play does not continue into the bottom half. In the case of a tie, additional innings are played until one team comes out ahead at the end of an inning. If the home team takes the lead anytime during the bottom of the ninth or later, play stops and the home team is declared the winner. |
|||
[[Image:Baseball swing.jpg|thumb|left|A batter follows through after swinging at a pitched ball.]] |
|||
The basic contest is always between the ''[[pitcher]]'' for the fielding team, and a ''[[Batter (baseball)|batter]]''. The pitcher throws—''[[pitch (baseball)|pitches]]''—the ball towards home plate, where the ''[[catcher]]'' for the fielding team waits (in a crouched stance) to receive it. Behind the catcher stands the home plate umpire. The batter stands in one of the [[batter's box]]es and tries to hit the ball with a bat. The pitcher must keep one foot in contact with the top or front 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 can only take one step backward and one forward in delivering the ball. The catcher's job is to receive any BALLS that the batter has and to "call" the game by a series of hand movements that signal 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; 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. |
|||
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 flight|in the air]], [[tag out]]s, [[force out]]s, and [[strikeout]]s. After the fielding team has put out three players from the opposing team, that half of the inning is over and the team in the field and the team at bat switch places; there is no upper limit to the number that may bat in rotation before three outs are recorded. Going through the entire order in an inning is referred to as "batting around". It is indicative of a high scoring inning. A complete inning consists of each opposing side having a turn (three outs) on offense. |
|||
The goal of the team at bat is to score more runs than the opposition; a player may do so only by batting, then [[baserunning|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 [[#Running the bases|baserunners]] to score or to become a baserunner himself. The batter attempts to hit the ball into [[fair territory]]—between the baselines—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 or, ideally, at all. |
|||
A baserunner who successfully touches home plate after touching all previous bases in order scores a ''[[run (baseball statistics)|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 ('bases loaded') is called a ''grand slam''. |
|||
===Fielding team=== |
|||
{{seealso|Baseball positions|Baseball positioning}} |
|||
The squad in the field is the defensive team; they attempt to prevent the baserunners from scoring. There are nine defensive positions, however, only two of the positions have a mandatory location (pitcher and catcher), the locations of the other seven fielders is not specified by the rules, except that at the moment the pitch is delivered they must be positioned in fair territory and not in the space between the pitcher and the catcher. These fielders often shift their [[baseball positioning|positioning]] in response to specific batters or game situations, and they may exchange positions with one another at any time. The nine positions most commonly used are: pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. Note that, in rare cases, teams may use dramatically differing schemes, such as switching an outfielder for an infielder. Scorekeepers label each position with a number starting with the pitcher (1), catcher (2), first baseman (3), second baseman (4), third baseman (5), shortstop (6), left fielder (7), center fielder (8), right fielder (9). This convention was established by [[Henry Chadwick]]. The reason the shortstop seems out of order has to do with the way fielders positioned themselves in the early years of the game. |
|||
====The battery==== |
|||
The ''[[battery (baseball)|battery]]'' is composed of the ''[[pitcher]],'' who stands on the rubber of the mound, and the ''[[catcher]]'', who squats behind home plate. These are the two fielders who always deal directly with the batter on every pitch, hence the term "battery", coined by [[Henry Chadwick]] and later reinforced by the implied comparison to [[artillery]] fire. |
|||
The pitcher's main role is to [[pitch (baseball)|pitch]] the ball toward home plate with the goal of getting the batter [[out (baseball)|out]]. Pitchers also play defense by fielding batted balls, [[Covering a base|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. |
|||
====The infielders==== |
|||
The four infielders are the ''[[first baseman]]'', ''[[second baseman]]'', ''[[shortstop]]'', and ''[[third baseman]]''. Originally the first, second and third basemen played very near their respective bases, and the shortstop generally played "in" (hence the term), covering the area between second, third, and the pitchers box, or wherever the game situation required. As the game evolved, the fielding positions changed to the now-familiar "umbrella", with the first and third baseman generally positioned a short distance toward second base from their bases, the second baseman to the right side of second base, and the shortstop playing to the left of second base, as seen from the batter's perspective, filling in the gaps. |
|||
