1. How Softball and Baseball Differ in Basic Rules
The defense has 9 players, just like in baseball. However, the number of innings, the size of the ball, the throwing style, and the distance between bases are very different. The following numbers compare baseball with adult women’s softball, specifically the fast-pitch style. [6]
In baseball, there are 9 innings. In softball, there are 7. The circumference of a baseball is 9 to 9¼ inches (about 23 cm). The circumference of a softball is 12 inches (about 30.5 cm). A baseball weighs 5 to 5¼ ounces (about 142 to 149 grams). A softball weighs about 177 to 199 grams. [6]
In baseball, most pitchers throw overhand. In softball, pitchers throw underhand. The distance between bases in baseball is 27.43 meters (90 feet). In softball, it is 18.29 meters (60 feet). The distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate is 18.44 meters in baseball. In softball, it is 13.11 meters for women and 14.02 meters for men. [3]
When you line up these numbers, you can see that softball is a game with a bigger ball, shorter base and pitching distances, and a 7-inning format. The weight of the baseball comes from an English comparison page, and the softball data comes from the Japan Softball Association’s basic knowledge page. [6][3]
2. How Softball Began as an Indoor Game in Chicago
Softball started in November 1887 inside a boat club in Chicago. It is said that a reporter named George Hancock invented an indoor game similar to baseball. There is also a story that this happened on Thanksgiving Day. [1]
The game moved outdoors and was spread by firefighters in Minneapolis in 1895. A person named Lewis Rober is written to have called his team the "Kittens." It is said that they used a smaller medicine ball for the game. [2]
In 1926, Walter Hakanson, an officer at the YMCA in Denver, is written to have proposed the name "softball" for this sport. [2][5]
In 1933, a tournament held alongside the World’s Fair in Chicago invited 55 teams. It is said that 70,000 people watched the first round for free. [2]
3. How Underhand Pitching and Base Distances Work in Softball
A softball pitcher swings their arm from below to throw. The rules state that the hand and wrist must pass along the side of the body as the ball is released. [3]
The style of throwing fast is called "fast-pitch." The style of throwing in a high arc is called "slow-pitch." It is written that slow-pitch spread so that children and older people could also enjoy it. [4]
The pitching distance has changed over time. In 1939, the distance for women was set at 35 feet (10.7 meters). In 2002, international rules changed the women’s distance from 40 feet to 43 feet (13.11 meters). [4][3]
The Japan Softball Association’s basic knowledge page does not state the reason for this distance change. The men’s distance is still longer than the women’s, at 14.02 meters. [3]
4. How a Softball Game Is Won in 7 Innings
Games are usually played in 7 inningss. When both teams have 3 outs, they switch between batting and fielding. [5]
If the score is tied after 7 innings, a "tie-breaker" starts in the 8th inning. In the top of the 8th inning, the game starts with no outs, and the player who made the last out in the previous inning is placed on second base. [3]
Also, if the home team is winning, the bottom of the 7th inning is not played, and the game ends. If teams use the Designated Player (DP) system, they can play with 10 people. [5][3]
5. Why Softball Is Called "Soft" Even Though the Ball Is Not Soft
"Soft" means "soft" or "yielding" in English. The English encyclopedia states that despite the name of the sport, the ball is not actually soft. [5] Whether the name comes from the ball being soft could not be confirmed in the materials checked for this article.
What we know from the numbers is that a softball is larger and heavier than a baseball. [6] The relationship between the name and the softness of the ball cannot yet be explained.
6. Softball's Place in the Olympic Games
Women’s softball became an official event at the 1996 Atlanta Games. It continued until the 2008 Beijing Games but was not held at the 2012 London Games. [5]
The 2020 Tokyo Games were held in 2021. Japan won its first gold medal for the country at the 2008 Beijing Games. In the 2021 final, Japan beat the USA 2 to 0 and achieved back-to-back gold medals. [7][8][9]
Softball was not held at the 2024 Paris Games. It is scheduled to be held again at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. [5]
7. How to Spot the Differences When Watching a Game
When you watch a game, look at the pitcher’s arm and wrist as they pass along the side of the body. Compare this to a baseball pitcher. You will see the difference in how the throwing hand moves.
Try comparing the length between the bases by counting your steps. Do this in a safe place, like a park, and always do it with an adult. [3]
The Japan Softball Association’s "Basic Knowledge of Softball" is a clear starting point for the rules. For detailed clauses, check the association’s latest official rules. [3]