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