| Baseball has been around for decades, often | | | | will win or lose games. Keeping in mind that |
| times recognized as "America's national | | | | your strategy will differ with each team you |
| sport". Historical evidence of baseball | | | | play against. An important factor to your |
| indicates that its roots stem from cricket | | | | strategy is your batting order and pitching |
| and rounders, both very popular games | | | | rotation. Batting orders should be based |
| originating in Great Britain. The baseball | | | | upon your players different contributing |
| we know and love today has gradually | | | | strengths and sometimes weaknesses. While |
| developed over many years. By the end of the | | | | one player may be a fast runner, or power |
| 18th century, many forms of baseball were | | | | hitter, the next could be a dependable |
| being played all over the United States. In | | | | bunter. A batting order is designed so that |
| New York City, they played a game called "One | | | | the players strengths will work together, |
| o' Cat". Other cities were playing "Town | | | | trying to advance runners and get players on |
| Ball" and "New York Ball". These early | | | | the bases.Pitching requires as much mental |
| renditions of the sport were played on a | | | | skill as it does physical. A perfect |
| square field. Originally for bases they used | | | | pitching scenario would be a "perfect game", |
| stakes, later replacing the stakes with | | | | where the opposing team does not reach base |
| stones, but to prevent further injuries, the | | | | once. The next best scenario and more common |
| stones were then replaced with sand filled | | | | one, is what we called a "No Hitter". This |
| sacks. It wasn't until then that people | | | | is where the pitcher does not allow a single |
| started to call them bases and this is where | | | | safe hit by the opposing team. Pitching line |
| the name "baseball" originated.It wasn't | | | | ups change often because pitchers are usually |
| until somewhere between 1850 and 1860 that | | | | required two to three days off between games |
| baseball became increasingly popular and in | | | | to allow their arms to rest. However, it is |
| 1869, professional baseball was introduced by | | | | important to try and align your best pitchers |
| the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Other official | | | | to be in rotation when you are facing a more |
| teams represented cities from Boston, | | | | competitive team.Today, there are many |
| Philadelphia, Chicago, Brooklyn, Cleveland, | | | | different leagues other than Major League |
| New York, Ohio and four other cities. | | | | Baseball (MLB), each complete with several |
| Several other teams were added throughout the | | | | divisions within the actual league. Baseball |
| next quarter of the century. In 1900, what | | | | is truly a part of American history, where |
| we know as the American League was founded | | | | generations have watched the sport unfold |
| and fought for many years to be recognized as | | | | into the force it is now. It's a flashy, |
| an equal to the National League. Jackie | | | | competitive, skill-driven sport and over the |
| Robinson was the first black player to join | | | | years has never lost the real reason as to |
| the Major Leagues in 1947, playing for the | | | | why it is so vastly popular. Year after |
| Brooklyn Dodgers.There are several aspects | | | | year, from city to city, stadium to stadium, |
| that make the game of baseball what it is. | | | | people gather for one reason and one reason - |
| For example, a teams strategy can make or | | | | the simple love of the game. |
| break whether or not that particular team | | | | |