{"id":3397,"date":"2021-01-21T15:55:29","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T14:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/?p=3397"},"modified":"2026-03-06T16:29:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:29:08","slug":"history-of-softball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/history-of-softball\/","title":{"rendered":"History of Softball: Origins, Evolution, and the Rise of Fastpitch"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK 1 \u2014 QUICK TAKEAWAYS\n     Paste: Custom HTML block, right after H1\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .hs-tk { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:0 auto 2.5rem; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .hs-tk-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:1rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .hs-tk-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .hs-tk-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .hs-tk-row { display:grid; grid-template-columns:28px 1fr; align-items:baseline; padding:.8rem 1.5rem; border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .hs-tk-row:last-child { border-bottom:none; }\n  .hs-tk-row:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .hs-tk-n { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; color:#bbb; letter-spacing:.04em; }\n  .hs-tk-t { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.6; }\n  .hs-tk-t strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"hs-tk\">\n  <div class=\"hs-tk-hd\">\n    <div class=\"hs-tk-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-lbl\">Quick Takeaways \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 History of Softball<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-n\">01<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-t\">Softball was invented on <strong>Thanksgiving Day, 1887<\/strong>, at the Farragut Boat Club in Chicago \u2014 using a boxing glove as the ball and a broomstick as the bat.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-n\">02<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-t\">The sport had <strong>at least six different names<\/strong> \u2014 including Kitten Ball, Mush Ball, and Diamond Ball \u2014 before \"softball\" became the official name in 1926.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-n\">03<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-t\">The <strong>1933 Chicago World's Fair tournament<\/strong> drew 70,000 spectators and launched softball into a nationally organized sport with the founding of the ASA.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-n\">04<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-t\"><strong>Title IX (1972)<\/strong> transformed women's college softball \u2014 triggering a wave of scholarships and programs that produced today's elite NCAA landscape.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tk-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-n\">05<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tk-t\">Softball has appeared in <strong>five Olympic Games<\/strong> \u2014 dropped after 2008, returned for Tokyo 2020, and is confirmed for the <strong>2028 Los Angeles Games<\/strong>.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\" style=\"--awb-font-size:17px;\"><p>The beloved game of softball has won the affection of numerous Americans and individuals globally since its inception. Since its establishment, the sport has evolved significantly, and it continues to expand rapidly in contemporary times.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, the sport has experienced numerous modifications in its rules and equipment. It was introduced as an Olympic event during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but was subsequently removed from the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, only to make a return for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. It was then removed again, but it will make a return for the 2026 Olympics!<\/p>\n<p>Like any other sport throughout history, softball has faced its share of challenges, yet it continues to flourish worldwide, showing no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n<p>If you are interested in learning more about its fascinating history and the reasons it is now enjoyed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/10-fun-facts-about-softball\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">40 million Americans annually<\/a>, you have arrived at the right destination.<\/p>\n<p>Let us explore further.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"History Of Softball\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/History-Of-Softball.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/History-Of-Softball.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9099\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/History-Of-Softball-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/History-Of-Softball-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/History-Of-Softball-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/History-Of-Softball-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/History-Of-Softball.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 600px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">How a Boxing Glove and a Broomstick Started It All<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><p>Most sports have a planned origin story. Softball doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>On Thanksgiving Day, 1887, a group of Yale and Harvard alumni gathered inside the Farragut Boat Club in Chicago, anxiously waiting to hear the result of the Harvard-Yale football game. When news came that Yale had won 17\u20138, one enthusiastic Yale supporter grabbed an old boxing glove and threw it at a nearby Harvard fan \u2014 who instinctively swatted it back with a broom handle.<\/p>\n<p>George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade who was watching, had an idea. He tied the laces of the boxing glove into a makeshift ball, drew bases on the floor with chalk, and called out: \u201cPlay ball.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The first softball game in history ended with a score of 41\u201340. The sport that 40 million Americans now play every summer was born from a Thanksgiving celebration and a bit of athletic improvisation.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"First Softball Game\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/First-Softball-Game.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/First-Softball-Game.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9098\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/First-Softball-Game-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/First-Softball-Game-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/First-Softball-Game-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/First-Softball-Game-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/First-Softball-Game.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-3 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-2 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">From Indoor Baseball to \u201cSoftball\u201d: The Early Years (1887\u20131934)<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-3 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">George Hancock\u2019s Game Grows Up<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><p>In the weeks following that first game, Hancock formalized what he had created. He designed a proper bat and ball for the new sport \u2014 originally called \u201cindoor baseball\u201d \u2014 which was intended to keep baseball players fit during the winter months. The following spring, Hancock took the game outdoors, adapting it for smaller fields that couldn\u2019t accommodate a standard baseball diamond.<\/p>\n<p>By 1889, the Farragut Boat Club had established the first softball league and codified a foundational set of rules.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-5478\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/farragutboatclub.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/farragutboatclub.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"442\" height=\"311\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27442%27%20height%3D%27311%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20442%20311%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27442%27%20height%3D%27311%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/farragutboatclub-200x141.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/farragutboatclub-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/farragutboatclub-400x282.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/farragutboatclub-600x422.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/farragutboatclub-768x541.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/farragutboatclub-800x563.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/farragutboatclub.jpg 922w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 442px) 100vw, 442px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: center;\">The Farragut Boat Club In Chicago, USA (<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagology.com\/goldenage\/goldenage055\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Chicagology<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>The sport spread steadily through the Midwest. In Minneapolis, a Fire Department lieutenant named Lewis Rober introduced the game to his crew as an off-duty fitness activity. Rober\u2019s version used a 12-inch ball \u2014 smaller than Hancock\u2019s original 16-inch sphere \u2014 and a pitcher\u2019s mound set 35 feet from home plate. His team was called the Kittens, which led to one of the sport\u2019s many early nicknames: Kitten Ball.