The sounds commonly associated with baseball are the pop of the mitt, the singing of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and the crack of the bat. In reality, however, the "crack" is only heard in Major League Baseball, the only level at which wooden bats are used instead of their aluminum counterparts. The argument over wooden vs. aluminum bats is an old one and it show no signs of abating.
History
Wooden bats such as every level of play from the time baseball was invented in the late 19th century until the 1970s, when companies like Easton began introducing high-quality aluminum bats into the market. The popularity of metal bats quickly led to their use at all levels outside of Major League Baseball, as bat-makers continued to develop more and more advanced styles into the 1990s and 2000s.
Features
Aluminum bats have been shown to outperform wooden bats. Studies like that by physics professor Daniel A. Russel at Kettering University show that because of its hollow barrel, an aluminum bat's center of mass lies closer to the handle, allowing the bat to be swung at a much higher speed, therefore generating more power. Bats made out of wood are more likely to break when the ball strikes near the handle.
Significance
Playing with aluminum bats allows hitters to swing faster and hit the ball harder and further, events that generally lead to better offensive numbers. In college, statistics can mean the difference between getting drafted or not, forcing amateur hitters to use any advantage they can muster. To be ready for the major leagues, many amateurs and their coaches still deem it necessary to practice with wooden bats or participate in designated wooden bat tournaments.
Benefits
Aluminum's use at the amateur level is also due to durability; while wooden bats run the risk of shattering or decaying, aluminum bats have a much higher endurance rate, so teams can go entire seasons on a limited number of them. Major League Baseball, meanwhile, maintains its stance on respecting tradition and claims that its use of wooden bats keeps the game pure and consistent with its historical roots.
Concerns
Ultimately, the debate comes down to a single critical issue: safety. Developments in aluminum bat technology have translated to new levels of batted-ball speed and power. These advancements have generated concerns that pitchers, fielders, coaches, and even spectators are being put in unsafe situations. The combination of power and speed with which a ball jumps off aluminum gives fielders less time to react and increases the risk for injury.
Economics
Many collegiate programs enjoy lucrative contracts with aluminum bat-makers that they would be hard-pressed to drop, according to a 2010 Associated Press survey of coaches. These contracts allow for companies to provide schools with equipment and for coaches to be generously compensated. Wooden bat makers would be forced to adjust their production to provide for colleges and would likely produce second-tier material because of their commitment to the professional ranks.
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