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101 Baseball Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Baseball is a sport that has captivated the hearts and minds of millions of fans around the world. From the excitement of a home run to the strategy behind a well-executed double play, there are countless aspects of baseball that can be explored and analyzed. If you are tasked with writing an essay on baseball and are struggling to find a topic, fear not! We have compiled a list of 101 baseball essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing.

• The evolution of baseball: From its origins to the modern game.
• The impact of Jackie Robinson on breaking the color barrier in baseball.
• Analyzing the influence of Babe Ruth on the game of baseball.
• The role of statistics in baseball: How sabermetrics changed the game.
• The rise of analytics in baseball: Its advantages and disadvantages.
• The impact of performance-enhancing drugs on the integrity of baseball.
• The importance of sportsmanship in baseball: Examining famous incidents.
• The role of umpires in the game: How they shape the outcome.
• The impact of technology on baseball: From instant replay to pitch tracking.
• The significance of baseball in American culture: Reflections on its symbolism.
• The role of the designated hitter in baseball: Should it be adopted universally?
• The importance of team chemistry in successful baseball teams.
• The influence of the media on the perception of baseball.
• The significance of baseball stadiums: A comparison of iconic venues.
• The impact of international players on Major League Baseball.
• The role of baseball in promoting social change and activism.
• The psychology of baseball: Examining the mental aspect of the game.
• The role of managers in baseball: Their strategies and decision-making.
• The rise of women's baseball: Analyzing its growth and challenges.
• The impact of baseball on the economy: From ticket sales to merchandise.
• The role of youth baseball in developing future talent.
• The evolution of baseball equipment: From wooden bats to advanced technology.
• The importance of scouting and player development in baseball.
• The role of superstitions and rituals in baseball.
• The impact of free agency on player movement and team dynamics.
• The significance of baseball records: Breaking down the most notable ones.
• The role of baseball in promoting physical fitness and health.
• The impact of baseball on local communities: Case studies of minor league teams.
• The role of baseball in promoting diversity and inclusivity.
• The importance of teamwork in baseball: Lessons learned from successful teams.
• The influence of baseball on literature and popular culture.
• The role of baseball in fostering national unity during challenging times.
• The impact of the designated hitter rule on offensive strategies.
• The significance of the World Series: Examining its history and legacy.
• The role of baseball in promoting tourism: A study of baseball-themed attractions.
• The influence of baseball on other sports: Comparing strategies and techniques.
• The impact of globalization on the popularity of baseball.
• The significance of baseball cards: Their historical and monetary value.
• The role of baseball in promoting education and academic success.
• The psychology of a successful pitcher: Examining their mindset and strategies.
• The impact of the steroid era on the perception of baseball's golden age.
• The significance of baseball in wartime: Analyzing its role during conflicts.
• The influence of the media on player endorsements and sponsorships.
• The importance of sportsmanship in youth baseball: Lessons for young players.
• The role of baseball in promoting civic engagement and community service.
• The impact of the designated hitter on the National League: Should it be adopted?
• The significance of baseball in overcoming societal prejudices: Case studies.
• The evolution of baseball strategies: From small ball to power hitting.
• The role of baseball in the integration of immigrants into American society.
• The impact of injuries on player careers and team performance.
• The significance of baseball rituals and traditions: A comparative analysis.
• The influence of baseball on American slang and idioms.
• The importance of sportsmanship in the rivalry between baseball teams.
• The role of baseball in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.
• The impact of rule changes on the pace of the game: Analyzing their effectiveness.
• The significance of baseball in building character and life skills in young athletes.
• The influence of baseball movies on popular culture and fan perception.
• The importance of baseball in preserving local history and heritage.
• The role of baseball in promoting environmental sustainability: Green initiatives.
• The impact of baseball on the tourism industry: A study on baseball tourism.
• The significance of baseball in shaping national identity: Case studies.
• The influence of baseball statistics on player contracts and salaries.
• The importance of baseball in promoting resilience and perseverance.
• The role of baseball in promoting social integration and breaking down barriers.
• The impact of analytics on player development and scouting.
• The significance of baseball in promoting community cohesion: Case studies.
• The influence of baseball on the development of sports broadcasting.
• The importance of baseball in teaching life lessons to young players.
• The role of baseball in promoting cultural exchange and diplomacy.
• The impact of baseball on the physical and mental health of fans.
• The significance of baseball in promoting patriotism and national pride.
• The influence of baseball on fashion and popular trends.
• The importance of baseball in promoting discipline and self-control.
• The role of baseball in promoting volunteerism and community service.
• The impact of baseball on the entertainment industry: From movies to music.
• The significance of baseball in promoting intergenerational bonding: Case studies.
• The influence of baseball on the development of sports journalism.
• The importance of baseball in promoting fair play and respect for opponents.
• The role of baseball in fostering a sense of belonging and identity.
• The impact of baseball on the physical and mental well-being of players.
• The significance of baseball in promoting social justice: Case studies.
• The influence of baseball on the development of sports photography.
• The importance of baseball in promoting teamwork and cooperation.
• The role of baseball in promoting cultural diversity and inclusivity.
• The impact of baseball on the tourism industry: A study on baseball-themed vacations.
• The significance of baseball in promoting physical education in schools.
• The influence of baseball on the development of sports broadcasting technology.
• The importance of baseball in promoting leadership skills and responsibility.
• The role of baseball in fostering a sense of community and belonging.
• The impact of baseball on the physical and mental health of youth players.
• The significance of baseball in promoting national unity: Case studies.
• The influence of baseball on the development of sports journalism ethics.
• The importance of baseball in promoting perseverance and resilience.
• The role of baseball in promoting cultural exchange and understanding.
• The impact of baseball on the tourism industry: A study on baseball-themed tours.
• The significance of baseball in promoting physical fitness in schools.
• The influence of baseball on the development of sports broadcasting techniques.
• The importance of baseball in promoting teamwork and collaboration.
• The role of baseball in fostering a sense of cultural diversity and acceptance.
• The impact of baseball on the physical and mental well-being of amateur players.
• The significance of baseball in promoting social cohesion and harmony.

