How the "Baseball Diamond" Got Its Name
The playing field of most sports are rectangles, including a football field, a soccer field, a basketball court and tennis courts. So how come the playing field of baseball is a Diamond?
The basic definition for the Baseball Diamond describes the surface on which the game of baseball is played. It is the infield square formed by home, first, second and third bases.
A baseball diamond is actually a square. It only looks like a diamond if you look at it from behind home plate or any of the bases. The distance between each base is equal, with four 90-degree angles and having 90 feet between each base.
A baseball “Diamond” is really a square turned on its side!
Baseball’s Playing Field
Baseball is unique in the world of sports. In addition to having a different shaped playing area, it is the only sport with no time limit. Whereas, football has four 15-minute quarters, soccer has two 45-minute halves, basketball has four 12-minute quarters (NBA), and hockey has three 20-minute periods (plus two 17-minute intermissions), baseball, on the other hand, has 9 innings with no set time limit. Each inning continues until the team at bat incurs three outs, however long it takes. And, if the game is tied after the end of the ninth inning, an unlimited number of innings is played until a winner is declared.
More ‘Diamond’ Terms in Baseball
In addition to baseball’s playing field being called a ‘Diamond’, the term is attached to a couple other areas of the game.
During the 1930s, ballplayers were called diamond artists or diamondeers. The fans were known as diamond bugs.
Summary
So, the next time you go to a stadium to watch a baseball game (or view it on television), take the time to notice how the playing field appears from the stands or from the angle of the TV camera as the batter looks out toward the pitcher. You will see how it looks like a ‘Diamond”.
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*This Baseball Diamond review was written by Wednesday Elf, the Baseball Contributor on ReviewThisReviews.com.
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Thanks for sharing such interesting baseball information!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Mary Beth. Always fun to share baseball trivia with a baseball fan. :)
DeleteFascinating! I've never questioned, just accepted, that the baseball field is called a diamond. Looking at the picture, you made it very easy to see why it is called a diamond. I couldn't help but see a woman's handheld fan too. Now, that would have been confusing!!! But, then I guess if a baseball fan is called a baseball bug, then they could have had a baseball fan playing field :) Now, that's just me being silly!!!
ReplyDeleteNot silly at all, Mouse. A lady's handheld fan makes a perfect example of the shape of the baseball field. I'm surprised no one else mentioned that when I was researching this subject. :) Thanks for visiting my baseball trivia post.
DeleteThanks, Elf! I enjoyed learning about the etymology of the term “baseball diamond” (although I always assumed that it was because of the shape). I love the 1930s nicknames for both the players and fans!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Glad you enjoyed my baseball field trivia story, Margaret.
DeleteOh, thanks to your photo, I spot the actual diamond! Very interesting tidbits of information! You're such an avid baseball fan, I love when you share these details that could one day help me in a Trivial Pursuit game, or as a conversation starter when watching the game with family and friends!
ReplyDeleteBaseball trivia is a favorite subject of mine, Barbara, as you probably noticed! :)
DeleteI'm a recent baseball fanatic. I never got too involved with the sport, but once those Blue Jays started showing the world what we are made of, I became a fan. Thanks for the indepth descriptions of the field and what it all means. I'm still learning.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I've always liked baseball and appreciate its diamond shape.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit, Cheryl.
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