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Sports and Games · entry 12 of 52
A baseball is stitched with 108 double stitches of red thread by hand.
The longer version
The cover is two figure-eight pieces of material joined by red thread, and each stitch passes through the hide twice, so 108 stitches means 216 holes. Thread is waxed to grip and resist moisture, and the seam sits proud of the surface. That raised ridge is exactly what a pitcher's fingers press against to make the ball move.
Stitching is still done by hand because a machine cannot tension the seam the same way, and small differences in tightness change flight. Weight, circumference and seam height are specified as tolerances rather than single values. A loose thread or scuffed surface noticeably alters movement, which is why officials remove damaged balls quickly.
Where this entry sits
Facts here look at the rules, equipment and odd histories behind familiar sports and games, from balls and rackets to cards, boards and playing fields. Expect small details about scoring quirks, stadium design and the long story of the Olympic Games. The full list sits on the Sports and Games page, where every entry is listed in order.
More From Sports and Games
Eight more entriesCricket matches can last five days and still finish without a winner being decided.
Read 14A cricket ball has a raised seam that bowlers use to make it swerve in flight.
Read 15Chess has six different piece types, and each one moves according to fixed rules.
Read 16The queen became the most powerful chess piece only during the late fifteenth century.
Read 17Castling is the only chess move that lets a player relocate two pieces in a single turn.
Read 18A chessboard has 64 squares arranged in eight rows and eight columns.
Read 19Playing cards come in four suits, and a standard deck holds 52 cards plus jokers.
Read 20The four suits in a deck are thought to reflect older suit systems from medieval Europe.
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