With these 101 baseball essay topic ideas and examples, you are sure to find the perfect topic to write about. Whether you are interested in the historical aspects of the game, statistical analysis, or the impact of baseball on society, there is something for everyone. So grab your pen and paper, or fire up your computer, and start exploring the fascinating world of baseball through your essay!

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137 Baseball Essay Topics & Examples

Want to write an essay on baseball? Described as a national religion of the US, this sport is definitely worth exploring!

⚾ Baseball Research Topics

🏆 top baseball essay examples, 🧢 best baseball essay topics, 🥎 interesting baseball topics to write about, 🏏 baseball research paper topics, 👟 baseball argumentative essay topics, 🎓 simple & easy baseball essay titles, ❓ baseball research questions.

Developed from folk games in early Britain, baseball has become the most popular bat-and-ball game in the world. About half of Americans claim to be its fans. In your paper about baseball, you might want to focus on its history. Another interesting idea is to talk about cultural impact of baseball. Whether you have to write an argumentative, descriptive, or informative essay, our article will be helpful. It contains baseball topics to research and write about. You can use them for a paper, presentation, or any other assignment. Best baseball essay examples are added to inspire you even more.

• The evolution of baseball form older bat-and-ball games
• History of baseball in the US
• The Massachusetts game and modern baseball: compare & contrast
• Baseball at the age of steroids
• Baseball in the US culture
• British and Finnish baseball: compare and contrast
• Baseball in the world literature
• Women in baseball
• Comparison of baseball and cricket
• The role of individual players in baseball
• Koprince’s “Baseball as History and Myth in August Wilson’s Fences” Although the connection between baseball and the thematic development of the play might seem tangential at first, a closer analysis of the manner in which the game I mentioned in the novel will show that […]
• Fraud Within the Tallahassee Beancounters Baseball Team An additional impetus for the audit of the company’s accounts was the granting of a mortgage to the company for the construction of a new training facility.
• Fences: On Stubbornness and Baseball Even the play’s title, Fences, is a reference to “swinging for the fences” in addition to the literal and metaphorical fences Troy builds that keep the other characters out or in.
• Which Is More Profitable, Baseball or Football? There are other sports which are more profitable than the two but the argument here boils to which sport between the two is more profitable. In regard to the ticket price, baseball becomes more profitable […]
• History of Baseball and Its Impact on American History It is possible to hypothesize that the regional roots of baseball emphasize the special place of the rural culture in the construction of the contemporary American identity and promote the traits that the rural population […]
• The Role of Ezol’s Journal in Miko Kings: An Indian Baseball Story Outwardly the journal features the history of Ezol’s life, Ada’s citizens, and the Twin Territories; however, in truth, it goes beyond that and has a much deeper symbolic meaning. Ezol’s journal serves as a portrayal […]
• Factors that influence Major League and Minor League Baseball This perhaps leads to the appreciation of the significance of considering the team’s quality in determining the attendance of major and minor Baseball league.
• Baseball and Urbanization For instance, at the very beginning of the nineteenth century, the urban population in the United States was 5% of the total population.
• Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Team’s Sport Marketing The team competes in Major League Baseball and represents the American League East division, and it is the only club in MLB that is not from the United States.
• Baseball Career Personal Experiences Though I was nowhere near the standards of the so called best players, my interest and willingness to give my best, pleased the coach and I was mostly in the starting team.
• Social Injustice in Negro League Baseball The lack of equal pay for African American players in the Negro Leagues during the 1920s and 1930s was a significant social injustice that exposed and sought to improve the inequality within the baseball industry.
• Linear Regression Applied to Major League Baseball Applying regression techniques by drawing a scatter plot of real-world data of MLB payroll amounts and win totals copied to the Excel spreadsheet, it is practical to establish the nature of the relationship between the […]
• Jackie Robinson, an American Baseball Player Robinson reached significant heights in baseball, becoming the first recipient of the MLB Rookie of the Year Award, becoming the National League’s Most Valuable Player, and being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Promotional Campaign Plan for Sault Ste. Marie Baseball It will be a moment to harness the youthful talents of Sault Ste. The youths of Sault Ste.
• Geometry Web Quest for Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Golf, Volleyball and Pool Field for golf is the biggest and made of grass, sand and water and is the biggest and it has no fixed shape. Soccer field is made of grass or synthetic material and is the […]
• Benefits of Baseball League However this research is perhaps better placed in capturing the impact of baseball league because it is not subject to the different errors that are said to be experienced in the assessment of economic development […]
• Mechanics of the Baseball Swing During the game, the ball is to be hit hard by the batting team and the “hitter” to stop at a base before proceeding to other bases.
• Baseball Game Rules and Age Limit In the game of baseball or any other form of the game, the play of a boy corresponds to the work of an over-aged player.
• The Use of Steroids in Baseball The use of steroids may be used to improve the performance of the baseball teams but this comes at a great cost to the individual’s health and the integrity of the game.
• “Life in Baseball’s Negro Leagues” by Donn Rogosin This is the particular phase of racism that has made the dominance so very concrete that the title in itself declares the actual picturesque about the foregrounding towards this dominance.
• Negro Baseball League and Professional Players The work clearly tells the reader the saga of the tribulations and humiliations that a black player has to undergo because of the color difference, and the author points out how the game of baseball […]
• Professional Baseball Operation Strategy in Taiwan But when it comes to the professional market, the low attendance rate shows the dilemma of the league operation. To review the development and history of the free agency system in MLB.
• William Ellsworth Hoy, a Deaf Baseball Player In the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century, the overall social environment and a widespread hostile public attitude toward disability provided many obstacles to a successful career for any person with a disability.
• The 1994 Major League Baseball Strike and Conflict Although the strike was sometimes claimed to be the one that had the most significant impact on Major League Baseball, the result of the negotiations was not satisfactory to both parties. The conflict between the […]
• Steroid Impact on Baseball Game and Players Furthermore, the creation of the team sport contributed to the significant improvement of its visual appeal and attracted the new audience.