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-4 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">The Name Problem<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><p>For nearly four decades, the sport struggled with its own identity. Depending on where you lived, you might have called it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kitten Ball<\/li>\n<li>Indoor Baseball<\/li>\n<li>Mush Ball<\/li>\n<li>Diamond Ball<\/li>\n<li>Playground Ball<\/li>\n<li>Pumpkin Ball<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The name that stuck \u2014 <strong>softball<\/strong> \u2014 was coined in 1926 by Walter Hakanson, a YMCA official from Denver, at a meeting of the National Recreation Congress. By the early 1930s, the name had been formally adopted nationwide.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-3 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Softball Names Throught History\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Names-Throught-History.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Names-Throught-History.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9104\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Names-Throught-History-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Names-Throught-History-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Names-Throught-History-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Names-Throught-History-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Names-Throught-History.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><style>\n  .sf-dyk { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:1.75rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .sf-dyk-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.65rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .sf-dyk-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .sf-dyk-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .sf-dyk-body { padding:1.1rem 1.5rem 1.1rem 1.5rem; background:#fff; display:grid; grid-template-columns:36px 1fr; align-items:start; gap:.9rem; }\n  .sf-dyk-icon { font-size:1.35rem; line-height:1; padding-top:.1rem; }\n  .sf-dyk-text { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.7; }\n  .sf-dyk-text strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sf-dyk\">\n  <div class=\"sf-dyk-hd\">\n    <div class=\"sf-dyk-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"sf-dyk-lbl\">Did You Know? \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 The First Game<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-dyk-body\">\n    <div class=\"sf-dyk-icon\">\ud83e\udd4a<\/div>\n    <p class=\"sf-dyk-text\">The very first softball game was played on <strong>Thanksgiving Day, 1887<\/strong> \u2014 and the final score was <strong>41\u201340<\/strong>. The entire game was organized and completed within about an hour, entirely indoors, using a rolled-up boxing glove and a broom handle.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-5 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">The 1933 World\u2019s Fair Changes Everything<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\"><p>The Depression Era was, paradoxically, one of softball\u2019s best growth periods. The sport required minimal equipment \u2014 just a bat and a ball \u2014 and games could be played on small urban lots. It was accessible in a way that few sports were.<\/p>\n<p>In 1933, Leo Fischer and Michael Pauley organized a national softball tournament as part of the Chicago World\u2019s Fair. What they anticipated would be a modest event drew 70,000 spectators for the opening round alone. That tournament featured three divisions: men\u2019s fastpitch, slow pitch, and women\u2019s softball \u2014 confirming that the women\u2019s game had already established its own audience.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-4 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Softball at 1933 World&#8217;s Fair\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-at-1933-Worlds-Fair.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-at-1933-Worlds-Fair.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9101\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-at-1933-Worlds-Fair-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-at-1933-Worlds-Fair-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-at-1933-Worlds-Fair-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-at-1933-Worlds-Fair-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-at-1933-Worlds-Fair.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-6\"><p>The same year, the <strong>Amateur Softball Association (ASA)<\/strong> was formally organized, giving the sport its first true national governing body. In 1934, the Joint Rules Committee on Softball standardized the rules for the first time, effectively ending the patchwork of regional variations that had defined the sport\u2019s first 50 years. The ASA has since become <strong>USA Softball<\/strong>, now overseeing more than 150,000 amateur teams nationwide.<\/p>\n<\/div><style>\n  .hs-st { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .hs-st-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .hs-st-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .hs-st-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .hs-st-body { padding:1rem 1.5rem; background:#fff; }\n  .hs-st-body p { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.7; margin:0; }\n  .hs-st-body p strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"hs-st\">\n  <div class=\"hs-st-hd\">\n    <div class=\"hs-st-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"hs-st-lbl\">Section Takeaway \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Early Origins<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-st-body\">\n    <p>Softball evolved from an improvised indoor game into a nationally organized sport within 50 years. The <strong>1933 World's Fair tournament<\/strong> \u2014 watched by 70,000 fans \u2014 and the founding of the ASA gave the sport the institutional foundation it needed to grow well beyond Chicago's city limits.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-4 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-6 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">The Rise of Women\u2019s Fastpitch Softball (1930s\u20131970s)<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-7 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">Why Women Claimed Fastpitch<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-7\"><p>Softball\u2019s origins were largely male-dominated, but that shifted decisively in the 1930s and 1940s. At a time when few competitive team sports were open to women, fastpitch softball offered a genuine alternative. The national tournament established women\u2019s divisions from the outset, and by the end of the 1930s, women\u2019s fastpitch teams had formed in cities and towns across the country.<\/p>\n<p>The sport\u2019s Depression-era accessibility worked in women\u2019s favor too. Games required minimal infrastructure, traveled to local parks, and drew real crowds \u2014 sometimes 2,000 to 5,000 fans for a single match. Teams like the <strong>Connecticut Raybestos Brakettes<\/strong> and the <strong>New Orleans Jax Maids<\/strong> were drawing regional followings comparable to minor league baseball.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-5 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"The Rise Of Women&#8217;s Fastpitch\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Rise-Of-Womens-Fastpitch.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Rise-Of-Womens-Fastpitch.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9109\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Rise-Of-Womens-Fastpitch-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Rise-Of-Womens-Fastpitch-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Rise-Of-Womens-Fastpitch-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Rise-Of-Womens-Fastpitch-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Rise-Of-Womens-Fastpitch.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-8\"><p>For many women, playing fastpitch softball meant more than athletic competition. Top-tier teams in the 1940s and 1950s were often sponsored by local businesses, which provided their players with employment, giving women in that era one of the few paths to combine athletic achievement with financial stability.<\/p>\n<\/div><style>\n  .sf-dyk { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:1.75rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .sf-dyk-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.65rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .sf-dyk-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .sf-dyk-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .sf-dyk-body { padding:1.1rem 1.5rem 1.1rem 1.5rem; background:#fff; display:grid; grid-template-columns:36px 1fr; align-items:start; gap:.9rem; }\n  .sf-dyk-icon { font-size:1.35rem; line-height:1; padding-top:.1rem; }\n  .sf-dyk-text { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.7; }\n  .sf-dyk-text strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"sf-dyk\">\n  <div class=\"sf-dyk-hd\">\n    <div class=\"sf-dyk-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"sf-dyk-lbl\">Did You Know? \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Pitching Speed<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-dyk-body\">\n    <div class=\"sf-dyk-icon\">\u26a1<\/div>\n    <p class=\"sf-dyk-text\">A fastpitch pitch at <strong>70 mph from 43 feet<\/strong> gives the batter just 0.35 seconds to react \u2014 roughly equivalent to facing a <strong>100+ mph fastball<\/strong> in MLB. The Guinness World Record for fastest softball pitch is <strong>79.4 mph<\/strong>, set by Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens in May 2025.