Equipment

To play baseball a lot of special equipment is needed. Everyone knows that bats, balls,
and gloves are needed to play the game, but most people don't know how much this
equipment has changed through the years.

• Gloves

In the beginning baseball players did not wear gloves, they played bare-handed. The first
gloves were very thin and only covered the palm of the hand. Today there are several
different kinds of gloves. The catcher's mitt is big, round, and padded. The first
baseman's mitt is longer than the other fielders' gloves, and an outfielders' glove is larger
than an infielders' glove.

• Bases

The first bases used in baseball were four-foot high stakes. Too many players ran into
them and were hurt, so they tried big flat rocks. Players were still being injured, so they
finally filled soft sacks with sand. The modern day bases are made similar to the sand
filled bags.

• Safety Gear

The first catchers in baseball did not wear any gear for protection. Today's players wear a
face-mask, helmet, chest protector, shin guards and a cup. In the past, batters never wore
a helmet. In 1952, the Pittsburgh Pirates were the first team to wear helmets. They wore
them when they were batting and when they were playing in the field. A few years later,
they started to wear them only when batting. The first helmet did not have an ear flap.
The ear flap was designed for Little League, and the major leagues copied this feature.

• Bats

In the major leagues, only wooden bats are used. The rules say that the bat can only be 42
inches long, and can only be 2 3/4 inches in diameter at the thickest point. White ash is
the best wood to use to make a bat. A bat made out of white ash helps absorb some of the
shock when hitting a 90 mile-per-hour pitch. Bats are cut and shaped to a hitter's
specifications. As many as sixty to seventy bats might be used by one major league
player in one season!

• Baseballs

All baseballs are made the same size and weight. They are 9 to 9 1/4 inches in
circumference and weigh 5 to 5 1/4 ounces. The center of the baseball is cork. The cork
ball is covered with rubber. Cotton and wool yarn are tightly wound around the cork and
rubber center. 150 yards of cotton yarn (450 feet) and 219 yards of wool yarn (625 feet)
are used to make a baseball.
Equipment in softball
Equipment required in softball includes a ball, a bat, gloves, uniforms and protective
gear, including helmets for the offensive team and a helmet, shin guards, and chest
protector for the defensive catcher.

Ball

Despite the sport's name, softballs are not especially soft. The size of the ball varies
according to the classification of play; the permitted circumferences in international play
are 12±0.125 in (30.5±0.3 cm), in weight between 6.25 oz (178 g) and 7.0 oz (198.4 g) in
fast pitch; 11±0.125 in (29.7±0.3 cm), weight between 5.875 oz (166.5 g) and 6.125 oz
(173.6 g) in slow pitch which is considerably lighter than a baseball. A 12-inch
circumference ball is generally used in slow pitch, although in rare cases some leagues
(especially recreational leagues) do use a 14-inch circumference ball. Some balls have a
raised seam, and others do not. The ball is most often covered in white or yellow leather
in two pieces roughly the shape of a figure-8 and sewn together with red thread, although
other coverings are permitted. The core of the ball may be made of long fiber kapok, or a
mixture of cork and rubber, or a polyurethane mixture, or another approved material.[11]

In 2002, high-visibility yellow "optic" covering, long-used for restricted flight balls in co-
ed recreational leagues, became standard for competitive play. Yellow is the color of
official NCAA and NAIA softballs. Yellow softballs are fast becoming the standard for
all levels of play for girls' and women's play in particular. White balls are also allowed,
but are much more common in slow pitch than in fast pitch.

Bat

The bat used by the batter can be made of metal, wood, or composite materials (carbon
fiber, etc.). Sizes may vary but they may be no more than 34 inches or 86 cm in length,
2,25 inches or 6 cm in diameter, or 38 oz. or 1,2 kilogrammes in weight.In fast pitch
softball, wooden bats are not allowed. The Slowpitch and Fastpitch softball bat barrel
standard is 2 1/4 inches. Many players prefer a smaller barrel that lightens weight and
provides more swing speed.

Gloves

All defensive players wear fielding gloves, made of leather or similar material. Gloves
have webbing between the thumb and forefinger, known as the "pocket". The first
baseman and the catcher may wear mitts; mitts are distinguished from gloves in that they
have extra padding, and no fingers. In 2007, ASA and other organizations revised their
rules regarding gloves and mitts, allowing any player to use a glove or mitt. No part of
the glove is allowed to be the same color as that of the ball, including that of its
seams.Gloves used in softball are generally larger than the ones used in baseball. No
glove larger than 14" (36 cm) can be used in ASA sanctioned play.
Uniform

Each team wears distinctive uniforms. The uniform includes a cap, visor, a shirt (usually
no sleeves), an undershirt, tight sliding undershorts, socks, and shorts or pants; these are
the components for which standards are set

Caps, visors, and headbands are optional for female players, and do not have to be the
same color. Caps are mandatory for male palyers. A fielder who chooses to wear a helmet
(see below) is not required to wear a cap.

Including for softball players, most female players use "sliding shorts" otherwise known
as compression shorts for other sports like soccer, football etc. These shorts help to
protect the upper thigh when sliding into a base. Other,additional sliding equipment used
are "sliders". These are somewhat padded shinguards that extend usually from the ankle
to the knee of the wearer and wrap all the way around the leg(s). They protect the shin,
calf, etc. from getting bruised or damaged while sliding into homeplate and make it much
more comfortable to slide into the plate.

At the back of the uniform,an Arabic numeral from numbers 1 through 99 must be
visible. Numbers such as 02 and 2 are considered identical. Also, on the back of the
uniforms players' names are optional.

Jewelry, excepting medic-alert-style bracelets and necklaces, can not be worn during a
game. Those must be taped to players wearing them.

All players are required to wear shoes. They may have cleats or spikes. The spikes must
extend less than 0.75 inch (19 mm) away from the sole. Rounded metal spikes are illegal,
as are ones made from hard plastic or other synthetic materials. High school athletes are
sometimes permitted to wear metal cleats such as in Ohio.

Protective equipment

A helmet must have two ear flaps, one on each side. Helmets and cages that are damaged
or altered are forbidden. Helmets must be worn by batters and runners in fastpitch.
Helmets are optional in slowpitch.

In fast pitch, the catcher must wear a protective helmet with a face-mask and throat
protector, shin guards and body protector. Shin guards also protect the kneecap.

In slow pitch, the catcher must wear a helmet and mask at youth levels. At adult levels,
there is no formal requirement for the catcher to wear a mask, although the official rules
recommend it. A female catcher may optionally wear a body protector in slow pitch.

In any form of softball, any player (other than fast pitch catchers on defense) can wear a
protective face mask or face guard. As usual, it must be in proper condition and not
damaged, altered, or the like. This is intended to prevent facial injuries.