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[[Image:Busch Stadium.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A professional baseball game at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri.]]

[[Image:Busch Stadium.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A professional baseball game at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri.]]

'''Baseball''' is an outdoor sport played between two teams of nine players each, with the object of the game for the offensive player to hit the ball with a wooden bat in such a manner as to allow that player to successfully touch each base on a running circuit and scoring a point at the run's completion at home plate.  Extremely popular within the United States, Japan, and Latin America, baseball is played everywhere from neighborhood sandlots and city streets to its culmination in a best-of-seven championship World Series between two professional teams of the American and National Leagues of Major League Baseball.

'''Baseball''', dubbed the [[American]] "National Pasttime" in 1856 (before the [[American Civil War]]),<ref>https://www.loc.gov/exhibitions/baseball-americana/about-this-exhibition/origins-and-early-days/#:~:text=Amateur%20teams%20flourished%20in%20the,the%20sport%20in%20every%20direction.</ref> is an outdoor sport played between two teams of nine players each, whereby the winning team is the one that scores the most "runs".  A run occurs when a player rounds the bases without being tagged out, but while allowed to stop at one of the three intermediate bases in between plays.  Each play consists of a pitcher throwing the ball towards home plate, where a batter attempts to strike it with a bat<ref>Only wooden bats are allowed in professional baseball, while metal bats are allowed at most other levels of baseball.</ref> in the batter's attempt to hit the ball where no fielder can catch it or pick it up and throw it to the first baseman before the batter is able to run to first base.

Baseball has been intertwined within American life and culture like no other sport has.  It has given us record-setting heroes, many of which are still talked about over a century later.  It has given rise to movies, songs, books, magazines, and a lexicon of words and phrases which are part of everyday life.

 

 

Baseball has been intertwined within American life and culture like no other sport has.  It has given us record-setting heroes, many of which are still talked about over a century later.  It has given rise to movies, songs, books, magazines, and a lexicon of words and phrases which are part of everyday life.  Extremely popular within the United States, Japan, and Latin America, baseball is played everywhere from neighborhood sandlots and city streets to its culmination in a best-of-seven championship World Series between two professional teams of the American and National Leagues of Major League Baseball.

==Description==

==Description==

[[File:Baseball-Field-Template.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Diagram of a baseball field]]

[[File:Baseball-Field-Template.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Diagram of a baseball field]]

Baseball is played on a field which is roughly diamond-shaped, with the wide end serving as the outfield.  The infield consists of a square, each side of the square 90 feet long.  The narrow end of the square is the point furthest from the outfield fence at center field, which can be anywhere from 250 to 400 feet away; this point on the square serves as home plate.  The remaining corners serves as first, second, and third bases, running counterclockwise from home plate.  Within the center of the square - 60 feet, 6 inches away - is the pitcher's mound.

Baseball is played on a field which is roughly diamond-shaped, with the wide end serving as the outfield.  The infield consists of a square, each side of the square 90 feet long.  The narrow end of the square is the point furthest from the outfield fence at center field, which can be anywhere from 295 to 450 feet away; this point on the square serves as home plate.  The remaining corners serves as first, second, and third bases, running counterclockwise from home plate.  Within the center of the square - 60 feet, 6 inches away - is the pitcher's mound.

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.  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.

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 end 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===

[[Image:Baseball worn.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A well-used baseball]]

[[Image:Baseball worn.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A well-used baseball]]

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 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.

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.

==Modern Baseball==

==Modern Baseball==

The game of baseball is now played the world over.  In North America, the primary governing body at the professional level is Major League Baseball, which consists of thirty clubs.  Major League Baseball is divided into two groups; The American League and The National League.  Every year, all of the MLB clubs from each league battle to earn a place in the World Series, the pinnacle of the sport.  To date the New York Yankees of the American League have won the most World Series titles with 26 followed by the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League with 10 wins. College baseball in the United States is governed primarily by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The game of baseball is now played the world over.  In North America, the primary governing body at the professional level is Major League Baseball, which consists of thirty clubs.  Major League Baseball is divided into two groups; The American League and The National League.  Every year, all of the MLB clubs from each league battle to earn a place in the World Series, the pinnacle of the sport.  To date the New York Yankees of the American League have won the most World Series titles with 27 followed by the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League with 11 wins. College baseball in the United States is governed primarily by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