The [[first baseman]]'s job consists largely of making [[force play]]s at [[First baseman|first base]] on [[ground ball]]s hit to the other [[infielder]]s. When an [[infielder]] picks up a ball from the ground hit by the [[batter]], he must throw it to the [[first baseman]] before the [[batter]] gets to the base for the [[batter]] to be out. The [[first baseman]] must be able to catch the ball very well. The [[first baseman]] also fields balls hit near first base. The [[first baseman]] also has to receive throws from the pitcher in order to tag runners out who have reached base safely. The position is less physically challenging than the other positions, but there is still a lot of skill involved. [[Infielders]] don't always make good throws to first base, so it is the [[first baseman]]'s job to field any ball thrown toward him cleanly. Older players who can no longer fulfill the demands of their original positions also often become first basemen. The [[second baseman]] covers the area to the first-base side of [[Second baseman|second base]] and provides backup for the [[first baseman]] in [[bunt]] situations. He also is a cut-off for the [[outfield]]. This is when the outfielder doesn't have to throw the full distance from him/her to the base, but just to the cut-off. The [[shortstop]] fills the critical gap between second and third bases—where right-handed [[batter]]s generally hit ground balls—and also covers second or third base and the near part of [[left field]]. This player is also a cut-off for the [[outfield]]. This position is the most demanding defensively, so a good [[shortstop]] doesn't need to 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 [[infielder]]s, thus the nickname for third base as the "hot corner." |
|||
====The outfielders==== |
|||
The three outfielders, ''[[left fielder]]'', ''[[center fielder]]'', and ''[[right fielder]]'', are so named from the [[catcher]]'s perspective looking out onto the field. The [[right fielder]] generally has the strongest arm of all the [[outfielder]]s due to the need to make throws on runners attempting to take [[Third baseman|third base]]. The [[center fielder]] has more territory to cover than the corner [[outfielder]]s, 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 often cede to his direction when fielding [[fly ball]]s. Of all outfielders, the ''[[left fielder]]'' often has the weakest arm, as they generally do not need to throw the ball as far in order to prevent the advance of any baserunners. The left fielder still requires good fielding and catching skills, and tends to receive more balls than the right fielder due to the fact that [[right-handed]] hitters, who are much more common, tend to "pull" the ball into left field. The left fielder also backs up [[third baseman|third base]] on pick-off attempts from the [[catcher]]. |
|||
====Defensive strategy==== |
|||
=====Pitching===== |
|||
[[Image:baseball_pitching_motion_2004.jpg|thumb|420px|The typical motion of a pitcher]] |
|||
{{main|Pitching}} |
|||
Effective pitching is vitally important to a baseball team, as pitching is the key for the defensive team to retire batters and to preventing runners from getting on base. A full game usually involves over one hundred pitches thrown by each team. However, 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, starting pitchers tend more often to throw fractions of a game (typically 6 or 7 innings depending on their performance) about every five days (though a few complete games do still occur each year). |
|||
Multiple pitchers are often needed in a single game, including the [[starting pitcher]] and [[relief pitcher]](s). 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 only limiting factor is the size of the squad, naturally. In general, starting pitchers are not used in relief situations except sometimes during the post-season when every game is vital. If a game runs into many extra innings, a team may well empty its bullpen. If it then becomes necessary to use a "position player" as a pitcher, major league teams generally have certain players pre-designated as emergency relief pitchers, to avoid the embarrassment of using a less skillful player. In baseball's early years, squads were smaller, and relief pitchers were relatively uncommon, with the starter normally remaining for the entire game unless he was either thoroughly ineffective or became injured; today, with a much greater emphasis on pitch count (100 being the "magic number" in general), over the course of a single game each team will frequently use from two to five pitchers. In the 2005 [[ALCS]], all four of the [[Chicago White Sox]] victories were complete games by the starters, a highly noteworthy event in the modern game. |
|||
Although a pitcher can only take one step backward and one forward while delivering the ball, the pitcher has a great arsenal at his disposal in the variation of location, velocity, movement, and arm location (see [[list of baseball pitches|types of pitches]]). Most pitchers attempt to master two or three types of pitches; some pitchers throw up to 6 types of pitches with varying degrees of control. Common pitches include a [[fastball]], which is the ball thrown at just under maximum velocity; a [[curveball]], which is made to curve by rotation imparted by the pitcher; and a [[change-up]], which seeks to mimic the delivery of a fastball but arrives at significantly lower velocity. |
|||
To illustrate pitching strategy, consider the "fastball/change-up" combination: The average major-league pitcher can throw a fastball around 90 [[miles per hour]] (145 km/h), and a few pitchers have even exceeded 100 miles per hour (161 km/h). The change-up is thrown somewhere between 75 to 85 miles per hour (121 to 137 km/h). Since the batter's timing is critical to hitting a pitch, a batter swinging to hit what looks like a fastball, would be terribly fooled (swing and miss, hopefully) when the pitch turns out to be a much slower change-up. |
|||
Some pitchers choose to throw using the '[[Submarine (baseball)|submarine style]],' a very efficient sidearm or near-underhand motion. Pitchers with a submarine delivery are often very difficult to hit because of the angle and movement of the ball once released. [[Walter Johnson]], who threw one of the fastest fast balls in the history of the game, threw sidearm (though not submarine) rather than a normal overhand. True underhanded pitching is not illegal in Major League Baseball. However, it is difficult to generate enough velocity and movement with the underhand motion. |
|||
