Baseball products include everything from pitching machines, to batting cages, to home plates, to baseball backdrops, and ball feeders, or you name it. Also, an overwhelming amount of training gear and accessories, memorabilia, clothes, and novelty items add to the world of baseball products. Obviously, the area of baseball products is very broad, so to narrow the discussion just a little, we will focus on getting the baseball products to fit your needs.
There are many skill levels of playing baseball like almost anything else, so concentrating on your particular skill level will serve you well when searching for the best baseball products for your program, professional, or personal needs. These products can be found just about anywhere from your neighborhood Wal-Mart to your area mall. There are unlimited numbers of companies that only deal with baseball products and are only in the business of baseball. Baseball is big business, and companies compete regularly and aggressively and are continuously finding ways to bring customers high quality, high performance enhancing, and price sensitive products. Any one of them can be found on the internet with a simple “baseball products” jotted into a search engine, advertising baseball products for all areas of the game.
If you are a beginner you may hear the old saying that “practice makes perfect” more than once or twice. Developing the skills necessary to play the game as safely as possible should be one of your main concerns. To achieve the optimum level of safety when learning to play the game one should make use of all of the safety gear that baseball products have to offer. Helmets, gloves, pads, and cups are products that no beginner should be without. As you advance in skill level, some but not all of the gear that protected you may no longer be needed because of your new skills and knowledge of how to protect yourself during a game. But to advance to such a level one must have ample opportunity for training and practice. There are baseball product companies that deal specifically with training gear like baseball cages, pitching machines, training bats, balls, and gloves to help you achieve the skill level that you desire. Be patient, do your research, and have fun while choosing companies and deciding on pricing of the baseball products that you will need to embark on the most popular American pastime.
By: Leon Groom
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Buying Guide For Softball Uniforms
Its Always Healthy To Encourage Your Children To Actively Participate In Sports. All Work And No Play Make Him And Her Dull Boys And Girls. As Popular Sport Often Played Around This Time Is Softball. It Is A Direct Descendant Of Baseball And Is Sometimes Called Hardball In Order To Avoid Confusion Between The Two Sports.
As A Supportive Parent, It Helps That You Not Only Watch Your Kid During Practice, It Would Also Mean A Lot To Them If Youre The One Who Personally Picks Their Softball Equipment.
1. Select A Good Supplier. There Is Tons Of Sporting Goods Outlet Stores During The Summer. Make Sure That They Offer The Finest Quality In Their Materials And Accessories.
2. Bring A Sample Of The Teams Colors To The Store Where Youll Be Buying The Uniform. Remember That Each Team Has A Distinct Uniform Color. You Wouldnt Want Your Kid To Stand Out Because Hes Wearing The Wrong Color, Do You?
3. Uniform Basically Has Shirts And Pants. Then Theres Underpants And Then Cap. Most Of The Stores Provide All These In One Set. If You Are Getting The Set, Choose The Trendiest Looking Ones With The Best Accessory That Goes With It.
4. For Male Players, Caps Must Be Generic Meaning, Look The Same. For Female Players, They Have A Selection From Wearing A Cap Or A Visor Or A Headband, Just As Long As It Is The Same Color Of Those In The Team. When The Person Is Already Wearing A Helmet, Then He Doesnt Have To Wear A Headgear Underneath.
Remember: Caps Must Also Be Stylish. Just Because Youre Sweating Anyway, It Doesnt Mean You Cant Look Good, Right?
5. Numbers Must Be Visible On The Back View Of The Team Shirt. It Should Range From 1 To 99. If Its 02, Then It Is Identical To 2. Make Sure That Your Child Does Not Have The Same Number As That Of His Teammate. The Players Last Names Printed Atop The Number Are Optional.
6. Jewelry Like Necklaces, Bracelets Or Chains Must Be Removed During The Game. Of Course, Other Accessories Such As A Wrist Band And Other Less-hazardous Bling-blings Can Be Used.
Common Sense, Its Not Practical For Athletes To Wear Expensive Jewelry In The First Place. During The Nitty-gritty Of The Game, The Owner Might Injure The Other Players. Worse, He Might Lose The Prized Possession.
7. The Required Footwear For The Players Must Have Cleat Or Spikes. This Is To Help Them Get A Grip When Running And Sliding. Spikes Must Be Shorter Than ¾ Inches. If The Spikes Are Rounded And Metal, These Are Illegal Because It Could Harm The Other Players. The Spikes Must Be Made Of Synthetic Materials Like Hard Plastic. There Are Some Spikes That Are Detachable And Made Of Metal. These Are Also Not Allowed.