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-8 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">The Pitching Distance Evolution<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-9\"><p>One of the clearest markers of fastpitch\u2019s development is how the pitching distance changed as coaches and governing bodies better understood the game\u2019s mechanics:<\/p>\n<\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK 3 \u2014 PITCHING DISTANCE TABLE\n     Paste inside \"Rise of Women's Fastpitch\"\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .hs-tbl { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .hs-tbl-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .hs-tbl-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .hs-tbl-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .hs-tbl table { width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; }\n  .hs-tbl thead tr { background:#f7f7f7; border-bottom:2px solid #e8e8e8; }\n  .hs-tbl thead th { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.1em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; text-align:left; font-weight:600; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody tr { border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody tr:last-child { border-bottom:none; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody tr:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody td { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; padding:.8rem 1.5rem; line-height:1.5; vertical-align:top; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody td:first-child { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.8rem; color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; white-space:nowrap; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody td strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n  .hs-tbl-note { padding:.6rem 1.5rem .8rem; background:#fafafa; border-top:1px solid #f0f0f0; font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; color:#aaa; letter-spacing:.06em; }\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"hs-tbl\">\n  <div class=\"hs-tbl-hd\">\n    <div class=\"hs-tbl-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"hs-tbl-lbl\">Pitching Distance \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Women's Fastpitch \u2014 Historical Evolution<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <table>\n    <thead>\n      <tr>\n        <th>Era<\/th>\n        <th>Distance<\/th>\n        <th>Context<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/thead>\n    <tbody>\n      <tr>\n        <td>1887<\/td>\n        <td>35 feet<\/td>\n        <td>Original indoor game at the Farragut Boat Club<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>1930s\u201340s<\/td>\n        <td>38\u201340 feet<\/td>\n        <td>Early standardization under ASA rule committees<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>1950s\u201360s<\/td>\n        <td>40 feet<\/td>\n        <td>Growth of sponsored women's fastpitch leagues<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>1970s\u201380s<\/td>\n        <td>40\u201343 feet<\/td>\n        <td>Title IX era \u2014 college programs rapidly expanding<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>Modern<\/td>\n        <td><strong>43 feet<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td>Current standard \u2014 NCAA, USA Softball & Olympic level<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/tbody>\n  <\/table>\n  <div class=\"hs-tbl-note\">Note: Men's fastpitch uses a 46-foot pitching distance under current USA Softball rules.<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-10\"><p>Each adjustment was made to balance offensive production against the increasingly refined underhand pitching mechanics that define fastpitch at its competitive peak. A top collegiate pitcher today can deliver pitches exceeding 70 mph \u2014 faster, relative to reaction time, than a 95-mph MLB fastball.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-6 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Softball Distance History\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Distance-History.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Distance-History.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9103\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Distance-History-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Distance-History-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Distance-History-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Distance-History-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-Distance-History.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-9 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">Softball in the 1950s and 1960s<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-11\" style=\"--awb-font-size:17px;\"><p>In 1952 the international governing body for softball was founded, the International Softball Federation (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wbsc.org\/en\/organisation\/history\/international-softball\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ISF<\/a>) was founded. Slowpitch softball was officially recognized a year later, in 1953, when it was added in ASA (now USA Softball) softball program. The ISF now has 124 member federations and organizes world championship competitions in all versions of softball: slow pitch, fast pitch and modified pitch.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-5484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s-208x300.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s-208x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27232%27%20height%3D%27335%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20232%20335%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27232%27%20height%3D%27335%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s-200x288.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s-208x300.jpg 208w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s-400x576.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s-600x864.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s-711x1024.jpg 711w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s-768x1106.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s-800x1152.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/wilson-official-rules-of-softball-1950s.jpg 1042w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5484\" style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: center;\"><em>Wilson Official Rules Of Softball From 1950<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 &#091;&#093;\">1965 was an <strong>enormous year for softball<\/strong>; the first-ever Women\u2019s Softball World Championship was held in Melbourne, Australia. Australia has been crowned World Champions, with the runners-up being the United States. This tournament is still being organized; the most crowned country in the history of the tournament is the United States with 15 medals, 11 gold, and 4 silver. The second most successful country is Japan with 11 medals, 3 gold, 6 silver, and 2 bronze.<\/p>\n<p>The men\u2019s version of the tournament began a year later, in 1966. New Zealand is the most crowned country with 13 medals followed by the United States with 9 medals.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-10 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">Slow Pitch Gets Its Own Lane<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-12\"><p>Not every player wanted the intensity of competitive fastpitch. Slow pitch softball \u2014 which emphasizes offense and fielding over pitching dominance \u2014 was formally recognized by the ASA in 1953. Within a decade, it had surpassed fastpitch in overall participation numbers, particularly among recreational adult leagues. The two formats have coexisted ever since, serving different audiences within the broader softball community.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-11 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">Title IX and the College Explosion<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-13\"><p>The 1972 passage of Title IX fundamentally reshaped women\u2019s athletics in the United States \u2014 and softball was one of the sport\u2019s most direct beneficiaries. With schools now legally required to provide equitable athletic opportunities for women, softball programs and scholarships grew rapidly through the 1970s.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-7 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Softball College History\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-College-History.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-College-History.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9102\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-College-History-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-College-History-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-College-History-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-College-History-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-College-History.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-14\"><p>In <strong>1981<\/strong>, the NCAA officially recognized softball as a championship sport. The first <strong>Women\u2019s College World Series<\/strong> was held in 1982 in Omaha, Nebraska, with UCLA defeating Fresno State in the inaugural final. The tournament moved to Oklahoma City\u2019s ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, where it has been held ever since, drawing tens of thousands of fans annually.<\/p>\n<\/div><style>\n  .hs-st { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .hs-st-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .hs-st-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .hs-st-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .hs-st-body { padding:1rem 1.5rem; background:#fff; }\n  .hs-st-body p { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.7; margin:0; }\n  .hs-st-body p strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"hs-st\">\n  <div class=\"hs-st-hd\">\n    <div class=\"hs-st-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"hs-st-lbl\">Section Takeaway \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Women's Fastpitch<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-st-body\">\n    <p>Women's fastpitch grew from a Depression-era community sport into a college institution through genuine athletic appeal, the structural change of <strong>Title IX<\/strong>, and the competitive tradition built by sponsored teams in the 1940s\u201360s. That foundation is what makes today's <strong>Women's College World Series<\/strong> one of the most-watched events in college sports.