• Oakland Athletics: Successful Baseball Team It is necessary to understand that this measure is crucial, and it can be combined with a slugging average to determine the capabilities of a particular player.
• Baseball in Sociological Research and Its Features This is followed by a careful determination of the research design to use while conducting a research. It also makes sure that the sociologist is in line with ethical standards of conducting a research in […]
• Media and Negative Ethnicity in Baseball The stakeholders in the game of baseball have made concerted effort to promote integration of major league baseball in the United States.
• Baseball Players’ Salaries Analysis This meant that the salaries of LA Dodgers players were evenly distributed relative to average salary with above-average distribution in NY Yankees and a weak distribution in NY Mets.
• The Financial Problems of Major League Baseball Meanwhile, as the players faced the problem of losing their salary for the last weeks of the season, the owners encountered a big problem since the World Series were wiped out for the second period.
• Data Collection of Major League Baseball The fact that the total population of the players in the Major League Baseball is relatively large made the researcher choose the sampling method to determine the salary that a player should earn.
• Major League Baseball’s Data Set General overview: after choosing the topic, the research team decided to review the available information to ensure that the base of the problem was wide and comprehensive; at this stage, the researchers were concerned with […]
• Major League Baseball Players Association The association also has a role in the modern world of negotiating the salaries of its players. The major league baseball association is a union that is of great help to the baseball players.
• Kansas City Zephyrs Baseball Club, Inc. The main reason for the contentious issues is the profitability disbursement to between the club operations and players. The owners want to maximize their interest through reduction of taxes yet the players want to get […]
• Steroids in Baseball The rejuvenated use can be traced back to the role of the media in promoting sports as a form of entertainment.
• Technologically Advanced Baseball Bats Research The purpose of this research study is to investigate the advantages of using technologically advanced, or high priced, baseball bats in the Little League Baseball.
• Unions and Compensation in Major League Baseball This paper will discuss concepts of the unionization of professional baseball, impacts of the unionization of the game to players, managers and the game in general.
• 1919 World Series: How It Changed Baseball Forever?
• 2011 Major League Baseball National League Most Valuable Player Individual or Team Award?
• Comparison Between the Games of Baseball and Fastpitch Softball
• Comparison of American Pastime in Baseball and Football
• How Baseball Helped Me Coup Up with the Struggles of My Life?
• African Americans in Baseball
• Analysis of David Brook’s Baseball or Soccer
• Analysis of the Official Website of Major League Baseball
• Analysis of Baseball: An Important Part of American Pop Culture
• Analysis of Baseball Stadiums
• Analysis of the Economic Structure of the Major League Baseball
• Analysis of the Minor League Baseball
• New York Yankees, the Most Successful Franchise in Baseball History
• Baseball Hats Boost Employee Motivation And Job Performance
• Compare And Contrast Baseball And Basketball
• Differences And Similarities Between Baseball And Softball
• How African Americans Helped Shape The Major League Baseball
• How Baseball Has Changed My Life?
• How Baseball Survived the Great Depression?
• How Did Baseball Affect Cuba In The Mid Twentieth Century?
• How Television Has Changed The Game Of Baseball?
• How The Civil War Helped Formed Baseball Into The Great Game?
• How to be a Healthy Baseball Player?
• How To Play Fantasy Baseball?
• Salaries In Major League Baseball
• Stopping on Nine: Evidence of Heuristic Managerial Decision‐Making in Major League Baseball Pitcher Substitutions
• What Is The Status Of Steroids In Baseball?
• Why Baseball Is The Most Amazing Sport?
• Who Integrated Major League Baseball Faster Winning Teams or Losing Teams?
• Why Is Baseball My Favorite Game to Watch?
• A Bad Day in My Baseball Career
• A Background of America’s Favorite Pastime Baseball
• Biography and Life Work of Jack Roosevelt Robinson, a Professional Baseball Player
• Biography and Life Work of Joseph Jefferson Jackson, an American Baseball Player
• Life and Work of Roberto Clemente Walker, a Puerto Rican Baseball Player
• Biography of Babe Ruth
• Achievements of Baseball Legend Ted Williams
• Advertising in Baseball Stadiums
• History of African Americans in Major League Baseball
• History of Baseball in the American Civil War
• History of Steroid Use in the Major League Baseball
• History of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League in America
• Anabolic Steroids are Ruining Major League Baseball
• Evaluation of Customer Satisfaction for Fans Attending Baseball Games at Yankee Stadium
• Baseball and the Civil War of the United States
• Attendance and the Uncertainty-of-Outcome Hypothesis in Baseball
• Baseball, Football, and Basketball: Models for Business
• Baseball Revenue Sharing
• Cheating in the Game of Baseball
• Impact of the Globalization of Baseball
• Myth in Baseball
• National Pastime to Dismal Science: Using Baseball to Illustrate Economic Principles
• Pay and Performance in Major League Baseball: The Case of the First Family of Free Agents
• Physics Of Baseball
• Professional Baseball Stadiums ‘Old’ New Construction Trends
• Risk Management for the Use of a City Baseball Stadium
• Economic Impact on the Dominican Republic of Baseball Player Exports to the USA
• Twenty First Century Baseball and Economics
• Women’s Baseball Leagues in Historical Context
• Work Incentives And Salary Distributions In Major League Baseball
• How Did Racism Impact the Game of Baseball?
• Are Baseball Players Paid Too Much?
• How Did Babe Ruth Change Baseball?
• Does the Baseball Labor Market Contradict the Human Capital Model of Investment?
• How Has Baseball Changed Their Rules?
• Did Abner Doubleday Invent the Game of Baseball?
• How Did Baseball Survive the Great Depression?
• Can Women Really Play Baseball?
• How Was Baseball Changed by Jackie Robinson?
• Does the Baseball Labor Market Properly Value Pitchers?
• How Did Baseball Affect Cuba in the Mid-Twentieth Century?
• Are Major League Baseball Players Overpaid?
• Why Has Baseball Benefited From the New York Yankees?
• How Did Baseball Influence America?
• Does Option Theory Hold for Major League Baseball Contracts?
• How Has the Game of Baseball Been Affected by the Increase in Technology Over the Past Decades?
• Should Baseball Ban the DH?
• How Did Steroids and HGH Destroy Baseball?
• Should Baseball Players Who Used Steroids Be Allowed in the Hall of Fame?
• How Did Television Has Change the Game of Baseball?
• Were Major League Baseball Doubleheaders a Mistake?
• Why Are Americans Addicted to Baseball?
• How Do Baseball Players’ Mental States Influence Their Career?
• Should Baseball Expand the Use of Instant Replay to Review Close Plays on the Bases?
• Does Baseball Lose to Soccer in Some Us States?
• Should Baseball Be Financed by Is Citizens’ Taxes?
• Can Baseball Alleviate Mental Illness Symptoms?
• Should the Pricing Policy for Baseball Tournaments Be Reviewed?
• What Countries Can Complete With the USA in Baseball Ratings?
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Science News Explores

