the.com/inning
Baseball's way of pretending both teams get a fair shot before someone cries.
means A turn at bat for one team, lasting until three outs are made — nine of these (usually) make a complete baseball game.
from From Old English 'innung,' meaning a getting in or putting in — related to the verb 'in' used as 'to bring in.' It originally described any turn of possession or opportunity in a game, long before baseball existed; cricket used 'innings' the same way, and still does, oddly keeping the 's' even for one team's single turn.
- structure
- two halves, top and bottom, visitors bat first
- standard length
- nine innings, extras if tied
- etymology
- old english for going in, literally turn-taking
- no clock
- an inning ends on outs, not time