The United States is known for softball, but it’s played in other countries too. Learn all about it!
From 1996 to 2008, softball was a sport in the Summer Olympics. Thirteen countries, including the United States, sent teams over the years. It will return to the Olympics for the Summer 2020 games in Tokyo.
The World Cup of Softball is hosted by the Amateur Softball Association in Oklahoma. Eight different countries have participated, including the United States.
The International Softball Federation governs women’s and men’s softball leagues. There are 124 member countries, including the United States, from six continents.
In 2004, Japanese softball player Yukiko Ueno pitched the first perfect game in Olympic history.
Softball was introduced to Australia in 1939 as a school sport.
In the women’s league of the Costa Rica Softball Association, women of all ages participate, even 60 years and older!
Oria Wood Knowles’ softball career in the Bahamas lasted 34 years.
Softball is called by its English name in most languages. However, in Maori it is called poiuka, in Afrikaans it is called sagtebal, and in Welsh it is called pêl feddal.