Baseball: from pitch to hits.

The ballpark brings home plenty of science

 When the bat hits the ball, the ball goes flying. A lot happens in that split second, as energy is transferred from the player to the bat, and then to the ball. 

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By Stephen Ornes

August 21, 2013 at 12:10 pm

On June 12, the Kansas City Royals played at home against the Detroit Tigers . When Royals centerfielder Lorenzo Cain stepped up to the plate at the bottom of the ninth, things looked grim. The Royals hadn’t scored a single run. The Tigers had two. If Cain struck out, the game would be over. No player wants to lose — especially at home.

Cain got off to a rocky start with two strikes. On the mound, Tigers pitcher Jose Valverde wound up. He let fly a special fastball: The pitch whizzed toward Cain at more than 90 miles (145 kilometers) per hour. Cain watched, swung and CRACK! The ball flew up, up, up and away. In the stands at Kauffman Stadium, 24,564 fans watched anxiously, their hopes rising with the ball as it climbed through the air.

The cheering fans weren’t the only ones watching. Radar or cameras track the path of virtually every baseball in major league stadiums. Computer programs can use those tools to generate data about the ball’s position and speed. Scientists also keep a close eye on the ball and study it with all those data.

Some do it because they love baseball. Other researchers may be more fascinated by the science behind the game. They study how all of its fast-moving parts fit together. Physics is the science of studying energy and objects in motion. And with plenty of fast-swinging bats and flying balls, baseball is a constant display of physics in action.

Scientists feed game-related data into specialized computer programs — like the one called PITCH f/x, which analyzes pitches — to determine the speed, spin and path taken by the ball during each pitch. They can compare Valverde’s special pitch to those thrown by other pitchers — or even by Valverde himself, in previous games. The experts also can analyze Cain’s swing to see what he did to make the ball sail so high and far.

“When the ball leaves the bat with a certain speed and at a certain angle, what determines how far it will travel?” asks Alan Nathan. “We’re trying to make sense of the data,” explains this physicist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

When Cain swung his bat that night, he connected with Valverde’s pitch. He successfully transferred energy from his body to his bat. And from the bat to the ball. Fans may have understood those connections. More importantly, they saw that Cain had given the Royals a chance to win the game.

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Precision pitches

Physicists study the science of a moving baseball using natural laws that have been known for hundreds of years. These laws aren’t regulations enforced by the science police. Instead, natural laws are descriptions of the way nature behaves, both invariably and predictably. In the 17th century, physics pioneer Isaac Newton first put into writing a famous law that describes an object in motion.

Newton’s First Law states that a moving object will keep moving in the same direction unless some outside force acts upon it. It also says that an object at rest won’t move without the prodding of some outside force. That means a baseball will stay put, unless a force — like a pitch — propels it. And once a baseball is moving, it will keep moving at the same speed until a force — such as friction, gravity or the swat of a bat — affects it.

Newton’s First Law gets complicated quickly when you’re talking about baseball. The force of gravity constantly pulls down on the ball. (Gravity also causes the arc traced by a ball on its way out of a ballpark.) And as soon as the pitcher releases the ball, it starts to slow due to a force called drag. This is friction caused by air pushing against the baseball in motion. Drag shows up any time an object — whether a baseball or a ship — moves through a fluid, such as air or water.

“A ball that arrives at home plate at 85 miles per hour may have left the pitcher’s hand 10 miles per hour higher,” says Nathan.

Drag slows a pitched ball. That drag depends on the shape of the ball itself. The 108 red stitches roughen a baseball’s surface. This roughness may change how much a ball will be slowed by drag.

Most pitched balls also spin. That also affects how forces act on the moving ball. In a 2008 paper published in the American Journal of Physics, for example, Nathan found that doubling the backspin on a ball caused it to stay in the air longer, fly higher and sail farther. A baseball with backspin moves forward in one direction while spinning backwards, in the opposite direction.

Nathan is currently researching the knuckleball. In this special pitch, a ball barely spins, if at all. Its effect is to make a ball seem to wander. It may fly this way and that, as if it were indecisive. The ball will trace an unpredictable trajectory. A batter who can’t figure out where the ball is going won’t know where to swing either.

“They’re hard to hit and hard to catch,” Nathan observes.

In the Royals game against the Tigers, Detroit pitcher Valverde threw a splitter, the nickname for a split-finger fastball, against Cain. The pitcher throws this by placing the index and middle fingers on different sides of the ball. This special kind of fastball sends the ball zipping quickly toward the batter, but then causes the ball to appear to drop as it nears home plate. Valverde is known for using this pitch to close down a game. This time, the baseball didn’t drop enough to fool Cain.

“It didn’t split too good and the kid hit it out of the park,” observed Jim Leyland, the Tigers manager, during a press conference after the game. The ball soared over the players on its way out of the field. Cain had hit a home run. He scored, and so did another Royals player already on base.

With the score tied, 2-2, the game headed into extra innings.

