Athletic Gear and Equipment: Baseball
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Baseball has long been referred to as America's "National Pastime" (or "National Game")—as early as the 19th century. Its exact roots are not well-defined, but most believe that the game of baseball we know today has evolved from other pastimes such as cricket and rounders. Legends of the baseball leagues include Cap Anson, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth.
Playing the Game
Baseball calls for two teams consisting of nine players each, as well as a number of officials called umpires. The playing field is made up of the infield and the outfield. In the infield are four bases, one at each point of a 90x90 foot square called the baseball diamond: the first base, the second base, the third base, and the home base. The outfield is the area beyond the infield's grass line and is bounded by the foul lines and the wall or fence of the baseball playing field.
The object of the game is to score the most number of runs. The goal of an offensive team (the batting team) is to score as many runs as possible during the half-inning in which they bat. This is done by hitting a pitched ball with a bat, in which the batter becomes a base runner. The goal of a base runner is to go through each base and reach the home base to score a run. A batter-turned-base runner may take several plays to reach home base as he has to avoid getting put out; consequently, there may be several players occupying the bases when a new batter steps up to the plate. A base runner must be at a base he is entitled do before any opponent catches the ball and tags him out.
The goal of the opposing, defensive team (the pitchers, catchers, and basemen) is to have three outs for the batting team. A player is put out in several ways: three strikeouts, catching a batted ball in the air, a tag out, or a force out. The pitcher throws the ball to the batter in a way that the batter must not be able to hit it properly, or, at all.
After nine innings (or less, depending on the type of game played), each consisting of three outs per team, the game ends. In the case of a tie, extra innings "shall continue until (1) the visiting team has scored more total runs than the home team at the end of a completed inning; or (2) the home team scores the winning run in an uncompleted inning."
Equipment You Need
Baseball Bats
Weight
Little League: 16-20 oz.
Youth League: 18-23 oz.
High School / Collegiate League: 27-33 oz.
Negative numbers listed on bats indicate the weight computed by subtracting that number to the length of the bat. For example, if a bat is 31 inches long, and the number reads -6, the bat weighs 25 oz. (31 – 6 = 25). It's a good idea to choose the biggest difference between those two measurements.
Professionals are known to choose lighter bats over heavier ones. Heavier bats mean more powerful hits but slower swings.
Baseball Bat Length
Baseball bats must reach your waist when they are placed vertically from the ground.
Little League: Less than or equal to 32 inches
Youth League: 26-31 in.
High School / Collegiate / Professional League: 32-36 in.
Baseball Bat Shape
Barrel – the fatter end of the bat. Long and wide barrels have a greater area at which the ball hits the bat. Short and narrow barrels provide better speed and control.
Taper – the thinner end of the bat. Choose bats that let you move your wrists more quickly.
Grip – the area where you hold the bat. Your fingers must meet when you hold the bat in that area.
Baseball Bat Material
The most common materials used in making baseball bats are: aluminum, graphite, titanium, and wood. Wooden bats are the only ones allowed in the professional league. These are typically more expensive than other materials but last longer.
Baseballs
Official (Major League Baseball) baseballs weigh 5 oz., have 108 stitches, and measure 5.25 in. in circumference. The core of a baseball uses cork and/or rubber, followed by yarn, twine, or wool. The outer covering is usually made from leather and is then stitched together with red cotton thread. Rolled stitches provide reduced air resistance and tightly-wound balls bounce off bats more easily.
Bases and Plates
First Base, Second Base, Third Base – square bases measuring 15" on each side. These are made out of canvas bags.
Home Plate – pentagonal rubber plate measuring 17" x 8.5" x 12" x 12" x 8.5". The pointed part of the home plate is at the corner of one of the points of the baseball diamond. Found on both sides of the home plate are batter's boxes—for left-handed and right-handed batters—which may only be occupied one at a time.
Pitcher's Plate – white rubber plate "six inches (15 cm) front-to-back and two feet (61 cm) across". This plate, also known as "the rubber", rests on the pitcher's mound.
Baseball Gloves and Mitts
Batting glove – relatively thinner glove worn on one or both hands of a batter; provide better grip and absorb shock when hitting the ball
Catcher's Mitt – has extra padding for fast/strong pitches; hinged; has a thumb pocket; uses a mitten form instead separate holes for each finger
First Base Mitt – has padding (but not as much as the catcher's mitt); has longer reach; looks more like a catcher's mitt than other basemen's gloves
Infielder Gloves – shallower pockets for easier throwing; used by second and third basemen, shortstops, and pitchers
Outfielder Gloves – deeper pockets to more easily reach those fly balls, and keep them in place when caught
Gloves and mitts can be made either of leather, or of synthetic materials (vinyl, plastic, etc.). Of course, leather is recommended over any synthetic material because of the comfort, durability, and overall performance it provides.
Baseball Headgear
Batting Helmet – protective gear worn by batters; covers the back, sides, and top of the head, including at least one ear (right for left-handed players, left for right-handed players)
Catcher's Helmet – hard helmet and face guard worn by the catcher
Baseball Pitching Machines
Pitching machines are devices that deliver automated, consistent pitch speeds, providing higher efficiency for baseball practices. These machines can also teach the batters to swing more consistently since the pitches are consistently delivered. Younger leagues will want to use pitching machines that use "safer" balls and slower pitches (10 to 60 miles per hour). More specialized machines include features for different kinds of throws (curveballs, fastballs, fly balls, ground balls, sliders, etc.)
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