Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

65

Baseball

first organiZed game

the first organized baseball game to

be played under the Cartwright rules

was held in 1846 at the elysian fields

in new Jersey. the Knickerbockers

beat the new York nine by 23-1, and

alexander Cartwright, the writer of

the rules, umpired at the game.

PlaYers

Baseball is a hard-ball game,

and protective equipment

is required for the catcher,

batter, and base runners.

in league baseball,

each team has its own

equipment, and players

wear identical uniforms.

Catcher’s mitt

Shin guards protect

shins and are hinged

for movement.

Chest

protector

Face

mask

equiPment

in order to play well and to enjoy

the game, a baseball player needs to

have the proper safety equipment in

addition to the basic requirement of

a bat, a baseball, and a glove. Players

wear protective helmets, masks,

mitts, body padding, and buckled

shin guards. Cleats are shoes that

help the players get a grip on

the ground. a baseball uniform

includes a cap, a jersey, pants, and

stirrups—all in matching colors.

gloves

Catchers and fielders wear padded leather

gloves to protect their hands from the high-

speed impact of traveling balls. Batters wear

gloves to get a firm grip on the bat. Batter’s glove

Ball

Bat

Fielder’s glove Catcher’s mitt

Helmets

all catchers and

batters must wear

helmets to protect

them from

swinging bats and

balls that travel

at great speed. these

plastic helmets have

soft foam inserts.

Batter’s helmet

Catcher’s helmet

BaseBall is one of tHe most popular

sports in the united states and is played in more

than 100 countries around the world. this ball

game is thought to have originated from the

english game of rounders, which was brought to

america in the early 1600s by the first english

settlers. in 1845, a us sportsman, alexander

Cartwright, wrote a set of rules that form the basis

of modern baseball. in 1869, the first professional

baseball team, the Cincinnati red stockings, was

founded. over the years, baseball stars such as the

legendary Babe ruth have emerged from the

field, and today teams such as the new York

Yankees inspire fans all over the globe. on the

field, two teams of nine take turns to bat and field.

the pitcher throws the ball, and the batter

attempts to hit it and score runs by

progressing around four bases

without being tagged or

forced out by a fielder. the

game has nine innings. an

inning is over when six batters—

three from each side—are out.

Baseball

pants,

halfway

down calf

Pants

Cleat

Baseball

mitt

Colored

stirrup

BaseBall field

a baseball field is made

up of the infield and the

outfield. two foul lines

run from the home plate

through first and third

bases to create a 90 ̊ arc. the

area inside the lines is fair

territory; the area outside

is foul territory.

Outfield

The center fielder

is one of three

outfielders who

defend the

outfield.

The pitcher stands on

the pitcher’s mound.

An infielder prepares

to cover first base.

The batting

team waits

at the bench

or dugout. The batter

stands in the

batter’s box.

The catcher

is behind

home plate.

Foul

territory

Infield

The foul line must

extend at least

250 ft (76 m) from

the home plate.

Baseball

cap

Colored

jersey

Find out more

olympic games

sports

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