Player Resources
We’ve gathered here a selection of resources that will be of help to those new to baseball, or looking to learn more about the sport we love. Everything from rules of the game, special individual training ideas and more.
The Rules of Baseball
Learn the Lingo
Where is Opposite Field? What is a Cutter? Who is the Blue?
You can download the Baseball Lingo Cheat Sheet to learn some of the baseball-specific language you might hear at training or during a game.
Training Videos
Here is a selection of training videos you might find useful. We will keep updating this list with new suggested videos from our coaching staff.
Training Playlist
Training Apps
Thinking Baseball is available for iPhone and Android. It’s an app that helps you understand different types of plays you’ll come across during a game.
The free version has lots of questions which will test your knowledge of what a player in each position should do in certain situations. It’s a great tool for getting to know what you should do when playing in those positions yourself.
BASIQs is a very similar app, testing your knowledge of over 7,000 defensive situations. This app is also available on iOS and Android.
Further Reading
There are a great many books written about baseball. Here are a selection of books that will help you learn about the game and get a deeper understanding of it.
Baseball Field Guide
Dan Formosa & Paul Hamburger
A great overview for novices and a precise reference guide for devoted fans! Now updated throughout with the latest changes, including specifications about the universal designated hitter and limits on defensive shift
Watching Baseball Smarter
Zack Hemple
Zack Hample’s bestselling, smart, and funny fan’s guide to baseball explains the ins and outs of pitching, hitting, running, and fielding, while offering insider trivia and anecdotes that will appeal to anyone—whether you’re a major league couch potato, life-long season ticket-holder, or a beginner.
The Baseball Book of Why
John McCollister
Why do we sometimes refer to a left-handed pitcher as a “southpaw?” Why are major league pitchers normally limited to 100 pitches per game? Why is a baseball field sometimes referred to as a diamond? This book provides over 100 questions and detailed answers concerning the traditions, rules, and history of the game.
Why We Love Baseball
Joe Posnanski
The classic countdown of baseball’s most memorable episodes, updated with a new introduction for the UK edition. Here are moments that forged legends — Babe Ruth’s called shot, Kirk Gibson’s limping home run –- side by side with unsung heroes, gale-force tantrums and eye-watering mishaps.