Baseball didn't always have innings, and 28 other early sports rules
Did you know baseball didn't always have innings? Baseball teams used to play until one team reached a certain number of counts, a.k.a. runs. But what's even more fascinating about the early baseball days is that pitchers didn't used to try to strike batters out — they were instructed to throw the ball in an easy-to-hit way.
Those are just some of the early sports rules our sister site Mental Floss explains in this week's episode of their weekly video series, hosted by author John Green. Among the other facts: 18 basketball players were once allowed on the court at the same time, and billiards was originally played outdoors and was inspired by croquet. Check out all of the early sports rules in the video below. --Meghan DeMaria
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
