Compiling this list took months of research and involved whittling down more than 300 songs to just the 42 listed below. After going back and forth about what constitutes a “baseball song,” I settled on a relatively broad definition: songs that are either explicitly about the game, or which use it as a metaphor or backdrop for life in general. That means songs with just a perfunctory baseball reference didn’t make the cut. In the end, the list below is one of the most comprehensive that has been published. It includes many classics and standards, as well as a number of songs from relatively un ..read more

One of the most common questions we get from readers of our best scorebooks article is where to find free printable baseball scorecards. There are hundreds of free scorecard PDFs available online, but we doubt you’ll need to look beyond the six options we’ve listed below: Best overall: THIRTY81 Press Scorecard Best traditional design: Metapost Scorecard Best for youth games: 7-Inning Numbers Game Style Scorecard Best vertical layout: Hilty Scorecard Best for the Reisner system: Vince Skahan’s Scorecard Most widely-used: Patrick A. McGovern’s Scorecards All six of these scorecards are designe ..read more

Youth baseball and softball can be a safe-haven for kids dealing with turbulent lives outside the chalk lines. It can offer much-needed structure, foster friendships that extend beyond the ball fields, and promote the skills kids need to thrive. Or it can become a storm of unnecessary stress, a breeding ground for burnout, and a toxic place that contributes to overuse injuries and exacerbates the challenges that kids face in their day-to-day lives. The way coaches and parents approach youth sports can be detrimental to children, even when they have good intentions. Pushing kids to train more a ..read more

We tested dozens of batting gloves to find the best options based on factors including fit, grip, bat feel, material quality, durability, breathability and price. Our top picks are: #1. Franklin CFX Pro (Best Overall) #2. Marucci Luxe (Best Premium Option) #3. Under Armour Harper Hustle #4. Easton Professional Collection #5. Mizuno B-303 #6. Franklin 2nd-Skinz (Best for Youth Players) #7. Rawlings Remix (Best for T-Ball and Coach-Pitch Players) #8. Rawlings Workhorse (Most Durable Adult Batting Gloves) Note that most of the batting gloves on this list are around the $40 (per pair) price point ..read more

Every spring, youth baseball programs welcome legions of first-time coaches. This is especially true at the lowest levels of the game, like tee ball and coach pitch. But even competitive travel clubs and some high schools use parents and volunteers as assistants. While most rookie coaches have at least a little bit of playing experience, any coach with a few seasons under their belt can tell you there’s a big difference between playing the game and teaching it. Many parents and rookie coaches feel lost on their first day of practice, and over the course of the season they struggle to build a p ..read more

Scorekeeping in baseball is the artful retelling of the game playing out in front of you. Armed with a trusted scorebook and sturdy pencil, each scorekeeper develops their own flair to make their scorebook their own. And while baseball scorekeeping apps have streamlined and automated the process, keeping score at a baseball game is one of the few things I prefer to do the old-fashioned way.  With this article, our goal is to help you find a dependable scorebook that meets your needs — whether you’re a fan looking for a way to forge a deeper connection with the game, a parent interested in ..read more

When we set out to review the best baseball and softball scorekeeping apps, we expected to find many different options. But in the end, our research and testing turned up just two apps that we think are worth your time: GameChanger and iScore. In this article we’ll talk about the pros and cons of both apps, covering their user interfaces, features and limitations, with plenty of screenshots from our testing to illustrate how they work. Table of Contents #1. GameChanger Review #2. iScore Review #3. Other Baseball Scorekeeping Apps If neither of these apps have the features you’re looking for, y ..read more

In an earlier post I argued that hitters see too few simulated pitches compared to standard batting practice repetitions. When it comes to fielding, I think the opposite is true—that coaches are inclined to spend too much time on situational, simulated, and team defense and not enough on isolated skill development. The number of variables at play when hitting live pitching is large, and most of those variables cannot be replicated when a coach or teammate throws from behind a screen. Further, many of those variables are external—they are based on the pitcher’s decisions and execution, not the ..read more

Nearly a decade ago, I was coaching a semi-pro team in the Czech Republic’s second division. It was the beginning of the season — February, to be exact — and snowy South Bohemia was still weeks away from hosting outdoor baseball. I knew that my players would have little or no time to prepare on the field prior to Game 1, so I needed to get them enough quality reps to be ready to play once the snow melted. That meant that in those early days, a big part of my job was figuring out how to plan productive practices for a team of high school and college-level baseball players in a space just a litt ..read more

As an adolescent living in baseball-poor Northern Michigan in the early and mid 1990s, I was desperate to learn how to increase my velocity and become a better pitcher. Throughout Little League, I was a dominant force on the mound, striking out about two thirds of the batters I faced. But my success was largely due to one factor: I was tall for my age and capable of powering hard, straight fastballs past my peers. I had no idea what I was doing on the mound. I tried to mimic the mechanics of Detroit Tigers pitcher Bill Gullickson, who was in the midst of a 20-win season when I started pitching ..read more