In the 1850s, when American baseball was in its infancy, players made their own bats based on their own preferences. Rarely were any two exactly alike. As the sport grew in popularity, various governing bodies implemented rules to maintain consistency, fairness and the integrity of the game.
In the Beginning
The first official rule regarding the size of baseball bats came about in 1859 and ended the "anything goes" era. The Professional National Association of Baseball Players Governing Committee ruled that baseball bats must be less than 2.5 in. in diameter. The Association did not, however, put any limits on length. That changed in 1869 when the length of a baseball bat was officially capped at 42 in. Finally, in 1893, the Baseball Rules Committee, the governing body in baseball at the time, increased the diameter to 2.75 in.
MLB Rules
As of 2011, Major League Baseball maintains the standards set in the 1800s. The Official Rules of the MBA state that bats can not be more than 2.75 in. in diameter or more than 42 in. long. However, since the infamous "Pine Tar Incident" in 1983, when George Brett of the Kansas City Royals knocked a 2-run home run out of the park with a bat heavily coated with pine tar to improve his grip on it, the MLB has ruled that pine tar and other substances may not be applied any farther than 18 in. from the bat's end.
NCAA Rules
College rules mimic MLB rules for diameter and length of a bat, as well as the 18-in. "pine tar" limit. The difference is in how NCAA rules and MLB rules treat a bat that exceeds the 18-in. cutoff point for a grip-improving substance. The MLB states that if a bat is discovered to exceed this limit after it has been used in play, as happened in the Pine Tar Incident scandal, the batter is not to be called out or ejected from the game. NCAA rules state that the player using the bat must be issued a warning, and if the bat is used again, he is ejected from the game. NCAA rules also mandate that bats be specifically marked at 18 inches so any substance extending past that point is clearly visible.
NFHS Rules
The National Federation of State High School Associations sets bat rules for high school play. Bats are limited to 2 5/8 in. in diameter and 30 to 34 in. in length. In 2010, the NFHS changed its rules to address the substance of bats, outlawing use of those with composite construction until there is proof that they do not result in inconsistent results from player to player. Composite bats have a wooden handle and barrel, but use a metal sleeve around the barrel. The new rule doesn't affect the size of the bat, however.
Youth Rules
Tee-ball players, children up to seven years old, use bats only 2.25 in. in diameter and 25 to 27 in. long. The diameter remains the same for Little League players up to age 12, but the length increases to 28 to 32 in.
References
- MLB.com: Official Info
- Baseball-Bats: The History of Baseball Bats
- NCAA Publications: 2011 & 2012 NCAA Baseball Rules
- Baseball Corner: Baseball Bat Size
- National Federation of State High School Associations: Baseball Rules Change Puts Moratorium on Composite Bats
- Steve The Ump: Evolution of the Baseball Bat
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