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-5 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-5 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-12 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">History of Softball in the Olympics<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-13 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">The Long Road to Atlanta<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-15\"><p>Efforts to include softball in the Summer Olympics began in the 1940s. Progress was slow and interrupted across several decades before the sport was formally added to the <strong>1996 Atlanta Games<\/strong> \u2014 its first Olympic appearance.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-8 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Softball&#8217;s Olympic Journey\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Olympic-Journey.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Olympic-Journey.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9108\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Olympic-Journey-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Olympic-Journey-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Olympic-Journey-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Olympic-Journey-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Olympic-Journey.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-16\"><p>Eight countries competed in that inaugural tournament. The United States won gold, defeating China in the final. Team USA would go on to defend that gold in <strong>Sydney 2000<\/strong> and <strong>Athens 2004<\/strong>, establishing one of the most dominant Olympic runs in any sport.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-9 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"674\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/567b4e3c9ae07.jpeg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/567b4e3c9ae07.jpeg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-5481\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27674%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20674%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27674%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/567b4e3c9ae07-200x112.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/567b4e3c9ae07-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/567b4e3c9ae07-600x337.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/567b4e3c9ae07-800x449.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/567b4e3c9ae07.jpeg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-17\" style=\"--awb-font-size:14px;\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">Team USA winning a Gold Medal in the 1996 Olympics (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flosoftball.com\/articles\/5048598-tbt-1996-olympic-team-then-and-now\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">FloSoftball<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/div><style>\n  .sf-dyk { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:1.75rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .sf-dyk-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.65rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .sf-dyk-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .sf-dyk-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .sf-dyk-body { padding:1.1rem 1.5rem 1.1rem 1.5rem; background:#fff; display:grid; grid-template-columns:36px 1fr; align-items:start; gap:.9rem; }\n  .sf-dyk-icon { font-size:1.35rem; line-height:1; padding-top:.1rem; }\n  .sf-dyk-text { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.7; }\n  .sf-dyk-text strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"sf-dyk\">\n  <div class=\"sf-dyk-hd\">\n    <div class=\"sf-dyk-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"sf-dyk-lbl\">Did You Know? \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 2028 Olympics<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-dyk-body\">\n    <div class=\"sf-dyk-icon\">\ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f<\/div>\n    <p class=\"sf-dyk-text\">The 2028 Olympics is officially hosted by <strong>Los Angeles<\/strong> \u2014 but the softball games will actually be played in <strong>Oklahoma City<\/strong>, 1,243 miles away, at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. OKC was chosen because it already hosts the Women's College World Series every year.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-14 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">Dropped, Then Returned<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-18\"><p>The IOC voted to remove softball (and baseball) from the Olympic program after the <strong>2008 Beijing Games<\/strong>, where Japan ended Team USA\u2019s gold medal streak with a 3\u20131 victory. The decision was controversial \u2014 softball had consistently delivered strong viewership numbers and international participation.<\/p>\n<p>After a 12-year absence from the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games, softball returned for the <strong>2020 Tokyo Olympics<\/strong> (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Japan won gold on home soil.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Softball will return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games<\/strong>, giving the sport another platform to build its international profile.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-15 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">Olympic Softball Medal Summary<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK 4 \u2014 OLYMPIC MEDAL HISTORY TABLE\n     Paste inside \"History in the Olympics\"\n     NOTE: Remove <style> if Block 3 is on same page\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .hs-tbl { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .hs-tbl-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .hs-tbl-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .hs-tbl-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .hs-tbl table { width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; }\n  .hs-tbl thead tr { background:#f7f7f7; border-bottom:2px solid #e8e8e8; }\n  .hs-tbl thead th { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.1em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; text-align:left; font-weight:600; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody tr { border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody tr:last-child { border-bottom:none; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody tr:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody td { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; padding:.8rem 1.5rem; line-height:1.5; vertical-align:top; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody td:first-child { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.8rem; color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; white-space:nowrap; }\n  .hs-tbl tbody td strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n  .hs-tbl-note { padding:.6rem 1.5rem .8rem; background:#fafafa; border-top:1px solid #f0f0f0; font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; color:#aaa; letter-spacing:.06em; }\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"hs-tbl\">\n  <div class=\"hs-tbl-hd\">\n    <div class=\"hs-tbl-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"hs-tbl-lbl\">Olympic Softball \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Women's Medal Results by Year<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <table>\n    <thead>\n      <tr>\n        <th>Year & Host<\/th>\n        <th>\ud83e\udd47 Gold<\/th>\n        <th>\ud83e\udd48 Silver<\/th>\n        <th>\ud83e\udd49 Bronze<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/thead>\n    <tbody>\n      <tr>\n        <td>1996 \u2014 Atlanta<\/td>\n        <td><strong>USA<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td>China<\/td>\n        <td>Australia<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>2000 \u2014 Sydney<\/td>\n        <td><strong>USA<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td>Japan<\/td>\n        <td>Australia<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>2004 \u2014 Athens<\/td>\n        <td><strong>USA<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td>Australia<\/td>\n        <td>Japan<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>2008 \u2014 Beijing<\/td>\n        <td><strong>Japan<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td>USA<\/td>\n        <td>Australia<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>2020 \u2014 Tokyo<\/td>\n        <td><strong>Japan<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td>USA<\/td>\n        <td>Canada<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td>2028 \u2014 Los Angeles<\/td>\n        <td colspan=\"3\" style=\"color:#aaa; font-style:italic; font-family:'Georgia',serif;\">Upcoming \u2014 softball confirmed to return<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/tbody>\n  <\/table>\n  <div class=\"hs-tbl-note\">USA holds the most gold medals (3). Japan won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2020.<\/div>\n<\/div><style>\n  .hs-st { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .hs-st-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .hs-st-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .hs-st-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .hs-st-body { padding:1rem 1.5rem; background:#fff; }\n  .hs-st-body p { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.7; margin:0; }\n  .hs-st-body p strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"hs-st\">\n  <div class=\"hs-st-hd\">\n    <div class=\"hs-st-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"hs-st-lbl\">Section Takeaway \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Olympic History<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-st-body\">\n    <p>Softball's Olympic history has been defined by the <strong>USA\u2013Japan rivalry<\/strong> and persistent advocacy to keep the sport on the global stage. Its confirmed return for the <strong>2028 Los Angeles Games<\/strong> gives the next generation of fastpitch players their most visible competitive moment yet.