h side has nine turns, or innings, at bat, unless
the side last at bat does not need its ninth innings in order to win; a tie
at the end of the ninth innings makes additional innings necessary. A full
game usually takes from 1-1/2 to 2 hrs. to play. Three batsmen are put out
in each innings, and the side scoring the greatest number of runs (complete
encircling of the bases without being put out) wins. A runner who is not
put out but fails to reach home-base does not score a run, but is "left on
base."

Implements of the Game.--The ball, which is 9-9-1/4 in. in circumference
and weighs 5-5-1/4 oz., is made of yarn wound upon a small core of
vulcanized rubber and covered with white leather, which may not be
intentionally discoloured. The bat must be round, not over 2-3/4 in. in
diameter at the thickest part, nor more than 42 in. in length. It is
usually made of ash or some other hard wood, and the handle may be wound
with twine. Three-cornered spikes are usually worn on the players' shoes.
The catcher and first-baseman (_v. infra_) may wear a glove of any size on
one hand; the gloves worn by all other players may not measure more than 14
in. round the palm nor weigh more than 10 oz.

The Players.--The fielding side consists of (a) the pitcher and catcher,
called the battery, (b) the first-baseman, second-baseman, third-baseman
and short-stop, called infielders, and (c) the left-fielder, centre-fielder
and right-fielder, called out-fielders.

The pitcher, who delivers the ball to the batsman, is the most important
member of the side. In the act of pitching, which is throwing either over
or underhand, he must keep one foot in contact with a white plate, called
the pitcher's plate, 24 in. long and 6 in. wide, placed 60.5 ft. from the
back of the home-base. Before 1875 the pitcher was obliged to deliver the
ball with a full toss only, but about that time a disguised underhand
throw, which greatly increased the pace, began to be used so generally that
it was soon legalized, and the overhand throw followed as a matter of
course. As long as the arm was held stiff no curve could be imparted to the
flight of the ball in the air, but with the increase of pace came the
possibility of doing this by a movement of the wrist as the ball left the
hand, the twist thus given causing the ball, by the pressure on the air, to
swerve to one side or the other, or downwards, according to the position of
the hand and fingers as the ball is let g