THE BASICS

It is often said that baseball is more or less the same as rounders, which is true in the same way that Formula One is like a drive in the countryside. Like any bat-and-ball game, it is a confrontation between the person throwing the ball (the pitcher) and the batter or hitter. The eight other members of the fielding team (three outfielders, four infielders and the catcher) attempt to catch or throw the batter out. The nine members of the batting team hit in order, attempting to round the bases and score runs.

In each inning, the visiting team bats first until three outs are recorded, then the home team bats, again until three outs are recorded. Nine innings are played unless the scores are level, in which case there are extra innings until a result is achieved.

PITCHING

The pitcher hurls the ball towards home plate from his mound 20 yards away, attempting to deceive the hitter by swerving the ball and varying its speed. If the ball passes through the “strike zone” (above home plate and between the levels of the hitter’s chest and knees) or if the hitter swings at any pitch and misses, the umpire calls a “strike”. If the ball misses the strike zone and the hitter does not swing, the umpire calls a “ball”. Four balls and the hitter gets a free walk to first base. Three strikes and the batter is out.

HITTING

If the batter hits the ball into play (between the first- and third-base lines) he must run. He is out if the ball is caught directly off his bat – as in cricket – or if the fielding team can throw the ball to the base he is running towards before he reaches it. But if the fielding team is unable to catch or throw him out, he advances round the bases, and any batters already on base may also advance. If a batter stops at a base, he is safe and cannot be thrown out.

SCORING

A run is scored when a batter advances around the bases and back to home plate. If he hits the ball beyond the perimeter fence without it bouncing (a “home run” or “homer” - the equivalent of a six in cricket), he rounds the bases unopposed and any baserunners also score. A home run with runners on all three bases (“with the bases loaded”), so that four players score, is known as a “grand slam”.

Games typically last around three hours, with the shortest Major League game on record taking under an hour, and the longest going on for over eight. Most scores are in single figures, with 1-0 results as uncommon as one team reaching double figures.