1. Baseball and Softball Differences
The most obvious differences between baseball and softball have to do with the equipment. If asked most people look at the size of the balls used in both sports. In baseball, the ball is 9 inches around and a softball is 12 inches in circumference. Baseballs are also denser than softballs and while baseballs only come in white, you will see neon yellow softballs. The bats in each sport are different as well. In baseball, the maximum length of a bat is 42 inches and in softball, the max is 34 inches.
2. Rules of Play
If you examine the rules of play, you will find some differences there as well. First, the lengths of both games are different. In baseball regulation, play is nine innings but in softball it's seven innings. They both allow for extra innings if there is a tied score at the end of regulation; however, the rules of softball allow for an "international tiebreaker." In this tiebreaker, the player who recorded the last out of the previous inning begins the next inning on second base. While not a blanket rule, many softball league use it.
3. Different Dimensions
Field dimensions are dissimilar in baseball and softball. In baseball, the distance between each base is 90 feet but in softball, this distance is 60 feet. Another difference is the distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate. In baseball it will always be 60 feet 6 inches, in softball this length is 40 to 43 feet depending on the level of play. A final difference on the field is that baseball uses an elevated pitcher's mound and softball does not.
4. Pitching Deliveries
Another commonly observable distinction is the pitching method; softball pitchers throw the ball underhanded and baseball in an overhand motion. Hopping prior to a pitch is against the rules of play in softball. The rising pitch in softball is a pitch that you will not see in baseball, because the overhand delivery precludes this action on a pitch.
5. Time to Steal
Base stealing rules are different in each sport as well. In baseball you can steal a base any time the umpire signals that the ball is live. Conversely, in softball a player can only steal a base once the pitch leaves the pitcher's hand. Another base running difference is the lead a player can take off a base. When you are on base in baseball, a player can leave the base at anytime to take a lead off the base. However, in softball a player must stay in contact with base until the softball leaves the pitcher's hand and if the player leaves early, she is out in softball.
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