Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams, typically consisting of nine players each. The game is played on a diamond-shaped field with four bases: first base, second base, third base, and home plate. The objective is for the team at bat to score runs by hitting a ball thrown by the opposing team’s pitcher and then running around the bases to reach home plate. Each team takes turns playing offense (batting) and defense (fielding).

The game consists of nine innings, in which each team has a chance to bat and score runs. The team with the most runs at the end of nine innings wins the game. Key components of baseball include hitting, pitching, fielding, and base running. The sport is known for its rich history, statistics, and the cultural significance it holds in various countries, particularly in the United States, where it is often referred to as “America’s pastime.” Baseball is governed by a set of rules known as the Official Baseball Rules, which define the gameplay, player responsibilities, and the structure of the game.