Facts on the Wooden Baseball Bat

Part of the allure of baseball is the crack of the wooden baseball bat against the ball. The wooden baseball bat has a long track record as a part of American sports history, yet there are many things people do not know about wooden baseball bats.

History

Wooden baseball bats first started to appear around 1850, but they lacked any kind of size regulation until it was determined in 1859 that the wooden baseball bat could be no larger that 2.5 inches in diameter.

Time Frame

The most famous wooden baseball bat, the Louisville Slugger, was first created in 1884 by a carpenter named John Hillerich. In 1900, baseball legend Honus Wagner was the first player to have his name burned into a Louisville Slugger.

Types

According to Slambats.com, wooden baseball bats made of maple are the most popular in use today.

Significance

According to Baseball-bats.net, professional baseball players are required by rule to use only wooden baseball bats. This is done for safety reasons and to avoid giving anyone using a metal baseball bat a competitive advantage.

Fun Fact

According to Baseballtips.com, there are now wooden baseball bats available that are made from bamboo.