How Many Balls are Used in a Baseball Game?
Contents
Learn how many balls are used in a baseball game with this quick and easy guide. We’ll cover the basics of what you need to know to get started.
The answer
Baseball games typically use between 70 and 130 balls.
A little bit of history
Baseball has been around for a long time, and over the years, the number of balls used in a game has varied.
In the early days of baseball, a game was played with 10 balls. If the batter hit the ball and it was caught by the fielder, the batter was out. If the ball was not caught, the batter could run to first base. If the ball was hit over the fence, it was a home run and the batter could run around all four bases.
Eventually, it was decided that 18 balls should be used in a game. Nine balls were put into play and if they were all hit or fouled out of play, nine more balls were brought into play.
The number of balls used in a game increased to 24 in 1857. In 1858, it increased again to 36. In 1859, it rose to 42 and then to 45 in 1860.
The number of balls per game finally settled at 27 in 1872 when The National Association of Base Ball Players decided that each team would get three outs per inning.
How many balls are used in a baseball game?
In a professional baseball game, each team is given six balls to use. If a team uses all six balls before the end of the game, they will be given three new balls.
Why are there so many balls used in a baseball game?
There are a lot of balls used in a baseball game because each batter gets four pitches to try and hit the ball, and each time a pitch is thrown, a new ball is used. So, if there are ten batters in a game, that means there will be forty balls used just from pitches! And that’s not even counting all the foul balls and balls that are hit into play.
How to save on baseballs
While a new baseball costs only a few dollars, the cost of baseballs can add up quickly for teams that play a lot of games. One way to cut down on the cost of baseballs is to purchase used balls. Used balls are available from a variety of sources, including online retailers and sport good stores. Another way to save on baseballs is to purchase them in bulk. Some retailers offer discounts for bulk purchases, so it’s worth checking around to see if you can get a better deal.