=====Fielding strategy===== |
|||
Only the pitcher's and catcher's locations are fixed, and then only at the beginning of each pitch. Thus, the players on the field move around as needed to defend against scoring a run. Many variations of this are possible, as location depends upon the situation. Circumstances such as the number of outs, the count (balls and strikes) on the batter, the number and speed of runners, the ability of the fielders, the ability of the pitcher, the type of pitch thrown, and the inning cause the fielders move to more strategic locations on the field. Common defensive strategies include: playing for the bunt, trying to prevent a [[stolen base]], moving to a shallow position to throw out a runner at home, playing at "[[double play]] depth", and moving fielders to locations where hitters are most likely to hit the ball. |
|||
===Team at bat=== |
|||
====Batters and runners==== |
|||
The ultimate goal of the team at bat is to score runs. To accomplish this feat, the team at bat successively (in a predetermined order called a ''lineup'' or ''batting order'') sends its nine players to the batter's box (adjacent to home plate) where they become batters. (Each team sets its batting lineup at the beginning of the game. Changes to the lineup are tightly limited by the rules of baseball and must be communicated to the umpires, who have the substitutions announced for the opposing team and fans. See [[#Substitutions|Substitutions]] below.) |
|||
A batter's turn at the plate is called a ''[[plate appearance]]''. Batters advance to the bases in a variety of ways: hits, walks, hit-by-pitch, and a few others. 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 occurs when the batter reaches a base: reaching only first base is a ''single''; reaching second base, a ''double''; third base, a ''triple''; and 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. 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 (called a force play). A batter always drops his bat when running the bases— otherwise, the bat would slow him down and could give rise to a call of fielder to catch it on its descent. A ''[[line drive]]'' is like a fly ball, but the ball is hit with such force that its trajectory seems 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]]''. When a ball is hit outside the foul line, it is a ''foul ball'', requiring the batter and all runners to return to their respective bases. |
|||
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. |
|||
When a runner reaches home plate, he scores a run and is no longer a base runner. He must leave the playing area until his 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. |
|||
====Batting==== |
|||
[[Image:Beiserebatedor.jpg|thumb|right|Seven-time [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] [[Barry Bonds]] just after swinging at a pitch (photo: Agência Brasil)]] |
|||
{{main|Batting (baseball)}} |
|||
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 quickly, so the decision to swing must be made in less than a tenth of a second, based on whether or not the ball is hittable and in the ''[[strike zone]]'', a region defined by the area directly above home plate and between the hollow beneath the batter's knee and the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants. 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 lightly; this is called a [[bunt]]. |
|||
On any pitch, if the batter swings at the ball and misses, he is charged with a ''[[strike (baseball statistics)|strike]]''. If the batter does not swing, the home plate [[umpire (baseball)|umpire]] judges whether or not the ball passed through the strike zone. If the ball, or any part of it, passed through the zone, it is ruled a strike; otherwise, it is called a ''[[ball (baseball statistics)|ball]]''. The number of balls and strikes thrown to the current batter is known as the [[count (baseball)|count]]; the count is always given balls first (except in Japan, where it is reversed), then strikes (such as 3-2 or "three and two", also known as a "full count," which would be 3 balls and 2 strikes). |
|||
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 an additional strike, except when there are already two strikes. Thus, a foul ball with two strikes leaves the count unchanged. (However, a noted exception to this rule is that a ball bunted foul with two strikes always counts as a strike.) If a pitch is batted foul or fair 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 bat contacts the ball, but the ball continues sharply and directly to the catcher's mitt and is caught by the catcher, it is a ''[[foul tip]]'', which is same as an ordinary strike. |
|||
When three strikes occur on a batter, it is a ''[[strikeout]]'' and the batter is automatically out unless the pitch is not caught by the catcher (a violation of the third strike rule<ref>The "third strike rule", which has been on the books since at least the time of the [[Knickerbocker Rules]], is that the batter can try to advance to first base on the third strike, if the third strike is not caught. However, the batter is ''not'' permitted to advance if first base is occupied, unless there are already two outs. This is to prevent the catcher from dropping the ball on purpose and setting up a potential double or triple play. The underlying concept is the same as the "[[Infield fly|Infield Fly Rule]]", to curb defensive [[shenanigan]]s. Both rules change when there are two outs, because then there is no defensive advantage to dropping the ball on purpose. Statistically, such a play still counts as a strikeout for the pitcher, plus either a passed ball charged to the catcher or a wild pitch charged to the pitcher, so if the batter advances safely to first on such a play, it is possible for a pitcher to record 4 (or more) strikeouts in one inning. Such has happened several dozen times in the history of the major leagues, and at least one time in the minor leagues a pitcher has recorded 5.</ref>). If the catcher drops the third strike the batter is permitted to attempt to advance to first base. In this case, the batter is not out (although the pitcher is awarded a strikeout). The catcher can try to get the batter out by tagging him with the ball or throwing the ball to first base and forcing him out. |
