Playing Area and Equipment

 

A baseball field is divided into an infield and an outfield. The infield is laid out in the shape of a diamond. There are four bases, one on each corner of the diamond. The four bases are first, second, and third base, and home plate. Square canvas bags filled with soft material mark the location of the three bases. Home plate is made of a flat, five-sided piece of rubber. The bases are 90 feet apart. Most of the playing field is covered with grass. In the infield, dirt covers the pitcher's mound and the paths between the bases. Located in the middle of the infield, the pitching mound is circular in shape. The pitcher throws from a spot on the mound known as the ―rubber.‖ In professional baseball the rubber is 60 feet 6 inches from home plate. Baseballs have a cork and rubber core that is wrapped with yarn. They are covered with two strips of white leather or synthetic hide that are sewn together. Each ball is about 9 inches in circumference and weighs about 5 ounces. The bat is a smooth, rounded stick of wood or aluminum. It is no more than 42 inches long and 2 3 /4 inches thick at the largest end.

Players in the field wear leather gloves designed to help catch the ball. While these gloves look something like an enlarged hand, the catcher's mitt, or glove, is rounder in shape. The catcher's mitt is heavily padded in order to protect the catcher's hand. Catchers wear more equipment than the other players. The equipment protects the catcher from being hurt by the pitched ball. In order to protect the face but still be able to see, the catcher wears a barred mask. Catchers also wear a padded chest protector. Lightweight shin guards are worn to protect their legs.

NOTEABLE POINTS:

Invented by: Abner Doubleday in 1839. 

Ball Size: 9 inches in circumference 

Ball weight: 142 grams. 

Bat Size: 42 inches long and 2 3 /4 inches thick at the largest end. 

Olympic: 1992.