Ace (baseball)
Encyclopedia
In baseball
, an ace is the best starting pitcher
of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day
. In addition, aces are usually preferred to start crucial playoff
games, sometimes on three days rest.
The term may be a derivation of the nickname of Asa Brainard
, (real first name: "Asahel"), a 19th century star pitcher, who was sometimes referred to as "Ace".http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/brainas01.php http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=3041&pid=1466
In the early days of baseball, the term "ace" was used to refer to a run
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, an ace is the best starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
. In addition, aces are usually preferred to start crucial playoff
Playoff
The playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a game or series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, usually but not always with a single-elimination system, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade.In the U.S...
games, sometimes on three days rest.
The term may be a derivation of the nickname of Asa Brainard
Asa Brainard
Asahel "Asa" Brainard , nicknamed "Count", was the ace pitcher of the original Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first fully professional baseball team, after having pitched for the Excelsior club of Brooklyn, New York....
, (real first name: "Asahel"), a 19th century star pitcher, who was sometimes referred to as "Ace".http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/brainas01.php http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=3041&pid=1466
In the early days of baseball, the term "ace" was used to refer to a run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
.