How Many Bases in Baseball? The Rookie Fan’s Guide
There’s a lot going on a baseball playing field. Whether you’re a parent trying to support child as they play baseball or softball for the first time or you’re headed to a corporate outing and you know nothing about the sport, you may have some questions. One of the most basic of questions is how many bases there are in baseball. Luckily, there’s nothing to be ashamed about—not everyone played baseball or softball growing up. And I’m here to help.
This guide will explain how many bases there are on a baseball field as well as offer some background on each. Keep reading to learn more about these “stations” and bone up on this aspect of America’s pastime.
What Is a Base In Baseball or Softball?
The game of baseball involves moving offensive players from station to station, and these stations are known as “bases.” They’re positioned at the corners of a diamond shape that makes up the infield. As players move from base to base, they’re able to secure their position safely on their route to scoring. To score, a player must touch every base.
At the higher levels of the game, bases are typically white, and they’re usually made of rubber with a thick, synthetic coating overtop. At lower levels, such as youth leagues like Little League baseball or softball, bases are typically a soft rubber and foam combination. This allows less experienced players to comfortably step on or slide into the bases without getting hurt.
The main goal of the offensive team (the team hitting the baseball) is to have runners reach base, move from base to base in order, and then return back home (we’ll go over home in depth in a bit). The goal of the defensive team (the team in the field) is to catch the batted ball and throw or carry it to a base before a runner can get there.
How Many Bases Are There?
There are four bases: First base, second base, third base, and home. We’ll go over them in more detail below.
How Are Bases Numbered In Baseball or Softball?
Baseball or softball bases are numbered, and the offense must secure them in order. The following will explain a bit more about how bases are numbered in baseball.
Home Plate
Home plate is where the offensive team starts. It’s at the bottom corner, or 6 o’clock, of the diamond shape that makes up the infield, and a quick glance at the shape explains its name: It’s a five-sided slab shaped like a home with a square base and a pointed roof. The batter stands alongside of home plate in a batter’s box on either side (we’ll learn more about batter’s boxes in a future article). The pitcher throws the baseball over the plate, and the batter tries to hit the ball into the field. All of this occurs at home plate.
First Base
If the batter hits the ball, they’ll then run counterclockwise along the diamond to first base. First base is at the right side of the diamond, or three o’clock on a clockface. It’s guarded by a player known as the first baseman. As the batter runs toward first, the defense will try to stop the ball and throw it to the first baseman. If they receives the ball and steps on the base before the batter gets there, the batter is out. If the batter steps on the base before the first baseman receives the baseball (also known as “reaching base safely”), the batter is safe.
Second Base
Second base is on the top of the diamond opposite of home plate, or 12 o’clock on a clockface. This is the batter’s (who is now known as the runner) second stop on their way to scoring. It’s guarded by two players: the second baseman and the shortstop. The second baseman plays to the first base side of second base, while the shortstop plays on the other side.
Once a runner is on second base, they’re considered to be in “scoring position,” essentially stating that they could score on a hit to the outfield.
Third Base
Third base is on the left side of the diamond, at 9 o’clock on a clockface. You probably understand by now that it’s the runner’s third station to touch on their way to scoring. Third base is guarded by the third baseman, and it’s the final base that the runner needs to reach before scoring again by running back and touching home plate.
Not a Base: The Pitcher’s Mound
An aerial view of a ball field would show 5 white objects on the field, four of which are bases. The fifth is a white rubber slab in the middle of the diamond on a dirt patch known as the pitcher’s mound. This slab is known as “the rubber,” not the “pitcher’s plate,” and the pitcher must remain in contact with the rubber while throwing the baseball. This is not a base and runners should not run to it.
Where Are the Bases on a Softball or Baseball Diamond?
The infield of a baseball field is has a diamond shape, and each corner of the diamond contains a base. If we consider the infield in terms of a clock face, the bases are as follows:
- Home Plate: 6 o’clock
- First Base: 3 o’clock
- Second Base: 12 o’clock
- Third base: 9 o’clock
With this description, home and second base are at the bottom and top of the diamond, while first and third bases are at the right and left sides, respectively.
As the batter rounds the bases, they must run from one corner to the next, touching the base as they round the corner. If they miss the base, they have to turn around and touch the base, which most of the time means they’re unable to continue running or they’ll be tagged out.
Some Facts About Bases in Baseball or Softball
Bases are often known as “bags,” excluding home plate. Home plate is often known as “home” or “the plate.” The pitcher’s rubber is often called “the rubber” or “the slab.”
In Little League baseball, the bases are 60 feet apart, and the pitching rubber is 46 feet from home.
In Cal Ripken leagues, the bases are 60 feet apart and the pitching rubber is 46 feet from home until the players turn 11, at which point the bases are 70 feet apart and the pitching rubber is 50 feet from home.
In softball, the bases are 60 feet apart and the pitching rubber is 43 feet from home (men’s league is 46 feet from home) regardless of age.
In Babe Ruth, Modified, JV, Varsity, College, Independent, Minor League, and Major League Baseball, the bases are 90 feet apart and the pitching rubber is 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate.
Runners can overrun first base without stopping as long as they turn toward foul territory. If they turn into fair territory, they can be tagged out. Runners cannot overrun other bases.
A base path is a straight line drawn between each of the bases (the bath path between first and home and third base and home plate also serve as the foul lines). As a batter-runner is attempting to reach base, they cannot run more than three feet (roughly) away from the basepath, or else they will be called out automatically.
The foul line continues past the first and third base bags to the outfield wall. One stretches from home, past first, and out to right field, while the other stretches from home, past third, and out to left field. Batted balls that land outside of these lines are called “fouls.” There is no line out to center field.
If a player is able to bat the baseball and reach first base, they’ve hit a “single.” If the batter hits the ball and reaches the second base bag safely in one play, they’ve hit a “double.” If a batter hits the baseball and is able to safely reach three bases, they’ve hit a “triple.” If the batter hits a baseball to the outfield fence and is able to touch all four bases before the opposing team can tag them with the baseball, they’ve hit a “home run.” If a player hits the baseball over the outfield wall, they’re also awarded a home run and must touch all the bases (all four bases in order). Home runs are much more common in upper-level and Major leagues (American and National league), where young players are much more likely to hit and reach first, second, or third base.
If a baseball or softball is struck in the air and caught without touching the ground (fly ball or line drive) and the runner is off the base, they must return to the base before the other team throws the baseball back to the base. If the baseball reaches the player guarding the base first, the runner is out. These defensive plays are known as “double plays” since they count for two outs.
Why is home plate not called fourth base?
Home plate is shaped like a house, giving it some distinction from other bases. Also, the term “home” has origins in sports like cricket or rounders, which greatly influenced baseball.
Why are there two bases at first base in softball?
On many softball fields, there is a doubled base at first. One half of the base lies in fair territory while the other half lies in foul territory, but they are one piece. This is known as a “safety base.” Batters run from the batter’s box to the bag in foul territory while the person playing first steps on the base in fair territory as they attempt to catch the softball from the other infielders.
