What is a single in baseball?

In baseball, a single is a hit where the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball, without any errors being committed by the fielding team. Key characteristics include:

• Reaching first base safely: This is the defining characteristic. The batter must reach the base without being put out.
• No errors: If a fielder makes an error that allows the batter to reach first (e.g., a dropped ball, a throwing error), it's not officially scored as a single, but rather an error, and the batter is credited with reaching base on an error.
• No other runners advancing: A single doesn't automatically advance other runners. Whether they advance depends on the placement of the hit and the defensive play.

Singles are the most common type of hit in baseball, representing a basic advancement of one base. They're crucial for moving runners along and creating scoring opportunities. A string of singles can be just as effective as a home run in scoring runs.