The history of pitching is interesting and enlightening. Many changes have taken place since the beginning of baseball. The pitcher's box, mound, and pitches have all been affected.

The pitcher’s box was moved back from 45 feet to 50 feet in 1881. In 1893 the length was increased to 60 feet 6 inches to give the batters a chance to hit the ball or get out of the way of a misguided ball.

The mound started out ground level, and the pitcher was permitted to go anywhere as long as he stayed behind the pitcher’s line. The mound has been as high as 20”, but is at today’s standard height of 10”, set in 1969 for groundskeeping practices. The size of the pitching area has also changed. In 1893 baseball saw the change from a pitcher’s box to the pitcher’s plate. Pitchers are now required to remain within the 24 inch by 6 inch area set in 1895.

Pitching the ball has also changed. In the beginning, pitching was underhanded and batters were allowed to call their pitches. Pitchers could not step over the pitcher’s line, or all base runners were permitted to move. In 1858 umpires were permitted to call strikes if a batter did not swing at a good pitch. This was due to the fact batters were refusing to hit the ball to either wear out the pitcher or to help the base runners steal bases.  

The pitching arm hitting the pitcher's side caused a whipping action when the ball was released was stopped in 1860. Eighteen-eighty-four began pitching as we know it today. Pitchers were permitted to throw over handed and both feet had to be on the ground at the time of release.