History of Softball Many people assume that softball came about from baseball, the sport’s first game actually came about because of a football game. The history of softball dates back to Thanksgiving Day of 1887 when several alumni sat in the Chicago, IL Farragut Boat Club anxiously awaiting the outcome of the Yale vs. Harvard football game. When Yale was announced as winner, a Yale alumnus playfully threw a boxing glove at a Harvard supporter. The Harvard fan swung at the balled-up glove with a stick, and the rest of the group looked on with interest. George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, jokingly called out “Play ball!” and the fist softball game commenced with the football fans using the boxing glove as a ball and …show more content…
Because it can be played on either a field or an indoor arena, softball games are played year round, and involve teams with players as young as 8 years old and some players over 60 years in age. Softball is sometimes played by co-recreational leagues where both women and men play on the same teams, but the rules are generally modified to reduce physical inequalities between the sexes. Often, companies and organizations form amateur co-ed teams to play for benefits and charity fund raiser events. The history of softball is still unfolding and the game has undergone numerous modifications since its creation in 1887, but it is still one of the most preferred sports games in the country and has developed a following in several countries throughout the world, especially in Australia, China and Japan. Loved by amateurs and professionals of all ages and athletic backgrounds, the world can only anticipate what is in store for the future of America’s other favorite pastime. Softball Rules and Regulations: The game of softball is played on a large field, comprising a distinctly demarcated grass infield, running areas and an outfield. The field is divided into four bases: first base, second base, third base and the home plate. The bases are set at a distance of approximately 45 to 65 feet from one another. The pitcher's circle is marked equidistant from the four bases. The objective of
Have you ever wondered if softball is harder than baseball, or even the other way around? Both softball and baseball are challenging sports. They have the same basics, and some of the same rules. They have plenty of things in common, but one is definitely harder than the other. Softball is harder than baseball because of the size of the bats and balls, the reaction time, and the difference in pitching.
A softball infield, being substantially smaller than a baseball infield, is 7,200 ft2 (Trifoso). This is a huge difficulty because the infielder has less time to react to the ball and get the batter out at first. An infielder in softball must get it to first base in 3.2 seconds, which is more than a second faster than a baseball infielder would (Trifoso). That is super strenuous to do because if you have one make one little mistake, the batter is safe at first.
George Hancock was a reporter for Chicago board of trade and invented softball on Thanksgiving Day in 1887 in Chicago, Illinois. He invented softball because he wanted to have a game just like baseball. Softball started when George was with some friends waiting to get the results for a football game, then George got an idea. He got a boxing glove as the ball and a broom stick as the bat and he threw it at the batters. He was thrilled about the game, so he would make bats and balls part of the game. The rules were established by George Hancock in 1889 at the Boat Club. Early on the equipment and uniforms were different than they are today. In the late 19th century, the players didn’t have the nice uniforms we have today. They would just play
Playing softball, you get fit. Being fit, makes people like their bodies, which makes people happier in general. When throwing the ball, you have to throw it harder than you would a baseball, which means you’re using more of your muscles than you would when throwing a baseball. As a result, your arms and body get toned, and running to catch the ball gets your legs worked out as well. When hitting the ball, you have
The object of softball is to score runs by hitting the ball and touching all the bases without being tagged or thrown out. Softball games last for seven innings. The pitcher will pitch to a batter until one of four things happens: The batter gets three strikes against him/her. A strike occurs when the batter swings at a pitch but misses it or hits it foul with less than two strikes against him/her, or when the pitch passes through the strike zone but the batter does not swing at it. The pitcher throws four "balls," which are pitches that fail to pass through the strike zone and which are not swung at by the batter. In this case the batter "walks," meaning he or she is awarded first base. The pitcher hits the batter with a pitch. In this case,
Have you ever had so much passion for a sport you have been playing for almost your whole life? I love playing all positions of softball and I admire everything that comes with it that includes battle wounds, road trips to games, making memories to practicing out on home field getting ready to bat some love into their lives. Softball is not an easy sport at all but it’s my passion and a privilege to be able to stand on that field. So much love, effort and hard work has been put in over the years. After 12 years of truly knowing the sport these are my favorite things out on the field such as pitching with strength, sliding with passion, and batting to hear all of your support to make a home run!
