History of Baseball Bats

The history of baseball bats dates back to 1800s.than wooden bats. Although titanium bats were
During this period, baseball was in its infancy, andintroduced in 1993, they were banned from
players made their own bats from wood, withoutprofessional games because of other dangers.
any specific shape or size; players experimentedVarious types of aluminum baseball bats were
with long, short, flat, and heavy bats, and theyintroduced during the 1990s. Bats made of
eventually built a bat with a round barrel.In 1859,scandium aluminum are the most popular today.A
the first rule was made regarding the size of thegreat deal of research was conducted and many
baseball bat. The rule prescribed the allowableresulting modifications were made by
width of the bat, 2.5 inches in diameter, but nomanufactures to improve the trampoline effect
length was prescribed. In 1869, another rule wasof the bat and to increase the size of the sweet
made to restrict the length of the bat to 42spot (the place on the bat for hitting the ball). A
inches (the same maximum length allowed today).double-walled bat, a new design introduced in the
Even though there was no rule regarding the1990s, consists of an outer wall of
shape of the bats, most of the players used batsscandium-aluminum and an inner wall of a
with flat surfaces. Baseball underwent severalcomposite material (often graphite), and a thick
developments during the succeeding years. Influid or rubber between these two walls. Today,
1890, a committee made a rule concerning thestandard wooden bats are made of maple, white
shape of the bat; the rule suggested the roundash, and bamboo; these bats are used in
shape of the bat and fixed the diameter to 2.75professional baseball tournaments.The past 150
inches at the endBaseball came to a new phaseyears have seen many significant changes to the
with the introduction of metal belts in 1970. Batsbaseball bat, and the design of the bat continues
made of aluminum became an instant success, asto evolve.
they are lightweight, durable, and much faster