WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Old Ballgame: 9 Innings of Baseball

Episode Date: March 28, 2024

The origin of baseball's 9 innings

Welcome to the old ball game, where we talk about the past of America's favorite pastime. I'm Tate Christensen. Ever wondered why there are nine innings in baseball? Well, it turns out that early on in baseball history, the ballgames had no way of measuring time during the game. Instead, games were played until a team reached 21 runs. Initially, this role worked well, but as ballplayers got better at the game, it became harder and harder to score a run. This means that games could take forever. After one game in 1856 tied 12 to 12 ended due to darkness, Alexander Cartwright and other members of a New York Knickerbockers Council decided it was time for change. The games began to be played with innings, with three outs to half an inning. For a while, the number of men on the field determined the number of innings to be played in a game. Usually seven or nine.

If there were seven men, seven innings would be played. If nine, then none. That ruled didn't last long either. In that same year, the Council ruled that there were to be nine innings in each game. And that was that. This has been the old ball game on Radio Free Hill. Down 101.7 FM.