Baseball Field

Baseball fields must follow certain regulations and follow established standards to be used for professional level games. Regulation baseball fields are a certain size and have specific dimensions for the infield. On the other hand, the outfield and foul areas can vary by quite a bit.

The baseball field can be divided into its major parts which are the infield and outfield layout, the batter's box, the pitcher's mound and the bases. In the Major Leagues, the infield is the same size at every stadium. The Major League baseball diamond rules require the infield diamond to be 90 feet on each side. From the pitcher's mound to the outside edge of the infield is 95 feet.

Baseball field dimensions also include the outfield area, which is different at each stadium. The outfield must extend 400 feet from home base to the back center wall, and 325 feet from home plate to the nearest right or left foul line fence or wall.

Within the dimentions of a baseball diamond can be found the pitcher's mound and the bases. Like the baseball diamond size, the mound and bases must be designed to meet certain specifications. The pitcher's mound is 18 feet in diameter. First, second and third bases are 15 inch squares and home plate is a five-sided shape.

In a perfect world, baseball diamonds would be perfectly symmetrical, but that is almost impossible to create. So the goal is to get as close as possible to perfect. But for non-major players, baseball field construction is usually completed with tools that are on hand like rakes and shovels. The result is a field that may be less than perfect, but is just as fun to play.

It is much easier to build a field when you start with a baseball diamond drawing. The drawing gives the baseball field size including the diamond. Back baseball fields are usually made of exposed soil. Infields have both turf and exposed soil.

Baseball diamonds and outfields must be maintained. Baseball field maintenance requirements are different for various soils and turfs. Obviously a local little league field will need different maintenance than a Major League field. There is special equipment that can be used to make the job easier for everyone though.

For example, a drag for baseball fields is a large mat that can be hooked behind power equipment. It is pulled over the soil areas of the baseball field to smooth the dirt. Baseball field drags simplify the maintenance process.

Baseball field tarps are used to either protect the field from bad weather, or to keep the mound and home plate soil moist. You can buy tarps that just cover the mound or home plate, or one large enough to cover the entire infield.

Constructing and maintaining a baseball field, including the baseball diamond, is not difficult if you follow a diagram and use the proper tools.