Talk:Baseball

Origins

I've posted a comment in the article Origins of Baseball, but just so it doesn't get unnoticed, I'd like post a brief mention here. Perhaps someone has courage to incorporate it into the article. Essentially British historian theorizes that baseball originated in Poland: http://books.google.com/books?id=9Tbed6iMNLEC&lpg=PA205&ots=h-pgExnT22&pg=PA205#v=snippet&q=%22palant%2C%20for%20the%20invention%20of%20Baseball%22&f=false --Spec (talk) 05:23, 13 April 2012 (UTC)

This page states: "The earliest known reference to baseball is in a 1744 British publication, A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, by John Newbery." I just found a reference to baseball that's 32 years older (1712). It appears on p. 142 of "The Art Melodious," by Louis Lombard (1712). This book is available on line. To view the page in question: http://books.google.com/books?id=PRk5AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA142&lpg=PA142&dq=base-ball&source=bl&ots=m-TOoSQji5&sig=d5iWzmuMI8n7Ph5u1D_2VFjOvF8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=bWd1UJH9EoSg8gTokoGoDA&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=base-ball&f=false I'll check back here in a couple of days and if no one has found a problem with this finding, I will edit this page to reflect it. Koolokamba (talk) 12:18, 10 October 2012 (UTC)

The colophon indicates that it was published in 1897, not 1712. It also includes a photograph of the author, which would not have been possible in the 1700s. Mindmatrix 14:04, 10 October 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for being more careful than I am! 72.152.233.244 (talk) 16:22, 16 October 2012 (UTC)

History of Bats

I have completed a section on the history of baseball bats very big bats to add to this section. can someone please allow me to add it to this entry, it is for a school project and as of right now i am unable to add my section to this entry. i have some interesting stuff on the history of bats and you can see what i want to add in my sandbox. stkrmi77 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 16:46, 25 April 2012 (UTC).

Do you have reliable sources for the content you wish to add? If so, please list them here so we can determine whether or not it meets Wikipedia's standards. Thanks.--JayJasper (talk) 17:14, 25 April 2012 (UTC)

It does look like you've put together some interesting information, stkrmi. However, as Jay says, it all needs to be cited to reliable sources. Also, it doesn't belong in this article, which is a general summary overview of the history and rules and cultural impact of baseball. What you've assembled is very detailed information that properly belongs in our topical article baseball bat. Best, Dan.—DCGeist (talk) 04:49, 26 April 2012 (UTC)

Agree w/ DCGeist that the Baseball bat article is a more appropriate venue for Stkrmi77's content (which is interesting indeed).That is contingent, of course, on providing reliable sources to establish the credibility of the information (see WP:V & WP:NOR).--JayJasper (talk) 05:32, 26 April 2012 (UTC)

Here are my sources:

1. 1) Block, :David. Baseball Before We Knew It. 1st ed. 5. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2005. 67-79. Print.
2. 2) Morris, Peter. A Game of Inches. Chicago: ISBN, 2006. 16.3.1-16.3.7. Print.
3. 3) "Year in Review: 2010 American League/National League." Baseball Almanac. Baseball Almanac, 2012. Web. 1 Apr 2012. <http://www.baseball-almanac.com/yearly/yr2010a.shtml>.
4. 4) Crasnick, Jerry. "Justin Verlander named AL MVP." ESPN. ESPN.com news services, 21 Nov 2011. Web. 1 Apr 2012. <http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7265534/cy-young-winner-justin-verlander-detroit-tigers-wins-al-mvp>.
5. 5) Bloom, Barry. "Owners approve two rule changes." MLB. MLB.com, 15 Jan 2009. Web. 1 Apr 2012. <http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090115&content_id=3746071&fext=.jsp&cid=mlb>.
7. 6) Anonymous. "Play it Again?." 9.109 (2009): 7. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. <http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.drew.edu/pqrl/docview/196410783/135BAD17A8461164910/6?accountid=10558>.
8. 7) Hill, Bob. Telephone Interview. 31 May 2000.
9. 8) Leventhal, Josh. "MLB Imposes Maple Bat Ban In Minors." Baseball America. 1 Mar 2010: n. page. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. <http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/business/2010/03/mlb-imposes-maple-bat-ban-in-minors/>.
10. 9) Mussill, Bernie. "The Evolution of the Baseball Bat." Oldtyme Baseball News. 4.2 (2000): n. page. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://www.stevetheump.com/Bat_History.htm>. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Stkrmi77 (talk • contribs) 13:16, 26 April 2012 (UTC)

That's great. Now take it over to baseball bat, like both Jay and I have advised, and get crackin'.—DCGeist (talk) 06:51, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

Yes, those appear to be valid sources, with the exception of #7. Unless there is a written transcript of the telephone interview printed in a reliable source, it is Original research. The others look fine, though. Very good job. If you need help with formatting the citations (although you seem to have the gist of it), try ProveIt or leave a message on my talk page, I'll be happy to assist.--JayJasper (talk) 19:16, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

Please specify the rules regarding placement of the other 7 defensive players.

OK, we have defined the pitcher and the catcher, followed by the remark "The rest of the team faces home plate, typically arranged as ..." and the standard 4-infielder / 3-outfielder setup. Aside from the pitcher and catcher, all the rules have to say about placement of the defensive players is that they can station themselves anywhere on fair territory. Try a comment to that effect, because on rare occasions we see a "shift"; one example of a shift is putting the shortstop over to the other side of 2nd base. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.63.16.82 (talk) 16:22, 5 June 2012 (UTC)

There is a topical article on Baseball rules to goes into this. Certainly, no one else in the past three years has felt it was necessary to add to this general overview article, so unless there's a detectable shift in sentiment, I think it's best to leave it as is.—DCGeist (talk) 17:52, 5 June 2012 (UTC)

Please specify what constitutes a "run" in the opening paragraph.

The opening paragraph is a very accessible introduction to the form of the game. However the definition of a run would be useful here, otherwise it stands as an undefined term until sometime later in the article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.169.130.38 (talk) 14:58, 25 September 2012 (UTC)

Funny grammar

From the article: A player bats at home plate and must proceed counterclockwise to first base, second base, third base, and back home (...) Many similar examples elsewhere. Why do the bases and the home plate never get a definite article where correct grammar would otherwise demand one? 81.227.20.220 (talk) 14:14, 10 November 2012 (UTC)