The official rules of baseball contain specific rules concerning the location and dimensions of baseball bases. These rules require that the four bases be positioned so the baseball infield is a 90-foot square. Home plate is a five-sided, white-rubber slab, with the longest side positioned closest to second base. First, second and third bases are each made of 5-inch square white canvas bags.
Locations of Home Plate and Second Base
In setting the location of the bases, the location of home plate should be selected first. After picking a the location of home plate, the location of second base should be established by measuring 127 feet, 3 3/8 inches in the desired direction.
Location of First Base
First base should be positioned exactly 90 feet from home plate and second base. To determine first base's location, 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
Third base should be positioned exactly 90 feet from home plate and second base. To determine third base's location, 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.
Dimensions of the Other Bases
First, second and third base should each be a white canvas bag that is 15 inches square, between 3 and 5 inches thick and securely attached to the ground. The first base and third base bags should be positioned entirely within the infield, and the second base bag should be centered on the location of second base.
Member Comments