It is almost summer and here in the good old USA the parks and ball fields are quickly filling up with young and not quite so young alike, to play ball. Some of the people belong to official teams, with matching softball shirts, new leather catchers mitts or outfielders softball gloves, and a special strut in their step from the inspirational summer quotes the coach filled their head with before the game. Other fields hold a scraggly looking crew, with gloves tied back up with boot laces and no two shirts matching, formed either from the neighborhood kids or by the relatives that just finished a big family dinner put on by grandma. However, if you look past the ornamental covering worn by some to the happy grins of all, you will find two teams exactly alike, they are there for the love of the game.
Softball, unlike baseball, originated in the United States in 1887, reportedly between men who had attended Harvard and Yale in Chicago, with a glove tied up in a ball shape and a handle to hit it with. Both the 17” ball and bat were invented the following week by George Hancock and the Farragut Boat Club wrote the rules. This was initially played indoors during bad weather so baseball players could stay in practice, but moved outdoors with new rules in 1889, and Rober invented the new 12” ball. Toronto had the first league that was outside of the US for softball in 1897. Although it was named softball in 1926, there were different names and rules applied to it until 1934 when a committee on softball standardized both. Fastpitch softball started to dominate it in the forties, but when slow-pitch was recognized in 1953 at the Amateur Softball Association, it surpassed fast pitch within a decade. This remains very popular today.
The game of softball closely resembles baseball with a few minor changes. The ball is bigger than a baseball and is pitched underhanded instead of over-handed like a baseball; furthermore, the softball must make an arc. The diamond is smaller for softball than baseball. However, they each have from nine to twelve players, with a pitcher, catcher, shortstop, base men, infielders and outfielders. In addition, the object of it is to hit the ball, and then run around the bases until you reach home, at which time you have scored. Like all games, it sounds fairly easy, but not everyone can play it really well; however, you do not have to play it really well to have fun.
Professional softball players put in a lot of long hard hours of practice to get where they are today, but if they did not love the game, they would not have the edge to keep them on top. Being physically suited and with a natural talent will never give you the edge you need to stay on top, you have to love what you are doing. When you read athletic quotes, it becomes apparent that this is a prerequisite for getting to the top. Coach Kirk Walker said, “Love it, experience it and when you step on the field, just do what you do,” and that pretty much sums it up. He means you love it, you learn what you need to do, you practice what you have learned, and when it is put to the test in a game, do not despair, you just keep doing what you have done many times before.
Therefore, if you are lucky enough to be included in a neighborhood ball game, whether it is baseball or softball, go and have some fun. The exercise is good for you and having fun with friends and family and laughing does wonders for your soul. In addition, when they say “as American as baseball and apple pie” you can tell them softball is more American.