The Reason For The Specific Material Of The Spikes Is That A Runner Slides With Their Feet Heading Toward A Fielder First. If The Spikes Are Rounded And Metallic, Then These Could Hurt The Player.
8. Batters Must Wear Helmets Used For Batting Or What Is Referred To As Batting Helmets. These Have Ear Flaps, One On The Right Side, The Other On The Left. Theres A Protective Cage. For Young Players, Its Alright To Not Have Cages. Of Course, These Are Mandatory For The Adult Players. The Cage Stops The Balls From Flying Straight To The Batters Face. Damaged Or Heavily Altered Helmets And Cages Are Not Allowed.
9. Catcher Must Have Their Protective Helmets On All The Time. Helmets Must Contain A Facemask And A Throat Protector. Girl Catchers Must Also Have A Protective Suit Or What Is Known As The Body Protector During The Game.
10. To Protect The Knee Cap, Shin Guards Are Worn By The Players. If The Shin Is Kicked, This Might Create A Grave Injury For The Player Resulting To Wearing A Cast.
Now That You Know The Basics On Softball Uniform Buying, Its Also Smart To Know Where To Get The Best Product At A Reasonable Price. It Is Always Better To Canvas At Different Store Outlets First, Compare Their Prices, Then Make Your Decision Where To Get The Products.
After All, We Only Want The Best For Our Children. With Supportive Parents And A Complete Softball Set, All Thats Left For You To Do Is To Watch Him Or Her During Training Or The Big Game.
By: Peter Sterling
As A Supportive Parent, It Helps That You Not Only Watch Your Kid During Practice, It Would Also Mean A Lot To Them If Youre The One Who Personally Picks Their Softball Equipment.
1. Select A Good Supplier. There Is Tons Of Sporting Goods Outlet Stores During The Summer. Make Sure That They Offer The Finest Quality In Their Materials And Accessories.
2. Bring A Sample Of The Teams Colors To The Store Where Youll Be Buying The Uniform. Remember That Each Team Has A Distinct Uniform Color. You Wouldnt Want Your Kid To Stand Out Because Hes Wearing The Wrong Color, Do You?
3. Uniform Basically Has Shirts And Pants. Then Theres Underpants And Then Cap. Most Of The Stores Provide All These In One Set. If You Are Getting The Set, Choose The Trendiest Looking Ones With The Best Accessory That Goes With It.
4. For Male Players, Caps Must Be Generic Meaning, Look The Same. For Female Players, They Have A Selection From Wearing A Cap Or A Visor Or A Headband, Just As Long As It Is The Same Color Of Those In The Team. When The Person Is Already Wearing A Helmet, Then He Doesnt Have To Wear A Headgear Underneath.
Remember: Caps Must Also Be Stylish. Just Because Youre Sweating Anyway, It Doesnt Mean You Cant Look Good, Right?
5. Numbers Must Be Visible On The Back View Of The Team Shirt. It Should Range From 1 To 99. If Its 02, Then It Is Identical To 2. Make Sure That Your Child Does Not Have The Same Number As That Of His Teammate. The Players Last Names Printed Atop The Number Are Optional.
6. Jewelry Like Necklaces, Bracelets Or Chains Must Be Removed During The Game. Of Course, Other Accessories Such As A Wrist Band And Other Less-hazardous Bling-blings Can Be Used.
Common Sense, Its Not Practical For Athletes To Wear Expensive Jewelry In The First Place. During The Nitty-gritty Of The Game, The Owner Might Injure The Other Players. Worse, He Might Lose The Prized Possession.
7. The Required Footwear For The Players Must Have Cleat Or Spikes. This Is To Help Them Get A Grip When Running And Sliding. Spikes Must Be Shorter Than ¾ Inches. If The Spikes Are Rounded And Metal, These Are Illegal Because It Could Harm The Other Players. The Spikes Must Be Made Of Synthetic Materials Like Hard Plastic. There Are Some Spikes That Are Detachable And Made Of Metal. These Are Also Not Allowed.
The Reason For The Specific Material Of The Spikes Is That A Runner Slides With Their Feet Heading Toward A Fielder First. If The Spikes Are Rounded And Metallic, Then These Could Hurt The Player.
8. Batters Must Wear Helmets Used For Batting Or What Is Referred To As Batting Helmets. These Have Ear Flaps, One On The Right Side, The Other On The Left. Theres A Protective Cage. For Young Players, Its Alright To Not Have Cages. Of Course, These Are Mandatory For The Adult Players. The Cage Stops The Balls From Flying Straight To The Batters Face. Damaged Or Heavily Altered Helmets And Cages Are Not Allowed.
