What Do Baseball Teams Have in Common

The first organized baseball league in the U.S., called the National Association of Base Ball Players, was formed in 1856. Today sports organizations that include Major League Baseball and the National Collegiate Athletic Association provide rules and regulations for professional and collegiate baseball.

The offensive team in baseball tries to score runs by hitting the ball and running the bases. All personnel must be inside the dugout, bullpen or on-deck area with the exception of the base coaches, the batter and any runners during game play. The offensive team must follow the original batting order throughout the course of the game, unless an official substitution is made. A base coach must be present in the coaches' box, positioned at first and third base.

The defensive team pitches and fields the ball to prevent the offensive team from reaching the bases by catching the ball or throwing it to another defensive player. The defensive team has nine players on the field: the pitcher, the catcher, the first baseman, the second baseman, the third baseman, the shortstop, the left fielder, the center fielder and the right fielder.

Players and coaches from National Collegiate Athletic Association and Major League Baseball must have matching uniforms. Teams must have two sets of uniforms to ensure the visiting team wears contrasting uniforms from the home team. Uniforms must display a number on the back of the shirt and polished metal or glass buttons are not permitted. All players must wear a hat on the field.

Amateur and professional baseball leagues require batters to wear batting helmets to protect them from head injuries. In the NCAA, every player batting, on deck and running the bases must wear a batter's helmet.

Baseball teams employ strategies to win games. Managers use a sacrifice fly to advance a base runner at the expense of the hitter. A stolen base allows the base runner to advance without forcing the batter out. A pinch hitter allows the manager to insert a better hitter into the lineup at crucial moments.