What Are Doubles In Baseball?

Ever wondered what those strange terms like “double play” and “doubleheader” mean in baseball? They’re both actually referring to the concept of a double, which is one of the most important aspects of the game. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what doubles are in baseball and how they can affect the outcome of a game.

Definition of a Double

Most of the time when a batter hits the ball, he hopes to reach first base. Occasionally, he may try for a double or even a triple. A “double” is when the batter hits the ball into the outfield and is able to reach second base before the ball is thrown back in. A “triple” is when the batter reaches third base. A home run, of course, is when the batter hits the ball over the fence.

How a Double is Scored

In order to score a double, the batter must hit the ball into play and reach second base before being tagged out or forced out, without the benefit of a fielder’s mistake. A double play, in which two batters are retired on one play, does not count as a double.

Reaching second base safely can be achieved by either hitting the ball over the outfield fence for an automatic home run or by hitting the ball and running to second base before being tagged out by the defense. Hitting the ball and running to first base before being tagged out is not sufficient to count as a double; the batter must touch second base before being tagged out.

Doubles are important in baseball because they typically allow a runner on first base to advance to third base, and from there possibly score a run on a sacrifice fly or ground ball. In addition, reaching second base gives the batter an extra chance to reach base safely if there are runners on first and third base (i.e., a “double play situation”).

While home runs get all of the glory, doubles can often be just as important in deciding the outcome of a baseball game.

The Different Types of Doubles

In baseball, a double is the act of a batter hitting the ball into play and safely reaching second base without being tagged out or without the ball leaving the field. A double is also sometimes referred to as a two-base hit or “two-bagger.”

There are different types of doubles, including the leadoff double, bases-loaded double, inside-the-park double, and the line drive double.

The leadoff double is when the first batter of the game hits a double. This can be an important play, as it often sets the tone for the rest of the game.

The bases-loaded double is when all three bases are occupied by runners and the batter hits a double, scoring all three runners. This is often considered the most exciting play in baseball, as it results in a big inning for the batting team.

The inside-the-park double is when a batter hits a ball into play and rounds all the bases before an outfielder can throw him out. This is relatively rare, as it requires a lot of speed and some luck.

Finally, the line drive double is when a batter hits a hard line drive that goes into the outfield gap between two outfielders. This can be difficult to defend against, as outfielders often have trouble converging on balls hit in this area.

The Importance of Doubles in Baseball

While home runs may get all of the glory in baseball, doubles are actually just as important, if not more so. A double is when a batter hits the ball into the gap between the outfielders and gets to second base before the ball can be thrown back in. This is a valuable hit because it allows runners to advance from first to third base, or from second to home plate. In addition, it puts pressure on the defense as they have to scramble to get the ball back into the infield quickly.

Doubles are also important because they are often precursors to home runs. When a hitter hits a double, they are typically just a few feet away from being able to round third and head for home plate. This means that if the next batter can get a hold of the ball, they have a good chance of hitting a home run and scoring even more runs for their team.

Finally, doubles are simply more exciting than singles. They represent a chance for a big play, and fans love to see them. If you want your team to score more runs and get more fans in the stands, then start hitting some doubles!

The Record for Most Doubles in a Season

The record for most doubles in a season belongs to Earl Webb, who hit 67 in 1931. Webb’s record might never be broken, as the second-highest total is 52, set by Pete Browning in 1887. That’s a difference of 15 doubles between the top two players on the all-time list!