Attention Material: What do you think would be happening on Thanksgiving Day in 1887? Most of you are probably thinking; eating turkey, having family over, or already thinking about Christmas. Well George Hancock had a different agenda. He created the game of softball on that cold November day.
Ever since 1887 when softball first became a sport, individuals compared the two. In the past, baseball was the most watched sport in the United States, which earned baseball the nickname of America's’ Pastime. During that time, individuals did not take women’s athletic abilities seriously, for which no females
Softball for many people is the way of life, we eat, sleep, and play softball. Softball is a great sport for a lot of girls that want to be active and even stay out of trouble. Softball can be great for starting conversation because on the field you always have to talk, so your teammates now what is going on and where everyone is on the field. But when you play softball you always have a rush of enjoyment, and nerves.
Softball is a sport that is known throughout the United States and the world. Softball originated on Thanksgiving Day in Chicago in 1887. The game was actually said to have begun as an indoor game. Softball was started by a group of men who had gathered at a club to watch the Harvard vs. Yale football game. When the news came that Yale had defeated Harvard, 17-8, one Yale supporter, overcome with enthusiasm, picked up an old boxing glove and threw it at a nearby Harvard alumni, who promptly tried to hit it back with a stick. This gave George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, an idea. He suggested a game of indoor baseball. Naturally, Hancock's friends thought he was talking about playing a game outdoors, not indoors.
Believe it or not softball was created by males. People consider it a women’s sport though. Softball was created in 1887 when men joined together in Chicago Farragut baseball club to listen to Harvard vs Yale football game. The inventor of indoor baseball was George Hancock. The reason it was invented it because a Yale supporter threw and boxing glove at a Harvard fan while yell “let’s play ball”. It then became its own sport in 1991. http://softball.isport.com. The first game was played on Thanksgiving. The rules for softball we created in 1889 which was only 2 years after they game was even thought of.
The start of the game of baseball is unknown, but some people believe they know when it started. The game of baseball believes to start in England. The start of baseball was around 1760, the game was called Rounder. Rounder had the same rules as baseball today, but it had its difference. The biggest difference was that a fielder had to throw the ball at the runner to get them out. The game changed in 1845. A group of people got together to talk about the game. They wanted to make the game safer. They changed the rules of the fielder. He would not throw at the baserunner anymore; they must tag the baserunner with the ball. The equipment changed as well when they made the rule change. They started to use a harder ball.
Baseball was one of these things that women picked up to keep the game alive. In 1856, baseball became America’s pastime. The league had strict rules for the women. They had to wear lipstick, couldn't have short hair and take classes that teach them to be charming. Pitchers for the league threw underhand. Many people attended the games because they were interested in seeing girls play ball. It could be said that the public opinion of people during this time about women was altered. Seeing them be able to freely play sports and well proved that girls could have different roles. This source was very good and helpful in explaining the roles of women in baseball during World War 2 and the differences they faced compared to men.
Hard work never goes un-noticed, and although I did improve, I had acquired the label of ‘outfielder’. The position that wasn’t home to me, but I was forced to recognize as my spot on the field. My first year of Varsity softball arrived and I made it clear infield is where I wanted to be, but my coach’s confidence in me continued to lack to match the level of mine, along with the fact the returning third basemen was a veteran. And the outfield is where I was sent, yet again.
The main difference in softball and baseball are the players. Generally, baseball is a man’s sport with the rare exception of women playing. However, girls usually stop playing baseball when they grow older because girls cannot play in the MLB. Therefore, they go to the next closest thing to baseball which is softball.