Baseball and Cricket have had their pieces of debate for a long time. While the world worshipped cricket, the USA worshipped baseball. This never-ending debate as to why baseball is so difficult to master can now be put to an end! In a baseball game, two teams are involved, with two players in each team. Teams alternate positions, and batters and fielders exchange places when three members of the team get “put out.”
Baseball is also known as the “National Pastime of the USA.” Baseball evokes a national sentiment amongst a lot of people who are in other ways disconnected from the world. A baseball field is also known as Sandlot or Baseball Diamond. Boston and Detroit are known to house the oldest baseball stadiums. Baseball originated from England. The American League was founded in 1901. Fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers. Cooperstown, New York, has a baseball hall of fame that is visited by thousands of baseball fans each year.
Baseball requires a different skill set completely compared to other famous sports played in different parts of the world. For ages, people have debated as to which sport is the hardest to master. Such conversations can never run away from bias and subjectivity. But in this article, we have provided the most practical and unbiased reasons as to why baseball is the toughest sport ever.
1: Mental Toughness
Baseball is one such game that takes a lot of mental toll on its players. When the stakes are high, playing at that top level is impossible without extreme mental strength. Studies show that the best baseball batters show a hitting average of around 30. This indicates that they fail 70% of the time. This requires the players to not be disheartened with the misses and to perform even better in the next match (don’t forget the initial pressure is only an add-on!). Still, they remain unaware of when their turn is to shine, and they have to be 100% ready to give their full potential no matter what happens.
2: Athletic Challenges
While it does seem obvious to a commoner, baseball is an extremely demanding sport, especially when it comes to physical abilities. All the baseball players are expected to do everything on the baseball field. They have to be fast, strong and alert all the time. Their muscle memory demands them to remember certain movements in certain ways. Most other sports happen in constant motion, while baseball happens in short bursts. Pitching, running, hitting happen in short bursts of a few seconds and require tremendous physical effort. One can only imagine how tough it is to complete a full sprint while pointing a small white ball that is almost 300 feet away!
3: Skills
It is a well-known quote that “the more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in the war.” Baseball is no different. Countless hours of rigorous training are required to achieve those wondrous scores that we witness on television. It has been researched that hitting in baseball is the toughest form of hitting compared to other sports like cricket or badminton. The speed of a fastball pitch averages over 90mph (enough to make someone faint if hit). This fastball pitch is thrown 60 feet away. This means that the batter gets only 4 seconds to react. In those 4 seconds, the batter has to identify the pitch, decide where it is heading, and also decide whether to swing or not! This is indeed a lot to do in just 4 seconds. For more information about softball bats, learn more here.
4: Difficult to master:
People usually start young and master a sport. The path to becoming a baseball pro is probably the toughest if you compare other sports. Only 1% of the high school players make it to the colleges. From these colleges, only 1% make it to the pros! The filtration process thins out the chances of getting selected. Almost every player goes through minor leagues and, in most cases, never makes it beyond that level. This is exactly why MLB Rookies of the year are 23-25 years of age while NBA players are 19.
5: Physical + Mental Detriments:
A regular football season has 16 games; basketball has 82, while baseball has 162 games per year. There is this abundance of games and limited players. This has a toll on not only their physical but also their mental stamina. Baseball players are not only locked in for one game long; they are locked in for months one at a time. This game has tough tasks, and they are topped with the risk of injuries. If a player is injured, he or she is no longer of any benefit to the team. Hence all the efforts of the player go in vain. Baseball is not for people wanting quick and short-term success.
Tips to master baseball:
Although many people start playing sports at an early age, it is never too late to start something new. Here are a few tips to master baseball.
1: Skills:
Developing the required skill set for a particular sport is one of the most important things. One should start practicing hand-eye coordination, body balancing, etc., to achieve the required skills.
2: Training:
Stamina, endurance, and overall physical fitness are a must in baseball. You must have the entire desired skill set, but if you aren’t physically capable of exerting yourself, then you probably won’t cut.
3: Equipment:
Playing with the right kind of equipment not only ensures safety but also ensures better performance. One must choose wisely before purchasing their equipment. Baseball requires a bat and a ball.
Conclusion:
Baseball, whether hated or loved by everyone, is proven over and again to be the toughest sport ever. Whether you enjoy it in your leisure time or you are serious about playing it, one must take into consideration the “must-haves” and the “must do’s.” Keep playing it until you master it!
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