2006-07-08 02:28:35 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
I couldn't find the source online, but i read a book a few years about the history of baseball. Originally, almost every player was right handed and when the first distinct design of the field came to fruition, the creator (whomever he was) chose first base to the right because the right-handed hitter was already facing that direction.
2006-07-08 02:32:23 · answer #1 · answered by TheBestEver 1 · 9⤊ 3⤋
As others have pointed out, it's because most batters were right handed. That's still true today, but back in the day, it would have been more often the case because people who were born as natural-lefties were "encouraged" to become right-handed. And by encouraged, of course, we mean that many people were forced.
This probably had to do with superstition arising from an early Greek tradition, wherein they would cast omens while facing north. East was considered lucky, and therefore west -- the direction of the left hand -- was considered unlucky.
The word "sinister" for a long time meant, "false"; "dishonest" or "unlucky" IN ADDITION to referring to the left.
2006-07-08 02:40:32 · answer #2 · answered by SteveMc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually the batter does not run to his right. Once he makes a hit he runs straight forward. A leftie has to turn around and run. If you look at home base and the batters box, the 1st base line goes straight from home base.
If the batter ran to his right he would run into the backstop or grandstand behind home base.
2006-07-08 02:49:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the ran left around the bases you would be asking why they don't run right.
2006-07-08 04:34:48 · answer #4 · answered by royalsgirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its the natural direction for a right handed batter, in the batting stance to run, they are already facing that way. Since 90% of the population is right handed, I guess it just evolved from there,
2006-07-08 04:17:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They dont. They run in all four directions, if they hit a home run.
If you are sitting directly behind home plate, and the line from home to centerfield is due North, and the batter hits a home run, he first:
Runs NE to 1st base, (which is Right, from home plate);
Turns NW to run to 2nd base (which is LEFT, from 1st base);
Turns SW to run to 3rd base (Left again but in a more Southerly direction);
Turns SE (Right, again) to run home and get his butt slapped by people who make money than he does.
So he travels in ALL directions of the compass during one HR.
2006-07-08 02:35:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do run counter-clockwise (all the turns are to the left) around the bases.
2006-07-08 02:32:23 · answer #7 · answered by joe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they run the opposite way it cricket. It's like we drive on the right side of the road and Europeans drive on the left. Or our toilets flush clockwise and Aussie toilets flush counterclockwise (or vice versa, I can't remember)
2006-07-08 07:23:25 · answer #8 · answered by signs4_him 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's easier to get out of the batters box and go right for a right handed batter.
2006-07-08 02:31:54 · answer #9 · answered by Lobo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have to go around the bases, it's a distance thing.
2006-07-08 02:32:43 · answer #10 · answered by Spike Spiegel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