wooden baseball bats

09.06.08
The Score

When Will Baseball Tame Broken Bats?

Recent incidents have re-sparked the debate over how to control a dangerous problem. Which wood makes for the most durable bat?
By Brett Zarda Posted 05.19.2008 at 1:19 pm 4 Comments

Broken Bat: Then San Diego Padres third baseman Russel Branyan breaks a bat during the 2007 season. Photo by ISU_79 (CC Licensed)
Pop quiz: What kind of wood are baseball bats made of? Until about 1999 the correct answer would’ve been ash. But long before pundits noticed Barry Bonds’ head inflating from steroids, players spotted his maple bat. In a sport where adults inject their own buttocks for a chance at glory, switching to a different bat caught on quick.

[ Read Full Story ]
READ MORE ABOUT > , , , ,

Why do Wooden Baseball Bats Break?

Sometimes even a good piece of wood will snap.
Posted 07.25.2002 at 4:21 pm 0 Comments

Why do Wooden Baseball Bats Break?

Pat Honan
Middle Village, N.Y.




"Remember, a wooden bat is a 100 percent natural product," says Bill Williams of Hillerich & Bradsby, makers of the Louisville Slugger bats used by Major League Baseball. The bat makers evaluate the wood from the exterior, but they cannot look inside the bat for minute structural flaws.



[ Read Full Story ]
READ MORE ABOUT > , , , ,


Share your photos in the Pop Sci pool at www.flickr.com!
Current theme: Technology You Love

Subscribe for 2 free issues!

may2008_cover.jpg