6 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Softball

George Hancock was the first person to invent softball and its origin is quite a funny story. In 1887 during a football game between Harvard and Yale, a supporter from Yale threw a boxing glove at a Harvard supporter, he then picked up a bat and hit the glove back. To this George Hancock famously yelled ‘’Play Ball’’ and the first ever Softball match was held that thanksgiving day in 1887. Over the next few weeks Mr. Hancock developed a ball and bat in honour of the game and therefore went down in history as the creator of Softball.

1. In Softball The Bases are 60 Feet Apart

Unlike in baseball where the bases are 90 feet apart softball has significant differences. In the beginning softball was known as ‘’Women’s Baseball’’ but the facts and principles of the game have set it well apart from baseball, plus both men and women are included in the game with individual teams. Initially softball was used as a means of strengthening ones baseball skills during winter.

The softball diamond is a bit smaller than a baseballs as the distance between the bases varies in size. However a fastpitched softball is known to be 60 feet apart when it comes to the base.

2. Developing The Game and Its Rules

The sport picked up its pace and began to move outdoors in the year 1888 and the official rules and principle of the game was published the following year. History tells us that the first softball had a circumference of 16 inches, which is 7 inches bigger in circumference to a regular baseball.

Later on though a 12 inch ball was being used for fastpitched games and an 11 inch one for slow pitched games. In both fastpitched softball and baseball there are 9 fielders, but in slow-pitch softball the requirement is just 10 fielders. Even though there are differences between baseball and softball, someone watching for the first time would find it rather similar in style.

3. Softball Can be Found in More Than 140 Countries

It is known that in America, the Amateur Association of softball is responsible for governing the game and its rules. The game is popular in almost 140 countries with lots of softball coaching videos on the internet for those interested in learning more.

4. Olympic Appearances

The first Women’s softball match was included into the Olympic Summer Games in 1996 in Atlanta Georgia. America won the gold medal that inaugural year.

Women’s softball (Fast Pitched) was also included in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics in Athens’s Greece, Sydney Australia and China respectively. America won gold in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.

5. Softball Can Be Pitched Both Fast and Slow

The recognised types of softball are fastpitch and slow pitched games by the Amateur Softball Association. However there is another variation known as ‘’mushball’’ or ‘’16 inch softball’’

Fastpitch is commonly played with a slightly bigger softball compared to slow-pitch softball. Another fun fact is that during a fastpitch game the field is smaller and only fastpitched softball is played at national/international levels.

6. There are – 2 National Softball Teams in the United States

Unlike many other sports there isn’t an official Softball league in America. The United States is always represented by either the Women’s or Men’s softball team commonly referred to as Team USA.

The players are picked from a group of college teams or individuals that show potential in the sport during the ASA tournaments. Team USA often takes part in the softball world cup in Oklahoma, the Pan - America games and the world championship among others.