A baseball

A baseball, is a ball used primarily in the sport of the same name, baseball. It is generally between 9 inches (22.9 cm) and 9¼ inches (23.5 cm) in circumference, and 5 ounces avoirdupois (142 g) in weight, though sometimes different-size balls may be used in children's leagues. ^[1] Construction varies. Generally the core of the ball is cork, rubber, or a mixture of the two, and is sometimes layered. Around that are various linear materials including yarn and twine, sometimes wool is used. A leather cover is put on, in two pieces, and stitched together using 216 stitches of waxed cotton thread which is typically red in color. Rolled stitching is flatter and creates less air-resistance. This is the type of stitching used for major league balls and is ideal for the game and everyday play. Official Major League balls sold by Rawlings are made to the exact MLB specifications (5 ounces, 216 stitches) and are stamped with the signature of Commissioner Allan "Bud" Selig on each ball. Cleanup of image:baseball. ... Cleanup of image:baseball. ... For other uses, see Ball (disambiguation). ... This article is about the sport. ... The avoirdupois (IPA: ; French IPA: ) system is a system of weights (or, properly, mass) based on a pound of sixteen ounces. ... For other uses, see Cork. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Yarn Spools of thread Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibers, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. ... A spool of twine. ... For other uses, see Wool (disambiguation). ... For people named Leather, see Leather (surname). ... For other uses, see Cotton (disambiguation). ... Rawlings is an American company that manufactures sports equipment. ... Major Leagues redirects here. ... Allan Huber Bud Selig, Jr. ...

History

Two baseballs, viewed in cross-section. On the left, a cork-centered ball, and on the right, a WWII-era ball with a rubber center.

Cushioned cork cores were patented in the late 19th century by sports equipment manufacturer and former baseball star A. G. Spalding. During World War II, rubber centers from golf balls were used, due to wartime restrictions on the domestic use of materials. In recent years, various synthetic materials have been used to create baseballs; however, they are generally considered lower quality, and are not used in the major leagues. Using different types of materials affects the performance of the baseball. Generally a tighter-wound baseball will jump off the bat faster, and go farther. Since the baseballs used today are wound tighter than in previous years, notably the dead ball era that prevailed through 1920, people often say that the ball is "juiced". The height of the seams also affect how well a pitcher can pitch. Generally, in little league through college leagues, the seams are markedly higher than balls used in professional leagues. Al Spaldings sporting goods company made a lasting impact on baseball. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Major Leagues redirects here. ... The dead-ball era is a baseball term generally used to describe the period between 1900 (though some date it to the beginning of baseball) and the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1920. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the player in baseball. ...

In the early years of the sport, only one ball was typically used in each game, unless it was too damaged to be usable; balls hit into the stands were retrieved by team employees in order to be put back in play, as is still done today in other sports. Over the course of a game, a typical ball would become discolored due to dirt, and often tobacco juice and other materials applied by players; damage would also occur, causing slight rips and seam bursts. However, after the 1920 death of batter Ray Chapman after being hit in the head by a pitch, perhaps due to his difficulty in seeing the ball during twilight, an effort was made to keep clean, undamaged balls in play. Raymond Johnson Chapman (January 15, 1891 – August 17, 1920) was an American baseball player, spending his entire career as a shortstop for Cleveland. ...

In 1909, sports magnate and former player Alfred J. Reach patented the cork-center baseball, which was adopted by the major leagues the following season. Charles Webb Murphy, owner of the Chicago Cubs, discovered a substance called "ivory nut" in Panama and suggested it might be even better in a baseball than cork. However, Philadelphia Athletics president Benjamin F. Shibe, who had invented the ball Reach patented, commented, "I look for the leagues to adopt an 'ivory nut' baseball just as soon as they adopt a ferro-concrete bat and a base studded with steel spikes." Al Reach (May 25, 1840 – January 14, 1928), born in London, England, was one of the early stars of baseball playing in the National Association. ... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 10, 14, 23, 26, 42 Name Chicago Cubs (1902–present) Chicago Orphans (1898-1901) Chicago Colts (1890-1897) Chicago White Stockings (1870-1871, 1874-1889) (a. ... There have been three professional baseball teams based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania known as the Philadelphia Athletics: 1. ... Benjamin F. Shibe (1838 - January 14, 1922) was an American executive in Major League Baseball who was half-owner of the Philadelphia Athletics. ... Reinforced concrete at Sainte Jeanne dArc Church (Nice, France): architect Jacques Dror, 1926–1933 Reinforced concrete, also called ferroconcrete in some countries, is concrete in which reinforcement bars (rebars) or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the material that would otherwise be brittle. ... Four historically significant baseball bats showcased in the National Baseball Hall of Fames traveling exhibit Baseball As America. ... A baseball field is a playing field used for baseball. ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... Spikes is the mascot of the Minor League AAA Rochester Red Wings. ...

