Baseball pits two nine-player teams against each other across nine innings of alternating offense and defense.
The team with the most runs wins after all innings conclude. Runners score by advancing counterclockwise around first, second, and third bases before touching home plate.
Defensive players record outs through three main actions. A strikeout occurs when the pitcher throws three strikes before the batter hits the ball or walks. Fielders record catches when they secure a batted ball before it touches the ground, force outs by holding the ball at a base before a forced runner arrives, or tag outs by touching a runner off base with the ball.
Pitches crossing over home plate between the batter’s knees and armpits count as strikes. Pitches missing this zone count as balls, and four balls grant the batter a free walk to first base.
England’s bat-and-ball games like rounders provided the early framework for the sport. Alexander Joy Cartwright established modern rules in 1845 in New York, setting field dimensions that persist today. The Cincinnati Red Stockings formed as the first professional team in 1869.
The sport expanded internationally when it reached Japan in 1873 and China’s coastal regions by 1919. Baseball was included as an official Olympic sport in 1992, and the tournament returned for the 2020 Games after a temporary absence.
Diamonds feature a distance of 90 feet between bases, with outfield fences sitting at least 76.20 meters from home plate. Pitchers throw from an elevated mound located 18.44 meters away from the home plate apex.
Batters use wooden or aluminum bats and wear protective helmets. Fielders use gloves, while catchers wear masks, chest protectors, and shin guards to handle high-velocity pitches.
Major League Baseball operates as the sport’s premier professional league in North America, culminating in the annual World Series championship. The World Baseball Classic, organized jointly by MLB and the International Baseball Federation, brings together national teams every four years.
Japan secured the inaugural World Baseball Classic title in 2006 and successfully defended it in 2009. The sport retains strong cultural standing as a national pastime in the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
Related reading
