If it were all different

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

What if the dimensions of the regular diamond were changed? Say if the basepaths were 100 feet, or it was seventy feet from home to the mound. How much of history do you think would be altered because of this?

[Kentucky Bomber]

What if the dimensions of the regular diamond were changed? Say if the basepaths were 100 feet, or it was seventy feet from home to the mound. How much of history do you think would be altered because of this?

Then you aren't talking about baseball. The distance of 90' on the bases was determined at the very start of the game and has been the most remarkable calculation is all of sport. It is perfectly set to make the runer hustle to 1st on a grounder and get there just as the ball has arrived, and have a like affect on stolen bases. None of this applies to Manny Ramirez, of course.

The distance of 60' 6" is relatively more recent, as the first pitchers were about 50' away, but only underhand pitching was allowed. As freer movement was allowed they realized that speedier pitches at that distance would overpower the batter and the pitcher's box was replaced with the current rubber. The geometry of the diamond is what makes the game.

[placount]

Then you aren't talking about baseball. The distance of 90' on the bases was determined at the very start of the game and has been the most remarkable calculation is all of sport. It is perfectly set to make the runer hustle to 1st on a grounder and get there just as the ball has arrived, and have a like affect on stolen bases. None of this applies to Manny Ramirez, of course.

The distance of 60' 6" is relatively more recent, as the first pitchers were about 50' away, but only underhand pitching was allowed. As freer movement was allowed they realized that speedier pitches at that distance would overpower the batter and the pitcher's box was replaced with the current rubber. The geometry of the diamond is what makes the game.

i read somewhere that the 6 inches was initially a typo that just stuck, is that true?

[Kentucky Bomber]

i read somewhere that the 6 inches was initially a typo that just stuck, is that true?

I've never seen documentation of that. Let's say for argument that someone put 60' 6" on a diagram and someone else interpreted it as 60' 6". As soon as discovered, wouldn't they fix it, instead of saying, "oh well, we'll just keep it that way"? I find it hard to believe that in 1893 everyone in every park simultaneously misinterpreted the diagram to say 60' 6" and when the National League office found out they did nothing to correct the error.

The motive is probably lost to history.

[ipitch]

Then you aren't talking about baseball. The distance of 90' on the bases was determined at the very start of the game and has been the most remarkable calculation is all of sport. It is perfectly set to make the runer hustle to 1st on a grounder and get there just as the ball has arrived, and have a like affect on stolen bases. None of this applies to Manny Ramirez, of course.

But, would baseball be "broken" if the bases had always been 85' or 95' apart? Sure, the stats would be different, but they can very different even when the bases are always 90'. For example, in 1950, the AL stolen base leader stole just 15 bases. In 1982, the AL leader stole 130 bases.

[six4three]

How much was that determined by the height of the mound, I wonder?