THE ORDER OF PLAY FOR THE GAME OF

BASEBALL

Baseball has a set of discrete boundaries and rules,

a unique set of actions, and clear consequences
based on those actions. Since these rules can seem
intimidating to one who lacks familiarity with the
sport, this diagram is designed as a guide to the
basic action of the game.

BEGINNERS EDITION

PLAY
BALL!

Batter steps
up to plate

Pitcher
throws
Y

Does
batter
swing?

Bat hits
ball?
N

Strike
zone?

Fair ball?
Y

Strike
<2?

Fly ball?
Y

Batter
becomes
runner

Strike
+1

Ball
+1

Strike
= 3?

Ball
= 4?

Caught by
fielder?

Runners
go to +1
base

Out
+1

Fielders try
to get ball to
someone
near runner

Batter goes
to dugout

Fielders
get ball near
runner? Y
N

Out
= 3?

base = 4
(home)?

Runner
already on
N (x) base? Y

Top of
inning?
Y

Bottom of
inning

Runner on
base +1

Score +1 for
running
team

Runner
goes to
+1 base

Fielder
tags runner
out? Y
N

Base = 4
(home)?

Runner
goes to
dugout

Teams
switch
sides

Inning
>=9?
N

Top of
inning
+1

Score
tied?

GAME
OVER!
Doug Stuart - INF385T SP09

Baseball has long been considered

Americas pastime. It sports a complex
and highly unique information system.
However, learning the games numerous
rules and processes can be daunting.
This page purports to act as a guide to
the baseball initiate.

AN OVERVIEW OF RULES FOR THE GAME OF

BEGINNERS EDITION

Positions

Center
field

Fielders

e
in

Catcher

1st base
2nd base
3rd base

2nd
base

in

Pitcher

Left field
Center field
Right field

Right
field

l
ul
Fo

Basemen
1st
2nd
3rd
Shortstop

Left
field

Fo
ul
l

Left
Center
Right

STANDS ON/NEAR

Outfielders

Mound
Home plate

Batters/Runners

Bat from Home plate and then run

counter-clockwise around the bases

The
game
3rd
of baseball
base
is divided
temporally into
nine INNINGS.
Each inning has a top
and a bottom. The home
team always fields during
the top part of each inning,
and bats during the bottom part.

The
game
1st
of baseball
base
is an outdoor
sport, generally
played in the spring
and summer months.
Single games can last up
to four hours, with as many
as three games played in a row,
(commonly called a triple-header.)

Mound

Home
plate

THE WIND-UP...

BASEBALL

PLAY BALL!
The game is overseen by an umpire, who starts the game by calling out

While playing, the two teams are at cross purposes:

The pitching/batting game

The fielding/running game

try to get an

Pitcher

out
throws
toward

whenever a
batter hits a

who
crouches
behind
stands
at

and
tries to
hit a

home
plate

to get

fair
ball

which
makes
him a

by tagging
the

all
b
l
Fou

ba
ll

Runner
while he isnt
on any

who then
runs
around the

not
bases

strikes

Fa

fair
ball

Catcher

Batter

Fo
ul

Fair
ball

all
ir b

balls
and certainly before
he reaches
home
plate

bases

to
get
to

home
plate

to
score
a

run

Penalties
4 balls = 1 walk
(batter gets to go to 1st base)
3 strikes = 1 out
(batter goes back to the dugout)

...THE PITCH!

Fielders

3 outs = End of that half of the inning

(teams switch sides)
Doug Stuart - INF385T SP09