Baseball is one of the oldest and most popular sports in the United States. It is known as America's "national pastime" because of its strong tradition. It is competitively played with a hard ball and bat between two teams of nine players each. Even though this sport was developed in the 1800s, it still attracts millions to ballparks and entertains millions through radio and television today.
             Baseball is played on a level field that covers about two acres of land. The playing area consists of an infield and outfield that make up fair territory. The rest is foul territory. The infield is in the shape of a diamond that is cornered off by four bases. Each base stretches 90 feet apart of each other. First, second, and third base is in the shape of a perfect square made of canvas, but home plate is in the shape of a pentagon made of rubber. In the middle of the infield is the pitcher's mound. This is placed 60 foot and six inches away from home plate. Baselines run from home plate to first base and home plate to third base. Any ball hit inside of these baselines is in fair play. Anything hit outside of these lines is in foul territory. Outside of the first and third baselines are shelters called dugouts. The players on each team not in the field occupy these dugouts.
             A traditional ball game is divided into nine innings or periods of play. The team with the most runs scored at the end of the ninth inning is the game's winner. A baseball team fields nine players. Each player has his own particular position to play. The pitcher starts the play of the game by throwing the ball from a mound to home plate, where the batter or hitter stands, to the catcher who receives the ball and returns to the pitcher. A catcher's position is to protect home plate from scoring runners. The first baseman, second basemen, third basemen, and the shortstop occupy the infield. Their job is to put runners ou...