9. Catcher Must Have Their Protective Helmets On All The Time. Helmets Must Contain A Facemask And A Throat Protector. Girl Catchers Must Also Have A Protective Suit Or What Is Known As The Body Protector During The Game.
10. To Protect The Knee Cap, Shin Guards Are Worn By The Players. If The Shin Is Kicked, This Might Create A Grave Injury For The Player Resulting To Wearing A Cast.
Now That You Know The Basics On Softball Uniform Buying, Its Also Smart To Know Where To Get The Best Product At A Reasonable Price. It Is Always Better To Canvas At Different Store Outlets First, Compare Their Prices, Then Make Your Decision Where To Get The Products.
After All, We Only Want The Best For Our Children. With Supportive Parents And A Complete Softball Set, All Thats Left For You To Do Is To Watch Him Or Her During Training Or The Big Game.
By: Peter Sterling
The Origin Of Baseball
There is very little known about the origins of baseball. There appears to be a historic mish-mash of very early games that may very well have ties to modern baseball.The idea that baseball evolved from any of these sources turns out to be conjecture or theory. Like most history, if it goes back far enough, details start to get quite fuzzy. By its very nature, baseball has been a game that has thrived on legends and myth.
There is evidence that baseball is strictly American, as many of its features are unique. Conversely, many cling to the long held belief that baseball was derived from rounders, a British game. This claim is somewhat hard to dispute. Almost everything except the shape of the field is similar to baseball. Rounders uses posts instead of bases, and there are four posts, but the field is arranged in a pentagon, with one side open. There is no foul territory, and if a batsman swings at a pitch, or if the pitch is deemed inside the "batting square" and there is no swing, they must attempt to run to the first post, even if they don't make contact with the ball.
A fielder produces an out by tagging the runner with the ball, tagging the post the batsman is running toward with the ball, or catching the hit ball on the fly. A batsman advances to the first post if three pitches are delivered by the "bowler," 28 feet away, outside of the batting square. A batsman can also advance on a ball hit behind the field arrangement, an area that is considered "foul territory" in baseball, but only to the first post. There are nine players to a team, just like in baseball, but there are nine outs per inning, and two innings comprise a complete game.
There is no evidence of a direct connection of baseball to rounders other than early sports writers (mostly British) saying so. Still, others believe that baseball was developed from a very old folk game known as stool ball (1085 A.D., also British). This is a stretch, as the game has many dissimilar features. We know that in 2000 B.C. ball and stick type games were played by ancient cultures, and Egyptian hieroglyphics describe an ancient game similar to baseball in 1500 B.C.
Baseball historians have tried to connect everything from these ancient games to "tip-cat" to "base" as a claim to baseball¡¯s ancestry. Many theorists from England claim that baseball was taken from rounders, which has many similarities, but it also has features dissimilar to baseball. Most of these theories are questionable at best and downright ridiculous at worst.
In tip-cat a "batter" strikes the end of a whittled "cat," a piece of wood about 4 inches long that is similar to a parallelogram or pyramid on each end. It is struck with a long stick which also serves as the bat. The "cat" is catapulted into the air, then struck on its down flight with the bat. A player gets three "strikes" at the cat, and the greatest accumulated distance wins. Does this sound anything like baseball?
The game of base is just more-or-less "tag" with a base where you are safe. The "base" is the only similarity to the game of baseball. Many of the earlier folk games that go back as far as the 1300¡¯s in England had some similarities to baseball, cricket, rounders and other games. These games went by various names, including stob-ball, stow-ball, stoolball, poison ball, tip-cat, and the list goes on to infinity. Many baseball historians have stated these early games were more direct ancestors of cricket and rounders.
Stoolball, most notably, had many similar features to rounders and cricket. In stoolball, a batter defended an object (a stool or a stump) by striking a pitched projectile of some sort. If the batter hit the projectile and it was caught by a fielder, or missed hitting the ball and it struck a stool leg or a stump, the batter was out. There is also some evidence, although not clearly, that these types of games were social games and also had some similarities to "spin-the-bottle". Stob-ball and stow-ball were regional spin-off games similar to stoolball. In the year 1700, Thomas Wilson wrote down his disapproval of "morris dancing, cudgel-playing, baseball and cricket." Some sources claim this statement was "stoolball" rather than baseball.
In 1744, a small book by John Newbery called A Little Pretty Pocket-Book provides us a woodcut model of the field in stoolball. It includes a rhyme that mentions base-ball. The book was later republished in Colonial America. It was also documented that in 1748 Frederick, the Prince of Wales, played in a game similar to baseball. There were many other early British and Colonial American games that have been thrown into the controversial "chicken or the egg" argument of baseball¡¯s origin. Perhaps rounders came from stoolball, or perhaps baseball came from rounders? Some have even recently suggested that rounders and cricket came from baseball.
