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To quote the Official Rules of Major League Baseball (Rule 1.04), The field shall be a 90-foot
square. The outfield shall be the area between two foul lines formed by extending two sides of the square, as in Diagram 1.
Any Playing Field constructed by a professional club after June 1, 1958, shall provide a minimum distance of 325 feet from
home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction on the right and left field foul lines, and a minimum distance
of 400 feet to the center field fence.
Diagram 1. |
Home Plate Area |
Evolution of Home Plate
During the early stages of baseball, home plate was circular in shape. Whatever object was available
could and would be used (wood, cast iron, stone, white marble), and sometimes the object was a dish. Thus, the name
plate came into use. In 1869 "home base" was transformed into a 12-inch square shape. The square was put into the
ground with one point directed towards the pitcher and the opposite point directed toward the catcher. The disadvantage
of the square shape was that it was difficult for both the umpires and the pitchers to pinpont the strike zone.
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