The Weight and Other Interesting Facts About Baseball

Baseball is a great American sport. Families have played it, and the fans had followed the pros when they had to do so by listening to the radio. 

Baseball fans are very loyal to the teams they choose to root for. Ask a Yankees fan or a Dodgers fan what team they love and why and you better have plenty of time on your hand. They love their teams, and they generally know everything there is to know about the franchise and the game.

Let’s take a few minutes and learn a little more about the game equipment, the game, and why we love it so much.

How Much Does A Baseball Weigh?

The standard and regulation baseball weighs no less than 5 ounces and no more than 5.25 ounces. 

Baseballs have evolved into being uniform in size, shape, and weight. In the early days of the game, pitchers made the balls themselves. No two balls were identical in size and weight, even the ones that the same pitcher made.

In 1876 A.G. Spalding came up with the ball design still being used today. Spalding was a pitcher for the Chicago White Stockings. And if you have not already guessed, that was the beginning of Spalding sporting goods.

That early ball by Spalding had a rubber core. In 1910 a ball with a cork core instead of rubber was introduced by John McMurray during the World Series. 

The Cork Filled Ball

That cork-filled ball had specifics, such as a center cork that had to weigh no less than 7/8 ounces. The cushion in the cork-filled ball was provided by one layer of black rubber and then a layer of red rubber. Why black and red rubber? No one has the answer to that question.

The ball was built up until it was seven ¾ inches in diameter and weighed about 3 and 108 ounces. Then, white woolen yarn was added to increase the ball to a weight of 3 7/8 ounces.

More yarn was added, and a horsehide covering was double stitched. The ball was about 9 to 9 1/8 inches in circumference and weighed between 5 and 5 1/8 ounces.

The rubber-filled center was preferred over the cork center by most players.

The cork filling was an excellent substitute for the rubber when the Japanese seized Malaya. At that time, rubber supply was interrupted, and the government stopped letting rubber be used for any product that was not warring specifically.

The Ball Bats

To play baseball, you must have the ball and a bat to strike the ball with. The average baseball bat weighs about 33 ounces to 36 ounces.

There are tales of Babe Ruth using a 54-ounce hickory bat and Bryce Harper using a 47-ounce bat.

Those figures may be total exaggerations, but Babe Ruth was well known for using a 46-ounce bat, and during his 60 homerun season, he was swinging a 40-ounce bat.

Did You know?

• Professional players play 162 games during a season
• Each game lasts for nine innings and about 3 hours. The longest game to be recorded was played for 8 hours and 6 minutes. The shortest professional game lasted only 31 minutes.
• The record number of home runs by the same player in one game was 4.
• The fastest baseball pitch thrown by a woman was 69 mph. The most immediate recorded rise by a male player was 105.1 mph.
• Until the Civil War, there were two versions of baseball.
• In 1919, a scandal turned the infamous Chicago White Sox into the Black Sox.
• During the first half of the 20^th Century, African-American players were not permitted to play for Major League teams.
• Major league players are paid well, but minor league players receive no accurate salary/ They are compensated by the team with housing and a $10 per diem during spring training. They earn between $1100 and $2000 per month during their regular season.
• The first woman to play in the Negro League was Toni Stone. In 1953 she was named the fourth-best batter in the league.
• Joel Youngblood is the only MLB player to ever get hits for two teams on the same day. He played for the Mets that afternoon, traded to Expos, and played another game that night.

FAQs

Can Girls Play With Baseballs, Or Do They Have To Play With Softballs?

Girls can play with the baseballs, and boys can play using a softball. They are not gender-specific.

Does A Baseball Used In High School Games Weigh Less Than One Used In Professional Games?

No. the balls used in the school games and for home sports weigh the same as those used in professional tournaments.

What Is The Covering Of A Baseball Made From?

Typically, the covering is formed from two pieces of cowhide.