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Youth Program Central* Search for Baseball Programs
BASEBALL HISTORY OF BASEBALL The exact inception of the modern day game of baseball is difficult to pinpoint. There were a variety of early games that were analogous to not only each other, but to the present day version of baseball in that they required running, a bat of some sort, and a ball. Thus, baseball is likely derived from a variety of early baseball-like games. In 1801, author Joseph Strutt, declared in his book The Sports and Pasttimes of the People of England, that games similar to baseball existed in the 14th century. He also stated that stoolball, a British game, was the foundation on which baseball was formed. A 1330 poem, by William Pagula, comments on a game called stoolball. In one version of stoolball, a player holding a bat, stood in front of a stool with three legs, that was turned upside down. A ball was pitched to the player in front of the stool. The player was out if, after the ball was hit, another player caught it, or if the ball hit one of the stool legs. We know of an English game called base-ball as it was mentioned in a book called Little Pretty Pocket-Book, published in 1744. In 1796, Johann Guts Muths, of Germany, published a book of rules for "English base-ball." In 1845, Alexander Cartwright published a set of rules for modern day baseball written for the Manhattan Knickerbockers team. Cartwright has since become known as the father of modern day baseball. The rules were later standardized in 1857. In 1858, a baseball league was formed - the National Association of Base Ball Players. After the Civil War, there was over 100 baseball clubs. In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first professional baseball team, was established. (1) HOW TO PLAY BASEBALL A baseball field contains two sections, an infield and an outfield. The bases, including home plate, are located in the infield. The area immediately behind the infield, often covered in grass, is known as the outfield. A baseball team is composed of nine players. Players include a catcher, pitcher, three outfielders, three basemen, and a shortstop. The outfielders play either in left, center, or right field and are there to retrieve baseballs that go past the infield. The basemen each occupy either first, second, or third base and are there to cover the plays that occur at those particular bases and/or to catch balls that come their way. The shortstop is positioned between second and third base. His job is to retrieve and play the balls hit to that particular side of the infield. (2) A baseball game is divided into nine innings (youth leagues usually play fewer innings.) Each inning is divided in half - a top half and a bottom half. Each team during their individual inning half, has the opportunity to score points by hitting the baseball and advancing a player around the bases. One point is scored for the team that is able to get one player across home plate. (3) The player attempting to hit the baseball is required to stand within the batter's box. This box is found on both sides of home plate and is rectangular in shape. If the pitcher throws a ball in the strike zone, which is located over home plate, between the batter's shoulders and knees, and the batter does not attempt to hit the ball, a strike is called. When the player has three strikes against him he is called out. When the batting team reaches three outs, they lose their turn to bat for that inning and must occupy the outfield in an attempt to keep the other team from scoring. If the batter hits the baseball along the ground it's known as a grounder. Sometimes the batter will only partially swing at the ball in an attempt to keep the baseball infield. This is called a bunt. A baseball that is hit past the infield and high into the air is called a fly ball. If the batter hits the baseball high into the air, but within the infield, he will be called out if there are less than two outs already and there is a runner on first and second base. This is called the infield fly rule. The rule applies even if no one from the other team catches the baseball. If the batter hits a home run with the bases loaded, it's called a grand slam. (4) If the pitcher throws a ball outside of the strike zone and the batter does not attempt to hit the baseball, this is called a ball. If the batter swings at a baseball and misses, regardless of whether the ball was thrown in the strike zone, a strike is called. The batter that hits the baseball only to have it caught by a member of the opposing team is called out. Any player that cannot reach the base, for which he is headed before an outfielder in possession of the ball does, is called out. If an outfielder in possession of the baseball touches the batter running towards first base, the batter is also called out. The object is to advance the most players across home plate, thus achieving the highest score and winning the game. (3) REFERENCES 1. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. "Origins of baseball." (09/07/04). 2. Mom's Guide to Sports. "Mom's guide to Baseball." (09/11/04) 3. Mom's Guide to Sports. "Mom's guide to Baseball." (09/11/04) 4. Mom's Guide to Sports. "Mom's guide to Baseball." (09/11/04)
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