Players on defense: 9 on the field
Innings in a standard baseball game: 9
Outs per half-inning: 3
Strikes for a strikeout: 3
Balls for a walk: 4
Pitcher: The player who throws the ball to the batter
Catcher: The player who crouches behind home plate and catches pitches
First baseman: Defender who covers first base
Second baseman: Defender between first and second base
Shortstop: Defender between second and third base
Third baseman: Defender who covers third base
Left fielder: Outfielder on the left side
Center fielder: Outfielder in the middle
Right fielder: Outfielder on the right side
Designated hitter: A player who bats in place of the pitcher
Home plate: The base where batters stand and runners score
Bases: Four spots a runner must touch in order: first, second, third, home
Diamond: The infield shape formed by the bases
Base paths: The lines between bases
Distance between bases (MLB): 90 feet
Pitching distance (MLB): 60 feet 6 inches
Pitcher's mound: The raised area where the pitcher stands
Strike zone: The area over home plate between knees and chest where a pitch counts as a strike
Strike: A pitch in the strike zone, a swing and miss, or a foul with fewer than two strikes
Ball: A pitch outside the strike zone that the batter doesn't swing at
Foul ball: A batted ball landing outside the foul lines
Fair ball: A batted ball in play inside the foul lines
Single: A hit that gets the batter to first base
Double: A hit that gets the batter to second base
Triple: A hit that gets the batter to third base
Home run: A hit that lets the batter circle all the bases and score
Grand slam: A home run with the bases loaded, scoring 4 runs
RBI: Run batted in
Run: A point scored when a runner touches home plate
Bunt: Tapping the ball softly without a full swing
Sacrifice fly: A fly ball caught for an out that lets a runner score
Stolen base: A runner advances while the pitcher throws
Force out: A runner must move to the next base and is tagged out there
Tag out: A fielder touches the runner with the ball
Fly out: A batted ball caught in the air
Ground out: A grounder fielded and thrown to first for an out
Double play: Two outs on one play
Triple play: Three outs on one play
Strikeout: Three strikes by a batter
Walk (base on balls): Four balls and the batter takes first base
Hit by pitch: A batter hit by a pitch goes to first base
Error: A fielding mistake that lets a runner reach base or advance
Infield fly rule: An easily caught fly ball with runners on makes the batter out
Balk: An illegal move by the pitcher with runners on base
Pitch types: Fastball, curveball, slider, changeup
Fastball: A pitch thrown with top speed
Curveball: A pitch that curves as it nears the plate
Changeup: A slower pitch that looks like a fastball
No-hitter: A game in which one team gets no hits
Perfect game: No batter of the other team reaches base
Batting average: Hits divided by at-bats
ERA: Earned run average, a pitcher's average runs allowed per nine innings
Bullpen: Where relief pitchers warm up
Dugout: The bench area for players
Batter's box: The area where batters stand beside home plate
On-deck circle: Where the next batter waits
Seventh-inning stretch: A tradition where fans stand and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Umpire: The official who calls balls, strikes and outs
Softball pitching style: Underhand (windmill)
Little League: Youth baseball program founded in 1939
MLB: Major League Baseball
World Series: The championship series of MLB
Jackie Robinson: Broke baseball's color barrier in 1947
Babe Ruth: Famous slugger who hit 714 career home runs
Hank Aaron: Hit 755 career home runs

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/sports-baseball-rules-terms