Changes

Baseball is one of the very few sports in which the defense controls the ball.  All nine defensive players are on the field during play: three in the outfield (left, center, and right fields); four in the infield (first, second, and third basemen, and shortstop); the catcher behind home plate, and the pitcher on the mound.  The single offensive player takes his place within a batter's box on either side of home plate, and with a bat attempts to hit the ball thrown to him by the pitcher into "fair" territory such that it is not caught in the air and gives the batter time to run to a base.  The offense strives to advance these baserunners until they circle the three [[infield]] bases in order and get back to home plate, resulting in the scoring of a run.  The only offensive players on the field at any other time besides the batter are those who successfully made it onto one of the three bases.   

Baseball is one of the very few sports in which the defense controls the ball.  All nine defensive players are on the field during play: three in the outfield (left, center, and right fields); four in the infield (first, second, and third basemen, and shortstop); the catcher behind home plate, and the pitcher on the mound.  The single offensive player takes his place within a batter's box on either side of home plate, and with a bat attempts to hit the ball thrown to him by the pitcher into "fair" territory such that it is not caught in the air and gives the batter time to run to a base.  The offense strives to advance these baserunners until they circle the three [[infield]] bases in order and get back to home plate, resulting in the scoring of a run.  The only offensive players on the field at any other time besides the batter are those who successfully made it onto one of the three bases.   

A baseball game is divided into nine innings; each inning consists of both teams having their turns at bat.  A "strike" is called when the batter swings and misses a fairly-thrown ball; three strikes results in an "out", which in its basic description means the failure of the batter to reach base.  Three outs ends that team's attempt during the inning, and they must go to the field for defense.  Each team is allowed nine of these "innings" during the course of the game; if the game is tied after nine innings, additional innings are played until there is a winner.

A baseball game is divided into nine innings; each inning consists of both teams having their turns at bat.  A "strike" is called when the batter swings and misses a fairly-thrown ball; three strikes results in an "out", which in its basic description means the failure of the batter to reach base.  Three outs ends that team's attempt during the inning, and they must go to the field for defense.  The game is over when one team has a greater score than the other at the end of the ninth inning; if the game is tied after nine innings, additional innings are played until there is a winner.

===Equipment===

===Equipment===

The baseball itself is 9-9.25 inches in circumference, and weighs between 5-5.25 oz.  The core is made of rubber and cork, wound tightly with woolen yarn, and sealed with a two-piece leather casing closed off with 108 double-stitches in waxed red thread<ref>http://baseballtips.com/weblog/how-many-stitches-does-a-baseball-have-2/</ref>.   

The baseball itself is 9-9.25 inches in circumference, and weighs between 5-5.25 oz.  The core is made of rubber and cork, wound tightly with woolen yarn, and sealed with a two-piece leather casing closed off with 108 double-stitches in waxed red thread<ref>http://baseballtips.com/weblog/how-many-stitches-does-a-baseball-have-2/</ref>.   

The bat is made of wood - primarily ash - and is up to 2.75 inches thick at the striking end, and up to 42 inches long.  At one time in professional games aluminum bats were used; they have since been removed, and are sometimes used during amatuer games.  In a version of baseball known as "stickball" played by kids in some inner cities, the bat consists of little more than a broom handle.

The bat is made of wood - primarily ash - and is up to 2.75 inches thick at the striking end, and up to 42 inches long.  At one time in professional games aluminum bats were used; they have since been removed, and are sometimes used during amateur games.  In a version of baseball known as "stickball" played by kids in some inner cities, the bat consists of little more than a broom handle.

Defensive players wear a baseball glove, or mitt.  Made of leather, seven players wear a version with looks like an over-sized hand with the fingers sewn together, and a basket of leather between the first finger and thumb.  Fingerless, rounded versions are worn by the first baseman and catcher; the catcher's mitt having the addition of heavy padding within the glove.  That, plus the chest and knee protectors, and steel face mask, ensures the catcher has protection against the pitcher's fastball, which can be in excess of 90 miles per hour.

Defensive players wear a baseball glove, or mitt.  Made of leather, seven players wear a version with looks like an over-sized hand with the fingers sewn together, and a basket of leather between the first finger and thumb.  Fingerless, rounded versions are worn by the first baseman and catcher; the catcher's mitt having the addition of heavy padding within the glove.  That, plus the chest and knee protectors, and steel face mask, ensures the catcher has protection against the pitcher's fastball, which can be in excess of 90 miles per hour.