Baseball or Softball

America’s favorite pastime!

Americans love to watch and play baseball and/or softball, from the little leagues to the major leagues. Ask almost any baseball fan about legendary baseball greats that epitomized the game, and names like Babe Ruth (of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Braves, and New York Yankees); Joe DiMaggio (of the New York Yankees); Jackie Robinson (of the Brooklyn Dodgers); Mickey Mantle (of the New York Yankees); and Willie Mays (of the New York Mets and New York-San Francisco Giants) immediately come to mind.

In the U.S., perhaps the most popularly watched baseball game is the final game of the World Series - an annual postseason tournament that takes place in October, involving the top teams of the two major baseball leagues (American League and National League) vying for the crown of national champions. Baseball is also an Olympic sport played in the summer version, which takes place once every four years. Furthermore, women’s softball is one of the sports represented at the Summer Olympic Games. In addition to baseball and softball, the Summer Olympics have included many different kinds of sports representing teams from various countries all around the world. The next Summer Olympic Games will be held in 2012 in London, England.

If interested, visit the official website of the Olympic Movement at:

www.olympic.org

Or, check out the official website of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games at:

www.london2012.com

If you have a big backyard, the games of baseball or softball are fun and popular American sports you and your guests can play at your barbecue event. The following include the basic rules of a backyard version of each of the two games. Play ball!

How to Play Baseball

How to Play Softball