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