Initially known as “Rounders,” the sport of baseball can be traced back to 1744 in a children’s book titled “A Little Pretty Pocket-Book.” The book is considered one of the first children’s books ever produced and was marketed to children of the time by including a ball for boys and a pincushion for girls.
The sport of Rounders, needless to say, has been around since the 18th century and parallels much of today’s baseball rules. Points or “rounders” were awarded to a team when a teammate made a complete round in a counter-clockwise motion around three bases after striking the ball.
The player would be considered out if while running to the bases, they were tagged/touched by a person in the field, if the base they were running towards was tagged or if the ball that was struck was caught mid-air by anyone in the field.
The sport migrated from England and Ireland into the United States and since then has become America’s beloved past-time. The rules have changed over the years from the Knickerbocker (New York style) and the Massachusetts style rules that were established in America.
The most basic rules revolve around the use of tools that include but are not limited to: mitts, a bat, and a baseball.
The mitt, also called a glove, is worn by those players in the infield which include the first through third bases and shortstop (in between second and third base). Also included wearing mitts are the outfield players that are situated at the left, right and center field position. Their positions are defensive in nature, attempting to catch the ball mid-air or throwing the ball towards the base a runner may be running towards.
Hitting the ball and safely reaching first, second and third base qualifies as a single, double and triple consecutively. When three teammates are on each base, and another comes up to bat, commentators classify this as the bases being loaded. @howstuffwords
The bat can be either wooden or metal depending on the league the game is being played in and is used to hit the ball as far as possible. Hitting the ball allows the batter to run towards the bases in an effort to make it back to the home plate. Striking the ball out of the confines of the park or making it back to home plate classifies as a “home run” for the batter, scoring a point for the team.
Hitting the ball and safely reaching first, second or third base, qualifies as a single, double or triple consecutively. When three teammates are on each base, and another comes up to bat, commentators classify this as the bases being loaded. If successful in their batting attempts with bases loaded, the team can receive up to four runs, one for each member that comes back to the home plate. Hitting the ball to the extreme right and left of the foul line classifies as a foul ball, and the player must bat again.
If any of the opposing team catches the ball mid-air with their mitts or tags and touches the batter and or base they run towards with the ball, that player is out and must return to their dugout. Three outs for the team qualifies the team to turn over possession of the offensive position (batting) as they assume the defensive role of being in the field. Batting can be done “bunt-style” holding the bat out front in an attempt to hit the ball lighter, subsequently making a run for the bases.
There are a total of nine innings (compared to four quarters in football, or the 10 frames in bowling) where each team has a chance to score as many runs as possible before receiving three outs.
Head Coach for baseball at Saint Leo University Richard (Rick) O’Dette, spoke on the mantra of the University’s baseball team stating, “Our coaching staff really emphasizes the mental side of the game and ‘riding the middle’ throughout the season.”
O’Dette continued, “Baseball has a long season and calls for mental toughness. If our men ride the emotional roller coaster it will take a lot out of them; if we can have them give consistent effort throughout practice and games, we should always be prepared for what is thrown at us.”
Looking at the uniqueness of the program here at Saint Leo and the strength of the team when asked about the driving force O’Dette said, “We preach the family aspect of our team and that our men buy into our system as well as each other. Whenever our men break the huddle, they break it down to “FAMILY,” and they believe in one another through all events and have each other’s backs. Having a strong team culture is what we are trying to create for years to come, we try to prepare our players to be the best men they can be for life after baseball.”
As baseball season is underway, O’Dette emphasized, that we can look forward to the team, “putting the best product on the field that represents the University properly.”