|||
On the fourth [[ball (baseball statistics)|ball]] the batter becomes a runner, and is entitled to advance to first base without risk of being put out, called a ''[[base on balls]]'' or a ''walk'' (abbreviated BB). If a pitch touches the batter, the umpire declares a ''[[hit by pitch]]'' (abbreviated HBP) and the batter is awarded first base, unless the umpire determines that the ball was in the strike zone when it hit the batter, or that the batter did not attempt to avoid being hit. In practice, neither exception is ever called unless the batter obviously tries to get hit by the pitch; even standing still in the box will virtually always be overlooked, and the batter awarded first. |
|||
====Baserunning==== |
|||
{{main|Baserunning}} |
|||
Once a batter becomes a runner and reaches first base safely, 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. When comparing two or more runners on the basepaths, the runner farther along is called a ''lead runner'' or a ''preceding runner''; the other runner is called a ''trailing runner'' or a ''following runner'' . Runners on second or third base are considered to be in ''scoring position'' since ordinary hits, even singles, will often score them. |
|||
A runner legally touching a base is "safe"—he may not be put out. Runners may attempt to advance from base to base at any time (except when the [[dead ball|ball is dead]]), but must attempt to advance when [[force play|forced]]--when all previous bases are occupied and the batter becomes a runner. 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 pitch|time of the pitch]]—called ''[[tag up|tagging up]]''—after the ball is first touched. Once they do this, they may attempt to advance at their own risk. |
|||
Only one runner may occupy a base at a time; if two runners are touching a base at once, the trailing runner is [[in jeopardy]] and will be out if [[tag out|tagged]], unless he was forced--in which case the lead runner is out when tagged for failing to reach his [[force base]]. Either such occurrence is very rare. Thus, after a play, at most three runners may be on the basepaths, one on each base--first, second, and third. When three runners are on base, this is called ''bases loaded''. |
|||
[[Image:Baseball_pick-off_attempt.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Pick-off attempt on runner (in red) at first base]] |
|||
Baserunners may attempt to advance, or [[stolen base|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''. An illegal attempt by the pitcher to throw a runner out, among other pitching violations, is called a [[balk]], allowing the runners to advance one base without risk of being put out. |
|||
====Batting and base running strategy==== |
|||
The goal of each batter is to become a base runner himself (usually by a safe hit or a [[base on balls]]), or to help move other base runners along. Batters attempt to "read" pitchers through pre-game preparation by studying the tendencies of pitchers and by talking to other batters that previously faced the pitcher. While batting, batters attempt to "read" pitches by looking for clues that the pitcher or catcher reveal. These clues (also referred to as "tipping pitches") include movements of the pitchers arms, shoulders, body, etc, and an attempt to "read" the spin of a ball early in the pitch to anticipate its trajectory. Batters also remain keenly aware of the count during their at bat. When the count is in the batter's favor (like 2-0), the batter is more likely to take a risky swing, but when the count is in the pitcher's favor (like 0-2), the batter will take a more conservative swing. |
|||
In general, base running is a tactical part of the game requiring good judgment by runners (and their coaches) to assess the risk in attempting to advance. During [[tag out|tag]] plays, a good [[slide (baseball)|slide]] can affect the outcome of the play. Managers will often simultaneously send a runner and require the batter to swing (a ''hit-and-run play'') in an attempt to advance runners. |
|||
During the course of play many offensive and defensive players run close to each other, and during [[tag out|tag]] plays, the defensive player must touch the offensive player. Although baseball is considered a [[non-contact]] sport, a runner may be allowed to make potentially dangerous contact with a fielder as part of an attempt to reach a base, unless that fielder is fielding a batted ball. (Noted exceptions to the dangerous contact rule are found throughout amateur competitions, including youth leagues, high school, and college baseball.) A good slide is often more advantageous than such contact, and "malicious" contact by runners is typically prohibited as offensive [[interference (baseball)|interference]]. The most common occurrence of contact of this nature is at home plate between the runner and the catcher, as the catcher is well padded and locked into position on or near the plate, and the runner will often try to knock the ball out of the catchers hand. Since the catcher is seen (symbolically and literally) as the last line of defense, it seems natural that the more physical play happens here. |
|||
===Innings and determining a winner=== |
|||
An ''[[innings#Baseball|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 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. |
|||