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-6 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-6 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-16 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">History of College Softball and the Women\u2019s College World Series<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-19\"><p>College softball has grown from a handful of scholarship programs in the early 1970s into one of the most competitive landscapes in NCAA athletics. There are now over <strong>1,600<\/strong> college softball programs nationwide, competing at the Division I, II, and III levels.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>WCWS<\/strong> format features 64 teams entering regional play, with eight regional champions advancing to Oklahoma City for the final double-elimination rounds. The two survivors meet in a best-of-three championship series.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-17 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">Most Successful Programs in WCWS History<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-20\"><ul>\n<li>UCLA \u2014 12 titles (most all-time)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/best-arizona-wildcats-softball-players\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arizona<\/a> \u2014 8 titles<\/li>\n<li>Oklahoma \u2014 4 titles, with a recent dynasty era that has repositioned the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/best-ou-softball-players\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sooners<\/a> as a dominant modern program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-10 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Softball WCWS\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-WCWS.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-WCWS.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9105\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-WCWS-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-WCWS-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-WCWS-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-WCWS-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softball-WCWS.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-21\"><p>The modern era of college softball \u2014 marked by elite pitching, improved bat technology, and nationally televised games \u2014 bears almost no resemblance to the recreational origins of the sport. It is a precision-driven, athletically demanding game that produces some of the most gifted athletes in American sports.<\/p>\n<\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK F \u2014 WCWS ALL-TIME CHAMPIONS\n     Paste in the \"History of College Softball\"\n     section.\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .sf-wcws { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .sf-wcws-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .sf-wcws-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .sf-wcws-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n\n  \/* Column headers *\/\n  .sf-wcws-cols { display:grid; grid-template-columns:36px 1fr 60px 1fr; background:#f7f7f7; border-bottom:2px solid #e8e8e8; padding:.65rem 1.5rem; }\n  .sf-wcws-col { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.65rem; letter-spacing:.1em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#aaa; font-weight:600; }\n  .sf-wcws-col.right { text-align:right; }\n\n  \/* Rows *\/\n  .sf-wcws-row { display:grid; grid-template-columns:36px 1fr 60px 1fr; align-items:center; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; gap:.25rem; }\n  .sf-wcws-row:last-child { border-bottom:none; }\n  .sf-wcws-row:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .sf-wcws-row:first-of-type .sf-wcws-rank { color:#4ade80; }\n\n  .sf-wcws-rank { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.75rem; color:#bbb; font-weight:700; }\n  .sf-wcws-school { font-size:.9rem; color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; line-height:1.3; }\n  .sf-wcws-titles { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.9rem; font-weight:700; color:#1a1a1a; text-align:right; }\n  .sf-wcws-years { font-size:.78rem; color:#888; line-height:1.5; }\n\n  \/* Bar viz *\/\n  .sf-wcws-bar-wrap { grid-column:1\/-1; margin-top:.3rem; display:none; }\n\n  .sf-wcws-note { padding:.6rem 1.5rem .7rem; background:#fafafa; border-top:1px solid #f0f0f0; font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.65rem; color:#bbb; letter-spacing:.06em; }\n\n  @media(max-width:500px){\n    .sf-wcws-cols,\n    .sf-wcws-row { grid-template-columns:30px 1fr 48px; }\n    .sf-wcws-years { display:none; }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sf-wcws\">\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-hd\">\n    <div class=\"sf-wcws-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-lbl\">WCWS \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 All-Time Championship Leaders<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-cols\">\n    <div class=\"sf-wcws-col\">#<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-wcws-col\">Program<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-wcws-col right\">Titles<\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-wcws-col\">Championship Years<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-rank\">01<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-school\">UCLA Bruins<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-titles\">12<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-years\">1982, 84, 85, 88, 89, 90, 92, 95, 99, 2010, 19, 24<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-rank\">02<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-school\">Arizona Wildcats<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-titles\">8<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-years\">1993, 94, 96, 97, 2001, 02, 03, 07<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-rank\">03<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-school\">Oklahoma Sooners<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-titles\">7<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-years\">2000, 05, 13, 17, 21, 22, 23<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-rank\">04<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-school\">Texas Longhorns<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-titles\">2<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-years\">2022 (runner-up), <strong>2025<\/strong> \u2014 first title<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-rank\">05<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-school\">Cal State Fullerton<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-titles\">3<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-years\">1986, 1991, 1992<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-rank\">06<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-school\">Fresno State Bulldogs<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-titles\">3<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-years\">1998, 2000 (runner-up), 2004 (runner-up)<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-rank\">07<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-school\">Tennessee Volunteers<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-titles\">2<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-years\">2014, 2015<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-row\">\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-rank\">08<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-school\">Alabama Crimson Tide<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-titles\">1<\/span>\n    <span class=\"sf-wcws-years\">2012<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"sf-wcws-note\">WCWS held annually since 1982. Oklahoma City has hosted since 1990. Data current through 2025 season.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-7 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-7 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-18 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">Softball\u2019s Global Reach<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-19 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:22;--minFontSize:22;line-height:1.5;\">Where the Game Took Hold<\/h3><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep- sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-22\"><p>As international tournaments gave the sport structure, softball spread well beyond North America. The <strong>International Softball Federation (ISF)<\/strong> was founded in 1952 and currently has 124 member federations. Its functions were later consolidated into the <strong>World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)<\/strong>, formed in 2013, which now governs the sport in more than 110 countries.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-11 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Softball&#8217;s Global Reach\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Global-Reach.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Global-Reach.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9107\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Global-Reach-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Global-Reach-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Global-Reach-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Global-Reach-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-Global-Reach.