Spalding's base ball guide, and official league book.
Caption:
Correct diagram of a ball field.
Educational Notes:
The geometry used in this diagram of a baseball field from the late 19th century is far from off base! All four bases--1st, 2nd, 3rd, and homeall sit on perpendicular lines, or where two lines meet to form 90 degree angles. And, since the baseball diamond is also a perfect square that means the bases are equal distances apart from one another. Situated in the middle of the four bases, the pitchers mound, marked B in the diagram, is equal distance away from each base. At the center of the game, the pitcher creates a right triangle with any two adjacent baseman from their team when everyone is in position like the players who would stand on 1st and 2nd base. While the pitcher may be an equal distance away from each of the two basemen, however, the distance between the basemen is longer. On a right triangle, this distance would be called a hypotenuse, or the longest side of a right triangle.