Really, all that we do know for a fact is that the terms base-ball and stoolball were used interchangeably on many occasions. We know for sure that the first written rules for modern baseball appeared in 1845. We also know that one of the reasons they were written was, once again, the rules were changed.
These "original" rules laid out the foul lines and eliminated the "plug out" (hitting the runner with the ball to gain an out, if not on a base). This document also included the first account of the tag-out and the force-out. There were also no "innings" in the Knickerbocker or New York game. The first team to reach twenty-one, allowing equal number of at-bats, won the game. Cartwright may have written the modern rules, but there are still differences from the modern game.
What's important is that for the first time in baseball history these changes were clearly documented, as were subsequent adjustments to the modern rules of baseball. The evolution of baseball is a long and complex path, which has snaked its way through a large number of similar games.
By: FR Penn
There is evidence that baseball is strictly American, as many of its features are unique. Conversely, many cling to the long held belief that baseball was derived from rounders, a British game. This claim is somewhat hard to dispute. Almost everything except the shape of the field is similar to baseball. Rounders uses posts instead of bases, and there are four posts, but the field is arranged in a pentagon, with one side open. There is no foul territory, and if a batsman swings at a pitch, or if the pitch is deemed inside the "batting square" and there is no swing, they must attempt to run to the first post, even if they don't make contact with the ball.
A fielder produces an out by tagging the runner with the ball, tagging the post the batsman is running toward with the ball, or catching the hit ball on the fly. A batsman advances to the first post if three pitches are delivered by the "bowler," 28 feet away, outside of the batting square. A batsman can also advance on a ball hit behind the field arrangement, an area that is considered "foul territory" in baseball, but only to the first post. There are nine players to a team, just like in baseball, but there are nine outs per inning, and two innings comprise a complete game.
There is no evidence of a direct connection of baseball to rounders other than early sports writers (mostly British) saying so. Still, others believe that baseball was developed from a very old folk game known as stool ball (1085 A.D., also British). This is a stretch, as the game has many dissimilar features. We know that in 2000 B.C. ball and stick type games were played by ancient cultures, and Egyptian hieroglyphics describe an ancient game similar to baseball in 1500 B.C.
Baseball historians have tried to connect everything from these ancient games to "tip-cat" to "base" as a claim to baseball¡¯s ancestry. Many theorists from England claim that baseball was taken from rounders, which has many similarities, but it also has features dissimilar to baseball. Most of these theories are questionable at best and downright ridiculous at worst.
In tip-cat a "batter" strikes the end of a whittled "cat," a piece of wood about 4 inches long that is similar to a parallelogram or pyramid on each end. It is struck with a long stick which also serves as the bat. The "cat" is catapulted into the air, then struck on its down flight with the bat. A player gets three "strikes" at the cat, and the greatest accumulated distance wins. Does this sound anything like baseball?
The game of base is just more-or-less "tag" with a base where you are safe. The "base" is the only similarity to the game of baseball. Many of the earlier folk games that go back as far as the 1300¡¯s in England had some similarities to baseball, cricket, rounders and other games. These games went by various names, including stob-ball, stow-ball, stoolball, poison ball, tip-cat, and the list goes on to infinity. Many baseball historians have stated these early games were more direct ancestors of cricket and rounders.
Stoolball, most notably, had many similar features to rounders and cricket. In stoolball, a batter defended an object (a stool or a stump) by striking a pitched projectile of some sort. If the batter hit the projectile and it was caught by a fielder, or missed hitting the ball and it struck a stool leg or a stump, the batter was out. There is also some evidence, although not clearly, that these types of games were social games and also had some similarities to "spin-the-bottle". Stob-ball and stow-ball were regional spin-off games similar to stoolball. In the year 1700, Thomas Wilson wrote down his disapproval of "morris dancing, cudgel-playing, baseball and cricket." Some sources claim this statement was "stoolball" rather than baseball.
In 1744, a small book by John Newbery called A Little Pretty Pocket-Book provides us a woodcut model of the field in stoolball. It includes a rhyme that mentions base-ball. The book was later republished in Colonial America. It was also documented that in 1748 Frederick, the Prince of Wales, played in a game similar to baseball. There were many other early British and Colonial American games that have been thrown into the controversial "chicken or the egg" argument of baseball¡¯s origin. Perhaps rounders came from stoolball, or perhaps baseball came from rounders? Some have even recently suggested that rounders and cricket came from baseball.