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-23\"><p>The first <strong>Women\u2019s Softball World Championship<\/strong> was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1965. Australia won the inaugural title, with the United States finishing as runners-up. The United States has since become the most decorated country in Women\u2019s World Championship history, with 11 gold medals.<\/p>\n<p>Countries where fastpitch has the deepest competitive roots:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Japan<\/strong> \u2014 Olympic gold medalists in 2008 and 2020; the 2016 exhibition game between the USA and Japan in the Tokyo Dome drew over 30,000 spectators.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Australia<\/strong> \u2014 Four Olympic medals; consistently among the top three international programs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Canada<\/strong> \u2014 Growing program that earned bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New Zealand<\/strong> &#8211; Dominated men\u2019s international competition for decades.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK D \u2014 WHERE IS SOFTBALL MOST POPULAR?\n     Paste in the \"Global Reach\" section.\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .sf-ctry { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .sf-ctry-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .sf-ctry-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .sf-ctry-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .sf-ctry-grid { display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr); }\n  .sf-ctry-card { padding:1.1rem 1.2rem 1rem; border-right:1px solid #f0f0f0; border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .sf-ctry-card:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  \/* remove right border on last col *\/\n  .sf-ctry-card:nth-child(3n) { border-right:none; }\n  \/* remove bottom border on last row *\/\n  .sf-ctry-card:nth-last-child(-n+3) { border-bottom:none; }\n  .sf-ctry-flag { font-size:1.6rem; line-height:1; display:block; margin-bottom:.5rem; }\n  .sf-ctry-name { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.75rem; font-weight:700; color:#1a1a1a; letter-spacing:.06em; text-transform:uppercase; display:block; margin-bottom:.4rem; }\n  .sf-ctry-stat { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; color:#4ade80; font-weight:700; display:block; margin-bottom:.35rem; }\n  .sf-ctry-desc { font-size:.82rem; color:#666; line-height:1.5; }\n  .sf-ctry-desc strong { color:#333; font-weight:600; }\n\n  \/* last row \u2014 2 cards, center them *\/\n  .sf-ctry-grid .sf-ctry-card:nth-child(4),\n  .sf-ctry-grid .sf-ctry-card:nth-child(5) { border-bottom:none; }\n  .sf-ctry-grid .sf-ctry-card:nth-child(5) { border-right:none; }\n\n  @media(max-width:520px){\n    .sf-ctry-grid { grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr); }\n    .sf-ctry-card:nth-child(3n) { border-right:1px solid #f0f0f0; }\n    .sf-ctry-card:nth-child(2n) { border-right:none; }\n    .sf-ctry-card:nth-last-child(-n+2) { border-bottom:none; }\n    .sf-ctry-card:nth-child(3) { border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sf-ctry\">\n  <div class=\"sf-ctry-hd\">\n    <div class=\"sf-ctry-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"sf-ctry-lbl\">Global Reach \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Where Softball Runs Deepest<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-ctry-grid\">\n\n    <div class=\"sf-ctry-card\">\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-flag\">\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-name\">USA<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-stat\">40M players \u00b7 3 Olympic golds<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-desc\">The sport's birthplace. Home of the NCAA WCWS, USA Softball, and the world's deepest talent pipeline.<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"sf-ctry-card\">\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-flag\">\ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-name\">Japan<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-stat\">2 Olympic golds (2008, 2020)<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-desc\">A 2016 USA\u2013Japan exhibition in the <strong>Tokyo Dome drew 30,000 fans<\/strong>. Softball rivals baseball in national popularity.<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"sf-ctry-card\">\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-flag\">\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-name\">Australia<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-stat\">4 Olympic medals \u00b7 1965 World Champs<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-desc\">Won the first Women's World Championship in 1965. Consistently finishes in the top three internationally.<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"sf-ctry-card\">\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-flag\">\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-name\">Canada<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-stat\">Bronze \u2014 Tokyo 2020<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-desc\">A fast-rising program that earned its first Olympic medal at Tokyo. Strong presence in travel ball and collegiate pipelines.<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"sf-ctry-card\">\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-flag\">\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddff<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-name\">New Zealand<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-stat\">13 World Championship medals (men's)<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-ctry-desc\">Dominates men's international softball. The sport took root in New Zealand as early as the <strong>1930s<\/strong>.<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-8 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-8 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-20 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">Frequently Asked Questions About Softball History<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK E \u2014 FAQ ACCORDION\n     Pure CSS \u2014 no JavaScript needed.\n     Paste in the FAQ section of the article.\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .sf-faq { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .sf-faq-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .sf-faq-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .sf-faq-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n\n  \/* Each item uses a hidden checkbox for toggle *\/\n  .sf-faq-item { border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; }\n  .sf-faq-item:last-child { border-bottom:none; }\n  .sf-faq-item input[type=\"checkbox\"] { display:none; }\n\n  .sf-faq-q { display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:space-between; padding:.95rem 1.5rem; cursor:pointer; user-select:none; gap:1rem; transition:background .12s; }\n  .sf-faq-q:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .sf-faq-q-text { font-size:.9rem; color:#1a1a1a; line-height:1.5; font-weight:600; flex:1; }\n  .sf-faq-icon { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.9rem; color:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; transition:transform .2s; line-height:1; }\n\n  \/* Answer panel \u2014 hidden by default *\/\n  .sf-faq-a { max-height:0; overflow:hidden; transition:max-height .28s ease, padding .2s ease; padding:0 1.5rem; }\n  .sf-faq-a p { font-size:.88rem; color:#555; line-height:1.75; margin:0 0 1rem; }\n  .sf-faq-a p:last-child { margin-bottom:0; }\n  .sf-faq-a p strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n  .sf-faq-a a { color:#1a1a1a; text-decoration:underline; text-underline-offset:2px; }\n\n  \/* Checked state \u2014 open *\/\n  .sf-faq-item input:checked ~ .sf-faq-q { background:#fafafa; }\n  .sf-faq-item input:checked ~ .sf-faq-q .sf-faq-icon { transform:rotate(45deg); }\n  .sf-faq-item input:checked ~ .sf-faq-a { max-height:400px; padding:0 1.5rem 1rem; }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sf-faq\">\n  <div class=\"sf-faq-hd\">\n    <div class=\"sf-faq-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"sf-faq-lbl\">FAQ \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 History of Softball<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- Q1 -->\n  <div class=\"sf-faq-item\">\n    <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"faq1\">\n    <label class=\"sf-faq-q\" for=\"faq1\">\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-q-text\">When was softball invented?<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-icon\">+<\/span>\n    <\/label>\n    <div class=\"sf-faq-a\">\n      <p>Softball was invented on <strong>Thanksgiving Day, November 1887<\/strong>, at the Farragut Boat Club in Chicago, Illinois. The game started spontaneously when a Yale alumnus threw a rolled-up boxing glove and a Harvard supporter batted it back with a broom handle. Reporter George Hancock called \"Play ball!\" \u2014 and the sport was born. The first game ended 41\u201340.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- Q2 -->\n  <div class=\"sf-faq-item\">\n    <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"faq2\">\n    <label class=\"sf-faq-q\" for=\"faq2\">\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-q-text\">Who invented softball?<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-icon\">+<\/span>\n    <\/label>\n    <div class=\"sf-faq-a\">\n      <p><strong>George Hancock<\/strong>, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, is widely credited as softball's inventor. After the improvised first game, Hancock formalized the sport \u2014 designing proper equipment, writing the first rule set, and organizing the first league at the Farragut Boat Club in 1889.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- Q3 -->\n  <div class=\"sf-faq-item\">\n    <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"faq3\">\n    <label class=\"sf-faq-q\" for=\"faq3\">\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-q-text\">Why is it called softball if the ball isn't soft?