The official rules of baseball contain specific rules concerning the layout and dimensions of a baseball infield. These rules require the infield to be a 90-foot square with four bases (first base, second base, third base and home plate). The infield also has a raised pitcher's mound. The remainder of the infield must be graded so the lines running between the bases are level with each other and with home plate.
Locations of Home Plate and Second Base
After determining the location of home plate, measure 127 feet, 3 3/8 inches in the desired direction to establish second base.
Location of First Base
Measure a line 90 feet from home plate at a 45 degree angle toward the right from the line running between home plate second base and measure a line 90 feet from second base toward the left at a 45-degree angle from the line running between second base and home plate. The intersection of these two lines establishes first base.
Location of Third Base
Measure a line 90 feet from home plate at a 45-degree angle toward the left from the line running between home plate second base, and measure a line 90 feet from second base toward the right at a 45-degree angle from the line running between second base and home plate. The intersection of these two lines establishes third base.
Dimensions of Home Plate
Home plate must be a five-sided slab of whitened rubber that is a 17-inch square with two of the corners removed so that one edge is 17 inches long, two adjacent sides are 8½ inches and the remaining two sides are 12 inches and set at an angle to make a point. It shall be set in the ground with the point at the intersection of the lines extending from home base to first base and to third base with the 17-inch edge facing the pitcher's plate.
Pitcher's Mound
The pitcher's mound must be a circle with a diameter of 18 inches, the center of which is 59 feet from home plate on the line between home plate and second base. The mound should have a rectangular slab of whitened rubber of 24 inches by 6 inches, placed 18 inches behind the center of the mound on the line between home plate and second base. The rubber must also be 10 inches above the level of home plate with a uniform degree of slope of between one inch and one foot from the point on the mound 6 inches in front of the rubber (direction of home plate) to 6 feet in front of the rubber. The distance between the front of the rubber and the rear point of home plate must be 60 feet, 6 inches. The level area surrounding the rubber must be 6 inches to the front, 18 inches to each side and 22 inches to the rear.
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