PA Legion Baseball Wood Bats

[CRBL Baseball]

In 2013, PA Legion Baseball will be switching solely to wooden bats for all of its baseball games.

[Winchell]

Yes this is true

[bleacherbum]

I think this is a great idea, should start with all little leagues. The bats that are being made today are crazy. My son played in a fall league in Altoona that was a wooden bat league, what a difference. I felt it placed everyone on the same level, teaches kids to handle a bat much differently with the sweet spot only a few inches and not a foot long.

[CRBL Baseball]

Yes the Altoona Teener Minor League has been wood bats for years & my son played from 13-15 and the wood truly made a big difference and very enjoyable to watch!

[Manfred]

I can see expenses going way up, and fundraisers / pass the hat becoming commonplace at games. The diehard fans will be footing the bill.

[thepalerider]

I doubt if the expenses will go up that much, due to the level of pitching in the league. Not many people can throw 90 and pitch inside on the handle, however, in regionals this could be an issue with more talent. Last year when they talked about going to a wooden bat league, someone could get the bats for 58 bucks a pop, which isn't that bad, however I think this is the year that the Cambria County legion league folds due to changes in rules and regulations. It almost passed last year and I feel its coming to an end. There will still be a league but it will be something independent.

[Winchell]

Really pale, you think CCAL will fold???

[Winchell]

Wood bat rule went through for sure I saw

[CRBL Baseball]

This rule was already adopted if you check under PA Legion Baseball Senior Rules as a new rule change and states that "wood bats must be used". I will try to link the rule change.

[CRBL Baseball]

American Legion Baseball Bat Rule

Beginning with the 2013 season Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball will begin to use wood bats only.

Rule 6. WOOD BATS MUST BE USED. BATS MUST MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS LISTED IN RULE 1.10a-c OF THE “OFFICIAL RULES OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.”.

1.10

(a) The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.

NOTE: No laminated or experimental bats shall be used in a professional game (either championship season or exhibition games) until the manufacturer has secured approval from the Rules Committee of his design and methods of manufacture.

(b) Cupped Bats. An indentation in the end of the bat up to 11/4 inches in depth is permitted and may be no wider than two inches and no less than one inch in diameter. The indentation must be curved with no foreign substance added.

(c) The bat handle, for not more than 18 inches from its end, may be covered or treated with any material or substance to improve the grip. Any such material or substance that extends past the 18-inch limitation shall cause the bat to be removed from the game.

NOTE: If the umpire discovers that the bat does not conform to (c) above until a time during or after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out, or ejected from the game.

Rule 1.10(c) Comment: If pine tar extends past the 18-inch limitation, then the umpire, on his own initiative or if alerted by the opposing team, shall order the batter to use a different bat. The batter may use the bat later in the game only if the excess substance is removed. If no objections are raised prior to a bat’s use, then a violation of Rule 1.10(c) on that play does not nullify any action or play on the field and no protests of such play shall be allowed.