Baseball (earlier called base-ball), is a game played with a bat and ball which had by 1900 obtained a sort of national character in the United States, and by the Second World War was the accepted national game of America. It is very similar to the English game of 'rounders', and is played by nine players a side. A diamond-shaped space of ground, 90 feet on the side, is marked out, the corners being the 'bases'. One side takes the field and the other sends a man to bat. When the field side take their places the 'pitcher', standing inside the ground near the centre and in front of the batsman, delivers a ball to the batsman, who stands at the 'home base' within a certain marked space, and who tries to drive it out of the reach of the fielders, and far enough out of the field to enable him to run round the bases, which scores a run. If he cannot run round all he may stop at any one, and may be followed by another batsman. If the ball is caught by an opponent before touching the ground when the batsman is running, or if he is touched by the ball, he is out (also in several other cases), and when three on his side are put out, the field side take the bat. Nine of these innings make a game, which the highest score wins. The bat is of a cylindrical shape, not more than 2.5 inches in diameter nor more than 42 inches long. The ball is about 9 inches in circumference and pretty elastic. Baseball is not a very old game, having attained its present position only since about 1845. By 1900 many professional players were engaged in it. Attempts have been made to introduce it into Britain and Australia, since the 19th century but with little success. Research Baseball
Abbreviations
Recreation
Research Baseball