Baseball is a team ball game, and the objective is to score more points than the opponent. Points can be scored by hitting the ball well and running around designated playing areas (bases).
Despite advances in information technology, it is difficult to trace the emergence of baseball from the beginning. The first illustrations date back to 1344 – they were published in a French manuscript. They depict priests playing something resembling baseball. But it is now believed that modern baseball is a derivative of the old English lapta, which gained popularity in Ireland and the countries of Great Britain.
In 1829, a publication called “A Boy’s Own Book” was published, and it is the first printed publication about baseball. The author of the rules of the game for a long time was considered to be Ebner Doubleday, a resident of Cooperstown. But this fact is disputed to this day. In 1845, Alexander Cartwright of New York developed his own set of rules, which were adopted by other clubs in the American city, and according to these rules the first game was held in June 1846. Professional team “Cincinnati Red Stockings” became the first in history, which paid its players money – it happened in 1869. In 1871, the first baseball league was created in the United States.
The men’s world championship has been held since 1938. Women’s path in baseball at the world championships began in 2004. 1986 was marked by the inclusion of baseball and softball (women’s variety) in the Olympic program, but in 2005, due to lack of popularity, these sports were excluded. Interestingly, in 2020 baseball became an Olympic discipline again.
Baseball rules in brief
The game involves two teams playing defense and offense in turn. It is necessary to score more points (runs) than the opponent. A point is scored when an offensive player runs all the bases. Playing baseball with a ball. At the start of the game, one team plays defense with a nine-man infield. The visitors start on offense, and to score points they must earn the right to run counterclockwise – the goal is to take the next base. Once a player reaches home base, the team scores a run. Before the run starts, the defensive player (pitcher) stands in the middle of the playing square, which is in the center of the bases on the slide. The offensive player hitting the ball with the bat (the batter) waits for the moment the ball is passed from the pitcher to another defensive player who is behind the batter and catches the ball (the catcher). If the catcher catches 3 balls from the pitcher – he will score 3 strikes, and then the teams will switch places. If the batter strikes the ball in the infield, he throws his bat and runs to first base. When he does not reach the base, and the ball is already caught in the field by other defensive players and delivered to the catcher, a strike is called.