Baseball rules may differ from league to league, but the basics of America's pastime remain the same. Key rules dictate everything from equipment and field requirements to pitching, batting, scoring runs and how players are put out. By learning more about the rules of play, you can play a smarter game and avoid penalties or ejections.
Players and Positions
The pitcher must stay on the pitcher's plate while throwing the ball, and the catcher must stay in position when the ball is in play behind home plate in the catcher's box, an area 3 feet, 7 inches in width and 8 feet in length. The catcher can leave the box to catch the ball or make a play. The first, second, and third basemen stand at or near each base, and the shortstop to the left of second base. A right fielder, left fielder and center fielder also take position beyond the basemen, close to the outfield wall or fence to the right of home plate, left of home plate and in the center of the field. Unlike the pitcher and catcher, the positions of the basemen, shortstop and outfielders can vary, depending on the player at bat and where the defending team suspects the player may hit the ball.
Pitching
A ball thrown into the strike zone must pass over home plate between the batter's knees and chest. If the player swings for the ball and misses, even if the ball is outside the strike zone, the pitch is a strike. If the batter hits the ball into foul territory with fewer than two strikes, it counts as a strike. If, after two strikes, a fielder catches a foul ball, the batter is out. Otherwise, the batter keeps going until he hits the ball or gets a third strike.
When a pitcher throws four balls, a batter advances, or walks, to first base. If a pitcher hits the batter with the ball, the batter advances to first base.
Batting
While waiting for a pitch, a batter must stand within the batter's box, an area next to home plate 4 feet wide and 6 feet long. When swinging at the ball, the batter may step across the chalk line edge of the box, but his foot must still touch the line. If he hits the ball and it is not caught, the batter becomes a runner and advances to first base or beyond. If a player hits a home run, he is safe and can run freely to home plate.
If the one of the opposing team's players catches the ball before it touches the ground in fair or foul territory, including the stands, the batter is out. If a fielder catches the ball in fair territory and tags the runner before he reaches a base, or a fielder tags the base the player is running toward, the runner is out.
Running and Scoring
Players already on base must run to the next base or be called out. Runners must touch each base as they advance through the bases. If a runner interferes with a thrown ball or a fielder making a play, or is tagged while off the base, he is also out. If a batter hits a ball into the air in a sacrifice fly that will put him out but advance a teammate already on base, the runner must touch the base when the ball is caught or retouch it afterward before running to the next base. If the runner does not retouch the base, he is out.
References
- "Baseball Field Guide"; Dan Formosa, et al.; 2006
- "Baseball and Softball Rules"; Ian Smyth; 1998
- "Encyclopaedia Britannica"; Play of the Game; Jerome Holtzman, et al.
Member Comments