Comparison of baseball and softball
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A comparison of baseball and softball can be made as softball is directly descended from baseball and thus contains many similarities; however there are several pronounced differences. The primary reason for these differences is that softball was originally intended to be played indoors.
Most of the differences between fastpitch softball and slowpitch softball are designed to give batters more dominance and make offense more important.
[edit] Table of Comparison
This list is incomplete
| Rule or Term | Baseball | Fastpitch Softball | Slowpitch Softball |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length of Game | 9 innings (7 in the high school level and in Minor League/college doubleheaders) | 7 innings (5 in certain college games) | 7 innings (5 in certain college games) |
| Equipment | |||
| Ball | 9 inches (23 cm) in circumference | 12 or 11 inches (30 or 28 cm) in circumference, less dense than a baseball | often same as fastpitch softball, special 14 or 16 inch (36 or 41 cm) balls rarely used, less dense than a baseball |
| Bat | no longer than 42 inches (106 cm) | no longer than 34 inches (86 cm) | no longer than 34 inches (86 cm) |
| Field | |||
| Baselines | 90 feet (27 m) | 60 feet (18 m) | Typically 60 feet (18 m) or 65 feet (20 m); longer distances in some levels |
| Double first base | No | Yes, all levels under ISF and ASA | Allowed. Runner reaches safety base in foul territory, fielders make play at regular 1st base |
| Outfield fence | Variable distance from home plate is mandatory in professional and university leagues and optional in youth leagues. Many youth leagues, such as Little League, use a constant distance from home plate. | Constant distance from home plate (maximum of 250 ft/76.2 m) | Constant distance from home plate |
| Pitching distance | 60 feet, 6 inches (18.5 m) | Varies by level: 40 feet (12 m) (women's high school and amateur), 43 feet (13 m) (women's college and international) or 46 feet (14 m) (men) | Varies, typically 46 feet (14 m) |
| Pitcher's mound | Yes | No, but 8 foot (2.5 m) circle marked around pitcher's plate | No |
| Players | |||
| Defensive players in field | nine | nine (before 1946, ten) | ten (either a rover or shortfielder, or a left center and right center fielder) |
| Extra player | Designated hitter may bat in place of a defensive player (pitcher in some levels) and removes the defensive player from the game if the DH plays in the field. | Designated player may bat in place of a defensive player and removes the defensive player from the game if the DP plays in the field. | Extra player may bat in addition to all defensive players and may freely enter to play a defensive position. (Two extra players, one of each gender, allowed in some levels of co-recreational play.) |
| Batter | |||
| Bunting | Allowed. | Allowed. | Not allowed; batter is out if contact made. |
| Foul ball with two strikes | Batter is not out unless bunting. | Batter is not out unless bunting. | Batter is generally out. In many recreational leagues, a batter is allowed one foul ball with two strikes, with the second being an automatic out. |
| Hit by pitch | Awarded first base unless swing or no attempt made to avoid being hit. | Awarded first base unless swing or attempt made to intentionally be hit. | Not awarded first base. |
| Runner | |||
| Base stealing | Allowed at any time the ball is live (i.e. when "Time" is not called). | Allowed once the ball leaves the pitcher's hand; runners may not leave base if the pitcher has the ball within the circle. | Generally not allowed.
Allowed when ball crosses edge of home plate or touches ground in some levels only. |
| Pitching | |||
| Delivery | Any method; in practice, usually overhand. | Underhand, no speed or arc restrictions. | Underhand, must arc within certain height restrictions, generally above batter's head. A pitch with not enough arc ("flat") or, in some leagues, too much arc is illegal. |
| Illegal pitch | Most infractions punished as a balk: the ball is dead, no change made to the count on the batter and all runners on base advance. With no runners on base, for some infractions, the pitch attempt is automatically a ball. | The ball remains live. If the batter reaches base successfully and all runners advance, no penalty; otherwise, the play is negated, the pitch attempt is automatically a ball and runners advance one base. | The ball remains live. If the batter does not swing, the pitch is automatically a ball. |
