Baseball is often played by Calvin and Hobbes at home. The sport is featured in many strips. His final appearance was on August 31, 1994.
The Baseball Story Arc
Bill Watterson drew a story arc featuring baseball. In it, Calvin is tormented by Moe after he doesn't join the baseball team. Because of this, Calvin decides to join the school baseball league. He does, reluctantly. After he and his dad arrive at home, Calvin's dad takes Calvin out to the backyard to practice batting. Calvin's dad throws a grounder, which then bounces off the ground and hits Calvin in the nose, giving him a bloody nose. The next day, at school, Calvin is playing with his team against another team. Calvin, busy in one of his Spaceman Spiff fantasies does not notice that the opposing team is not up to bat. He catches the ball, and send one of his own team members out. After the other team members tease him for the catch, he quits the team, with Mr. Lockjaw calling him a quitter. After he quits baseball, he and Hobbes decide to play a game of Calvinball.
Baseball at Calvin's House
Calvin and Hobbes often play baseball. They usually play as an two entire teams.(with the help of some ghost runners.) There are often more than four bases. In one strip, Calvin and Hobbes are arguing, and Hobbes says that Calvin hasn't touched "twelfth base", "twenty-first base" or the "secret base". Calvin and Hobbes' baseball games usually end with them getting mad and fighting, or arguing.
Quotes from baseball
Calvin: "I can't believe this moronic sport is our national pastime."
Hobbes: "That run doesn't count! You didn't touch third base!"
- Hobbes: "I'm up to bat again! What fun! Two man baseball is a real sport!"
- Calvin: "IB BLEEDIG! BY ODE DAD ID TRING TO GILL ME!"
- Calvin: "A real sport for idiots. Next time I'm going to tag you with the bat instead of the ball."
- Hobbes: "You're out. Gimme a dollar."
- Calvin: "Sometimes I wish I had a neighborhood with more friends."
- Hobbes: "Yeah well my ghost outfielders came in and beat the tobacco juice outta him."