How to Play Baseball

Guide Note

If you missed out on Little League, because of age, gender or country of origin, it's not too late for you to learn How to Play Baseball!

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. The Basics
  3. Equipment Needed
  4. Offensive Skills
  5. Defensive Skills
  6. Specialized Positions
  7. Conclusion
  8. Resources and References for How to Play Baseball

How to Play Baseball Tips

  1. Keep the ball in front of you when fielding
  2. Don't look at the ball when base running
  3. See the ball all the way through when batting

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Introduction

  • Journalist George Will says of baseball, "...baseball is a habit....the slowly rising crescendo of each game, the rhythm of the long season -- these are the essentials and they are remarkably unchanged....if someone from President McKinley's era were brought back and seated in a ball park, nothing much would seem unfamiliar. Of how many American institutions can that be said?"1
  • Who wouldn't want to be a part of this great American institution? Of course, you can participate as a spectator, but it's lots more fun to get into the game. So let's get started, and learn all about How to Play Baseball!

The Basics

The Object of the Game

  • The object of the game of baseball is to score the most runs.
    • A run is scored when a player on the offensive (batting) team advances around all four bases, touching each in turn, without being "put out" by a player on the defensive (fielding) team.5

The Teams

  • The game of baseball is played between two teams. Although each team can have more players on their roster, only 9 will be playing at any given time. Substitutions can be made, pursuant to certain rules, so that each team has players "on the bench" who may be called into play at some point in the game.6

The Field

  • A baseball field consists of an infield, with exposed dirt, and a grassy outfield. If you're interested in the specifics of how to construct a field, Baseball Almanac has detailed dimensions and layout tips.7
  1. The infield, sometimes referred to as the diamond, is laid out in a square. The precise field dimensions vary by age group.8 Major League fields have 90 feet between each base, while Little League bases are only 60 feet apart.
    1. The starting and ending base is called home plate. Home plate resides within the batter's box.
    2. The other corners, going counter clockwise from home, are first base, second base and third base.
    3. In the middle of the infield is the pitcher's mound, where the pitcher stands to throw the ball to the batter.
  2. The outfield consists of the area beyond the infield, bordered by the first and third baselines.

Innings

  • An inning consists of two halves, called the "top" and the "bottom".9
  1. The top of the inning comes first. During the top, the players on the visiting team attempt to hit the ball and score runs. At the same time, the team who is hosting the game is "in the field", and is trying to prevent the visiting team from scoring.
  2. In the bottom of the inning, which is the second half, the roles are switched, with the visiting team in the field, and the home team at bat.
  3. Major League games consist of 9 innings; youth leagues generally only play six or seven innings.
  4. At the end of the top of the last inning, if the home game is ahead, the game will end.

Defensive Fielding Positions

  1. Pitcher: Throws the ball to the catcher, past the batter, in attempt to prevent it from being hit.10
  2. Catcher: Determines what pitch will be thrown, receives the ball and attempts to prevent runners from advancing. 11
  3. Infielders: First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Short Stop: Field balls that are hit in the infield.12 13 14 15
  4. Outfielders: Left Field, Center Field, Right Field Field balls that are hit in the outfield, as well as provide a back-up for balls that get past the infielders.16 17 18

Balls and Strikes

  1. The batter gets up to three strikes, while attempting to hit the ball.19 After three strikes he is charged with an out, and the at bat ends. There are several different ways to incur a strike:
    1. Hitting the the ball into foul territory (unless the batter already has two strikes)
    2. Swinging without making contact with the ball
    3. Not swinging on a pitch that the umpire decides was inside the strike zone
  2. The pitcher is required to throw pitches inside the strike zone.20 A pitch outside the strike zone, that a batter refused to swing at, is called a "ball". After the fourth "ball" in an at bat, the batter is entitled to walk to first base.

Equipment Needed

  1. (Creative Commons photo by Kevin Dooley)
    (Creative Commons photo by Kevin Dooley)
    There are baseball gloves designed for specialized positions on the field, but a general all purpose fielder's glove is all that most players need. The size does vary, however, ranging from the small gloves worn by a child playing Little League, to the professional models worn in the Major Leagues. This chart will help you determine the best size glove for you.21 All gloves are different, though, so trying one on is the best way to determine if it will work for you.
  2. All baseballs are a standard size, but differ in how tightly they are wound. Major League balls are wound tightest, giving them more "pop" when hit by the bat. 22 23 24
  3. Baseball bats vary by size and weight. A bat that's too long or too heavy will be difficult to swing effectively; a bat that's too short or too light won't allow the hitter to use all their power. While trying bats out in person is best, here are some general guidelines to use for sizing a bat.25
  4. Baseball cleats give better traction on the baseball field than sneakers do.
  5. A Batting helmet is essential for safety. Balls can be pitched with a lot of speed, and can do serious damage if they hit a batter.