If both teams have scored the same number of runs at the end of a regular-length game, a [[tie (draw)|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 addition to that rule, a game might theoretically end if both the home and away team were to run out of players to substitute (See Substitutions). In [[Major League Baseball]] the longest game played was a 26-inning affair between the [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Brooklyn Robins]] and [[Atlanta Braves|Boston Braves]] on [[May 1]], [[1920]]. The game ended in a 1-1 tie called on account of darkness. |
|||
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, [[curfew]]s and the absence of adequate lighting caused more ties and shortened games. Also, with more modern playing surfaces better able to handle light rains, the process for calling or shortening a game due to weather has changed; it is more common than in the past to delay a game as much as 2 hours before a cancellation; also, a delay usually does not occur anymore until the rain is moderate-heavy and/or there is standing water on some part of the playing field. |
|||
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 (baseball)|forfeit]]. |
|||
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 in the United States often sing the chorus of "[[Take Me Out to the Ball Game]]," although since [[September 11, 2001]], "God Bless America" has become common. |
|||
===Substitutions=== |
|||
Each team is allowed to substitute for any player at any time the ball is dead. A batter who replaces another batter is referred to as a ''[[pinch hitter (baseball)|pinch hitter]]''; similarly, a ''[[pinch runner (baseball)|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. |
|||
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]]''. |
|||
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. |
|||
Most leagues, notably [[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. |
|||
===Rosters=== |
|||
{{main|Major League Baseball transactions}} |
|||
During the course of a game, each baseball team has players that are an active part of the game, called ''in the game'', and players that are not, called ''on the bench''. The players on the bench are needed in case of injuries and to make strategic pitching, fielding, and batting substitutions. To keep the game fair, each team is limited to a fixed number of players. That number is dictated by the rules of the game. In the major leagues, a team may have a maximum of 25 men on a roster from Opening Day until August 31. After that, teams may call up additional personnel, up to a maximum of 40 players on the active roster, with the exception of the postseason, where rosters are fixed at 25 men. |
|||
==Other personnel== |
|||
Each team is run by a ''[[manager (baseball)|manager]]'', whose primary responsibility during the game is to assign players to fielding positions, determine the lineup, deciding how to substitute players, and, most importantly, choosing the course of strategy throughout the game. Managers are also assisted by [[coach (baseball)|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. |
|||
Any baseball game involves one or more [[umpire (baseball)|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. |
|||
Another notable role in baseball is that of the [[official scorer]]. The results of baseball games are summarized in tables called [[box score (baseball)|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 (baseball)|hold]]'' or ''[[save (sport)|save]]'', specific situations in which a relief pitcher keeps a lead intact for his team. |
|||
==Baseball's unique style== |
|||
Baseball is unique among American sports in several ways. This uniqueness is a large part of its longstanding appeal and strong association with the American psyche. The philosopher [[Morris Raphael Cohen]] described baseball as a national [[religion]]. Many people believe that baseball is the ultimate combination of skill, timing, athleticism, and strategy. [[Yogi Berra]] (a [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] baseball player) once said: "Baseball is 90% mental—the other half is physical." Although these elements all contribute to baseball's appeal in American culture, they are also shared by its cousin game [[cricket]]. In many [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] nations, cricket and the culture surrounding it hold a similar place and affection to baseball's role in American culture. |
|||
The lure of baseball is in its subtleties: situational defense, pitch location, pitch sequence, statistics, ball parks, history, and player personalities. For the avid fan, the game—even during its slowest points—is never boring because of these nuances. Therefore, a full appreciation of baseball naturally requires some knowledge of the rules; it also requires deep observation of those endearing and enduring qualities that give baseball its 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. |
|||
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; in 2004, the average major league baseball game lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes. This is due to longer commercial breaks, increased offense, more pitching changes, and a slower pace of play. |
|||
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. |
|||
===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 (the "clutch") distinguished themselves with a timely hit or catch, or an untimely strikeout or error. |
|||
===The uniqueness of each baseball park=== |
|||
[[Image:Wrigleyboard_8_27_05.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|The main scoreboard at Wrigley Field. This photo was taken on the [[August 27]], [[2005 in baseball|2005]] Cubs-[[Florida Marlins|Marlins]] game.]] |
|||
{{main|Baseball parks}} |
|||