In Japan, professional baseball is primarily governed by Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). There are a total of 12 teams. The association is divided into two leagues of six teams each, the Central League and the Pacific League.  With 21 overall titles since the league's inception, the Yomiuri Giants have been the most successful Japanese club since the NPB's beginnings in 1958.<ref>[http://www.japanball.com/teams.htm Japanball.com Team and League Information]</ref>

In Japan, professional baseball is primarily governed by Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). There are a total of 12 teams. The association is divided into two leagues of six teams each, the Central League and the Pacific League.  With 21 overall titles since the league's inception, the Yomiuri Giants have been the most successful Japanese club since the NPB's beginnings in 1958.<ref>[http://www.japanball.com/teams.htm Japanball.com Team and League Information]</ref>

==Little League==

==Little League==

Little League is an international non-profit organization for youth baseball founded in 1939 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania by Carl Stotz. Each league is organized and run by volunteers, allowing for loose and inconsistent structure. Broken into multiple levels for multiple age groups the rules are not consistent with the regulations of Major League Baseball and the youth version is notable for shortening the distance betweens bases and between the pitcher's mound and home base, and in the most extreme circumstances, the ball is not pitched but set atop a tee, allowing the "batter" to swing at a stationary object. Obstensibly a pathway to play in Major League Baseball, Little League has produced few legimate "stars" in its .. year history, with Jurickson Profar from ther Dutch territory of Curacaoan and Puerto Rican Roberto Alomar among its most recognizable alums.

Little League is an international non-profit organization for youth baseball founded in 1939 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania by Carl Stotz. Each league is organized and run by volunteers, allowing for loose and inconsistent structure. Broken into multiple levels for multiple age groups the rules are not consistent with the regulations of Major League Baseball and the youth version is notable for shortening the distance betweens bases and between the pitcher's mound and home base, and in the most extreme circumstances, the ball is not pitched but set atop a tee, allowing the "batter" to swing at a stationary object. Obstensibly a pathway to play in Major League Baseball, Little League has produced few legitimate "stars" in its .. year history, with Jurickson Profar from ther Dutch territory of Curacaoan and Puerto Rican Roberto Alomar among its most recognizable alums.

Little League Baseball was the defendant in a lawsuit in 1973, launched by The National Organization for Women (NOW), founded by the anti-male feminist Betty Friedan, which alleged unfair treatment because girls were not allowed to play. The 12 year old girl in whose name the case was brought, Maria Pepe, only played in three Little league games after the courts forced her inclusion. Little League continues to promote the homosexual agenda, encouraging girls to play alongside their male counterparts and behave in a masculine way. Girls as old as 13 are desexualized by being dressed in uniforms identical to male players.

Little League Baseball was the defendant in a lawsuit in 1973, launched by The National Organization for Women (NOW), founded by the anti-male feminist Betty Friedan, which alleged unfair treatment because girls were not allowed to play. The 12-year-old girl in whose name the case was brought, Maria Pepe, only played in three Little league games after the courts forced her inclusion. Little League continues to promote the homosexual agenda, encouraging girls to play alongside their male counterparts and behave in a masculine way. Girls as old as 13 are desexualized by being dressed in uniforms identical to male players.

The Little League Worls Series has been played for 69 years, since 1947, and is held in the organization's birthplace, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. While it began as an American tournament that only included teams from the USA it has become international. Taiwan currently holds the most tiles with 17.

The Little League World Series has been played for 69 years, since 1947, and is held in the organization's birthplace, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. While it began as an American tournament that only included teams from the USA it has become international. Taiwan currently holds the most tiles with 17.

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== References and notes ==

== References and notes ==

*[http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/beginners/glossary.html Baseball Glossary] WETA.

*[https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/beginners/glossary.html Baseball Glossary] WETA.

*[http://www.nocryinginbaseball.com/glossary/glossary.html Baseball Glossary OF TERMS]  

*[http://www.nocryinginbaseball.com/glossary/glossary.html Baseball Glossary OF TERMS]  

*[http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/pitch_glossary.shtml Pitching Glossary]

*[http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/pitch_glossary.shtml Pitching Glossary]