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How Baseball Works

By Kevin Bonsor and Joe Martin, HowStuffWorks, 02/15/19, 12:00PM PST

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The batter's goal is to put the ball in play so that the eight fielders can't catch the ball or throw it to another fielder to record an out.

Baseball is a game played with a bat, ball and glove. The fundamentals of the game involve throwing the ball, hitting the ball, and catching the ball. Of course, the execution of these three tasks is more challenging than it sounds, and it is that challenge that compels baseball players to play the game.

Baseball Basics

Unlike most games, a running clock does not limit the length of a baseball game. The two competing teams play over a period of innings, which are subdivided into halves. Professional and college games are generally nine innings long.