Baseball and its variants are the focus of this part of our web guide.

Sometimes referred to as America's pastime, the origins of the game were in the various forms of bat-and-ball games popular in early Britain, Ireland, and Europe. The modern version of baseball evolved from these games, with the first formal rules for the game published by Alexander Cartwright in 1848. Cartwright was a founding member of the New York Knickerbockers Base Ball Club in the 1840s. Cartwright is often credited as the father of baseball, although there is little evidence that he was considered an originator of the game during his lifetime. He wasn't inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame until 1938.

For many years, Abner Doubleday was viewed as the father of baseball. However, baseball historians have refuted that claim. Doubleday never made that claim himself. He was prouder of his military service. There is little doubt, however, that Doubleday introduced the game to a large number of Americans. As a high-ranking officer in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, he introduced the game to his men to boost morale, and they brought baseball home to their communities throughout the country, probably doing more to spread the game throughout the country than any other one person.

Early forms of baseball had various names, including base ball, goal ball, round ball, fetch-catch, stool ball, and base. These games were played with varying rules, depending on the region. The Knickerbocker Rules, established in 1845, represent an early effort to formalize the rules for baseball.

Baseball is played between two teams of nine players each. The game is divided into nine innings, with each team alternating between batting and fielding in each inning. The objective of the game is to score runs by hitting a pitched ball and running around a series of four bases arranged in a diamond shape: first base, second base, third base, and home plate.

The game begins with the pitcher throwing the ball to the batter, who attempts to hit the ball into play. A batter is out if he swings and misses three times or fails to swing at a pitch deemed playable (a strike). If the batter hits the ball, they must run to first base and can continue to advance to subsequent bases if possible. Balls hit over the fence are considered a home run, scoring for the batter and any other members of his team who are on base. For example, if players are on all three bases when a ball is hit over the fence, it is considered a grand slam home run, scoring four points.

The fielding team tries to get the batter or any runner out by catching a hit ball before it touches the ground, tagging the runner, or throwing it to first base before the batter reaches it. An inning ends after three outs have been called.

Forms of baseball using similar rules of play include Major League Baseball (MLB), the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, where teams are divided into the National League and the American League. Other countries have different leagues. Minor League Baseball is a professional baseball organization operating below MLB, serving as a development league for MLB players.

Other levels of play include Collegiate Baseball, High School Baseball, Babe Ruth League Baseball, Little League Baseball, and Softball.

Collegiate Baseball is played at the college or university level, governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. High School Baseball is competitive baseball played at the junior and senior varsity level by players aged 13-18, serving as preparation for collegiate or professional levels. Babe Ruth League Baseball is for players aged 13-18, offering a bridge between Little League and High School baseball. Little League Baseball includes both baseball and softball programs for children aged 4-12 and is designed to serve recreational, developmental, and competitive goals. Tee Ball (T-ball) is an introductory and less competitive version of baseball for young children, where the ball is placed on a tee for hitting.

Softball is similar to baseball but played with a larger ball and underhand pitching. Softball fields are smaller, with shorter base paths and pitching distances.

Other variations of baseball include Baseball5, Punchball, Stickball, Rounders, and Buntball.

Baseball5 is a fast-paced, urban version of baseball played with only five players per team and no bats. Punchball is a street game resembling baseball but played with a rubber ball and no bat, often using bare hands to hit the ball. Stickball is an informal version played in streets or open spaces with a broomstick and rubber ball. Rounders is a bat-and-ball game similar to baseball, originating in Great Britain and Ireland, focusing on hitting, running, and fielding. Buntball is played with five players per team and is designed to accommodate confined spaces.

Categories

Recommended Resources

Search for Baseball on Google or Bing