Baseball Pitching Mound
The pitcher's mound in baseball is a raised area of dirt in the center of the infield containing the pitcher's rubber, from which a pitcher throws. It is called a mound because it is slightly sloped, like a small hill. Read on to learn more about the pitching mound in baseball.
Dimensions
The height of the mound corresponds to the distance between the bases. For every ten ft that distance goes down, the pitcher’s mound must go down two inches. A diamond with bases that are 90 ft apart has a 10-inch mound, one with 80 ft apart has an 8-inch mound and so on. On top of the mound, there is a flat piece of rubber. The rubber itself is 24 inches long and is about 60 feet away from home plate (for a 90 ft field).
History
Baseball did not always feature the pitcher’s mound we know today. Prior to 1893, baseball featured a “pitcher’s box,” which was a flat square area. In 1893, the pitching distance was changed to what we see today, and the first pitching rubber was introduced, replacing the pitcher’s box.
It didn’t take long for pitchers to realize that they gained much more velocity when striding downhill, and the pitcher’s mound was born. Only ten years later, leagues had set a maximum height of 15 inches for the mound. Due to low scoring in the 1960s, the maximum height was lowered to 10 inches in 1968 to give hitters more of an advantage.
FAQ
What is a pitcher’s mound in baseball?
A pitcher’s mound is the raised area of dirt in the center of the field from which the pitcher throws. On top of the pitcher’s mound is the pitcher’s rubber, from which most pitchers stand and throw balls at each batter. This area is also commonly called the pitching mound.
How far is the pitcher's mound from home plate?
The rubber on the pitcher’s mound is 60’6” away from home plate. Standard home infields in the MLB are 90 ft long, so the pitcher’s mound is around ⅔ back in that space. According to MLB standards, the pitcher’s mound must be 60 feet and six inches away from the back of home plate.