Unlike the majority of sports, baseball parks do not have to follow a strict set of guidelines. With the exception of the strict rules on the dimensions of the infield, discussed above, the [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp official rules] simply state that fields built after [[June 1]], [[1958]] must have a minimum distance of 325 feet (99 m) from home plate to the fences in left and right field and 400 (121 m) feet to center. This rule (a footnote to official rule 1.04) was passed specifically in response to the fence at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]], which was 251 feet (77 m) to the left field pole, 1 foot (0.3 m) over the bare minimum required by the rules. However, major league teams often skirt this rule. For example, [[Minute Maid Park]]'s left field is only 315 feet (96 m), and with a fence much lower than the famous "Green Monster" at [[Fenway Park]]. And there are no rules at all regulating the height of "fences, stands or other obstructions", other than the assumption that they exist. Because of this flexibility, there are all sorts of variations in parks, from different lengths to the fences to uneven playing surfaces to massive or minimal amounts of foul territory. All of these factors, as well as local variations in altitude, climate and game scheduling, can affect the nature of the games played at those ballparks, and a park may be referred to as either a "pitcher's park" or a "hitter's park", depending on which side benefits more from the unique factors present. [[Wrigley Field]], strangely enough, can be ''either'', depending on the wind direction at any given time. |
|||
==Statistics== |
|||
{{main|Baseball statistics}} |
|||
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, [[scout (sport)|baseball scouts]], managers, and players alike study player statistics to help them choose various strategies to best help their team. |
|||
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 perhaps better gauge a player's performance and contributions to his team from year to year. |
|||
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 pitch]]es 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. |
|||
Also important are more specific statistics for particular situations. 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 [[intentional base on balls|intentionally walk]] him in order to face a poorer hitter. |
|||
==Popularity== |
|||
Baseball is most popular in [[East Asia]] and [[the Americas]], although in [[South America]] only in the extreme northern portion, and to a certain extent [[Brazil]]. In [[Japan]], [[Sports in Puerto Rico#Baseball|Puerto Rico]], the [[Dominican Republic]], [[Cuba]], [[Panama]], [[Venezuela]], [[Nicaragua]], [[South Korea]], and [[Taiwan]], it is one of the most popular sports. The [[United States]] is the birthplace of baseball, and there it has long been regarded as more than just a "[[major sport]]" - it has been considered, for decades, the ''[[national pastime]]'' and [[Major League Baseball]] has been given a unique monopoly status by the [[United States Congress]]. Although three of the four most popular 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]] (except in the South, where "ballgame" is also used in association with [[American football|football]]). |
|||
Baseball has often been a barometer of the fabled American "melting pot", as immigrants from different regions have tried to "make good" in various areas including sports. In the 19th century, baseball was populated with many players of Irish or German extraction. A number of Native Americans had successful careers especially in the early 1900s. Italians and Poles appeared on many rosters during the 1920s and 1930s. Black Americans came on strong starting in the late 1940s after the barriers had been lifted, and continue to form a significant contingent. By the 1960s, Hispanics had started to make the scene, and had become a dominant force by the 1990s. In the 21st century, East Asians have been appearing in increasing numbers. |
|||
While baseball is perhaps the most popular sport in the [[United States]] and is certainly one of the two most popular along with football, it is difficult to determine which is more popular because of the wide discrepancy in number of games per season. For example, the total attendance for [[Major League Baseball|Major League]] games is roughly equal to that of all other American professional team sports combined, but football gets higher television ratings, both a function in part of the long (162-game) baseball season and short (16-game) football season. |
|||
==Organized leagues== |
|||
Baseball is played at a number of levels, by amateur and professionals, and by the young and the old. Youth programs use modified versions of adult and professional [[baseball rules]], which may include a smaller field, easier pitching (from a coach, a tee, or a machine), less contact, base running restrictions, limitations on innings a pitcher can throw, liberal balk rules, and run limitations, among others. Since rules vary from location-to-location and among the organizations, coverage of the nuances in those rules is beyond this article. |
|||
Following is a list of organized leagues: |
|||
* Youth Leagues |
|||
** [[Little League]], a youth program, headquartered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania (USA). |
|||
** [http://www.pony.org/ Pony Baseball], a youth program, headquartered in Washington, Pennsylvania (USA). |
|||
** [http://www.dizzydeanbbinc.org/ Dizzy Dean Baseball] a youth program in the USA. |
|||
** [http://www.baseball.legion.org American Legion Baseball], a youth program, headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. |
|||
** [http://www.usssa.com/sports/Home.asp?Sport=11 USSSA Baseball] a youth and adult program, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri (USA). |
|||
** [http://www.ripkenbaseball.com/ Ripken Baseball], a youth program, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland (USA). |
|||
** [http://www.baberuthleague.org/ Babe Ruth League], a youth program, headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey (USA). |
|||
** [[Moberly Midget League]] a youth program headquartered in Moberly, Missouri (USA). |
|||
* High School |
|||