<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-icon\">+<\/span>\n    <\/label>\n    <div class=\"sf-faq-a\">\n      <p>The name \"softball\" dates from <strong>1926<\/strong>, coined by Walter Hakanson at the National Recreation Congress. It refers to the original ball used in the indoor game \u2014 a larger, softer, squishier sphere designed for confined spaces. Over the decades the ball hardened significantly, but the name stuck. Today's regulation softball has a <strong>harder shell than a baseball<\/strong> and has had one for over 90 years.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- Q4 -->\n  <div class=\"sf-faq-item\">\n    <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"faq4\">\n    <label class=\"sf-faq-q\" for=\"faq4\">\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-q-text\">When did softball become an Olympic sport?<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-icon\">+<\/span>\n    <\/label>\n    <div class=\"sf-faq-a\">\n      <p>Women's fastpitch softball was added to the Summer Olympics for the <strong>1996 Atlanta Games<\/strong> \u2014 after decades of advocacy dating back to the 1940s. It appeared at four consecutive Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008) before being dropped. The sport returned for the <strong>2020 Tokyo Olympics<\/strong> and is confirmed for the <strong>2028 Los Angeles Games<\/strong>, where competition will be held in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- Q5 -->\n  <div class=\"sf-faq-item\">\n    <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"faq5\">\n    <label class=\"sf-faq-q\" for=\"faq5\">\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-q-text\">What is the difference between fastpitch and slowpitch softball?<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-icon\">+<\/span>\n    <\/label>\n    <div class=\"sf-faq-a\">\n      <p><strong>Fastpitch<\/strong> uses a full windmill delivery at speeds up to 79 mph, allows base stealing and bunting, and is the format used at the high school, college, and Olympic levels. <strong>Slowpitch<\/strong> uses an arching lob delivery, bans stealing, and is primarily recreational. If you're playing competitive softball at any organized level, you're playing fastpitch.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- Q6 -->\n  <div class=\"sf-faq-item\">\n    <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"faq6\">\n    <label class=\"sf-faq-q\" for=\"faq6\">\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-q-text\">How many people play softball today?<\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-faq-icon\">+<\/span>\n    <\/label>\n    <div class=\"sf-faq-a\">\n      <p>More than <strong>40 million Americans<\/strong> play softball each summer, making it the most-played team sport in the United States. Globally, the sport is governed by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and is played in over <strong>110 countries<\/strong>. The International Softball Federation has 124 member federations.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-9 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-9 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-21 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">Softball in the Modern Day: More Than 130 Years Strong<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-24\"><p>Softball has traveled a long distance from that improvised Thanksgiving game. Today, over <strong>40 million Americans<\/strong> play softball in some form, and the sport connects players across age groups, skill levels, and countries.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-12 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" title=\"Softball&#8217;s 130+ Years at a Glance\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-130-Years-at-a-Glance.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-130-Years-at-a-Glance.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9106\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-130-Years-at-a-Glance-200x100.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-130-Years-at-a-Glance-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-130-Years-at-a-Glance-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-130-Years-at-a-Glance-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Softballs-130-Years-at-a-Glance.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-25\"><p>For competitive fastpitch players \u2014 the high school athletes grinding through travel ball seasons, the college-bound pitchers refining their mechanics, the coaches building lineups \u2014 the sport\u2019s history is worth understanding. Every piece of equipment you use, every rule you play by, and every tournament format you compete in was shaped by decades of players and administrators who built this game deliberately.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-13 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1432\" height=\"800\" title=\"The Evolution of Softball Infographic\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Evolution-of-Softball-Infographic.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Evolution-of-Softball-Infographic.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-9110\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271432%27%20height%3D%27800%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201432%20800%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271432%27%20height%3D%27800%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Evolution-of-Softball-Infographic-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Evolution-of-Softball-Infographic-400x223.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Evolution-of-Softball-Infographic-600x335.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Evolution-of-Softball-Infographic-800x447.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Evolution-of-Softball-Infographic-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/The-Evolution-of-Softball-Infographic.jpg 1432w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-orig- alt=\"\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-26\"><p>The sport is still evolving. Equipment technology, elite pitching development, and the continued push for Olympic inclusion are all part of an ongoing story that started with a boxing glove bouncing across a gym floor in 1887.<\/p>\n<\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK B \u2014 KEY STATS BAR\n     Paste near the top of the article,\n     right after the Quick Takeaways box.\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .sf-stats { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:0 auto 2.5rem; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .sf-stats-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .sf-stats-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .sf-stats-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .sf-stats-grid { display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr); }\n  .sf-stats-item { padding:1.2rem 1rem 1.1rem; text-align:center; border-right:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .sf-stats-item:last-child { border-right:none; }\n  .sf-stats-item:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .sf-stats-num { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:1.55rem; font-weight:700; color:#1a1a1a; line-height:1; display:block; margin-bottom:.3rem; }\n  .sf-stats-num span { color:#4ade80; }\n  .sf-stats-desc { font-size:.72rem; color:#888; line-height:1.4; font-family:'Courier New',monospace; letter-spacing:.04em; text-transform:uppercase; display:block; }\n  @media(max-width:540px){\n    .sf-stats-grid { grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr); }\n    .sf-stats-item:nth-child(2) { border-right:none; }\n    .sf-stats-item:nth-child(1),\n    .sf-stats-item:nth-child(2) { border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"sf-stats\">\n  <div class=\"sf-stats-hd\">\n    <div class=\"sf-stats-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"sf-stats-lbl\">Softball By the Numbers<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"sf-stats-grid\">\n    <div class=\"sf-stats-item\">\n      <span class=\"sf-stats-num\">1<span>887<\/span><\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-stats-desc\">Year founded<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-stats-item\">\n      <span class=\"sf-stats-num\">40<span>M<\/span><\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-stats-desc\">US players today<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-stats-item\">\n      <span class=\"sf-stats-num\">124<span>+<\/span><\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-stats-desc\">ISF member nations<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"sf-stats-item\">\n      <span class=\"sf-stats-num\">5<span>\u00d7<\/span><\/span>\n      <span class=\"sf-stats-desc\">Olympic appearances<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-10 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-10 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-22 fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer fusion-no-large-visibility fusion-no-medium-visibility fusion-no-small-visibility\"><\/span><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:26;line-height:1.5;\">&#x1f4c5; Softball History Timeline at a Glance<\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e0dede;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK 5 \u2014 SOFTBALL HISTORY AT A GLANCE\n     Paste: near the bottom, before conclusion\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .hs-tl { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .hs-tl-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.7rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .hs-tl-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .hs-tl-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .hs-tl-row { display:grid; grid-template-columns:72px 1fr; align-items:baseline; gap:.5rem; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; border-bottom:1px solid #f0f0f0; transition:background .12s; }\n  .hs-tl-row:last-child { border-bottom:none; }\n  .hs-tl-row:hover { background:#fafafa; }\n  .hs-tl-row.major { background:#fafefa; }\n  .hs-tl-row.major:hover { background:#f0faf3; }\n  .hs-tl-yr { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.72rem; color:#bbb; letter-spacing:.04em; padding-top:2px; }\n  .hs-tl-row.major .hs-tl-yr { color:#4ade80; }\n  .hs-tl-ev { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.6; }\n  .hs-tl-ev strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n  @media(max-width:600px){\n    .hs-tl-row { grid-template-columns:60px 1fr; padding:.7rem 1rem; }\n    .hs-tl-ev { font-size:.83rem; }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"hs-tl\">\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-hd\">\n    <div class=\"hs-tl-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-lbl\">Softball History at a Glance \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 Timeline<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row major\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1887<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">Softball invented on Thanksgiving Day at the <strong>Farragut Boat Club, Chicago<\/strong> \u2014 using a boxing glove and a broom handle.