On Friday April 11th, EC students took a break from studying TOEFL in New York to enjoy America’s favorite pastime. Baseball can be a difficult sport for international students to understand due to the large number of rules which structure the game.
However, once one knows the basics, it is easy to sit back and appreciate a sport that has captivated Americans for centuries. If you are studying English at EC New York in May, you will have the opportunity to watch the New York Yankees play the New York Mets! Sign up by April 23 at the front desk!
Baseball in NYC
After the 2014 season, famed New York Yankee Derek Jeter will retire so be sure to check out a game while he is still playing! He is presently listed as one of the top 10 all-time Yankees’ players accompanying such icons as Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, and Yogi Berra, just to name a few.
The Basics
Baseball is a game of many rules, statistics, and seemingly odd practices. There are two teams, with nine players on each side. One team fields, while the other team sends batters to the plate to try and score runs. The team fielding has to get three outs before taking their turn “at bat.”
When a runner gets “on base” they must make their way around the bases back home without getting thrown out. They can attempt to steal a base (move forward before the ball has been pitched), however, this can be risky and lead to the loss of a runner in scoring position.
To familiarize yourself with basic baseball terminology, look up the following words which are used repeatedly throughout a game:
- Bat
- Inning
- Pitcher
- Strike
- Out
- Homerun
- Single
- Double
- Triple
- Foul Ball
- Umpire
- Double-play
- Full count
While knowing more detailed rules will help to further appreciate what can turn into a 3 hour event, it is easy to simply enjoy the massive crowds that descend on Yankee Stadium, especially when the “Bronx Bombers” are playing their arch rivals – the Boston Red Sox. If you haven’t yet, be sure to catch a Yankee or Mets game with EC New York before leaving New York City!