Success or failure, for a batter, comes down to something that happens in a split-second: The collision between a bat and the ball.

“A batter is trying to get the head of the bat in the right place at the right time, and with as high a bat speed as possible,” explains Nathan. “What happens to the ball is mainly determined by how fast the bat is moving at the time of collision.”

At that moment, energy becomes the name of the game.

In physics, something has energy if it can do work. Both the moving ball and the swinging bat contribute energy to the collision. These two pieces are moving in different directions when they collide. As the bat smacks into it, the ball first has to come to a complete stop and then start moving again in the opposite direction, back toward the pitcher. Nathan has researched where all that energy goes. Some gets transferred from the bat to the ball, he says, to send it back where it came from. But even more energy goes into bringing the ball to a dead stop.

“The ball ends up kind of squishing,” he says. Some of the energy that squeezes the ball becomes heat. “If your body is sensitive enough to feel it, you could actually feel the ball heat up after you hit it.”

Physicists know that the energy before the collision is the same as the energy afterward. Energy cannot be created or destroyed. Some will go into the ball. Some will slow the bat. Some will be lost to the air, as heat.

Scientists study another quantity in these collisions. Called momentum, it describes a moving object in terms of its speed, mass (the amount of stuff in it) and direction. A moving ball has momentum. So does a swinging bat. And according to another natural law, the sum of the momentum of both has to be the same before and after the collision. So a slow pitch and a slow swing combine to produce a ball that doesn’t go far.

For a batter, there’s another way to understand the conservation of momentum: The faster the pitch and the faster the swing, the farther the ball will fly. A faster pitch is harder to hit than a slower one, but a batter who can do it may score a home run.

Baseball tech

Baseball science is all about performance. And it starts before the players step onto the diamond. Many scientists study the physics of baseball to build, test and improve equipment. Washington State University, in Pullman, has a Sports Science Laboratory. Its researchers use a cannon to fire baseballs at bats in a box outfitted with devices that then measure the speed and direction of each ball. The devices also measure the motion of the bats.

The cannon “projects perfect knuckleballs against the bat,” says mechanical engineer Jeff Kensrud. He manages the laboratory. “We’re looking for perfect collisions, with the ball going straight in and going straight back.” Those perfect collisions allow researchers to compare how different bats react to the pitched balls.

Kensrud says they’re also looking for ways to make baseball a safer sport. The pitcher, in particular, occupies a dangerous place on the field. A batted ball can rocket right back toward the pitcher’s mound, traveling just as fast or faster than the pitch. Kensrud says his research team looks for ways to help the pitcher, by analyzing how long it takes for a pitcher to react to an incoming ball. The team is also studying new chest or face protectors that might lessen the blow of an incoming ball.

Beyond physics

The 10th inning of the Tigers-Royals game went unlike the previous nine. The Tigers didn’t score again, but the Royals did. They won the game 3-2.

As the happy Royals fans headed home, the stadium went dark. Though the game might have ended, information from it will continue to be analyzed by scientists — and not just physicists.

Some researchers study the hundreds of numbers, such as the tallies of hits, outs, runs or wins that every game generates.

These data, called statistics, can show patterns that otherwise would be hard to see. Baseball is full of statistics, such as data on which players are hitting better than they used to, and which aren’t. In a December 2012 paper published in the research journal PLOS ONE , researchers found that players perform better when they’re on a team with a slugger who is on a hitting streak. Other researchers may compare statistics from different years to look for longer-term patterns, such as whether baseball players overall are getting better or worse at hitting.

Biologists, too, follow the sport with keen interest. In a June 2013 paper published in Nature , biologist Neil Roach from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., reported that chimps, like pitchers, can throw a ball at high speed. (Though don’t look for the animals on the mound.)

As for Cain, the Royals centerfielder, by halfway through the season he had hit only one more home run since that June 12 game against the Tigers. Still, statistics show Cain had by then improved his overall batting average to .259, after a slump earlier in the season.

That is just one way the scientific study of baseball continues to improve the game, for both its players and its fans. Batter up!

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A Novel Approach for Baseball Pitch Analysis Using a Full-Body Motion Analysis System

This article was written by  Paul Canavan

This article was published in Spring 2021 Baseball Research Journal

Contributing authors: Paul K. Canavan, Bethany Suderman, Alex Sklar, and Nicholas Yang

Biomechanical analysis in sports has been used for more than 140 years, including Eadweard Muybridge’s work in 1879. Muybridge created the Zoopraxiscope to analyze motion through photographs and motion pictures (Muybridge E 1882, Muybridge E. 1891, Rondinella L.F. et al.,1929). For the past 50 years, baseball coaches have used biomechanical analysis from movies of the baseball pitch to help improve pitcher performance (Bethel, 1967; Hulen, 1966; Petroff et al., 1966). High speed photography, stroboscopic photography and high-speed video cameras have been used to analyze pitching mechanics for over 40 years (Atwater, 1977; Elliott et. al, 1986; Escamilla et al., 2001; Hang et al., 1979; Pappas et al., 1985, Thurston,1984). High-speed cameras and the use of retroreflective markers worn on the major joints on the body for the baseball pitcher have been used to analyze baseball pitching for over 25 years to the present (Dillman et al., 1993; Escamilla et al., 2002; Escamilla et al., 2017; Fleisig et al., 1999, Solomito et al., 2017).

Over the past 10 years there have been several research studies that have utilized wearable sensors on the arm involving gyroscopes, accelerometers, and/or magnetometers to identify torque and other upper extremity biomechanical parameters related to baseball pitching (Camp et al., 2017; Koda et al, 2010; Makhni et al, 2018; McGinnis et al, 2012; Murray et al, 2017; Sagawa et. al, 2009). Objective testing that truly evaluates baseball ability is welcomed by professional, college, and high school coaches. Pertinent research findings and their practical applications are needed for coaches and players to help improve pitching ability (Reiff et al., 1971).

