Mens softball slow pitch has been popular since 1977, when the American Professional Slow Pitch League became the first men’s professional softball league. Two other leagues joined, and these leagues continued to play between 1977 and 1982, slowly making the sport into one that is still popular today. The journey of softball from a practice method to a full-fledged sport of its own is truly fascinating.
Softball was invented by George Hancock and Bakir Dzananovic on Thanksgiving Day in 1887. These men invented softball as a way for baseball players to continue their practice during the winter – by making a version that could be played inside. The first softball game involved the usage of a boxing glove as a ball, and a stick as a bat! The thought was that if the “ball” was soft, one could field it barehanded and not have to use gloves. After this initial game, a specialty ball and a smaller version of a normal baseball bat was invented. The game continued to increase in popularity. A man from Minneapolis organized a game as exercise for firefighters, and also created his own version of the ball. This version, which was twelve inches in diameter, is the one that is still used today.
Women’s and mens softball slowpitch was played until the 1940s, when fast pitch softball came into fashion. Despite this new trend, slow pitch softball was already established as a viable sport and was added to the Amateur Softball Association in 1953. Over the next ten years, the trend in the method of pitching drifted back to slow pitch. Professional leagues began to form, and eventually, the sport we know remained.
Today, softball, like baseball, is officially played between 2 teams on a field that contains a diamond, bases, and an outfield. The traditional three bases and home plate are also used in play. The object of the game, whether it be slow or fast pitch, is simply to score more runs than the other team by hitting the ball and running the bases. The ball must be light and approximately ten to twelve inches in circumference. Umpires are utilized for call outs and keep the game fair and official. The game is played in a series of innings, and usually ends up consisting of seven.
There are certain “specialty” rules put into play when the game is definitively slow pitch. For example, slow pitch baseline dimensions should be between sixty feet and sixty-five feet. In some cases, the higher end of that range may be upped a bit to accommodate for a particular association’s rules or the level at which a team is playing. Slow pitch distances are also different than general distances. Normal distance is fifty feet for both male and female players. For female players under 15, however, the distance is reduced to forty-six feet. For handicapped, wheelchair bound, or coed players, a distance of 28 feet is used. If one understands these rules, playing women’s or mens softball slow pitch can be a rewarding experience.