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Do you know about Moundball? Because you probably should ...

Do you know about Moundball? Because you should

By Matt Monagan

Oh, you're not familiar with Moundball? What if I told you that players and umpires have been playing Moundball for as long as there's been baseball -- and they didn't even know it? What if I said that YOU have probably participated in a form of Moundball if you ever played softball or baseball as a kid? 

Moundball, a Twitter game based on the umpire's ability to toss a new baseball onto the mound, takes place between every half-inning. You can join in on the fun during this Thursday's MLB Network Showcase game between the A's and Angels, so here's a bit of history to get you prepared:

1. Moundball was first started by a group of fans to pass the time between innings. These were exciting times. 

DancingFan.gif

2. Moundball is now an official Twitter game of Major League Baseball. Two feature matchups are chosen per week for the main @MoundBallMLB handle, while the Braves, Reds, Royals, Twins, A's, Pirates and Giants hold their own competitions.

3. To enter to play and win, you must follow @MoundballMLB (or whichever team account is playing) and tweet #Moundball when you see an umpire, or sometimes player, roll the ball onto the dirt.

4. An umpire's toss must stay on the mound dirt to be considered a Moundball.

Like this:

Yes

Not like this:

Moundball

5. Umpires don't know about Moundball, or so we think ...

Joe West 

6. Only one umpire, Jim Joyce, has recorded a perfect 17-for-17 perfect Moundball game. It took place while the Braves were taking on the Marlins on August 10 of last year.

7. A score of zero Moundballs has been tallied 12 times by umpires, including twice each by Brian O'Nora and Kerwin Danley.

8. The largest prize a fan can win during regular games is a $150 gift card to the MLB.com Shop. Prize totals increase after every miss. During MLB Network Showcase games (like this Thursday's), fans can also receive $1,000 for a perfect toss onto the rubber.

9. You can win only once during a Moundball game. 

10. @MoundballMLB is a prettttttay fun Twitter account to follow even if you're not playing Moundball: