softball
Japanese Name:
ソフトボール
Romaji Name:
sofutobooru
Description
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Softball is a team sport similar to baseball but played with a larger ball and on a smaller field. Players pitch the ball underhand, and the game emphasizes teamwork, hitting, and fielding. Softball is popular in schools and recreational leagues.
History
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Softball was invented in the United States in 1887 in Chicago, originally as an indoor version of baseball. The first game was played at the Farragut Boat Club after a group of men improvised a game using a boxing glove as a ball and a broomstick as a bat. The game was initially called "indoor baseball", then "kitten ball", "diamond ball", and "mush ball", before the name "softball" became official in 1926.
By the 1930s, softball had spread across the U.S. and internationally. The rules were standardized by organizations like the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), making it a recognized competitive sport. It gained popularity among women, particularly during and after World War II, when women's sports were more widely promoted.
Softball became a global sport in the 20th century, especially in countries like Japan, Australia, Canada, and China.