Softball is a popular game and it has been originated from baseball. Yet softball differs from baseball in the sense that a much bigger ball is used in softball. The ball is pitched underhand in softball. Two types of pitches are used in softball; fast pitch and slow pitch. Softball has not been made a part of the Olympics, but efforts are being made to incorporate it in the Olympics. Listed below are some facts about softball.

1) The Origin of Softball:

George Hancock is credited for creating softball. Softball was created as a result of a small fight between a Yale supporter and a Harvard supporter back on Thanksgiving Day, 1887. Whilst waiting for the results of a football match, a Yale supporter threw a boxing glove at a Harvard supporter, who in turn swung the glove with a stick. Upon speculating this, George Hancock yelled, play ball. And that’s how softball came into being.

2) Softball is for Both Genders:

Softball is often confused with women’s baseball, but it is a wrong perception. Softball is different from women’s baseball and has both male and female players. Softball is being played by both genders across US and other countries.

 3) Softball Diamond:

The diamond of a softball differs from that of a baseball diamond. In case of baseball, the diamond has a distance of 90 feet between each base, but in case of softball, the bases are 60 feet apart.

4) The Dimensions of the First Softball:

The port became known to the public in 1888 and the rules for softball were also published that year. The circumference of the first softball was 16-inch an it is 7 inches more than that of a baseball.

5) Differences Between Slowpitch and Fastpitch:

For fastpitch, a 12-inch ball is used, while an 11-inch ball is used for slowpitch softball. The number of fielders for both fastpitch and baseball are the same i.e. 9. Slowpitch has one fielder more i.e. the number of fielders for slowpitch are 10. There are some minute differences between the rules for both smallpitch and fastpitch.

6) Softball’s Hall of Fame

A Hall of Fame is maintained by the Amateur Softball Association in recognition of the services of important softball players. Currently, the Hall of Fame encompasses 197 players. Along with that, 169 important non-players like coaches and umpires are also  recognized by the Hall of Fame.

7) The 16-Inch Softball is Still in Style

Mush ball or the 16-inch ball is still played in Chicago. Players now use a bigger softball in the memory of the boxing glove which was used in the first ever game of softball. On top of that, no fielding gloves are used when playing with a mush ball.

8) The US Won 22 Games of Softball in a Row:

A 22-game winning streak has been seen during the last three Olympics by the United States Women’s fastpitch softball team. The winning marathon lasted from 2000 till 2008 and came to an end at the hands of Japan, when the US lost to Japan in a gold medal game.

9) Olympics of 2000 Witnessed the First Softball No-Hitter:

American Lori Harrigan is credited for hitting the first solo no-hitter at the 2000 Summer Olympics. This first no-hitter was hit against Canada during the women’s fastpitch softball.

10) Supreme Court Justice or A Skilled Softball Player?

Justice Elena Kagan has been performing services at the United States Court since 2010. Prior to that, she was a skilled softball player and she played 16-inch softball during her teaching days at the University of Chicago Law School.