However, these sensors have only been utilized on the upper extremity and there are limitations to fixation, comfort, and practicality in the field. Coaches and analysts have requested more research advocating improved ease of use, and improved error compensation and analysis procedures to provide informative, concise, and easy-to-interpret metrics (Camomilla et al., 2018).

The XSens wearable full body motion analysis suit has been shown to reliably biomechanically analyze rehabilitation exercises, activities of daily living including walking and stair ambulation, as well as activities such as skiing and snowboarding (Karatsidis et al;, 2019; Konrath et al., 2019; Kruger et al., 2009; Slaipah et al., 2014; Supej et al., 2010). The Xsens inertial measurement suit is an acceptable unit to measure physical demand in workplace assessments such as complex lifting tasks (Poitras et al., 2019).

To date there are no known research papers that have analyzed the baseball pitch using a full body motion analysis suit such as the Xsens for kinematic analysis. This paper has two purposes: First, to present the procedures for a successful application of biomechanical motion analysis of baseball pitching utilizing a wearable sensor body suit. Second, to provide a descriptive analysis of the center-of-mass position of the pitcher’s body as related to the lead foot placement and pitching accuracy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participant The volunteer participant was a male pitcher (Age 20; Height 1.96 m; Weight 102.1 kg; Throwing Arm; Right) from an NCAA Division III varsity baseball team. The research procedures were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board. The participant was provided an overview of the procedures and provided written informed consent.

Set-up A pitching mound, home plate, pitching target, and batting dummy were set-up in an indoor gymnasium at Eastern Connecticut State University. The distance of the pitching rubber to the back of home plate was placed at the NCAA regulation distance of 60 feet 6 inches (18.44 meters) from each other (Paronto and Woodward, NCAA, 2014). The participant threw from an indoor wooden pitching mound built to regulation height (10 inches/25.4 centimeters) with a gradual slope of 1 inch per foot (0.0254 centimeter per 30.48 centimeters) from a point 15.24 centimeters (6 inches) in front of the pitching rubber (all dimensions based upon NCAA regulations, see Paranto, NCAA).

A target area was designated on the canvas backstop to simulate the strike zone for a 1.75 meter (5-foot 9-inch) tall batter. The pitching target was placed behind home plate and measured 1.52 meters in height by 1.40 meters in width (Muhl Tech Pitching Target, MulTech, Wharton, Texas. See Figure 1).

Figure 1. Example images of pitching accuracy measurements. (Left) Example of a strike while throwing at the Lower Left Quadrant (LLQ). (Right) Example of a ball while throwing at the Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ). The baseball is outlined in for emphasis. Computer generated grid squares are 2″ x 2″.

A level and tape measures were utilized to ensure proper placement of the pitching target. The Designated Hitter Pro Model dummy (TAC Companies LLC, National Harbor, MD) was used to provide a more realistic pitching environment. The target area was subdivided into four equal quadrants of the strike zone. The quadrants were designated as Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ), Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ), and Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ). The pitching target area was 40.64 centimeters (16 inches) tall by 55.88 centimeters wide (22 inches) and each isolated quadrant area was 20.32 centimeters tall (8 inches) by 27.94 centimeters wide (11 inches). A 3-inch diameter circular white target was placed in the center of each quadrant, LUQ, LLQ, RUQ, RLQ. During the trials, only one of the quadrants was visible to the subject. The goal of the participant was to hit the center of the target in each quadrant.

Motion Analysis

The kinematic analysis of the body and center of mass of the subject was measured using an instrumented body suit (MVN Biomechanical Body Suit, Xsens Technologies, Enschede, Netherlands) containing 17 inertial measurement units. The sensors along with the measurements of the various limb segments created the 3-D body model.

The subject wore the Lycra body suit, with pockets allowing placement of the motion tracking sensors in the correct position on the subject’s body and to hold the data logger and battery pack. A headband, gloves, and foot pads were used to secure the motion trackers to the subject’s extremities. The gloves did not affect the ability of the subject to pitch normally. The sensor goes on the back side of the hand, not the palm or the fingers. According to feedback from the participants, the sensor did not affect the performance of throwing. The data from each sensor were recorded at 120 Hz and processed using the Xsens MVN Studio-Pro software package.

After the suit was put on, and the sensors, battery pack, and data logger secured in position, measurements were taken of the body height, shoe length, arm span, ankle height, hip height, hip width, knee height, shoulder width, shoulder height, and shoe sole height. These anthropometric measurements were taken as per XSens standardized protocol. A single-unit battery pack contains 3 Lithium Ion rechargeable cells, and when fully charged, the suit can be operational for continuous recording Z for up to 10 hours. The weight of the battery was 20.74 ounces or 1.3 lbs and placed on the posterior mid-thoracic region of the participant which had very minimal effect on the participant’s center of I gravity and throwing mechanics.

Prior to event recording, a complete and successful calibration phase was performed, following the Xsens calibration procedure. Connection between the recording laptop and Xsens hardware was done with the standard Bluetooth receivers provided with the Xsens system. Real time monitoring of the motion capture was also performed.

The biomechanical model consisted of 23 segments from the 17 sensors which created the accurate 3-D model for each individual participant. The sensors were translated to body segment kinematics using a biomechanical model which assumes the subject’s body includes body segments lined by joints. The Xsens system calculates the position, velocity, acceleration, orientation, angular velocity, and angular acceleration of each body segment and the center of gravity (COG). For each test trial, real-time standard video capture was also recorded at 29.97 frames per second at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Canon, EOS 7, Japan) and placement of cards that indicated quadrant and pitch number were utilized for both the high-speed camera and the standard video camera.

A midline was defined as the center of the pitching rubber to the center of home plate. MATLAB software was used to better visualize the location of the lateral distance of the center of mass related to the lead foot placement and midline.

Speed and Accuracy Measurements

A standardized and recently calibrated Stalker Sport 2 radar gun (Applied Concepts, Inc./Stalker Radar, Richardson, Texas) was used to assess pitch speed. The radar gun was placed 2.44 meters behind and 10 degrees to the right of the participant.

