Unit 11: Sports in America

How the Game Is Played

An Early Baseball Field

Chicago White Sox Pitcher

Baseball is one of the few team sports that is not controlled by a clock; the location of the ball determines the play of the game. The pitcher of the defensive team (the one on the field) throws the ball towards the home plate at a speed often over 150 km/hr. A single player of the offensive team, the team at bat, attempts to hit the baseball somewhere in fair territory outlined by the lines running to the right over first base and to the left over third base. The batter has three tries at any ball thrown through the strike zone, an area over the home plate and between the batter's shoulders and his knees. If the batter swings and misses, or does not swing at

The Batter

a ball in the strike zone, the umpire will call a strike. Three such strikes is an out. If the ball does not cross through the strike zone, it is called a ball. If the pitcher throws four balls (and sometimes this is done deliberately for strategic reasons), the batter may walk to first base.

If the batter does hit the pitched ball, and it is caught by a defending player before it touches the ground, the batter is out. If the ball is not caught in the air, but touches the ground before it is retrieved by a defending player, then the batter tries to run to a base, first or second or third. The ball must reach a defensive player at one of the bases before the batter can touch the base. If the ball is relayed in time, the runner is out. If the runner reaches the base before the ball, he is safe.

Touching Home Plate

Scoring occurs when a batter travels around all the bases and returns to home plate. If a batter hits the ball out of the ballpark (safely between the first and third baselines), he has hit a home run ; he trots around the bases and touches home plate to score. Most players who hit the ball safely are unable to complete the entire circuit around the bases and usually stop at first or second base before the ball is returned to the defending players. He then must wait until his teammate at bat safely hits the ball before he can advance to the next base. (Sometimes a player will not wait for the ball to be hit, and attempts to advance to the next base by stealing the base. If he is not on base and is tagged with the ball, then he is out).

Returning to the Dug Out

The visiting team is at bat first. When the batting team registers three outs, the two teams switch positions: the team on the field returns to its dugout, and the batting team leaves its place on the benches and takes the field. When the home team registers three outs, the inning is over. There are nine innings in a regular game. If no team is winning at the end of nine innings, then the game goes into extra innings, where both teams have a chance to score during the inning. Extra innings continue until one team wins.

A No-hitter Game

Home runs are always exciting, especially when there are additional players on the bases. But baseball fans find it exciting also when a pitcher is able to prevent the batters of the other team from safely hitting the ball, a so-called no-hitter game.

There are other rules and regulations for the game of baseball. For those unfamiliar with the detailed rules, it is probably best to attend the first few games with a knowledgeable companion, who can comment on the reasons for various activities. Baseball is a game of strategy within the framework of rules, so a full appreciation of the game requires a detailed knowledge of the rules. Still, one can always enjoy the drinks and snack food on a hot, lazy summer afternoon.

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