# Infield
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infield
> Source revision: 1211579685
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{{Short description|Section of the playing field in various sports}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
[[File:Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California (14331204090).jpg|thumb|Infield at [Dodger Stadium](/source/Dodger_Stadium)]]
'''Infield''' is a sports term whose definition depends on the sport in whose context it is used.
== Baseball ==
In [baseball](/source/baseball), the [diamond](/source/baseball_field), as well as the area immediately beyond it, has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered, ''outfield''. The "diamond" can also refer to the defensive unit of players that are positioned in the region: [first baseman](/source/first_baseman), [second baseman](/source/second_baseman), [shortstop](/source/shortstop), [third baseman](/source/third_baseman). Sometimes it includes the [catcher](/source/catcher) and [pitcher](/source/pitcher) who (as a tandem) are often referred to separately as the [battery](/source/Battery_(baseball)).{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}
In baseball the physical infield is where most of the action in a baseball game occurs, as it includes that area where the all-important duel between the [pitcher](/source/pitcher) and [batter](/source/batting_(baseball)) takes place.[{{cite web |title = Baseball Explained |first = Phillip |last = Mahony |publisher = McFarland Books |year = 2014 |url=http://www.baseballexplained.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813034018/http://www.baseballexplained.com/ |archive-date=13 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}] The pitcher stands on the [pitcher's mound](/source/pitcher's_mound) (a raised mound of dirt located at the center of the infield) and from there he pitches the ball to his [catcher](/source/catcher), who is crouched behind home plate sixty feet, six inches away at what might be called the cutlet of the diamond-shaped baseball field. To the left and right of the catcher are chalk boxes in the dirt called [batter's boxes](/source/Baseball_field). The opposing team's batter must stand in one of the two boxes and from there he will attempt to hit the pitched ball with his bat. The [umpire](/source/umpire), who officiates the game, stands behind the catcher. The other important parts of the infield are the three [bases](/source/base_(baseball)), [first base](/source/first_base) (to the pitcher's left, looking toward home plate), [second base](/source/second_base) (behind the pitcher) and [third base](/source/third_base) (to the pitcher's right). Together, home plate and the three bases form a diamond around the pitcher, with each side of the diamond measuring {{convert|90 |feet}}.