A high-speed camera (240 frames/sec) at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Sony, NEX SF700, Japan) was utilized to assess accuracy, and the x-, y-position of the ball was analyzed for each pitch relative to the center of the target and the resultant distance was calculated. The high-speed camera was placed orthogonal to the strike zone target and recorded the location of the ball when it hit the target. The camera was placed behind (1.54 meters) and 10 degrees to the left of the pitching subject. Still images of the moment of impact between the baseball and the strike zone target were taken from the high-speed camera and imported into a computer program (Adobe Illustrator, Version 23.0.3, Adobe, San Jose, California) where a 2-inch grid was placed over the strike zone target area (See Figure 1).

The grid was placed over the target area and verified by comparing the grid to physical measurements taken of the strike zone target area. Only the three most accurate and least accurate pitches were analyzed. Accuracy was determined as the resultant distance to the designated quadrant in the strike zone.

Pitching Protocol

Prior to data collection, the subject completed a 15-minute standardized warm-up throwing procedure that he typically performed before throwing off a mound. Prior to data capture, the participant pitcher threw 3 warm-up fast balls from the indoor mound into target number 1 right upper quadrant (RUQ). The participant then threw 10 times with the goal to hit the target in the center of the quadrant. The instructions were given for the participant to throw as fast and as accurately as he could perform with emphasis on accuracy. This was followed by the same procedure for each of the other three quadrants: Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ), Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) and Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ). All pitches were performed from the stretch position to standardize the position of the body for each trial, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Subject in stretch position wearing the Lycra body suit and Xsens sensors.

The subject performed at least 40 pitches into the canvas backstop target, 10 pitches for each of the 4 quadrants. For each test trial, the subject was instructed to throw consecutively at one of the four defined quadrants. Pitches that completely missed the canvas backstop or hit the dummy batter did not count toward the 40-pitch total.

In addition to starting all throws from the stretch position, the participant aligned the middle of his shoe with a mark on the middle of the pitching rubber, which was itself aligned with the middle of home plate, in order to standardize the start position of each throw. The particular quadrant target circle was only visible for each of the conditions. The participant was allowed to rest as needed between pitches. The time between pitches for each quadrant was less than 60 seconds.

The pitching mechanics were analyzed with visual observation, use of standard video, as well as the Xsens MVN Studio-Pro software package, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Xsens software visualization of the pitch from the stretch position to follow through.

Figure 4. Top view and side view of the center of gravity and fore foot position at the initial stretch position, front foot strike, and follow through.

(Click image to enlarge)

MATLAB was utilized to observe the trace of the center of gravity during the pitching sequence (Figure 4).

Figure 4 shows top view and side view of the center of gravity and fore foot position at the initial stretch position, front foot strike, and follow through. Following ball release for each pitch, the subject’s body fell towards his left side and the back, right foot came across and landed to his left side in order to maintain balance of having the center of gravity (COG) within the base of support of both feet.

The lateral distance of the center of gravity with respect to the midline and front foot at foot strike was obtained by plotting the position at foot strike, as shown in Figure 4. Table 1 shows for the three most accurate and three least accurate pitches, the pitching velocity, the lateral distance of the center of gravity to the midline, and the lateral distance of the center of gravity to the lead foot.

The participant reported that he threw 90% of his full speed for each of his pitches. The participant’s least accurate pitches were low and to the outside relative to the center of the target of the respective quadrant. The combined amount of distance from the center of mass relative to the midline along with the position of the lead foot relative to the midline was 20, 22, and 25 centimeters for the most accurate pitches (Figure 4). The combined amount for the least accurate pitches were 30, 31, and 31 centimeters. The average pitching speed for the most accurate three pitches was 78.37 mph/126.12 kph. The average pitching speed for the least accurate three pitches was 78.27 mph/125.96 kph. The speeds were similar. Two of the most accurate pitches were in the right upper quadrant and two of the least accurate pitches were located in the right lower quadrant.

LIMITATIONS AND BENEFITS OF THE MOTION ANALYSIS SYSTEM SUIT AND HIGH-SPEED CAMERA

• Limitations . Battery life on the high-speed motion camera, sampling frequency low compared to shoulder velocity, time of data processing, place and complexity of data processing (Kosa et al., 2018)
• Benefits: Portability—the motion analysis suit and the high-speed camera can be utilized indoors or outdoors at a pitcher’s own team facility and mounds, ease of analysis—visualization of image following performance of the pitch, and convenience of set-up—the time for set-up for the pitcher may be lower than traditional motion analysis with retroreflective markers.

Many studies have investigated factors that could improve pitching accuracy and performance. A recent study (Fleisig, et al., 2017) showed that utilizing biomechanical motion analysis to identify flaws of the pitching motion, followed by instruction and a followup biomechanical analysis, was able to correct 44% of the flaws identified in 46 healthy baseball pitchers from high school, college, minor league, and major league levels. Studies analyzing the foot position on the pitching rubber and variable stride length did not necessarily correct pitching accuracy (Edwards et al, 1963). There also appears to be no significant relationship between shoulder proprioception and throwing accuracy (Freeston et al, 2015). To the authors’ knowledge, there has been little research on the lead foot position and pitching accuracy.

There is a dearth of literature on mechanics and pitching accuracy utilizing biomechanical motion analysis of the pitching motion. Qualitative analysis of baseball pitching technique using standard 60Hz camcorders cannot provide a complete and accurate profile of the mechanics (Nicholls et al., 2003). Our study appears to be the first that has utilized a full-body wearable sensor motion analysis portable suit to analyze the pitching motion related to pitching accuracy. Coordination in pitching involves the timing of various body motions such as trunk rotation, lower limb drive, and non-throwing and throwing limb movements. The ability to drive the body forward over a stabilized front leg was characteristic of fast pitchers (Elliott et al., 1988). This current study is the first we know of that analyzes pitching accuracy using center-of-mass tracking as related to the lead foot position. This is a preliminary proof-of-concept study that in the future can be expanded and improved upon.

