Major League Baseball

Baseball is played between two teams of nine players on a diamond-shaped field. The offensive team sends batters to home plate to face the pitcher, attempting to hit the ball and advance around four bases to score runs. Three outs retire a side; nine innings constitute a regulation game. The pitcher throws from 60 feet, 6 inches away, and batters face a count of balls and strikes. The designated hitter rule, now universal across both leagues, allows a tenth player to bat in place of the pitcher.