Compare and contrast baseball and basketball

Posted: August 12th, 2013

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Basketball and Baseball

Unlike numerous countries across the globe where soccer is the most dominant sport, in the United States, basketball and baseball are the most widely recognized and popular sports in the country. Both sports are the embodiment of American popular culture. They are symbols and signs that signify much of the country’s populace, which is indicated by the widespread and considerable fan base that supports both sports. Both sports possess a rich history that which also plays a significant part of American history in the context of sporting. Due to their appeal, both sports have transcended from the American demography and spread to other foreign countries gaining rapid popularity.

Similarities

Various similarities are indicated by the common features exhibited between both basketball and basketball. Foremost, both sports require the effort of teamwork in order to secure victory over their respective rivals. Teamwork provides cohesion between each member of the team. By cooperating, the players of every team in each different sport are able to sort out their differences and compromise on the weaknesses on each individual in the team. Similarly, the team players are able to reinforce on each individual’s strength and work together by focusing on each other’s advantage in order to ensure organization and solidity. Additionally, the concept of teamwork is usually understood in the acronyms: Trust, Enthusiasm, Ambition and Motivation, which are utilized in achieving the common goal of winning amid a team of different individuals with different strengths.

Another similarity that is between basketball and baseball involves the use of a ball in their respective games. Though both sports utilize different forms of balls to facilitate their games, they both require the use of a round object in order to ensure play. Moreover, the balls are used as the common media between the teams in the different sports. In basketball, a ball popularly known as a basketball is the main medium that is used in an ordinary basketball game. The basketball is usually the only medium that is used between the different teams in the respective matches. Usually, the ball serves the common objective of securing goals or points with respect to the two different games.

Moreover, the ball is the main and only medium that creates competition between two different teams in a match whether in basketball or baseball. Another similarity characteristic of the two sports is the number of competing teams in their respective matches. Despite the difference in the sports, each game requires that two teams compete in order to determine the winner. Basketball requires two teams comprised of five members who play respective and individual positions that capitalize on the strengths of each player. The same goes for basketball: there are two different teams comprising nine main players who are usually in the field. However, there are 25 players on the team. Moreover, each team requires another team of substitute players who are usually the subsequent batch of players to take part in the competition and thus act as replacements for the starting team members.

Differences

Basketball and baseball comprise various differences based on their features. For starters, the grounds or fields that each sport is played in different with respect to each sport. For instance, the field that basketball takes part in is known as a basketball. Usually, a basketball court is usually rectangular and comprises basketball hoops mounted on a pole on each side. The basketball court is built with either wood or maple, which is highly polished in professional games in indoor establishments while in external surfaces; it is made with paving materials such as concrete. Baseball, on the other hand, uses a field patched with grass and shaped like a rhombus. The rhombus is usually marked with four bases arranged at each corner of the field. The bases usually determine the score for the team players upon hitting a baseball with a bat and touching all four bases after impact.

Another difference between basketball and baseball is the mode of play. Despite both games possessing the same goal of scoring and winning, both games are structured differently in terms of mode of play. For instance, basketball involves the act of throwing or shooting a basketball through a basket positioned horizontally. Usually, two teams that comprise five players each compete on the basketball court with each rim on each side marking the goal points that should be scored. Baseball, on the other hand, involves two teams comprising nine players each. The objective of the game usually involves hitting a baseball that is thrown by a pitcher and at the same time running around the field in order to touch the bases, which determines the score. Unlike basketball, which involves two different posts of scoring, the four bases in baseball are usually used by both teams in order to secure a win over their respective competitors.

Basketball and baseball are two unique and different sports. However, the sports are united together by the same objective of winning irrespective of their differences. Baseball and basketball also create sports personalities who are usually adored by their respective fans. These sports personalities exert considerable influence on the fans of these sports and are therefore major role models. Thus, with a considerable fan base attributed to influential personalities, basketball and baseball are indeed the most popular sports in the American society.