Special Equipment for the Catcher

  1. Face mask
  2. Chest protector
  3. Shin guards
  4. Catcher's mitt
  5. Athletic supporter with cup

Offensive Skills

  • (Creative Commons photo by Scott Ableman)
    (Creative Commons photo by Scott Ableman)
    The goal of the offensive team is to get around the bases. The first step in doing this is to get on base. Although there are technically 23 ways for a batter to reach first base, the most common ways are by hitting or walking.26

Batting Basics

  • When play begins, all nine members of the defensive team take their positions on the field, and the member of the offensive team who is at bat approaches home plate, and takes a position in the batter's box.27
  1. The pitcher throws the ball towards the batter.
  2. The batter attempts to hit the ball with the bat to a location that is within the field of play, but out of the reach of the defensive players.
    1. If he is able to hit the ball, he starts to run around the bases.
    2. If he successfully reaches first base without being called out, he can stop or attempt to continue to run around the bases.
    3. If the ball is caught, or can be thrown to first base before he gets there, he is out.
    4. If he continues to run and the ball can be thrown to the next base before he safely gets there, he is out.
  3. After the first batter is either safely on base, or out, the next batter takes a turn at bat.
  4. The first batter will attempt to reach additional bases safely during the next batter's turn at bat.
  5. The offensive and defensive roles are switched after three offensive players are out.
  • Players bat in a fixed order. The order can change from game to game, but once it is set for a game, it's fixed for that game. After the last batter in the order has hit, the first batter comes up again. For example, if the final out in an inning is made by the fifth batter in the order, then the sixth batter will be the first to hit when the team has its next turn at bat. When a player is substituted for during the game, the substitute takes his place in the batting order.

Batting Terms

  1. Base Hit: A ball hit in fair territory that allows the batter to reach first base safely.
  2. Bunt: A ground ball in the infield fair territory, placed as close to home plate as possible. A player bunts by holding the bat in front of them and tapping the ball, rather than swinging.28 29
  3. Home Run: A fair ball hit far enough that a batter can run around all four bases without an out being made by the defensive team.
  4. Fair Ball: A ball hit within the parameters of the first base line on the right, and the third base line on the left.
  5. Foul Ball: A ball hit that lands outside of fair territory, or that initially lands within fair territory, but rolls into foul territory in the infield before being touched by a fielder.
  6. Strike Zone: The area over home plate, bounded by the players knees and shoulders.
  7. Ball: This is the term for a pitch that the umpire determines has crossed the plate outside of the strike zone.
  8. Walk: A pitcher is permitted 3 balls for each batter; when the umpire determines that the pitcher has thrown four balls to a single batter in one at bat, the batter earns a walk, becoming a base runner eligible to advance to first base.

Moving Around the Bases

  • A batter becomes a baserunner once he gets on base. In order to score a run, a baserunner must move around all the bases, touching each in turn.30 There are many detailed rules and strategies for baserunning, but a few of the key points are:
    • Only one runner can occupy a base at a time.
    • Runners must stay on the base paths
    • Baserunners must advance in order31
  • Stealing is legal in baseball! If a base runner is able to reach the next base during another player's at bat, before the ball is hit fairly, he is said to have stolen the base.32

Defensive Skills

  1. The batter hits a ball that is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground.
  2. First base is touched by a fielder holding a ball that he hit, before he gets there.
  3. He strikes out.33
  • A base runner is out when:
  1. He is between bases and is tagged by a fielder holding the ball
  2. A fielder holding the ball has touched the base in front of him, and the base he previously occupied is now occupied by another base runner. This is called a force play.34

Fielding Basics

  • The single most important thing to remember when fielding in baseball is this--keep the ball in front of you.35 It's much better to have to run towards a ball, than to have to chase it if it goes past you.

