How To Play Baseball

Wonder World

11/16/2023

Transcript

00:00 ♪ ♪

00:29 Baseball, the great American game.

00:32 The national pastime of millions, both young and old.

00:36 The game is played with a sphere known as a baseball.

00:39 The cork and rubber core is carefully wrapped with yarn and covered with tough horse hide.

00:44 The bat is made of carefully selected wood and perfectly balanced.

00:48 The glove or mitt is well padded,

00:51 except where the ball is caught.

00:53 Baseball is usually played in a ballpark,

00:56 consisting of a grandstand, bleachers, fence and a playing field or diamond.

01:00 So named because of its diamond-like shape.

01:03 The game is quite simple as there are only nine players to watch at one time.

01:07 When the ball is hit, they change position quickly.

01:10 Thus, here's the pitch. It's a hit to right field.

01:13 The runner starts for first base. The right fielder goes for the ball.

01:15 The pitcher covers first. Second baseman pulls off base.

01:17 Shortstop covers the bag. Center backs up right field.

01:19 The left fielder goes to center and vice versa.

01:21 The runner tries to stretch. The hit for two bases.

01:23 Here's the throw from field. The runner is out or safer either or neither or both.

01:26 Simple, isn't it?

01:28 The player is an all-around athlete.

01:31 The uniform is loose-fitting to allow freedom of movement.

01:35 The socks are what the team is named after.

01:38 The shoes are sturdy, lightweight and comfortable.

01:42 Spikes are firmly fastened to the soles of the shoes to prevent slipping.

01:46 Gum also plays an important part in American baseball.

01:50 The pitcher or hurler is the most important man on the team.

01:54 To the layman, the colorful actions of the pitcher may appear a trifle overdone.

01:58 However, such is not the case.

02:00 The wind-up, for instance, is very necessary.

02:03 For pitching demands limber brains and well-coordinated muscles.

02:07 Not only in the throwing arm, but of the entire body.

02:10 In order to achieve that bullet-like delivery of the ball.

02:14 On the opposing team, we have the batter.

02:17 Who carefully selects his favorite stick or bat.

02:20 The play starts when the batter hits the ball.

02:46 Strangely enough, however, the pitcher tries to keep the batter from hitting the ball.

02:50 To accomplish this, the pitcher holds the ball in such a manner as to cause it to curve when thrown.

02:56 The inside curve, the outside curve and the drop.

03:08 A straight ball can also be deceptive.

03:14 For example, the spinner.

03:16 To further confuse the batter, the pitcher may alter his strategy by a change of pace or slow ball.

03:28 (Music)

03:48 The spit ball is also used to further dampen the batter's spirits.

03:53 The speed ball is referred to as the fire ball, smoke ball, etc.

03:59 And now we can fully appreciate that thrill of thrills, the World Series.

04:10 It's the deciding game. Our team just about has the series in the bag.

04:13 The score is 3 to nothing. It's the last half of the ninth inning, folks.

04:17 Our pitcher is the hero of the day. He's pitched a no-hit, no-run game.

04:20 There are two out, and the count is 3 and 2 on the batter.

04:23 Confidently, he bows to the plaudits of the crowd.

04:26 There's the windup and the pitch.

04:29 It's a hot gonger down the third baseline.

04:34 The runner's away to the Speedway Express train.

04:37 And he's safe on first.

04:42 Our pitcher is a bit perturbed.

04:47 The runner's taking a long lead off first.

04:50 The pitcher sees it. There's a fast peg to first, and the runner is trapped.

04:58 He's in the old pickle, folks. If he gets tagged with the pill, the ball game is over.

05:03 Uh-oh, he dropped the ball. Slide! Slide!

05:15 He's safe on second. The pitcher is worried.

05:18 He takes a quick look toward second. There's the pitch, and...

05:21 Oh, he dusted him off with the old bean ball, folks.

05:25 And the batter gets a free trip to first.

05:39 Here's the situation, folks. We have a man on the mound.

05:43 We have a man on first and a man on second. It's anybody's ball game now.

05:47 The crowd is going wild, and the pitcher seems to have lost some of his confidence.

05:52 He gets the signal, and here's the pitch. The batter has decided to bunt.

05:56 It's a short pop fly. The catcher goes after it.

05:59 The pitcher and third baseman come in in perfect unison. It's like an easy out.

06:02 Look out!

06:04 Hey, get that ball! Peg it first! Peg it first! Throw it! Throw it!

06:11 There goes the ball to first. It's going to be close. He's safe!

06:15 And what a ball game this has turned out to be.

06:18 The bases are loaded. The pitcher's in an awful spot, and the crowd is going crazy.

06:24 The pitcher's tense. The batter's tense. The crowd is tense.

06:32 It's up to the pitcher. A half million dollars and the World Series hinge on this pitch.

06:40 It's a terrific hit! He literally knocked the horse hide off the old apple.

06:44 The runner tears to first, and the crowd is going absolutely mad!

06:48 It's a high fly to center field. The outfielder comes in fast.

06:51 The runner tears around first base. Here comes the ball, and it looks like the fielder has it.

06:55 But he dropped it!

07:01 Throw that ball! Throw it! Bring her home!

07:04 Bring that ball back home. Win that ball! Throw it! Throw it!

07:07 Here comes the runner towards second. There goes another man home, and the score is tied!

07:12 There goes the winning runner on third. Is he going to make it? Is he going to make it?

07:16 Here comes the ball. Run, man, run! It's a race for home plate. Slide, slide!

07:20 This is going to be close!

07:22 Well, folks, it's up to the umpire, that impartial pillar of judicial dignity whose word is law.

07:32 He's out!

07:37 What do you mean, "Say ball"?

07:39 Free speech, that great American privilege, is thoroughly enjoyed by players and spectators alike.

07:48 That's why the national sport will always be that good old American game, baseball.

07:54 (music)

08:01 (metal clanging)

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