Baseball is considered to be America's pastime, and the wooden baseball bat serves an important role in its overall history. There are several unique and interesting facts about wooden baseball bats. The bat, similar to game of baseball, has seen many developments through the years as both evolved.
History
In the 1850s, players would make their own bats. By 1884, John Hillerich, a woodworker from Louisville, offered Pete Browning a new bat. Hillerich made the bat from white ash and the news quickly spread around the baseball community. This ultimately led to the beginning of Hillerich & Bradsby's Louisville Slugger; they produce approximately 1.8 million bats per year in 2010.
Types
There are over 8,000 variations of wooden baseball bats made from white ash, hickory and maple. White ash has traditionally been the most popular due to its strength and resiliency; this wood comes from trees located in Pennsylvania and New York. Hickory has been a popular choice in the past, but is too heavy for modern hitters. Maple became popular during the 1990s and is harder and slightly heavier than ash. Today's Major League hitters choose ash or maple for their wooden baseball bat.
Size and Weight
Major League rules regulate the size and weight of the wooden bat. The bat cannot be more than 42 inches in length and 2 3/4 inches in diameter at the thickest point. Pine tar--used to increase grip on the handle--cannot extend past 18 inches from the handle. Most bats used by professional baseball players will weigh between 30 and 35 ounces.
Time Frame
From the forest to the baseball field, a wooden bat takes several years to produce. Lumber must be dried and seasoned for six months to two years before being made into a bat. Once the bat reaches the field, the average lifespan of a Major League bat is one month.
Fun Facts
Honus Wagner was the first professional baseball player to have his name burned on the bat. The heaviest bat every used was 48 ounces by Edd Roush of the Cincinnati Reds and the longest bat was 38 inches, used by Al Simmons. About 40,000 trees are used to produce bats annually.
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