Baseball, Billets, and Bats
By: Randi Lynn Mrvos
“Batter up!” yells the umpire.
You step to the plate. You knock the dirt from your cleats. The pitcher fires the ball. Will you bunt, hit a line drive, or smash a homerun? Oh, the possibilities are plentiful thanks to a tree.
Trees destined to become baseball bats are “born” on the forested mountain tops where Pennsylvania borders New York. Now fast forward 40 to 60 years. These mountain-grown trees have reached the proper weight and width to be transformed into bats.
Not every tree is lucky to become a bat. Maple and ash trees make the best bats. Ash trees are strong, flexible, and light in weight. Maple trees are denser than ash so they make heavier bats.
Hold your ears. TIMBER! The trees are felled. They’re cut into 10- to 16-foot lengths. Then their bark is removed. Next, they’re sliced into 40-inch bolts. A cutting machine spins and shapes the bolts into 37-inch long, 3-inch in diameter cylinders called billets.
The billets are weighed, inspected, and graded, but they don’t get grades like you do in school. Billets are graded based on the grain of the wood. Bat manufacturers prefer bats with a straight grain that is widely and evenly spaced. After grading, the billets are dried in a kiln for six to eight weeks.
Once the billets have achieved the desired moisture content, they’re sent to a bat factory like Hillerich & Bradsby Company in Louisville, Kentucky. That’s where the magic begins: transforming a billet into a bat.
At Hillerich & Bradsby, the first business to make bats full-time, the billets are graded once more. Only the best billets, the ones that “make the grade,” become pro-model baseball bats. Minor leagues use the lesser-quality billets.
An operator loads five billets on a computer-controlled lathe. The computer is programmed to make bats to the specification of each player. That way, the bat achieves the desired measurements.
As the billet spins, the knives work across its 37-inch length, shaping the wood. Each bat is carved one at a time—in about 45 seconds! When the bat is off the lathe, it’s sanded, finished, and branded with the company’s logo.
The “average” bat used by Major League players is 33 inches long and 31 ounces in weight, but most players customize their bats. They can specify the weight, length, handles, knobs, and barrels. For instance, Babe Ruth liked little pin knots in the barrels of his bats. Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter prefer ash bats with a black finish.
You may not be able to customize your bat, but you can choose from a wide selection. Before you go shopping for a new bat, get to know the league requirements first.
For playing Little League Baseball, bats may be made from wood or aluminum. Aluminum bats rarely break. Using them is easier to get hits because the sweet spot is larger than on a wooden bat’s.
Now here’s a secret: Many people believe aluminum bats send the baseball farther and faster than wood. The truth is they don’t. That’s because baseball’s many governing organizations have placed limits on aluminum bat performance and require they perform like wood.
Whether you choose wood or aluminum, swing a variety of bats to find out how much weight feels comfortable. Bigger, stronger players usually prefer a bat that’s heavier. Smaller players like a lighter bat.
Choose the right size barrel. The Hillerich & Bradsby Company recommends that players 12 years old and younger use a 2¼-inch barrel. Some leagues however, use larger 2¾-inch barrels.
Try swinging different lengths of bats. A long bat provides reach for an outside pitch. Keep in mind a longer bat may be heavier. The extra weight could slow you down.
Lastly, once you’ve selected your bat, practice with it. Take it on the playing field or at a batting cage. Get comfortable swinging it. That way, you’ll feel confident when you step up to the plate. In no time, you’ll be ready to put some wood on the ball.
Illustration Copyright © 2010 Clipart Creations
Copyright © 2010 by Randi Lynn Mrvos