How many seams on a baseball
The velocity and speed of a baseball depends on the situation, factors such as the weight of the bat , and the momentum in the swing can greatly affect it.
The study found that bats weighing 20 ounces produced a batted ball velocity of In , when baseballs were first invented, they varied in weight, size, shape and form, as different manufacturers implemented their own styles and prototypes. Stitching is essential to keep the material compact and secure. Not only do the bright stitches stand out to increase visibility, but it also plays a vital role in the trajectory of a moving ball.
The interaction between the air and stitching causes drag, which allows players to control the orientation of the ball, as well as pitch in specific ways such as a curveball. The current stitching pattern on a Major League baseball is called the figure-8, devised by Col. William A Cutler. It is believed that the original idea was invented by a boy named Ellis Drake, in , however, he never patented the design. The pattern of the stitches follows the shape of the cowhide, which is cut into two figure-8 shapes.
The cowhide needs to be dampened to increase pliability and using 88 inches of waxed red thread, the baseball is stitched by hand. The double stitches are too intricate to be completed by the machine. The MLB buys exclusively from one company, and although there may be different versions available from cheaper companies, none will match the quality and sturdiness of the official Major League baseball. In the past, there were a number of companies that made baseballs in the USA, however now, the vast majority are made in China excluding MLB baseballs.
MLB balls are now manufactured in Costa Rica. They have an exclusive contract with professional leagues, and according to Reuters, they produce 2. More balls than needed are produced to make up for lost, damaged or scuffed balls that occur during play in league games. Roughly 36 thousand balls are produced per day, to meet the high demand required by Major League Baseball. How many stitches on a baseball is determined by dimensions of the baseball. The size, as well as the shape of the cowhide used both contribute to how many stitches on a baseball are needed.
The stitches are double stitched, meaning the ball actually contains stitches. There are two popular thoughts on why the color of the stitches are red. The first being that the National League decided to make its official standard color red, so naturally they also changed the color of the thread to match. The second is based on logic, players need to see the baseball , and so bright, contrasting colors were required.
Then the tightly-wound ball is trimmed by machine of excess fabric. A thin layer of adhesive is applied, to which the cowhide covering will be secured. The cowhide that becomes the surface of the baseball is cut into two figure-8 patterns, each cut covering half of the ball. The stitching is done by hand, since automation has so far been unable to ensure evenness of the ball after stitching. Here, the work dips the cowhide in a solution so its softer and easier to manipulate.
The two figure-8 coverings are stapled to the ball, and are ready to be sewed to the sphere. Using 88 inches of waxed red thread, the worker uses a total of to sew the cowhide pieces to the ball. The first and last threads are completely hidden.
This final step of hand stitching takes about 15 minutes to perform. The ball is then run through a rolling machine to even out the stitching surface.
After final inspection, the approved baseballs are stamped with the Rawlings logo, and made ready to ship to the league. For example, has come to be known as the season for hitters. Before that, in , Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both broke the record set by Roger Maris in for the most home runs in a single season of 61 home runs. McGwire batted in a total of 70 home runs, and Sosa hit 66 out of the park.
We can combine the regression line from the drag coefficient-versus-seam height plot with the line from the distance-versus-drag coefficient plot to get an equation for the distance versus the seam height. Note, this is a bit sloppy because the drag coefficient-versus-seam height plot was created in a lab, presumably using spinning balls at one speed, while the distance-versus-drag coefficient graph used Statcast data at a variety of speeds and spins, then normalized it.
The result is the following equation:. Our new equation gives us an increase in distance of about 2. This number is a bit scary—a very small change in seam height, one that is barely detectable from year to year, can change the distance of a fly ball by a measurable amount.
The reality of the situation, which you may have noticed when you compared the height of a seam to a dime, is that in addition to the red wax thread, a portion of the seam height is due to how much leather has been pulled into the stitch. Recalling that baseballs are indeed sewn by hand, it is in fact quite unremarkable that seam heights vary from ball to ball.
It is actually impressive they are this consistent. Does the fact that there are ball-to-ball variations really matter to the game? There are arguments both ways, but it is hard to complain about a variation of a couple of feet due to a single missing sub-thread when there are much larger park-to-park variations in the distance to fences.
That said, consistent year-to-year variations that appear to continually increase the number of home runs are radically changing the game. From to last season, the seam height has dropped by about 0. These are great questions. How I wish we knew the answers to even a couple of them. I would like to compare baseballs from previous years going way back.
Pitchers could also fluff them with there fingernails Bob Forsch was the king of this. Other than increasing the company's knowledge in the area of stitching technology, there was little likelihood that a broad application would result. Baseballs are still hand sewn.
Rawlings Sporting Goods, Inc. The amateur baseballs we throw around in the backyard are manufactured elsewhere. Attempts have been made to automate the process of stitching cowhide covers on baseballs, but none has been successful.
Bateman of USMC said in August , "we have a long, long way to go for a commercial piece of equipment to be presented to the trade. Play ball! Images: 1. Willie Mays baseball card, ca. From the Ronald S. Korda Collection of Sports and Trading Cards; 2. Schematic of mechanism for a baseball cover sewing machine designed by S. Finn, March Drawing by Don Hamm. Skip to content Site Navigation The Atlantic. Popular Latest.
The Atlantic Crossword. Sign In Subscribe. USMC applied the company's expertise in machine technology to other areas of development in order to diversify its product line. Under the direction of the Research Division, the company engaged in military, computer, and other automation projects.
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