CONCLUSION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The Xsens motion analysis suit, along with the described procedures within this study, could be used as an assessment process to identify flaws in the pitching motion. These identified flaws can be utilized by the pitcher and pitching coach to develop intervention to improve, reduce, or correct the flaws by being reassessed. The Xsens suit is portable and can be utilized for pitchers in the comfort and convenience of their respective pitching facilities, both indoors and outdoors, unlike many of the prior studies in which wall-mounted cameras and retroreflective markers are needed. This technology has the potential to provide the pitching coach and player with information that is concise, easy to understand and utilize, and allow them to implement interventions to optimize mechanics and to reduce variability. Also, biomechanical reassessment could help determine the efficacy of the interventions. These interventions may improve pitching performance and reduce the risk of injury for the baseball pitcher.

DR. PAUL CANAVAN is an Assistant Professor at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU). He is a researcher and rehabilitation specialist with emphasis on injury prevention and sport performance enhancement. He is a SABR member and an accomplished scholar and has presented internationally in China, England, Turkey, Canada and recently at the 2019 National NSCA Conference. He has worked with athletes of all levels including collegiate and professional. Dr. Canavan’s research has been published in many high-quality research journals including Medicine Science in Sport and Exercise, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Acknowledgments

The authors would also like to thank Guidance Engineering for use of the High-Speed camera and Xsens™ Motion Analysis Suit. We would like to acknowledge the Head Coach Baseball Brian Hamm and Pitching Coach Chris Wojick and the volunteer pitcher participants. We would also like to express our gratitude to Christian Gosselin and Ashley Kennison for their help with data collection.

Partial funding for this project was provided by Eastern Connecticut State University and Guidance Engineering.

Declaration of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest related to this study. The authors have no affiliations or involvement with organizations with any financial interest related to this study.

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How to Play Baseball

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Basic rules of baseball, skills and techniques, base running, teamwork and strategy.

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How to Write an Amazing Essay on Baseball

We’ve all heard the stereotype about dumb jocks, but the truth is that sports wouldn’t be the same without academics. Physiology of movement, player psychology, the effects of weather on a game: these are only a few of the more technical aspects of the world of sports. Baseball is a particularly diverse topic to write about, especially considering the ever-changing rules and regulations of the game. Take a look at the following advice to learn how to write an amazing essay for baseball. Who knows, it could be the difference between a home run or a swing and a miss.

Choose your topic carefully

Baseball has been America’s favorite pastime for over 200 years, so there’s a lot to write about. The best way to start is by deciding what facet of the sport you’re going to cover, then narrow down from there. Some of the broad areas are:

• The history of the sport,
• rules and regulations,
• game mechanics,
• place within American culture
• and umpires.

It’s best to pick something more specific within the broad topic for the focus of your essay. Unless you’re writing a thesis, it’s probably not a good idea to try to cover the entire history of baseball regulations in a single essay. A better method would be to pick one specific umpire and discuss how their contributions changed the sport; or you could compare and contrast player performance and world records between decades. Continue narrowing down until you have a topic that provides enough information for your essay, but not so much that it can’t be feasibly expressed within the expected word count.

Make sure you use the proper format and style

A baseball essay should follow the standard essay format of introduction, body, and conclusion. However, the type of essay and style of writing will depend on what topic you choose and what your goal is with writing. Are you trying to present old information to say something new about the game, comparing player performance, arguing for a change to the rules, or something else entirely? Decide your focus before you begin writing to ensure you stay on track, then keep the following advice in mind as you write each portion of your essay.

Introduction

This is where you’re going to let everyone know what you’re writing about. You should have a clearly defined thesis statement, offering just enough background information to inform the reader of the topic’s relevance. In addition, you will also want to address the flow of information in the body of your essay. This will help the reader know what to expect. Just make sure you stick the format laid out in your introduction!

The body is the real meat of the essay. This is where you will provide in-depth background information and research to support the relevance of your thesis. Then you will combine this information with your interpretation and analysis to help the reader understand your point of view and further lend credence to your thesis statement.

The body should follow the format outlined in your introduction, and the information should be presented logically and with consistency to avoid confusion. Use transitional phrases to let the reader know when you’re shifting your focus in the essay. Provide analysis and the conclusions you have drawn from them here.

This comprises the final paragraph of your essay and should never contain new information or analysis. It should sum up the essentials while also revisiting the primary conclusions drawn in the body of the essay.

If you keep this information in mind while you’re writing, you’re sure to knock one out of the park with your essay.

GymScience™ & SportScience for Baseball Pitchers

The Science Behind Pitching Mechanics

Kinesiology  is the study of human motion and looks at the muscles and joint actions as it applies to sport skill and technique.  It allows us to understand and describe movements, key actions necessary for efficient movement, what muscles do what in the performance of the sport skill, and basically everything that involves understanding how sport motion can be most effective.  Biomechanics is a specialized field of Kinesiology that deals with the factors that are physics related:  speed, acceleration, levers, and force.

By applying scientific laws , sport scientists have come up with accurate descriptions and angles that should occur within efficient pitching mechanics. It is only by comparing your pitching to these sets of standards that you can understand what needs to be changed to make your pitching more effective.  Additionally, knowledge of the key role of each muscle during each part of the pitching motion allows us to understand what specific movements need to be made more powerful in order to improve the pitch velocity.

I perform a  qualitative analysis of your pitching  which is a systematic observation and assessment of the quality of your performance based on the above-mentioned principles.  The purpose of this scientific approach is to create the most appropriate intervention to improve you and move you in the direction of optimal velocity, accuracy, and consistency.  Scientific teaching methods  complete the cycle from the  diagnosis  and  intervention  to the  solutions .

The Qualitative Analysis  requires the integrated use of information from the following areas:

• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology
• Structural Kinesiology
• Motor Control & Development
• Sport Psychology
• Sports Medicine

Home / Essay Samples / Sports / Baseball / Why I Love Baseball: a Passion Which Lies in My Heart

Why I Love Baseball: a Passion Which Lies in My Heart

• Category: Life , Sports
• Topic: About Myself , Baseball , Favorite Sport

Pages: 1 (576 words)

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