Positions On The Baseball Field

Baseball is perhaps the most familiar of all the American sports. Many children start playing the game at an early age with their parents or siblings, and they often end up teaching the game to their own children. The positions on the field are part of the charm and the strategy of the game.

Pitcher and Catcher

Baseball is the only sport in which the team that is in control of the ball is on defense. That defense starts with the pitcher, who takes a signal from the catcher about the pitch. The pitcher takes a windup, and then puts the ball in play by throwing that pitch toward home plate. The pitch is usually a fastball, a curve, a slider or a change-up. The catcher must receive the ball expertly, including pitches that are well out of the strike zone and difficult to catch. The pitcher and catcher are called the battery.

Infield

The infielders in baseball need to be confident and talented athletes, who have quick reactions and strong throwing arms. The first baseman usually ends up with the ball on all infield grounders. If a ball hit anywhere in the infield, he must hustle to first base and provide a target for the other infielders. He must catch the ball with his foot on first base to record an out, assuming the ball has beat the base runner to the bag. The shortstop is usually the best athlete of the infielders, because he has to cover the ground between second and third base. The second baseman covers much of the right side of the infield, and must be quick and athletic. However, he doesn't have to throw the ball as far as the shortstop. The third baseman is much closer to home plate and the batter than the shortstop or second baseman. He needs quick reactions and a strong arm to throw runners out at first base.

The Outfield

In youth baseball, players in the outfield often don't have the skills to play the infield positions. However, as players progress in the game, outfielders are often among the best athletes. This is particularly true of center fielders, who have the most ground of any player to cover on the field. They also must possess a strong throwing arm. Right fielders usually don't have as much range as center fielders, but they often possess the strongest throwing arm because the throw from right field to third base is the longest throw any outfielder must make. The left fielder is often the weakest of the fielders because players who lack arm strength can often get by at that position. The throws to second and third from left field are often easy to make, but the throw home is tough.

Function

Defense is often the most underrated factor in the game. Players who can hit long home runs, and pitchers who can dominate with their fastball, may get the headlines, but baseball managers want defensive players who can make plays. "Hitting can go into a slump and pitchers can have their problems, but your fielders have to be consistent," said Sparky Anderson, who won World Series championships as the manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers. "Give me players who can catch the ball like I had in Cincinnati and Detroit, and you will win a lot more than you lose."

Identication

Throughout baseball history, standout defensive players have amazed baseball fans on a consistent basis. Hall of Famer Willie Mays patrolled center field for the New York and San Francisco Giants, and is considered to be the gold standard at his position on a historical basis. Former St. Louis Cardinal and San Diego Padre Ozzie Smith is regularly noted as the greatest fielding shortstop of all time. Brooks Robinson, a Hall of Famer with the Baltimore Orioles, set the standard for fielders at third base. Johnny Bench, who played catcher for Sparky Anderson's Cincinnati Reds, may be the greatest fielder at his position in the game's history.