Fielding Ground Balls

  • A ground ball is hit (no surprise here) on the ground. They are usually fielded by the infield. In order to successfully field a ground ball, an infielder should:
  1. Know where you are going to throw the ball before you get it.
    • Are you trying to get an out at first? Or are you looking to throw a base-runner out at home?
  2. Get into your ready position when the batter comes up to the plate. 36
  3. Keep your eye on the ball as you move towards it.
  4. Guide the ball into your mitt.
  5. Pivot, point your shoulder at your target and throw the ball.

Fielding Pop-ups

  • A pop-up, otherwise known as a fly ball, is a ball hit high enough that a fielder can get underneath it before he catches it.37
  1. Know where all the base runners are, so you have a chance to make an out in addition to catching the pop-up.
  2. Stay back until the ball is hit, moving forward as you make the catch.

Specialized Positions

Pitching

  • The pitcher's primary responsibility is to throw a pitch in the strike zone that the batter can't hit.38 They usually throw a variety of pitches, such as a fastball, a curveball or a knuckleball. Pitchers also back up the fielders on plays, particularly in the case of a bunt or a passed ball that results in a play at home plate.

Catching

  • The catcher is a pivotal position on a baseball team. He determines which pitch the pitcher will throw, and where it will be targeted.39 He receives the ball, and helps to keep base runners from advancing, by throwing the ball to fielders who can make an out. He is also the fielder generally responsible for making outs at home plate.

Conclusion

  • Take every opportunity you can to watch the game, whether attending a live game in a ball park, or watching one on TV. You can practice hitting and fielding skills by yourself, or with a friend, in between games. Pick up games are also fun ways to learn the game, before you put your skills to the test in a formal league! Most all--have fun, and remember, its only a game!

Resources and References for How to Play Baseball

  1. ↑ The New York Times: Creating the National Pastime
  2. ↑ PBS: Baseball for Beginners Glossary
  3. ↑ Sports Spectator: Fan's Guide to Baseball...Baseball Glossary
  4. ↑ MLB: Baseball Basics: On the Field
  5. ↑ VOA: To Touch All Bases: Baseball Rules!
  6. ↑ MLB: Official Rules
  7. ↑ Baseball Almanac: Baseball Field Layout and Construction
  8. ↑ PBS: Baseball for Beginners
  9. ↑ Expert Village Video: Innings
  10. ↑ Baseball Drills: Baseball Drills-Pitching Skills
  11. ↑ Baseball Drills: Baseball Drills-Catcher Skills
  12. ↑ Baseball Drills: Middle Infield Play
  13. ↑ YouthBaseballInfo.com: How to Play Second Base (the Right Way)
  14. ↑ Baseball Drills: Playing 3rd Base
  15. ↑ 1001 Baseball Instructional Ideas: Short Stop
  16. ↑ How to Coach Baseball:Playing Left Field
  17. ↑ The New York Times: The Art of Catching a Fly... (March 1, 2004)
  18. ↑ Expert Village Video: How to Play Right Field
  19. ↑ British Olympic Association: Baseball Rules
  20. ↑ MLB: The Strike Zone
  21. ↑ Baseball Corner: Glove Buying Guide
  22. ↑ University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Evolution of the Baseball
  23. ↑ Chemical&Engineering News: What's That Stuff? (March 29, 1999)
  24. ↑ Hit!Run!Score!: Baseball Buyer's Guide
  25. ↑ Baseballbats.net: Choosing a Bat
  26. ↑ The Hard Ball Times: Rules and Quirks
  27. ↑ Jim's Baseball Rules: Rules for Position of the Batter in the Batter's Box
  28. ↑ Expert Village Video: How to Bunt - Baseball Hitting Techniques
  29. ↑ Expert Village Video: Bunt (Baseball)
  30. ↑ Baseballexcellence.com: Instructions and Fundamentals
  31. ↑ Coach Jim's: Baserunning Tips and Drills
  32. ↑ VideoJug Video: Stealing Bases In Baseball
  33. ↑ Google Books: Baseball Field Guide
  34. ↑ Baseball Almanac: Baseball Rules
  35. ↑ QC Baseball: Baseball Coaching: How to Field Ground Balls
  36. ↑ Buzzle: Fielding Ground Balls
  37. ↑ New Scientist: Why a Baseball 'Pop-Up' is Tricky to Catch (April 13, 2008)
  38. ↑ The Complete Pitcher: Pitching Mastery
  39. ↑ Baseball Catchers: Catching Skills


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