| Baseball is played between two teams of nine | | | | x 6" (~ 61 cm x 15 cm) plate located atop the |
| players each on a baseball field, under the | | | | pitcher's mound — during the entire |
| authority of one or more officials, called | | | | pitch, so he can only take one step backward |
| umpires. There are usually four umpires in | | | | and one forward in delivering the ball. The |
| major league games; up to six (and as few as | | | | catcher's job is to receive any pitches that |
| one) may officiate depending on the league | | | | the batter does not hit and to "call" the |
| and the importance of the game. There are | | | | game by a series of hand movements that |
| four bases. Numbered counter-clockwise, | | | | signal to the pitcher what pitch to throw and |
| first, second and third bases are cushions | | | | where. If the pitcher disagrees with the |
| (sometimes informally referred to as bags) | | | | call, he will "shake off" the catcher by |
| shaped as 15 in (38 cm) squares which are | | | | shaking his head; he accepts the sign by |
| raised a short distance above the ground; | | | | nodding. Each team has a different set of |
| together with home plate, the fourth "base," | | | | signals, though the number 1 is almost |
| they form a square with sides of 90 ft (27.4 | | | | universal as a fast ball. The catcher's role |
| m) called the diamond. Home base (plate) is a | | | | becomes more crucial depending on how the |
| pentagonal rubber slab known as simply home. | | | | game is going, and how the pitcher responds |
| The playing field is divided into three main | | | | to a given situation. Each pitch begins a new |
| sections: | | | | play, which might consist of nothing more |
| | | | than the pitch itself. |
| The infield, containing the four bases, is | | | | |
| for general defensive purposes bounded by the | | | | Each half-inning, the goal of the defending |
| foul lines and within the grass line (see | | | | team is to get three members of the other |
| figure). | | | | team out. A player who is out must leave the |
| | | | field and wait for his next turn at bat. |
| The outfield is the grassed area beyond the | | | | There are many ways to get batters and |
| infield grass line between the foul lines, | | | | baserunners out; some of the most common are |
| and bounded by a wall or fence. | | | | catching a batted ball in the air, tag outs, |
| | | | force outs, and strikeouts. After the |
| Foul territory is the entire area outside the | | | | fielding team has put out three players from |
| foul lines. | | | | the opposing team, that half of the inning is |
| | | | over and the team in the field and the team |
| The game is played in nine innings (although | | | | at bat switch places; there is no upper limit |
| it can be played with fewer, such as it is in | | | | to the number that may bat in rotation before |
| little league games) in which each team gets | | | | three outs are recorded. Going through the |
| one turn to bat and try to score runs while | | | | entire order in an inning is referred to as |
| the other pitches and defends in the field. | | | | "batting around". It is indicative of a high |
| An inning is broken up into two halves in | | | | scoring inning. A complete inning consists of |
| which the away team bats in the top (first) | | | | each opposing side having a turn (three outs) |
| half, and the home team bats in the bottom | | | | on offense. |
| (second) half. In baseball, the defense | | | | |
| always has the ball — a fact that | | | | The goal of the team at bat is to score more |
| differentiates it from most other team | | | | runs than the opposition; a player may do so |
| sports. The teams switch every time the | | | | only by batting, then becoming a base runner, |
| defending team gets three players of the | | | | touching all the bases in order (via one or |
| batting team out. The winner is the team with | | | | more plays), and finally touching home plate. |
| the most runs after nine innings. If the home | | | | To that end, the goal of each batter is to |
| team is ahead after the top of the ninth, | | | | enable baserunners to score or to become a |
| play does not continue into the bottom half. | | | | baserunner himself. The batter attempts to |
| In the case of a tie, additional innings are | | | | hit the ball into fair territory — |
| played until one team comes out ahead at the | | | | between the baselines — in such a way |
| end of an inning. If the home team takes the | | | | that the defending players cannot get them or |
| lead anytime during the bottom of the ninth | | | | the baserunners out. In general, the pitcher |
| or of any inning thereafter, play stops and | | | | attempts to prevent this by pitching the ball |
| the home team is declared the winner. | | | | in such a way that the batter cannot hit it |
| | | | cleanly or, ideally, at all. |
| The basic contest is always between the | | | | |
| pitcher for the fielding team, and a batter. | | | | A baserunner who successfully touches home |
| The pitcher throws—pitches—the | | | | plate after touching all previous bases in |
| ball towards home plate, where the catcher | | | | order scores a run. In an enclosed field, a |
| for the fielding team waits (in a crouched | | | | fair ball hit over the fence on the fly is |
| stance) to receive it. Behind the catcher | | | | normally an automatic home run, which |
| stands the home plate umpire. The batter | | | | entitles the batter and all runners to touch |
| stands in one of the batter's boxes and tries | | | | all the bases and score. A home run hit with |
| to hit the ball with a bat. The pitcher must | | | | all bases occupied ('bases loaded') is called |
| keep one foot in contact with the top or | | | | a grand slam. |
| front of the pitcher's rubber — a 24" | | | | |