Baseball season is just getting into full swing (pun intended) – and there’s nothing like a warm summer night at the stadium to cheer on the home team. But before you’re called off the bench for a game (another pun), you first have to understand how it’s done, when to cheer, and what to grab from the snack bar.
Here’s a list of everything you need to know to get into the game (I just can’t stop the puns).
The BASICS: INNINGS, PITCHES AND HOME RUNS
A baseball game lasts nine innings (game rounds) – limited only by one out and not by time. An inning ends when each team has managed to knock out three opposing players. A player is out of bounds if (1) he misses a pitch three times in a row, (2) an opposing player catches the ball in the outfield (this is the grass that grows outside the dirt path and runs along the bases), (3) an opposing player touches him with the ball in his hand or (4) an opposing player steps on the base to which he runs with the ball in his hand.
A Pitch means that an opposing player, the so-called pitcher, throws the ball while standing on a hill in the middle of the field. The player who tries to hit the ball thrown by the pitcher is called the hitter. If the hitter hits the pitcher’s ball, the ball goes into play and the hitter is now a base runner. If the hitter misses the ball, it is called a strike and an opposing player, the catcher (who is standing directly next to the hitter), catches the ball.
A base runner scores when the ball is in play and he makes it back to his home base after touching first, second and third base in a row. A Home run is scored when the base runner hits the ball into the stands (where you will be sitting) or just far enough to allow enough time to run all the bases. A player can advance one base if he or another player hits the ball. When your team scores points, you get to cheer, do a wave, and hug the person sitting next to you.
BASIC SUPPLY: HOTDOGS ETC.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s move on to the basics. So food and drinks. A baseball game is only with one Hot dog really complete. I prefer regular ketchup, mustard and a spice mix on the side – but chili and cheese are acceptable too. Pretzels, peanuts and nachos are also popular, but my heart and hand will always be open to a hot dog from the Stadium Snack Bar. And there’s nothing better to complement this than an ice-cold beer if you’re of age, or a cola if you’re not. Foam hands (those glove-like things that make your hand look huge) are optional.
BONUS TIP: THERE’S NOTHING BIKE A NOSEBLEED
My final tip for a baseball game is to get tickets for the cheaper seats (which my friends and I love Nosebleeds to name). From there you can watch the game from a bird’s eye view and collect enough change for an extra hot dog or two.
