Sandlot ball

In the 20th century, it was one of the most popular forms of recreation for children in the United States and many Caribbean and Central American countries.

[1] The term "sandlot" traces its origins back to the 1870s, emerging in the city of San Francisco as an in-town park and empty lot that served as a versatile venue for various sports.

[2][3] It refers to the makeshift field, which could be nothing more than an empty piece of land in the area composed of grass, dirt, or sand that is big enough to host the game.

[11] The benefits of unorganized, free-play that can be found in sandlot ball include intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development.

"[5] “The fundamentals of baseball must be practiced continually, even at the big league level,” says Doug Weiskopf in an article on ESPN.com titled Sandlot going the way of the Wooden Bat.

Young players need more skill-based, fun-resulting experiences, as opposed to high-pressurized organized league play.” [11] The organizational and negotiation skills developed in unorganized games are also important.