The Difference between Baseball and Softball - Essay Example

Baseball and Softball The games under consideration are baseball and softball. It should be admitted that such sport games are completely popular all around the world. More than two centuries people play these games. Moreover, professional leagues are functioning with a huge success. Baseball and softball have a great number of similar features as well as differences. People sometimes may be confused while considering this or that game. Still, each of them has its peculiar rules and features that are important and essential for both professional players and people who do it for pleasure. It is important to admit that both games use bat and ball. These two objects are considered to be the basic equipment for the games under consideration. Baseball and softball use a lot of similar rules and modes for the playing process. Pinching, scores, innings, runs, lead-offs are included to the specialties of discussed games. The interesting fact is that baseball and softball are highly similar, but small differences force to regard these games as independent kinds of sport. The invention of these games is considered to be different; still, they both have close connection. First tries of playing with a ban and ball have been made in the ancient Egypt (IBAF, n.p.). Baseball with a modern rules and original name has been discovered in 1839 by Abner Doubleday in the United States (IBAF, n.p.). This game undergoes a huge fame all around the world very quickly. People like to play baseball as it is interesting and healthy. Softball has been created in 1887 by George Hancock as a kind of an indoor baseball (ISF, n.p.). This game has a lot of different names, and only in twentieth century it has been called softball. Through years this game become so popular that now it stands for the independent sport. It is important to admit that the most essential difference between these two sports is considered to be pinching technique (isport, n.p.). That is remained to be a manner of throwing a ball in these games. The matter is that baseball includes overhand throwing from the mound in a pitching circle with the nine-foot radius extended (isport, n.p.). At the same time softball represents “underhand pitching from a flat pitching circle that extends to an eight-foot radius” (isport, n.p.). In addition it is relevant to admit that pinching distance between the mound and home plate is different while mentioning baseball and softball. It corresponds to 60 feet and 6 inches in baseball, whereas in softball this distance is smaller and stays from 35 to 43 feet (isport, n.p.). It follows the idea that to perform a throw is much easier in softball game in comparison with a pinching technique in baseball. Such difference is highly important in professional sport. The next point is bats and balls that are also included to both games but are completely different from each other. The size, weight and shape of bats stay the main difference concerning these games. Baseball bat should be no longer than 42 inches, while softball bat is 34 inches and no more (isport, n.p.). As for the weight and shape it should be mentioned that baseball bat is heavier than a softball one, and has bigger diameter. That is important to add is that ball in this games is also different. Baseballs are remained to be smaller and tighter than softballs. Such ball has the nine-inch circumference, while softball has twelve-inch circumference (isport, n.p.). Also, baseballs have white color, whereas softballs are considered to be yellow. Consequently, it is relevant to admit that baseball is in need of strong players as they need to beat the ball with a huge power. At the same time softball players can spend less energy for the beating the ball by a bat. Therefore, softball is highly popular among women who like such sport. Baselines are regarded as the next point under consideration that is of high importance. Baseball has a standard length between all bases that stays for 90 feet (isport, n.p.). The length of such bases in softball is remained to be 60 feet (isport, n.p.). Therefore, it is relevant to talk about two fields of different sizes. To such extent the home run fence for baseball stays for minimum 250 feet. Present-day fields are considered to be even larger and are reached even 400 feet. At the same time softball fields are 220 feet, and this sport does not acquire large fields (isport, n.p.). The innings are also present in both of these games, and it is significant to admit that the game starts particularly with this process. Still, baseball and softball have different number of innings. In baseball the number of innings per game is considered to be nine, while softball includes seven innings. One more important point is remained to be the rules of accommodation of tied games. Baseball standards represent situation in which the score is tied after the ninth complete inning as a continuation of game until the team will get a will within one complete inning (isport, n.p.). It should be admitted that softball involves the same principle in tied games; still, one additional element is presented as a peculiar feature of this game (isport, n.p.). It is relevant to talk about a runner in such game as softball. The point which is admitted claims that “every successive inning will begin with a runner on second base until one team wins” (isport, n.p.). What is essential to signify is that both games have well known regulation that is called run rules. That is considered to be a mercy rule, according to which team will get a win earlier than all innings provided in the game are completed. The difference between baseball and softball is in the number of runs (isport, n.p.). It is important to mention that in baseball a team leads in a case when they perform “10 runs after seven complete innings”, whereas such situation happens in softball in a case if team performs 8 runs that are completed after a five innings (isport, n.p.). If to talk about lead-offs there are also some differences considering such games as baseball and softball. A runner is a player that is connected with a lead-offs in both games. Still, “in baseball, a runner is allowed to lead off or attempt to steal any time the ball is live”; at the same time in softball “the runner is only allowed to leave the bag once the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand”; otherwise, it will be a violation of rules and an automatic out (isport, n.p.). Taking all fact under consideration it is relevant to admit that these two games are considered to be interesting and useful sport. Baseball and softball are very popular through the world and many people play these games as a hobby; moreover professional leagues are functioning. The basis of these games is remained to be pinches and ball with a bat. Players need to react quickly and be attentive within all the playing process. It is important to mention the fact that there are a huge number of similarities in these two games. What is more, softball has appeared as a variant of baseball and only within some period has become an independent game. The process of playing baseball and softball include some similar rules and regulations that make these games analogous. Still, there are a lot of peculiar features and details in such sport games that makes them special. After the detailed analysis of specifications of baseball and softball it can be concluded that softball is remained to be easier game. The rules are considered to be not as strict as in baseball, and playing technique together with technical equipment is represented in a simplified variant. It seems that softball is more created for women, even its name referred to the idea that this game is a little bit gentle than baseball. Reference List: “The Difference Between Baseball & Softball”. softball.isport.com. Web. 30 Jan, 2015. http://softball.isport.com/softball-guides/the-difference-between-baseball-softball “The History of Softball”. International Softball Federation, 2006. Web. 30 Jan, 2015. http://www.isfsoftball.org/english/the_isf/history_of_softball.asp “The Origins of Baseball”. International Baseball Federation, June 16, 2010. Web. 30 Jan, 2015. http://www.ibaf.org/en/page/the-origins-of-baseball/1d4801fb-6d5e-42c9-9ca6-37e5b85396b8 Read More