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1889<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">First softball league and official rules established by the Farragut Boat Club.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1895<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">Lewis Rober adapts the game for Minneapolis firefighters; the <strong>\"Kitten Ball\"<\/strong> name emerges.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row major\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1926<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\"><strong>\"Softball\"<\/strong> officially coined by Walter Hakanson at the National Recreation Congress.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row major\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1933<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">First national tournament at the <strong>Chicago World's Fair<\/strong> draws 70,000 spectators. The ASA is founded.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1934<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">Joint Rules Committee standardizes nationwide rules for the first time.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1952<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">International Softball Federation (ISF) founded, establishing a global governing body.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1953<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">Slow pitch softball formally recognized by the ASA as a distinct format.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1965<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">First <strong>Women's Softball World Championship<\/strong> held in Melbourne. Australia wins; USA finishes runner-up.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row major\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1972<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\"><strong>Title IX<\/strong> passed \u2014 transformative legislation that ignites the growth of women's college softball.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1981<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">NCAA formally recognizes softball as a championship sport.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row major\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1982<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">First <strong>Women's College World Series<\/strong> held in Omaha. UCLA defeats Fresno State in the inaugural final.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row major\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">1996<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">Softball debuts at the <strong>Atlanta Olympics<\/strong>. Team USA wins the first-ever Olympic gold medal.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">2000\u201304<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">USA defends Olympic gold in Sydney and Athens \u2014 <strong>three consecutive titles<\/strong> overall.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">2008<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">Japan ends Team USA's streak at Beijing. Softball is then removed from the Olympic program.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">2012\u201316<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">Softball absent from London and Rio \u2014 a <strong>12-year Olympic gap<\/strong>.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row major\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">2020\/21<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">Softball returns to <strong>Tokyo Olympics<\/strong>. Japan wins gold on home soil; USA takes silver.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-tl-row major\">\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-yr\">2028<\/span>\n    <span class=\"hs-tl-ev\">Softball confirmed to return at the <strong>Los Angeles Olympics<\/strong> \u2014 the next chapter in a 140-year story.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-11 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-11 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-27\" style=\"--awb-font-size:14px;\"><p><em>Sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usasoftball.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USA Softball<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/softball\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Britannica<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/nfca.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFCA<\/a>, Library of Congress, Wikipedia (Fastpitch Softball), The New Republic<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;width:100%;\"><div class=\"fusion-separator-border sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"--awb-height:20px;--awb-amount:20px;border-color:#e0dede;border-top-width:1px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-12 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-12 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><!-- =============================================\n     BLOCK \u2014 INTERNAL LINKS \/ CTA\n     Paste: near the bottom of the article,\n     before the conclusion \/ newsletter CTA\n     ============================================= -->\n<style>\n  .hs-cta { font-family:'Georgia',serif; max-width:680px; margin:2rem auto; border:1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; }\n  .hs-cta-hd { background:#1a1a1a; padding:.7rem 1.5rem; display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.6rem; }\n  .hs-cta-dot { width:6px; height:6px; border-radius:50%; background:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n  .hs-cta-lbl { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.68rem; letter-spacing:.16em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#888; }\n  .hs-cta-body { padding:1.1rem 1.5rem 0.4rem; }\n  .hs-cta-body p { font-size:.9rem; color:#333; line-height:1.7; margin:0 0 1rem; }\n  .hs-cta-body p strong { color:#1a1a1a; font-weight:600; }\n  .hs-cta-links { list-style:none; margin:0; padding:0; }\n  .hs-cta-links li { border-top:1px solid #f0f0f0; }\n  .hs-cta-links li:last-child { border-bottom: none; }\n  .hs-cta-links a { display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.75rem; padding:.75rem 1.5rem; font-size:.9rem; color:#1a1a1a; text-decoration:none; transition:background .12s; }\n  .hs-cta-links a:hover { background:#fafafa; text-decoration:underline; }\n  .hs-cta-links a .hs-cta-arrow { font-family:'Courier New',monospace; font-size:.75rem; color:#4ade80; flex-shrink:0; }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"hs-cta\">\n  <div class=\"hs-cta-hd\">\n    <div class=\"hs-cta-dot\"><\/div>\n    <span class=\"hs-cta-lbl\">Equipment Guides \u00a0\u00b7\u00a0 AllAboutFastpitch<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"hs-cta-body\">\n    <p>Want to get the most out of today's game? Whether you're choosing your first composite bat or looking for the right catcher's gear, <strong>AllAboutFastpitch<\/strong> has the equipment guidance to help serious players make informed decisions.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n  <ul class=\"hs-cta-links\">\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/best-fastpitch-softball-bats-overview\/\">\n        <span class=\"hs-cta-arrow\">\u2192<\/span>\n        Best Fastpitch Softball Bats\n      <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/best-fastpitch-softball-gloves-overview\/\">\n        <span class=\"hs-cta-arrow\">\u2192<\/span>\n        Best Fastpitch Softball Gloves\n      <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/the-best-softball-cleats-overview\/\">\n        <span class=\"hs-cta-arrow\">\u2192<\/span>\n        Best Softball Cleats\n      <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/best-catchers-gear-for-fastpitch-softball\/\">\n        <span class=\"hs-cta-arrow\">\u2192<\/span>\n        Best Catcher's Gear for Fastpitch Softball\n      <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/10-fun-facts-about-softball\/\">\n        <span class=\"hs-cta-arrow\">\u2192<\/span>\n        10 Fun Facts About Softball\n      <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3546,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-softball"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3397"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3397\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9118,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3397\/revisions\/9118"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3546"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutfastpitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}