Baseball Basics

In professional baseball, getting sent down to the minors is more common than you might imagine. But there are some big-name players who got sent back that just might surprise you.

By Shanna Freeman

What is it about losing streaks that make them so compelling? Is it the emotional turmoil, the trainwreck aspect or just the desire to laugh at people doing things badly? In any case, here are five really bad baseball losing streaks.

By Dave Roos

Upsets are part of what makes baseball interesting. These are five of the most dramatic.

By Mark Boyer

In the 2000s, America's pastime lost its luster when it was revealed that prominent players were using performance-enhancing drugs. How does the MLB prevent such abuse these days?

By Patrick J. Kiger

We tend to think of baseball as an American obsession, but this bat-and-ball game has fans in other corners of the globe, too.

By Kate Kershner

You'd think that the game of baseball was entirely invented, but the truth is that it grew and evolved from several other sports. Here are five rule changes that made baseball the game we love today.

By Dave Roos

Baseball players have all sorts of strange little warm-up rituals when they're getting ready to bat. We'll explore the science and the superstition behind the practice in this article.

By Gerlinda Grimes

A lot of practice, discipline and focus go into the making of a pitcher. But even highly trained athletes need to warm up before they put their skills to the test.

By Kevin P. Allen

Baseball has had its share of scandals over the years, but these five incidents rank among the sport's most unforgettable.

By Kevin P. Allen

Everybody digs the long ball, but the heart of the game of baseball lies in the duel between pitcher and batter. Here are some tips to help the pitcher win that duel.

By Ed Grabianowski

People have been batting around balls long before baseball hit the scene. We'll scope out 5 of baseball's precursors in this article.

By Kate Kershner

Huddle up, team. We're going to strategize about ways to improve your bball game in this article.

By Kate Kershner

The only thing bigger and better than a win by your favorite baseball team is a whole streak of Ws. That's skill. That's dominance. That feels good.

By Eric Seeger

There will always be bad trades in baseball. But these are by far 10 of the worst in history.

By John Perritano

Grab your contraband snacks purchased outside the stadium and keep your binoculars handy to watch for furtive movements on the field. It's time to play (dirty) ball!

By Akweli Parker

Who has time to think about physics when a 90-mph fastball is speeding your way, and you have less than a second to react? We do. Ready for the first pitch?

By William Harris

Well, sure, because it's lighter, right? Not so fast, baseball fans and budding physicists. The answer is a little more complicated.

By William Harris

in the 1970s, aluminum bats began pinging their way across baseball diamonds. Ever since then, people have wondered if a batter's metal mattered more than his or her mettle. Does it?

By William Harris

They may be your heroes on the diamond but they're not untouchable. With a little planning and moxie, you can get face-to-face with your favorite team. Here's how.

By Brian Boone

If you like watching baseball, there's an easy way for you to get even more involved in the game than merely sitting in the stands. A baseball scorecard lets you record every detail of the action on the field.

By Patrick E. George

You might be surprised to learn that baseball front offices are littered with people who are statistically inclined. Is a new kind of math changing America's favorite pastime and the way coaches and players are evaluated?

By Jacob Silverman

Baseball fans have been making the trip to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame for more than 60 years. Find out how the Hall of Fame captures America's beloved pastime with exhibits like Babe Ruth's bat and Joe DiMaggio's locker.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Need a refresher on the rules of America's favorite game? This article explains the rules, equipment and scores.

By Kevin Bonsor & Joe Martin

When Mark McGwire hits a home run, the distance the ball traveled is always announced on the scoreboard and on television a few seconds later. How do they know how far the ball traveled, and what techniques do they use to figure it out?

Baseball fields often have checkerboards and other patterns mowed into them. How can I create the same effect with my lawn?