Corkball facts for kids
Corkball is a fun "mini-baseball" game. It uses a special small ball, weighing about 1.6 ounces (45 grams), that looks like a tiny baseball. The bat is also smaller, with a barrel about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide.
This game started in the streets and alleys of St. Louis, Missouri around 1890. Today, people play Corkball in leagues all over the country. Soldiers from St. Louis shared the game with their friends during World War II and the Korean War. Corkball is like baseball, but it can be played in a small space because players do not run around bases.
How to Play Corkball
Corkball uses a special ball that weighs about 1.6 ounces (45 grams). This is much lighter than a regular baseball. The bat can be up to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide and 38 inches (97 cm) long.
The Playing Field
A Corkball field is usually about 30 feet (9 meters) wide and 250 feet (76 meters) long. Different distances are marked to show how far a hit goes.
- A batter must hit the ball at least 15 feet (4.6 meters) for it to count as a hit.
- A hit between 15 feet (4.6 meters) and 150 feet (46 meters) is a single.
- A hit up to 200 feet (61 meters) is a double.
- A hit up to 250 feet (76 meters) is a triple.
- If the ball goes beyond 250 feet (76 meters), it is a home run.
Players can change these distances based on where they are playing.
No Base-Running
In Corkball, players do not run around bases. Instead, "runners" move forward based on how far the batter hits the ball.
For example:
- If a runner is on first base and the batter hits a double, the runners will then be on second and third base.
- If a runner is on first base and the batter hits a single, the runners will be on first and second base.
Teams and Equipment
Each team needs at least two players: a pitcher and a catcher. A team can have up to five players on the field at one time. Fielders can wear baseball gloves, but they do not have to. The catcher must wear a catcher's mask for safety. The pitching rubber and home plate are the same as those used in regular baseball.
