Why are softballs bigger than baseballs?

And for those who believe that softballs are lighter than baseballs, you would be wrong. Most softballs weight more than baseballs. And to "Graham," who obviously thinks softball is an alternative to baseball created for girls, keep in mind that men invented softball and played it. read more

A softball is bigger than a baseball because the field is smaller and doesn't have grass to slow the ball down. If softball players used baseballs, then the game would be considerably more dangerous. The balls would travel so fast people would be getting a lot more than they are now, causing more injuries. read more

In softball the circumference of the ball is 11 to 12 inches and less dense than baseball's 9-inch ball. Because of the larger ball, softball players use smaller bats. The bat in softball must be no longer than 34 inches and can be made of composite materials. read more