Bunt

A bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball or fastpitch softball. In a bunt play, the batter loosely holds the bat in front of the plate and intentionally taps the ball into play.

History

The bunt was introduced into the game by Dickey Pearce of the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1866, but was not common until the 1880s, and was not an accepted part of baseball strategy until the 20th century. The bunt has enjoyed periodic waves of acceptance and use throughout baseball history, coinciding with the periodic shifts of dominance between pitching and hitting over the decades. During periods of pitching dominance, for example during the dead-ball era or the 1960s, bunting was an important offensive weapon. However, during periods of hitting dominance, for example the 1990s and 2000s, the value of the bunt has often been questioned. Recently, teams following the "Moneyball" school of baseball thought (such as the Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox) have shown the tendency to shun the sacrifice bunt almost entirely. However, a bunt for a hit is acceptable. The role of the bunt in baseball strategy is one of the perennial topics of discussion for baseball fans.

Related Topics:
Dickey Pearce - Brooklyn Atlantics - 1866 - 1880s - 20th century - Baseball history - Dead-ball era - 1960s - 1990 - 2000 - "Moneyball" - Oakland Athletics - Boston Red Sox

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