The modern game of baseball was developed in the U.S. from early bat and ball games played in Britain. It is played with a fist sized ball (see image right) pitched to a batter. The batter attempts to hit the ball using a tapered cylindrical bat made of wood, usually ash. The game is played between two teams of nine players each. The field has four bases, each 90 feet apart, in the shape of a diamond.
Professional baseball began in the U.S. in 1865. The National League
was founded in 1876. The American League started in 1901. Over the
years other leagues were formed but failed. These two rival leagues
began playing a World
Series in 1903.
Professional baseball is also
played in Latin America, the Caribbean and East
Asia. Baseball has been considered the national
pastime in the United States.
Washington D.C.'s professional baseball team is the Washington Nationals.
Web Sites
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for baseball or baseball history.
Databases
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