** In the USA, the [[National Federation of State High School Associations]] (NFHS) and each state association governs the play of baseball at the high school level. |
|||
* Collegiate Level |
|||
** [[List of Collegiate Summer Baseball Leagues]] |
|||
** [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]], including [[NCAA Division I]] and the [[College World Series]], are collegiate level baseball programs played in the USA. |
|||
** National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) |
|||
* International Competition |
|||
** Many international baseball events are coordinated by the [[International Baseball Federation]], including [[World Cup of Baseball|The World Cup]] and The [[World Baseball Classic]]. |
|||
** As an [[Olympic sport]], see earlier section on the status of baseball in the Olympic games, and the article "[[Baseball at the Summer Olympics]]." |
|||
* Semi-professional baseball |
|||
** [http://eteamz.active.com/NSPBA/ National Semi-Pro Baseball Association] |
|||
* [[Professional baseball]] |
|||
** [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) in the United States; |
|||
** [[Minor League baseball]] in the United States; |
|||
** [http://www.independent-baseball.com/ Independent Baseball] |
|||
** [[Negro League baseball]], defunct since 1958, in the United States. |
|||
** [[All-American Girls Professional Baseball League]] |
|||
** [[Mexican Baseball]] |
|||
** [[Japanese Baseball]] |
|||
** [[Taiwan professional baseball]] |
|||
** [[Korean Baseball Organization]] (KBO) |
|||
** [[Australian Baseball]] |
|||
** There are also smaller professional leagues in [[China Baseball League|China]], [[Serie A1 (baseball)|Italy]], [[Bundesliga (baseball)|Germany]], the [[Hoofdklasse Honkbal|Netherlands]], and many others. |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
*[[Olly Olly Oxen Free]] |
|||
{{portal}} |
|||
* [[Finnish baseball]] |
|||
* [[Russian baseball]] |
|||
* [[Comparison between cricket and baseball]] |
|||
* [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] |
|||
* [[Baseball awards]] |
|||
* [[Simplified baseball rules]] |
|||
* [[Major League Baseball transactions]] |
|||
* [[Vintage Base Ball]] |
|||
===Culture=== |
|||
* [[Baseball slang]] |
|||
* [[Ceremonial first pitch]] |
|||
* [[List of baseball jargon]] |
|||
* [[List of baseball nicknames]] |
|||
* "[[Casey at the Bat]]" |
|||
* "[[Curse of the Bambino]]" |
|||
* "[[Curse of the billy goat]]" |
|||
* "[[Who's on First?]]" |
|||
* [[Rawlings (company)]] |
|||
* [[Baseball superstition]] |
|||
* [[Baseball card]] |
|||
* [[Baseball movie]] |
|||
* [[Fantasy baseball]] |
|||
* [[Cuban Baseball]] |
|||
* [[Baseball Metaphor]] |
|||
===Statistics and lists=== |
|||
* [[Baseball fielding positions]] |
|||
* [[Baseball scorekeeping]] |
|||
* [[List of baseball jargon]] (terms used in the game) |
|||
* [[Baseball slang]] (slang also used outside the scope of baseball) |
|||
* [[List of rare baseball events]] (occurring within a single game) |
|||
* [[:Category:Baseball terminology|Baseball terminology]] |
|||
*[[Sports league attendances]] |
|||
==Footnotes== |
|||
<references /> |
|||
==References== |
|||
* [[Joe Brinkman]] and Charlie Euchner, ''The Umpire's Handbook'', rev. ed. (1987) |
|||
* [[Bill James]] and John Dewan, ''Bill James Presents the Great American Baseball Stat Book'', ed. by Geoff Beckman et al. (1987) |
|||
* [[Bill James]], ''The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract'', (ISBN 0743227220) |
|||
* Robert Peterson, ''Only the Ball Was White'' (1970, reprinted 1984) |
|||
* Joseph L. Reichler (ed.), ''The Baseball Encyclopedia'', 7th rev. ed. (1988). (since 1871) |
|||
* Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig, ''The Image of Their Greatness: An Illustrated History of Baseball from 1900 to the Present'', updated ed. (1984) |
|||
* Lawrence S. Ritter (comp.), ''[[Glory of Their Times|The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It]]'', new ed. (1984) |
|||
* David Quentin Voigt, ''Baseball, an Illustrated History'' (1987) |
|||
* Charles Euchner, ''The Last Nine Innings: Inside the Real Game Fans Never See'' (2006) |
|||
* Jeff MacGregor, The New Electoral Sex Symbol: Nascar Dad, ''The New York Times'' ([[January 18]] [[2004]]) |
|||
* Michael Mandelbaum, ''The Meaning of Sports'', (PublicAffairs, ISBN 1-58648-252-1). |
|||
* ''Diamonds of the North: A Concise History of Baseball in Canada'' by [[William Humber]] (Oxford University Press, 1995). |
|||
* ''Old Time Baseball and the London Tecumsehs of the late 1870s'' by Les Bronson, a recorded (and later transcribed) talk given to the London & Middlesex Historical Society on [[February 15]] [[1972]]. Available in the London Room of the Central Branch of the London Public Library. |
|||
* ''Journal of Sport History'' (1988), ''A Critical Examination of a Source in Early Ontario Baseball: The Reminiscence of Adam E. Ford'' by UWO Professor Robert K. Barney and Nancy Bouchier. |
|||
* ''[[The Beaver]], Exploring Canada's History'' October-November 1994, ''Baseball's Canadian Roots: Abner Who?'' by Mark Kearney. |
|||
* ''The Northern Game: Baseball the Canadian Way'' by Bob Elliott (Sport Classic, 2005). |
|||
* '''The 1948 London Majors: A Great Canadian Team'' by Dan Mendham (unpublished academic paper, [[UWO]], [[December 7]] [[1992]]). |
|||
* An Eight-Page Indenture/ Instrument #33043 between The London and Western Trusts Company Limited, The Corporation of The City of London and [[John Labatt, Limited]], dated [[December 31]] [[1936]], and registered on title in the Land Registry Office for the City of London on [[January 2]] [[1937]], conveying Tecumseh Park to the City of London along with $10,000 on the provisos that the athletic field be preserved, maintained and operated "for the use of the citizens of the City of London as an athletic field and recreation ground" and that it be renamed "The John Labatt Memorial Athletic Park." |
|||