Throughout the 20th Century, Major League Baseball used two different baseballs, American League and National League. The baseballs were identical in every way except that American Leagues had "Official American League" and the AL President's signature in blue ink, and National League baseballs had "Official National League" and the NL President's signature in black ink. In 2000, Major League Baseball reorganized its structure to eliminate the position of League Presidents, and switched to one singular baseball for both leagues. The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... For other uses, see National League (disambiguation). ...

Today, several dozen baseballs are used in a typical professional game, due to scratches, discoloration, and undesirable texture that can occur during the game. Balls hit out of the park for momentous occasions (record setting, or for personal reasons) are often requested to be returned by the fan who catches it, or donated freely by the fan. Usually the player will give the fan an autographed bat and/or other autographed items in exchange for the special ball.

Famous baseballs

There are several historic instances of fans catching or attempting to catch baseballs:

• The ball that Mark McGwire hit for his 70th home run of the 1998 baseball season, then setting a new record, was sold by a fan to Todd McFarlane for $3 million (US).
• Larry Ellison, not to be confused with the software entrepreneur of the same name, famously retrieved both Barry Bonds's 660th and 661st home runs.
• Steve Bartman nearly interfered with a play while attempting to catch a foul ball, "causing" the Chicago Cubs not to get an out in "The Inning" during the 2003 NLCS. The loose ball was snatched up by a Chicago lawyer and sold at an auction in December 2003. Grant DePorter purchased it for $113,824.16 on behalf of Harry Caray's Restaurant Group. On February 26, 2004, it was publicly exploded in a procedure designed by Cubs fan and Academy Award winning special effects expert Michael Lantieri. In 2005, the remains of the ball were used by the restaurant in a pasta sauce. While no part of the ball itself was in the sauce, the ball was boiled and the steam captured, distilled, and added to the final concoction.
• Barry Bonds's 73rd home run of the 2001 season. It was the last home run of his historic, record breaking season where he broke Mark McGuire's single season home run record. The ball had a lot of controversy as there was a huge lawsuit between two people that claimed to have caught it. The story was made into a documentary, Up for Grabs.

Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963 in Pomona, California) is a former professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the Oakland Athletics before finishing his career with the St. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Todd McFarlane (born March 16, 1961 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian comic book artist, writer, toy manufacturer/designer, and media entrepreneur who is best known as the creator of the epic religious fantasy series Spawn. ... USD redirects here. ... Larry Ellison — not to be confused with the founder of Oracle Corporation — is a baseball fan from the San Francisco Bay Area who first garnered national media attention by retrieving the 660th and 661st home run balls of Barry Bonds. ... Lawrence Joseph Ellison (born August 17, 1944) is the co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation, a major database software company. ... Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964 in Riverside, California) is currently a left fielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. ... Steven D. Bartman (born 1977) [1] [2] is a resident of the Chicago area, who gained notoriety on the evening of October 14, 2003, for attempting a catch of a foul pop-up in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins... Alex Rodriguez commits interference, 2004 In baseball, interference is an infraction where a person illegally changes the course of play from what is expected. ... The Inning is a slang name given to the 8th inning of Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series between the eventual World Series Champion Florida Marlins and the perennial lovable losers, Chicago Cubs. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series (NLCS) determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to baseballs championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. ... Grant M. DePorter (born November 7, 1964) is a restaurateur from Chicago, USA, who came to worldwide prominence in 2004 after paying US$113,824. ... For the actor with a similar name, see Harry Carey. ... is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... Michael Lantieri is a special effects supervisor on films. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2005 throughout the world. ... Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964 in Riverside, California) is currently a left fielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Mark McGwire hits a home run during his last Major League season in 2001 Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963 in Pomona, California) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 through 2001. ...

Notes and references

1. ^ The Major League Baseball rulebook has guidelines for the size, weight and construction of the baseball for use in the major leagues.

   "The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber or similar material, covered with two stripes of white horsehide or cowhide, tightly stitched together. It shall weigh not less than five nor more than 5¼ ounces avoirdupois and measure not less than nine nor more than 9¼ inches in circumference.

• Major League Baseball: Official Rules: 1.00 Objectives of the Game See 1.09.

See also

• Cricket ball, the ball used in cricket
• Juiced ball theory

Cricket ball A cricket ball is a hard, solid ball used to play cricket. ... This article is about the sport. ...

External links

• Baseball Testing