Really, all that we do know for a fact is that the terms base-ball and stoolball were used interchangeably on many occasions. We know for sure that the first written rules for modern baseball appeared in 1845. We also know that one of the reasons they were written was, once again, the rules were changed.
These "original" rules laid out the foul lines and eliminated the "plug out" (hitting the runner with the ball to gain an out, if not on a base). This document also included the first account of the tag-out and the force-out. There were also no "innings" in the Knickerbocker or New York game. The first team to reach twenty-one, allowing equal number of at-bats, won the game. Cartwright may have written the modern rules, but there are still differences from the modern game.
What's important is that for the first time in baseball history these changes were clearly documented, as were subsequent adjustments to the modern rules of baseball. The evolution of baseball is a long and complex path, which has snaked its way through a large number of similar games.
By: FR Penn
Similarities In Baseball And Softball
A comparison between softball and baseball can easily be made as softball is directly descended from baseball and therefore, it contains some important similarities. Despite this fact, however, there are also several important differences. The primary reason for these differences is that softball was originally intended to be played indoors. It would be a lot easier to talk about the differences between these two, but we are here to talk about their similarities.
Softball shares many similarities with baseball. It's a nine-a-side game played on a grass diamond, with a batter attempting to hit pitches and get onto base. Softball was developed as a game for women, dating back to the late 19th century and first reaching national prominence during World War II as a replacement for the decimated baseball league. Because of the draft for the war at that time, the sport has been almost completely transformed.
Even though softball started as an indoor version of baseball, these two games have evolved into two completely separate sports with different sets of rules and playing conditions. Both of them involve four main activities or skills: throwing, including pitching and fielding; catching; batting; and base running. The main difference in how these games are played is the technique by which the ball is pitched to the batter.
Some of the rules in baseball and softball are similar too. For example, slap bunting rules are the same for both but used more often in softball. Substitution rules are basically the same, but differences are present here too. Fast pitch softball is played with a twelve-inch ball, and metal bats. The distance between the each base is 60 feet long each base. From the pitchers mound to home plate it measures 43 feet in length. The pitching circle is 12 feet in diameter. From all these characteristics, you can say that baseball and softball are not sports based on player strength, but of explosion and intelligence.
Another aspect we should talk about is the similarities or differences between baseball and softball bats. Take the size of the barrel. Softball bats have a maximum barrel diameter of 2 ¼", making it a bit difficult to make solid contact with the ball. On the other hand, baseball bats have a maximum diameter of 2 ¾" and have a longer range. The similarity nowadays, for both baseball and softball bats, is that bats are made of special composites. These materials are made up of carbon, glass and fibers embedded in a polymer matrix make. Due to these materials, bats are now lighter, stiffer and stronger.
So, there you have it - similarities and differences between baseball and softball. Even though they look alike and have many similarities, remember that these are two completely different sports.
By: Michael Shapiro
Softball shares many similarities with baseball. It's a nine-a-side game played on a grass diamond, with a batter attempting to hit pitches and get onto base. Softball was developed as a game for women, dating back to the late 19th century and first reaching national prominence during World War II as a replacement for the decimated baseball league. Because of the draft for the war at that time, the sport has been almost completely transformed.
Even though softball started as an indoor version of baseball, these two games have evolved into two completely separate sports with different sets of rules and playing conditions. Both of them involve four main activities or skills: throwing, including pitching and fielding; catching; batting; and base running. The main difference in how these games are played is the technique by which the ball is pitched to the batter.
Some of the rules in baseball and softball are similar too. For example, slap bunting rules are the same for both but used more often in softball. Substitution rules are basically the same, but differences are present here too. Fast pitch softball is played with a twelve-inch ball, and metal bats. The distance between the each base is 60 feet long each base. From the pitchers mound to home plate it measures 43 feet in length. The pitching circle is 12 feet in diameter. From all these characteristics, you can say that baseball and softball are not sports based on player strength, but of explosion and intelligence.
Another aspect we should talk about is the similarities or differences between baseball and softball bats. Take the size of the barrel. Softball bats have a maximum barrel diameter of 2 ¼", making it a bit difficult to make solid contact with the ball. On the other hand, baseball bats have a maximum diameter of 2 ¾" and have a longer range. The similarity nowadays, for both baseball and softball bats, is that bats are made of special composites. These materials are made up of carbon, glass and fibers embedded in a polymer matrix make. Due to these materials, bats are now lighter, stiffer and stronger.
So, there you have it - similarities and differences between baseball and softball. Even though they look alike and have many similarities, remember that these are two completely different sports.
By: Michael Shapiro
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