* ''Heritage Baseball: City of London'' a souvenir program from [[July 23]] [[2005]], celebrating the history of [[Labatt Park]] and [[London, Ontario]]'s 150th anniversary as an incorporated city. |
|||
* [http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050802&content_id=1154441&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos Pittsfield: Small city, big baseball town], earliest known baseball reference |
|||
==External links== |
|||
* [http://www.mlb.com Official Website of Major League Baseball] |
|||
* [http://www.mlbamerica.com Daily MLB News and Analysis] |
|||
* [http://www.steroidsinbaseball.net Details regarding the proliferation of steroids in baseball] |
|||
* [http://www.baseballsoftballuk.com Official Website of the British Baseball Federation] |
|||
* [http://www.nymutuals.com/ New York Mutuals Vintage Base Ball Club] |
|||
* [http://www.oldbethpage.org/baseball_info.htm 19th Century Base Ball at Old Bethpage Long Island] |
|||
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/baseball_basics/on_the_field.jsp Baseball Basics from MLB.com] |
|||
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp MLB Official Rules] |
|||
* [http://www.cycleback.com/museumbb.html Online Museum of Early Baseball Memorabilia] |
|||
* [http://www.baseballblogs.org Baseball Blogs Directory] |
|||
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com Baseball Statistics] |
|||
* [http://www.aroundthediamond.com Major and Minor League Baseball Coverage] |
|||
* [http://www.baseball-links.com/links/International/ International Baseball] |
|||
* [http://www.pbs.org/stealinghome Stealing Home - PBS documentary about baseball and society in Cuba] |
|||
* [http://www.robbinssports.com/articles/baseball-in-shanghai-china.php Baseball in China Article] |
|||
*[http://www.sports-facts.com/mlb.htm MLB News and Facts] |
|||
*[http://autographedpc.home.att.net/TTM/ A look at baseball through rarely seen postcards] |
|||
*[http://www.probaseballarchive.com Pro Baseball Newspaper Articles Archive] |
|||
*[http://www.baseball-catcher.com The Baseball Catcher - Information on Catching] |
|||
*[http://www.milb.com The Official Site of Minor League Baseball] |
|||
*{{Whmc stl photodb|keywords=baseball|title=Baseball}} |
|||
*[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/bbhtml/bbhome.html Library of Congress Baseball Cards 1887-1914] |
|||
*[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/spaldinghtml/spaldinghome.html Library of Congress Spalding Baseball Guides 1889-1939] |
|||
*[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/robinson/ Library of Congress Baseball and Jackie Robinson 1860-1972] |
|||
{{Olympic baseball}} |
|||
{{featured article}} |
|||
[[Category:Baseball| ]] |
|||
[[Category:Ball games]] |
|||
[[Category:Team sports]] |
|||
[[Category:American culture]] |
|||
{{Link FA|eo}} |
|||
[[Category:Children's games]] |
|||
[[ar:بيسبول]] |
|||
[[ja:缶けり]] |
|||
[[bg:Бейзбол]] |
|||
[[ca:Beisbol]] |
|||
[[cs:Baseball]] |
|||
[[da:Baseball]] |
|||
[[de:Baseball]] |
|||
[[et:Pesapall]] |
|||
[[es:Béisbol]] |
|||
[[eo:Basbalo]] |
|||
[[eu:Beisbol]] |
|||
[[fr:Baseball]] |
|||
[[gl:Béisbol]] |
|||
[[ko:야구]] |
|||
[[it:Baseball]] |
|||
[[he:כדור בסיס]] |
|||
[[la:Basipila]] |
|||
[[lv:Beisbols]] |
|||
[[lt:Beisbolas]] |
|||
[[hu:Baseball]] |
|||
[[nl:Honkbal]] |
|||
[[ja:野球]] |
|||
[[no:Baseball]] |
|||
[[nn:Baseball]] |
|||
[[pl:Baseball]] |
|||
[[pt:Basebol]] |
|||
[[ro:Baseball]] |
|||
[[ru:Бейсбол]] |
|||
[[sq:Bejsbolli]] |
|||
[[scn:Baseball]] |
|||
[[simple:Baseball]] |
|||
[[sk:Bejzbal]] |
|||
[[sr:Бејзбол]] |
|||
[[sh:Bejzbol]] |
|||
[[fi:Baseball]] |
|||
[[sv:Baseboll]] |
|||
[[tl:Beysbol]] |
|||
[[th:เบสบอล]] |
|||
[[vi:Bóng chày]] |
|||
[[tr:Beyzbol]] |
|||
[[zh:棒球]] |
Revision as of 14:56, 7 June 2006
Kick the can (a.k.a. "Tip the can") is a game, related to tag, hide and seek, and capture the flag which can be played outdoors by anywhere from three to a few dozen people (kids from about age 7 or older).
In general the game goes something like this: One person (possibly a team of people) is (are) designated as "it" and a can (paint can or metal pail (bucket)) or similar object is placed in the open (usually the middle of a backyard,a green, cul de sac, parking lot or very lightly traveled street).
The other players run off and hide while the "it" covers his eyes and counts to 100 or so (call it two minutes at one count per second).
"It" then tries to find and tag each of the players. Any play who is tagged (caught and touched) is sent to the holding pen (jail) which is simply a designated area for all the captured players to congregate, generally in plain sight of the can. Any player who has not been caught can "kick the can" (thus the name of the game). If they can kick the can without being caught then they set all of the captured players free.
If "it" catches all of the players he or she wins that round and generally a new "it" is designated for the next round.
Thus this game is one of skill, strategy and stealth as well as fleetness. (In some variations "it" merely has to call out a player's name and hiding place rather than tagging him by touch. In this variation, "it" must jump over the can after calling the player's name and location. This rule can also be invoked to be fair for smaller children playing with teens or pre-teens).
As another variation, more than one can (or milk cartons -- easier on bare feet when kicking them over) is used. The cartons are scattered at the beginning of the game when everyone runs to hide. "It" must gather them and stack them so they don't fall over. Then, when "it" spots someone hiding, "it" must run back and touch the tower of cartons without knocking them down. If they fall, the "caught" hider can run away and hide again. If they remain standing, the hider goes to jail. While "it" is searching for others, someone not yet caught can sneak in and kick over the cartons, freeing those in jail.