Throughout the years, the debate of what the hardest sport is, remains a strong topic. Some say hockey, others wrestling, or even badminton. Some athletes even proclaim that racecar driving is the hardest sport. When considering what makes the “hardest” sport “hard,” many people with opinions on this topic separate the requirements into three main categories: mentality, skill, and athleticism.

When reflecting on these criteria, it is clear what the most challenging sport is: baseball.

The mental toughness needed for baseball is absurd, it is like playing chess, watching all of the parts on the field. The skill to hit the actual ball, a small, 5-ounce ball in midair takes a lot of hand-eye coordination.  Being able to pitch effectively every time also takes a lot of precision- with things like wind gust to take into account.  The actual athleticism needed to run the bases and play a specific position is also more than most people think.

According to Star Cade Media, baseball players play 162 games in a year, so many players are either burnt out or injured by the end of the season. While having the highest paid athletes in all of sports, when figuring in the minor league system- it has the least probability of making it pro.

Ted Williams, perhaps the greatest hitter of all time, was asked what the hardest sport was. Williams said, “I think without question the hardest thing to do in sports is hit a baseball.” A .300 hitter, the rarest breed of these days, goes through life with the certainty that he will fail at his job seven out of ten times.

Alongside the mental game, baseball also requires skill. According to Match Collegiate, baseball is the most skill reliant sport, as repetition and practice matter the most, in addition to natural talent.

For hitting, the average speed of the pitch coming towards the hitter is 94.2 miles per hour. Considering this with the distance from the mount to the batter’s box, which is 60 feet six inches, the batter has about 150 milliseconds to react to the pitch, which is the same speed as the blink of an eye. The hitter is left with 50 milliseconds to determine whether to swing at the pitch. Actually, making contact with the ball is also incredibly hard, as pitchers have many different types of pitches that they can throw at any time.

Some critics say that baseball doesn’t require as much athleticism as other sports. Deion Sanders, a multi-sport legend, and a hall of fame NFL player, rebukes this claim.  When asked his opinion on which sport he considered the most difficult, “baseball. That ball will do something to you man.”

Bruce Bolt, baseball equipment seller, adds to the argument, “While baseball is commonly ridiculed for being a ‘lazy sport’ by those who never stepped foot on the diamond, a closer look will reveal that the game of baseball involves an elaborate combination of skill, strategy, and athleticism.”

Baseball players have to have strength to the ball with bat speed, or to throw the ball with velocity. Baseball players must also be quick on their feet in order to run bases, run in the field, and even to jump when making plays on defense.

Baseball is the hardest sport because of the mental game, the skill required, and the athleticism required. To players, baseball isn’t just a game, but a way of life.